Larrivee lovebites

[GA-ME]

There seem to be lots of threads and folks posting lamenting over gasp.........scratching their guitars or even their cases. Guitars are made to be played.  I whacked the pi*s out of the headstock on my 000-60 yesterday. Did I get upset? Did I put her away and stop playing? NO! I continued to use her for what she is made for, to make music. While lots of folks lust after a pristine guitar, so they can sit and stare at its perfect beauty, rather than play her, I'll take my guitars just like my women, Honkey Tonk Specials please.
My 000-60 has over 3000 hours playing time on her, she is my only gigging guitar and the only guitar I play usually. I let others play her, gig with her, and definitely take her out of my frickin' smoke free home and use her for what she was intended for, to make music. The case is banged up much worse and I don't give a rats a** about it. If you use any tool for it's intended purpose, wear begins to show on it, right along with the love it takes to wear a favorite tool, until it feels like a part of ya. The last fret-level was the final one before she needs to be re fretted. I actually used the guitar to make music so much that, gasp, the frets are wearing out and need to be replaced. Scandalous! Enjoy the pics!

By the way the last pic showing the neck is where I wore the finish through from playing and sweat has started to stain the mahogany.

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[jamesb1101]

Dents, Scratches all add to it's personality...

Hell YA!!!

Ask Willie Nelson if he'd traid in trigger!

He probably state, "Hell No!)

-James

[BenF]

I like it. My OM-03 is pretty battle scarred now. It goes with me into whatever room others are not, and has numerous dings as a result. I was angry when I first dinged my forum 3 because it kinda means more to me than just a guitar, but I was sort of releived because once it ceases to be pristine, it becomes imediately more enjoyable to use for it's intended purpose.

Mine are both out all the time on stands with 3 small children an 4 large cats. They ain't babied!

Gloss necks are sticky, satin necks are slippery. The perfect guitar neck for me has become the naturally shined satin neck from hours and hours of relentless play time.

I would've cried at your pics 12 months ago Jonathan, but that has been the biggest change in me over that time. I am right behind you now sir!

Keep , it makes the world a slightly better place.

[JOYCEfromNS]

Would it seem that you can't appreciate the beauty & workmanship of a guitar and play it too?? Hmmmmm!!!!

Wounds as result neglect, abuse and clumsiness can be costly

Play wear  - priceless

Somebody wants to whack the p**s out of something -  buy yourself a hammer - it's a lot cheaper and would do a better job 

[GA-ME]

Joyce my point isn't that I want to whack the pi*s out of my guitar but that shi*t happens if you use something enough. Guitars are to be played firstly, perhaps looked at secondly. I'll take time to listen to a great picker on a beat up guitar over a lousy guitarist playing a beautiful Ryan any day! I'd dare to say that anyone on this forum would whack the pi*s out of their guitar a few times if they played it for 3000 or more hours instead of gently holding it while it looks pretty.

As far as wounds of neglect being costly, perhaps for some, but I can fix it myself. If I broke the headstock off completely I can fix it it.

[JOYCEfromNS]

Rather spend my time playin then repairin.

Some are fortunate that can do both.

There seem to be lots of threads and folks posting lamenting over gasp.........scratching their guitars or even their cases - if this kind of topic causes one to gasp one might consider to go play instead.

There are many who feel including myself an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. With guitar playin, it is a low risk activity its when they are not being played that many recognize  the inherent risks. Many have neither the time nor money to incur repairs to insinuate they ought to be playing rather than addressing these risks well thats another way to look at it  its just not mine. Personally I cant afford not to and further wish I could play 24/7

[GA-ME]

Rather spend my time playin then repairin.
Some are fortunate that can do both.

I am not fortunate, anything but. I have very little money and for most of my life this has been the case. I have played guitar, somewhat obsessively, over the last 4 1/2 years, to manage chronic pain without relying on too much medication. The reason I learned how to work on guitars is the same reason I could build custom Harley's, from the ground up, or take a complete engine or transmission apart and put it back together, while building muscle cars. Before I was injured, I could do all these things, because I wanted to be able to do them and l taught myself how to do them. There are do'ers and excuse makers. Do'ers look to what they want to accomplish and simply do it. Everyone else makes excuses for why they can not do something. Excuses are much easier to come by than perseverance.

[JOYCEfromNS]

Sorry to hear of your chronic pain  mate

[BenF]

I dont think anyone sets out to damage guitars.  I just accept that if I want them there when I want to play them, instead of away in cases, and I want to play them all the time, then there are going to be small accidents, especially with kids around.  When I kept them in cases, i reckon I only played about half the amount, because I couldnt just grab one and play a tune during the commercials on the TV for example.  All playing time = an improvement in skill level.  Small price to pay to get better at playing. 

For me, guitars aren't priceless, but getting as good as I would like to be at playing them is.

I am careful with them though, just not obsessive.

[ryler]

I think the essence of the original post is valid, even if it sounded a little accusatory.  And it's worthy to remember whenever that ding does occur.  I still cringe at the sound and sight of a new ding, can't help it.  But ya know, I put my OM in the case because my kids started playing frequently in the room where I keep it, and guess what?  I don't take it out as much as when it was stored on the stand.  So there does come a point where caring about the cosmetics needs to take a backseat if it makes you not play the instrument as much.  But I'm like that with all things that are in great condition, the first cut is the deepest, for sure.  However, I don't see anything wrong with appreciating unmarred beauty of a nice guitar so long as it gets played.

[GA-ME]

For me, guitars aren't priceless, but getting as good as I would like to be at playing them is.

Truth! I keep thinking that if I keep at it I'll be able to pick as well as you Ben, when you are playing those lovely Drake tunes.

Sorry to hear of your chronic pain  mate

Thanks Joyce. Living with chronic pain has been an education in itself for me. I am not a very patient person and I sometimes think the chronic pain is some sort of Karma coming round forcing me to try to be more patient and positive. As a result of this injury, I have had the chance to get an education and I am one class away from finishing my bachelors in Psychology and I will graduate in May. In the fall, I'll start an MSW program. My fiance is 2 weeks away from finishing her Doctorate in Physical Therapy,  having started her program because of my injury and her desire to assist others who have similar injuries. Life can throw all the lemons it wants 'cause I enjoy lemonade!

I think the essence of the original post is valid, even if it sounded a little accusatory.

It was meant to be a bit accusatory. Not playing a guitar so it doesn't get scratched or dinged is an offense against my sensibilities. If one person thinks "Man I'd rather play than worry about a ding" then it was a good post.

[Danny]

There seem to be lots of threads and folks posting lamenting over gasp.........scratching their guitars or even their cases. Guitars are made to be played.  I whacked the pi*s out of the headstock on my 000-60 yesterday. Did I get upset? Did I put her away and stop playing? NO! I continued to use her for what she is made for, to make music. While lots of folks lust after a pristine guitar, so they can sit and stare at its perfect beauty, rather than play her, I'll take my guitars just like my women, Honkey Tonk Specials please.
My 000-60 has over 3000 hours playing time on her, she is my only gigging guitar and the only guitar I play usually. I let others play her, gig with her, and definitely take her out of my frickin' smoke free home and use her for what she was intended for, to make music. The case is banged up much worse and I don't give a rats a** about it. If you use any tool for it's intended purpose, wear begins to show on it, right along with the love it takes to wear a favorite tool, until it feels like a part of ya. The last fret-level was the final one before she needs to be re fretted. I actually used the guitar to make music so much that, gasp, the frets are wearing out and need to be replaced. Scandalous! Enjoy the pics!

By the way the last pic showing the neck is where I wore the finish through from playing and sweat has started to stain the mahogany.

SHAME ON YOU; YOU ROGUE!   (I don't know if I spelled rouge right)
   Don't you know that guitars are works of art to be stored under glass or kept in cases until re-sale value is at a level that makes life easy for the initial owner. The last thing we want to see is that someone behave like that horrid OUTLAW from TEJAS ''Willie Nelson" and actually play it and compose songs like "CRAZY".  See what I mean . CRAZY.... and he made a big ole hole in that perfectly good Martin.      ( Which is probably getting close to the value of Roy Rogers Martin, holes and all)    
             Gotta love the little red headed stranger, with blue eyes cryin' in the rain.

[leftync]

My guitar is far too good for my playing level and if anything happened to it, it would be hard to find or justify the money to replace it. And even my crappy cowboy chords sound better on my high end Larrivee.
Ironically, I have a chronic, sometimes painful condition in my cervical and lumbar disks that leave my fingers occasionally numb and sometime prevent me from precise fretting. Nonetheless, I love to play and my wife, who works in health care, believes that the fretting may restore some feeling in my fingertips.
So I try and take better care of my guitar than I took care of myself. Both the decent guitars I own, a 90s rosewood D-50 and a parlor, were purchased used so neither came without a blemish. The big on needed a little work, but it had been well cared for.
It's not hard to gently pick it up and gently put it in its case. If something happens, so be it. But why not prevent what I can prevent? I feel fortunate that I have the opportunity to play and that I have nice guitars to play with.
GA-ME, good luck with both your condition and your academics. Sounds like you've already had good luck with your fiance.
Danny, I think you mean rogue, a word that's been getting a lot of attention from Sarah Palin's book title. If GA-ME were going rouge, he might be painting his face and playing mostly show tunes  --not that there's anything wrong with that.

[Danny]

  Jonathan.... LET ER RIP BRO.

[GA-ME]

               Gotta love the little red headed stranger, with blue eyes cryin' in the rain.

Dan, Willie's Hello Walls is one of my all time favorite songs. The lines: "Well look here is that a teardrop in the corner of your pane
Now don't you try to tell me that it's rain"  kill me everytime I listen to it. Yup, great stuff and a fo snizzle cool Trigger.

[Danny]

                                                       TRIGGER  Martin

[Mikeymac]

"ROGUE"

[flatlander]

Often the same kind of personalities that are a little wreckless, are the most creative.
My old L-10 is pretty banged up, mainly from 20+ years ago, playing a lot almost every night, living in a very small house and carrying it all over the place and gigging. Doesn't bother me at all, never did. Love of my life, yes, outlasting the women. (The one that lasts is still here in my hands)
Gallagher was scratched and banged a little when I got it. Not a factor. I even added a mark myself somehow. It's a great, great guitar.
000-60 is pretty pristine. That's ok too. Either way, play the dang things.

[Johnny M]

My 2 guitars and mandolin are left out in the living room all the time.  If they're close by, I grab them.  If they are in their cases, I don't.  Add 2 small kids to the mix and small things happen.  So be it.  Yes, the first ding on a new guitar is the painful, but it's also like a christening of sorts.  I take care of my instruments, but they are here to make music first and formost.  It's taken a while to get to this point as I was trading a lot of guitars when I started playing guitar seriously 5 years ago.  Now that I've found 2 I am happy with, I suspect they will be around for quite a while and maybe even handed down ... with dings, scars, and god forbid, maybe buckle rash 

John

[dermot]

hummmmm.....

Well i looked over my only Larrivee last night, and so far no dings to report.... same with the Webber... given that those two get the most play time, and have sat out on stands for years i guess it's the "no kids at home" factor in play... they certainly get allot of play time, when i'm on the road lately the Webber comes along, it's been to Shanghai, Delhi, Sydney, London, NYC, LA, Dublin, Ibiza, Berlin, Surfer's Paradise, Belfast.. even Las Vegas.. but no dings, scars or similar to report for all those air miles.  When the forum 3 gathering was in town both the Webber and the OM19 were loaned to visting folks, and at Mike's houses later they were passed around to everyone in the room.. still no dings.... some strum marks that buffed out in 30 seconds was it....

A few weeks ago i wrote about a guy who showed up at an open mic night with a case that looked like it had been dragged up and down the Alaska highway tied to the bumper of a truck... and inside was a pristine early C10.   So on the weekend i had a chance to see Valdy play, he has another older C10, and he started talking about it, it's one of a pair Jean made - the very first cutaways, one was for him, and one was for Bruce Cockburn, he is still gigging his daily, 200+ shows a year, and the other one? The one built for Bruce? He called his friend who owns it up on stage... yup it's the same guy with the pristine C10 from the open mic night, they are easily noticed as they have unique inlayed headstocks, not done by Wendy...

So i guess the theory that you have to "scar up your guitar if you play it" is one that Valdy, Bruce and the current owner never learned, maybe they don't really play em? Naaaaaa....  they get played, played very well, played daily.

Valdy uses a Calton case for his C10, we both recommend them if you are traveling with a guitar allot, and the case cover does lower the profile a fair bit, worth it for that alone in my eyes.

I'm making a case that a clean guitar means that it's a clean guitar - full stop, nothing more, no values, bagage, or subtext added re; the player ability to play the instrument in question.

d.