I was told that i shouldn't even take my guitar out to play live.

[GibsonMarshallGuy]

Do you guys play your "expensive guitars" live?

I was at a show, and I was playing my Les Paul Custom. After our set a guy came up to me and said, "you're crazy for even taking that guitar out". I told him you only live once.

What do you think? I probably wouldn't play out a collector's guitar worth over 10k, but why even buy something like that if you aren't going to plY it?

The guitar I was playing was a 2008 LPC.

 

[pondcaster]

Instruments are meant to be played.

 

[icantshred]

I'm not a collector. I play expensive guitars live sometimes. I don't worry so much about them getting a bit of wear. That will happen when I play them at home too. I never leave gear unattended so I don't worry that much about theft at a gig.

But I also understand why some people baby their instruments and have a cheaper rig for gigs.

 

[HomerThompson]

I think it depends on the place, i couldnt care less about a ding or whatever, i am however pretty keen on the guitar still being there when i get back from break haha.

 

[GibsonMarshallGuy]

I think it depends on the place, i couldnt care less about a ding or whatever, i am however pretty keen on the guitar still being there when i get back from break haha.

Ya that's usually my concern too.

 

[Peter M]

Do you guys play your "expensive guitars" live?

All the time.

 

[Dilver]

As long as you can keep an eye on your gear at all times and you aren’t worried about getting held up in a bad area…

 

[HomerThompson]

That being said i never follow that advice, i bring all my gear to gigs, you bought it, use it , ya know? People want these guitars that have “mojo” and look like they have “stories to tell” , so go out there and get some stories on it! Thats my opinion.

 

[mjross]

It’s not worth having unless you play it, why did you purchase it in the first place, just to hang it on the wall? I’d play it but just keep an eye on it. I gigged for over 55 years and never lost a guitar and I played in some real dives. Oh yeah, don’t trust your gear to anyone, handle it yourself!

 

[HomerThompson]

Im up to 20 years now in clubs and dives, not one thing lost ( except the things i lost myself, picks, cables , girlfriends, sanity, that kinda stuff..)

 

[Deftone]

Do whatever you want and don't listen to other people. Why are you even asking?

 

[Wes T]

I take the guitar that plays and sounds the best, regardless. And I love that Custom.

 

[cmjohnson]

It's just a fact that most of the most valuable violins in the world, made by Stradivari, Guarneri, Amati, and others, are still played in concerts. Of course they're very well looked after.

I don't see any reason why a mere electric guitar should be treated any differently.

It's a musical instrument. Play it until it can't be played anymore. THEN put it on display and remember it for what it was used for.

 

[CRobbins]

I buy my gear to play, not to hide at the house. If I have a gig, I'll take whatever guitar, and amp I've been practicing with.

 

[HomerThompson]

Yeah thats a sweet Custom, the best lp i ever gigged was my 1989 LP goldtop with p90s, still my favourite guitar

 

[geddy]

Yes. What's the point otherwise

 

[Christosterone]

I’m playing live right now…in my bedroom

but if I had the guts or talent, I would rock every single guitar in my stable…
every night, another lester

so yes…play that dang thing…

I would love to see smaller bands play customs as opposed to having it on a stand the whole show while banging around on a tele or prs while badass gibsons sit on stands

-chris

 

[gball]

No reason to have it if you don't take it to a gig: that's the time you most need it.

People have become really weird about this in recent years I've noticed. Must have something to do with "internet wisdom." I gigged a LPC for almost 15 years and never had one person suggest I should have left it home and used something lesser - you played how you practiced; the worst thing to do is change the routine on game day.

 

[01GT Eibach]

Joe Bonamassa certainly gigs his. It is wild the value of the vintage gear he brings with him.

 

[Juan Tumani]

Do you guys play your "expensive guitars" live?

I was at a show, and I was playing my Les Paul Custom. After our set a guy came up to me and said, "you're crazy for even taking that guitar out". I told him you only live once.

What do you think? I probably wouldn't play out a collector's guitar worth over 10k, but why even buy something like that if you aren't going to plY it?

The guitar I was playing was a 2008 LPC.
View attachment 674233

I never keep a guitar I won't play out. What's the point of having it?

You do all your practicing on whatever your favorite is and then play out with something different? Big bag of nope. They are a tool and I use them.

I guess the flip side of this in my case is that I never buy new guitars anymore.