SteveStrummerUK
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Has anyone bought a 'new' road-worn guitar or bass?
Over the last couple of years, I've noticed quite a few of these artificially aged instruments coming onto the market - first it seemed that most of them were in the cheaper (copy) end of the market but now it seems you can buy road-worn USA Strats and Precision basses, among others.
I can fully understand the lure of buying a genuinely old instrument that's collected a few bumps and scrapes over the years, and even buying brand new instruments that are specifically made to 'vintage' specs.
But I can't understand the logic of why anyone would want to buy one of these 'road-worn' guitars.
To my way of thinking, it's like shelling out good money for a pristine brand new Les Paul e.g. and then destroying the finish with a chisel and an orbital sander.
Can anyone enlighten me?
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Beagle
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Re:Has anyone bought a 'new' road-worn guitar or bass?
2010/02/23 14:30:14
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Sounds like the same mentality of "distressed furniture" and "distressed jeans."
I've never understood those either. and they cost more than new looking ones.
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bapu
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Re:Has anyone bought a 'new' road-worn guitar or bass?
2010/02/23 14:34:10
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Next up. Road worn DAW. It shreds!
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bapu
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Re:Has anyone bought a 'new' road-worn guitar or bass?
2010/02/23 14:35:32
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BTW, I saw the Fenders up close.
Lame. Totally lame. And I don't mean that gold speckled material worn by disco groups in the 70's.
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alexoosthoek
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Re:Has anyone bought a 'new' road-worn guitar or bass?
2010/02/23 14:37:21
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SteveStrummerUK
Over the last couple of years, I've noticed quite a few of these artificially aged instruments coming onto the market - first it seemed that most of them were in the cheaper (copy) end of the market but now it seems you can buy road-worn USA Strats and Precision basses, among others.
I can fully understand the lure of buying a genuinely old instrument that's collected a few bumps and scrapes over the years, and even buying brand new instruments that are specifically made to 'vintage' specs.
But I can't understand the logic of why anyone would want to buy one of these 'road-worn' guitars.
To my way of thinking, it's like shelling out good money for a pristine brand new Les Paul e.g. and then destroying the finish with a chisel and an orbital sander.
Can anyone enlighten me?
You're not selling your used gtr's as new, are you Steve? 
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SteveStrummerUK
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Re:Has anyone bought a 'new' road-worn guitar or bass?
2010/02/23 14:52:26
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This is the one that caught my eye, the 50's R/W Precision, what a waste! 
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spacey
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Re:Has anyone bought a 'new' road-worn guitar or bass?
2010/02/23 14:58:18
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No Steve and I won't ever. I like my distressed marks to have memories attached. I had a Les Paul that I couldn't look at without smiling. I rolled it out of the case leaving the first band practice it ever went to...I rolled a few times that night too. 
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jimmyman
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Re:Has anyone bought a 'new' road-worn guitar or bass?
2010/02/23 15:56:23
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As for me personally it looks like for whatever
reason "rare" becomes valuable. Or another way
to put it "old". If a person "thinks" either of these
two are "better" then there may/will be a buyers
market.
However not everyone buys into that concept.
Some do and some don't. I knew a guy who had
a beat up old 50's something tele. It sounded like
crap and played like a washboard.
I find so much hype in so many "marketing"
strategies. But oh well, its what ever a person
wants (for them). It's almost crazy how
companies have procedures and policies.
I worked in a music store many years ago
and Gibson would sell guitars as "seconds"
It had "second" stamped on the back of
the headstock. I never recall finding anything
that "made it a second" (compared to one
that wasn't).
I knew people who worked at the "plant".
They'd say "they chopped up some guitars
the other day" what? I asked. Yea they had
some flaw or another so they just chop em up.
Wont even let someone have em. I later
applied for a job at the Gibson plant.
The interview was pretty lengthy. No word
on the results for some time so I went back
and talked to the guy who interviewed me.
He said they looked at my info and said I
was over qualified. They said that I knew too
much about guitars and would "care" too
much. Oh course that's just "one companies"
way of doing things, I don't know about the
others.
Perception is an interesting subject though.
I guess to some musicians that beat up old look
might be cool. The "finish" (and type of) on a
guitar does affect it's sound but the question is
"how much?"
Of course lots of things affect the sound. So the
"road worn" subject could be debatable be it
virtual/visual compared to the real thing. But
I don't find any pleasure in a rusted parts and
and chips of finish missing.
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marcos69
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Re:Has anyone bought a 'new' road-worn guitar or bass?
2010/02/23 16:05:45
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Totally Lame. And anyone buying such an instrument must be a poser.
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cryophonik
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Re:Has anyone bought a 'new' road-worn guitar or bass?
2010/02/23 16:07:08
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If Fender really wanted to make it more authentically road-worn, they'd spill a couple kegs of beer, some tequila, SimJim chunks, potato chip crumbs, vomit, and chewing tobacco spit on it, then stick it in a cigarette smoke-filled room for 3 weeks.
Oh, and then charge an extra $500 for it.
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Jonbouy
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Re:Has anyone bought a 'new' road-worn guitar or bass?
2010/02/23 16:11:10
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I got road worn the hard way, every lump taken outta me has got a story behind it, every bit of flakiness a consequence of a lack of care over time.
I can understand the appeal of wanting the same distinctively tattered patina as the Bouy without having to travel through so many bar room windows though.
"We can't do anything to change the world until capitalism crumbles. In the meantime we should all go shopping to console ourselves" - Banksy
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Moshkiae
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Re:Has anyone bought a 'new' road-worn guitar or bass?
2010/02/23 16:40:07
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Hi,
I always thought it was just another name for another mexican built cheapie ... and no one would know the difference!
Good thing that rappers are not into retro ... !!! ... and if my last name was Townsend I probably would smash one of those every night!
As a wise Guy once stated from his holy chapala ... none of the hits, none of the time ... prevents you from becoming just another turkey in the middle of all the other turkeys!
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bdickens
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Re:Has anyone bought a 'new' road-worn guitar or bass?
2010/02/23 16:44:27
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SteveStrummerUK
Over the last couple of years, I've noticed quite a few of these artificially aged instruments coming onto the market - first it seemed that most of them were in the cheaper (copy) end of the market but now it seems you can buy road-worn USA Strats and Precision basses, among others.
I can fully understand the lure of buying a genuinely old instrument that's collected a few bumps and scrapes over the years, and even buying brand new instruments that are specifically made to 'vintage' specs.
But I can't understand the logic of why anyone would want to buy one of these 'road-worn' guitars.
To my way of thinking, it's like shelling out good money for a pristine brand new Les Paul e.g. and then destroying the finish with a chisel and an orbital sander.
Can anyone enlighten me?
It's because some people are stupid.
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RobertB
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Re:Has anyone bought a 'new' road-worn guitar or bass?
2010/02/23 17:38:27
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What an awful example, Steve. The nicks on the bottom are obviously from a rasp, and the "pick scrape" is clearly done with a wheel. If you are going to fake it, at least try to make it convincing. I can see how that caught your eye.
I don't get it either. As the others have mentioned, I like my nicks and bruises to have a story behind them.
My Soundclick Page SONAR Professional, X3eStudio,W7 64bit, AMD Athlon IIx4 2.8Ghz, 4GB RAM, 64bit, AKAI EIE Pro, Nektar Impact LX61,Alesis DM6,Alesis ControlPad,Yamaha MG10/2,Alesis M1Mk2 monitors,Samson Servo300,assorted guitars,Lava Lamp Shimozu-Kushiari or Bob
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ricstudioc
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Re:Has anyone bought a 'new' road-worn guitar or bass?
2010/02/23 17:41:53
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Absolutely baffles the snot out of me - I thought you're supposed to put your own "memories" on an instrument -
My oldest instrument (gtr that is..) is an about 30yr old Vantage V695S, and I can relate the time, place, and circumstance of every cigarette burn, dent, and chip in the thing (I'm a rather exuberant performer..). But it's MY history on there, not some artificial idea of "experience" applied at the factory, fer crissake.
Just remembered - Monty Python had a bit about buying pictures of other peoples' families to hang on your wall - it's kinda like that - except that bit was hilarious, this is just kinda wierd...
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Mooch4056
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Re:Has anyone bought a 'new' road-worn guitar or bass?
2010/02/23 17:44:33
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I had a Les Paul that I couldn't look at without smiling. thats how I feel about bapu
From Now On Call Me Conquistador!
Donate to the cure Bapu Foundation Email: mooch4056@gmail.com for more info
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Guitarhacker
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Re:Has anyone bought a 'new' road-worn guitar or bass?
2010/02/23 17:52:01
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My SG got road worn the hard way.... manufactured in 1969, I got it second hand..... in very fine condition..... then over the next several decades.... it was played in every back woods honky tonk and beer joint in NC and a few other southern states. It was stolen twice and recovered both times returning with nicks and dings from the adventures. After the last recovery, I refinished it White...realized what a huge mistake that was, and redid it natural with some poly. The chrome plating is gone from the rear pickup from the sweat.... Truly road worn. 
post edited by Guitarhacker - 2010/02/23 17:53:46
My website & music: www.herbhartley.com MC4/5/6/X1e.c, on a Custom DAW Focusrite Firewire Saffire Interface BMI/NSAI "Just as the blade chooses the warrior, so too, the song chooses the writer "
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ohgrant
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Re:Has anyone bought a 'new' road-worn guitar or bass?
2010/02/23 18:37:55
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I've been seeing this for a few months now; I think their marketing logic is to flood the market with lookalike vintage gear because most of their biggest competition is not other manufacturers, but stuff they made in the past. When folks are paying so many times more on eBay instead of buying a new guitar I'm sure they are going to want to combat that. With all those vintage looking instruments out there, it will not be long before counterfeit date plates will make it almost impossible to verify if you are buying a real vintage instrument or not. Consumer confidence down for the vintage stuff, purchases of new sales go up. Diabolical is it not?
post edited by ohgrant - 2010/02/23 18:45:50
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mgh
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Re:Has anyone bought a 'new' road-worn guitar or bass?
2010/02/23 20:18:59
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madness. the eddie van halen one was the worst, about 3k i think and had bits missing! oh well, people must buy 'em!
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RobertB
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Re:Has anyone bought a 'new' road-worn guitar or bass?
2010/02/23 20:23:33
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My Soundclick Page SONAR Professional, X3eStudio,W7 64bit, AMD Athlon IIx4 2.8Ghz, 4GB RAM, 64bit, AKAI EIE Pro, Nektar Impact LX61,Alesis DM6,Alesis ControlPad,Yamaha MG10/2,Alesis M1Mk2 monitors,Samson Servo300,assorted guitars,Lava Lamp Shimozu-Kushiari or Bob
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57Gregy
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Re:Has anyone bought a 'new' road-worn guitar or bass?
2010/02/23 20:35:06
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RobertB
P.T. Barnum was right!
"This Way To The Egress!"
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Slugbaby
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Re:Has anyone bought a 'new' road-worn guitar or bass?
2010/02/24 07:09:53
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marcos69
Totally Lame. And anyone buying such an instrument must be a poser.
I couldn't have said it better myself. I love the look of a road-worn guitar, but the instrument needs to get it naturally. The Joe Strummer Telecaster is an especially shameful example of corporate cool. I read somewhere that the fad started when Fender made some Teles for a Rolling Stones tour. They looked too new and shiny and Keith Richards asked for them to be distressed so that they'd fit the image. He may survive anything, but it looks like he started a cancer elsewhere!
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spacey
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Re:Has anyone bought a 'new' road-worn guitar or bass?
2010/02/24 07:54:03
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Steve I posted why I wouldn't want one.
I should have also mentioned why I think somebody else may want one...
Because it looks cool to them. I can see a picker just wanting a "cool" looking guitar and from that perspective it's no different than all the crazy painting they do. I personally, currently, wouldn't want for example a tiger stripe guitar either.
Having a selection is a good thing.
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The Maillard Reaction
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Re:Has anyone bought a 'new' road-worn guitar or bass?
2010/02/24 08:15:23
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"I read somewhere that the fad started when Fender made some Teles for a Rolling Stones tour. They looked too new and shiny and Keith Richards asked for them to be distressed so that they'd fit the image. He may survive anything, but it looks like he started a cancer elsewhere!"
My memory is that this is a myth that is popular because it sounds cool. Who wouldn't want to tap into the staying power of Mr. Richards.
My first awareness of distressed and antiqued guitars was as COUNTERFEIT vintage instruments.
Only after people realized that it could be done effectively and only after a few people had their old beat up instruments stolen off the stage (or backstage) did people realize the potential for cool factor.
Originally the idea included the concept... "oh yeah, I left the real '57 Strat at home" and it was sort of presumed that only someone with an authentic $25k vintage Strat would pay another $3k to have a road grade look a like.
I first started seeing these "players" guitars at biker bars where old beat up vintage 'merican made stuff is worshiped for nostalgia... and as such became something that needed to be protected from treasure hunters.
Then I noticed wanna be stock broker types starting to collect them as investments... because they weren't part of the first wave of stock brokers buying real vintage guitars phenom.
Now, it just seems silly.
The last time I saw a Joe Strummer a GC it was being test driven by a well known local player... "cough - ahem"... the guy is blind.
Watching him pick on the Strummer just seemed really really weird. I could only imagine that the boys at GC were desperate to unload the guitar fast.
I walked by and told him his guitar was all scratched up... he looked a bit confused... not fully appreciating my sense of humor. :-)
The thing I find most perplexing.... the companies obviously know what is desirable to aficionados.... why don't they offer similar colors and options on the Standard series?
Weird.
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Guitarhacker
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Re:Has anyone bought a 'new' road-worn guitar or bass?
2010/02/24 08:17:44
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Well.... as far as looking cool.....lets compare the guitar to a woman..... I think a brand new shiny guitar, sparkling in the spotlight, with light reflecting off the glossy paint, and the chrome or gold plated metal parts is..to me...... the ultimate sight to seel. She is a thing of beauty, a sight to behold. And a pleasure to be the one playing with her in that circumstance. She's the new beauty that has just come into your life and holds great promise for the future. You're proud to show her off to the world..... man can she sing, and she is gorgeous too. An old road worn guitar also has a certain mystique about it..... but the beauty is in a different vein. The beauty of the old road worn guitar is like the faithful woman who has stood beside you through the trials, though the outward beauty may have faded a bit, the inward beauty, how she feels in your hands, how she sounds when she sings, and the little battle scars to show she's a fighter, and you know her little quirks and habits well, and that beauty is not often seen by others besides the one who knows her well. just my perspective..... I've had my SG since 72 and my wife since 82...still got them both.....wouldn't let either one of them go.
post edited by Guitarhacker - 2010/02/24 08:20:47
My website & music: www.herbhartley.com MC4/5/6/X1e.c, on a Custom DAW Focusrite Firewire Saffire Interface BMI/NSAI "Just as the blade chooses the warrior, so too, the song chooses the writer "
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jamesg1213
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Re:Has anyone bought a 'new' road-worn guitar or bass?
2010/02/24 08:29:53
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I know someone who has one and I can vouch for his sanity, and that he most certainly isn't stupid, lame, or a poseur. He likes how it sounds, and how it feels to play. The 'road-worn' thing wasn't an issue one way or the other AFAIK.
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bapu
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Re:Has anyone bought a 'new' road-worn guitar or bass?
2010/02/24 09:27:27
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Guitarhacker
Well.... as far as looking cool.....lets compare the guitar to a woman.....
I think a brand new shiny guitar, sparkling in the spotlight, with light reflecting off the glossy paint, and the chrome or gold plated metal parts is..to me...... the ultimate sight to seel. She is a thing of beauty, a sight to behold. And a pleasure to be the one playing with her in that circumstance. She's the new beauty that has just come into your life and holds great promise for the future. You're proud to show her off to the world..... man can she sing, and she is gorgeous too.
An old road worn guitar also has a certain mystique about it..... but the beauty is in a different vein. The beauty of the old road worn guitar is like the faithful woman who has stood beside you through the trials, though the outward beauty may have faded a bit, the inward beauty, how she feels in your hands, how she sounds when she sings, and the little battle scars to show she's a fighter, and you know her little quirks and habits well, and that beauty is not often seen by others besides the one who knows her well.
just my perspective..... I've had my SG since 72 and my wife since 82...still got them both.....wouldn't let either one of them go.
* wipe a tear from his eye, smiles and nods approvingly*
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marcos69
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Re:Has anyone bought a 'new' road-worn guitar or bass?
2010/02/24 09:36:35
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jamesg1213
I know someone who has one and I can vouch for his sanity, and that he most certainly isn't stupid, lame, or a poseur. He likes how it sounds, and how it feels to play. The 'road-worn' thing wasn't an issue one way or the other AFAIK.
But did he pay more for it than a non-road worn guitar? By the way, this "friend" isn't you is it?
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The Maillard Reaction
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Re:Has anyone bought a 'new' road-worn guitar or bass?
2010/02/24 10:19:21
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Good point Marcos.
For the Custom Shop guitars the distressing costs about an extra $1k... it's hard to imagine many people would spend the extra $1k without caring one way or the other how it looked.
best,
mike
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Moshkiae
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Re:Has anyone bought a 'new' road-worn guitar or bass?
2010/02/24 14:45:14
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Hi, Check out Mike Howlett's bass ... http://www.pedrosena.com/photos.htm The little plastic piece at the top of the fret board was also broken and they had to glue and piece together a make do for it just before the show ... that picture was taken in Eugene, Oregon ... now ... THAT is road worn! ... the rest is all talk!
As a wise Guy once stated from his holy chapala ... none of the hits, none of the time ... prevents you from becoming just another turkey in the middle of all the other turkeys!
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