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

[Streetglide]

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 played at fifty seven strat and a fifty four telly with a bender in it for many years.

 

[dasherf17]

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!

I made the mistake of leaving my two guitars at band practice (it was a dark and stormy night, pouring down rain) when the guys that lived there had guests who brought friends...long about midnight the occupants heard shuffling and bumping in the basement, then a truck pulling away from the side of their yard...we were ripped off, bothe my V and Firebird III were gone along with some other things...I lived to gig again, but always look over my shoulder on break...

 

[Roshy Boy]

1. Insurance (regardless of live or not).
2. Do what you want with your stuff.

This is the solution, especially if you have a small or big collection. One of my friends has over 50 guitars and pays less than $400 a year for additional coverage from his homeowners insurance company. He's covered, even if he drops one or his washing machine leaks and runs an acoustic that's in his basement right below it.

His real peace of mind is when he takes one out of the house. He's careful too. But things happen.

I do so much trading and selling, that I haven't bothered with insurance, because I would constantly be updating the schedule. But, I should at least get my "keepers" insured.

 

[HardCore Troubadour]

Pssssssst…..

They were made to be played.

 

[BRMarshall]

Except for the flame top. It’s known for its sustain. You hit a note, Aaaaah…. Go get a bite, come back….asaaaaah. It can never be played. Don’t touch it!… don’t even look at it.

Kind of a mosh-mash from Nigel, but this is a dilemma.
I bought an American Martin dred about 20 years ago specifically for playing out. Fast forward and I’ve got a D41 and J45 Standard now. I don’t play out much anymore, but on those infrequent occasions, I take my old Martin with the dings and now amber top. It’s a fine sounding and easy player and another dong wouldn’t upset me too much. A ding or worse on the D41 would make me sad.

 

[rhodesworks]

I have some nice instruments, I play week long road gigs and I play them live. However, theyre on stands at the back of the stage and go to the hotel at the end of the night. I slso have a crew and anyone who comes near the stage is politely asked to back off. Once. Then its not polite
Interestingly its the doctor lawyer types that are the most handsy.

 

[BRMarshall]

Sorry, another “ding.” A dong on it would upset me. Wanted to clarify.

 

[iluvchiclets]

I understand both sides...yes, guitars are meant to be played. But ho boy, when it comes to selling them, a practically like-new Les Paul with one "Ding" in the top? People will offer you $1000 less for the ding.

I don't know what it is about Les Pauls, but they're a difficult investment as people are very particular about their condition. Do you have the tags? The cloth?
I was okay with my pre-worn 2nd hand Les Pauls, but once I'd bought "new" ones I became very aware of their value and of their possible depreciation.

I had never experienced that before until I stepped into the LP world.

So yes, I would be hesitant about using $3000 or $5000 Gibson's out in the real-world. Fine at home, but playing out with friends I would choose any one of my other humbucker guitars.

 

[Juan Tumani]

This is the solution, especially if you have a small or big collection. One of my friends has over 50 guitars and pays less than $400 a year for additional coverage from his homeowners insurance company. He's covered, even if he drops one or his washing machine leaks and runs an acoustic that's in his basement right below it.

His real peace of mind is when he takes one out of the house. He's careful too. But things happen.

I do so much trading and selling, that I haven't bothered with insurance, because I would constantly be updating the schedule. But, I should at least get my "keepers" insured.

I've never insured mine. Partially because I do a lot of flipping but also because in truth my favorite guitars are irreplaceable. My favorite guitars aren't my favorite because I just really like the model, they're my favorite because I really connected with that particular instrument.

I mentioned earlier that I have a Gibson Lucille. In addition to mine I've had the opportunity to play about a half dozen others from various years. The neck on mine must be at the edge of some kind of tolerance because I didn't like any of the others at all. Same with my 61 reissue SG I've bought a handful of other SGs that are supposed to have the same neck profile but don't. I even bought a second 61 reissue but it's not the same either.

If a guitar were to be stolen it would be nice to get money for it, but I wouldn't even bother trying to replace my favorites. I'd rather just look for the next favorite. So with that in mind I could pay $400 a year just in case or just spend $400 a year more on guitar purchases.

 

[1allspub]

Life is just way too short to not enjoy the temporary material objects we choose to indulge in. I don't gig, but if I did, I'd take my favorite guitar(s) and enjoy the hell out of them. What's the point otherwise? I once had a really nice, really cool, really expensive (for me at the time) old muscle car that I loved to death but was scared to death to drive (because it was so nice, I didn't want anything to happen to it). In the end I sold it because I wasn't enjoying it... it owned me. The guy I sold it to then swapped the heads on the motor, installed some steeper gears, and I saw him racing it at the local 1/4-mile raceway months later. I was shocked and appalled... my beautiful car being treated as such! Then it dawned on me... he was enjoying it way more than I ever did. Lesson learned. It's just stuff... use it, enjoy it... don't save it for someone else.

 

[mjross]

I made the mistake of leaving my two guitars at band practice (it was a dark and stormy night, pouring down rain) when the guys that lived there had guests who brought friends...long about midnight the occupants heard shuffling and bumping in the basement, then a truck pulling away from the side of their yard...we were ripped off, bothe my V and Firebird III were gone along with some other things...I lived to gig again, but always look over my shoulder on break...

Very sorry to hear of your loss! Just pisses me off that some asshole would rip of a musical instrument. They just don’t understand how personal that is!

 

[mjross]

Life is just way too short to not enjoy the temporary material objects we choose to indulge in. I don't gig, but if I did, I'd take my favorite guitar(s) and enjoy the hell out of them. What's the point otherwise? I once had a really nice, really cool, really expensive (for me at the time) old muscle car that I loved to death but was scared to death to drive (because it was so nice, I didn't want anything to happen to it). In the end I sold it because I wasn't enjoying it... it owned me. The guy I sold it too then swapped the heads on the motor, installed some steeper gears, and I saw him racing it at the local 1/4-mile raceway months later. I was shocked and appalled... my beautiful car being treated as such! Then it dawned on me... he was enjoying it way more than I ever did. Lesson learned. It's just stuff... use it, enjoy it... don't save it for someone else.

Great story, I need to remember this for a lot of reasons!

 

[Juan Tumani]

Life is just way too short to not enjoy the temporary material objects we choose to indulge in. I don't gig, but if I did, I'd take my favorite guitar(s) and enjoy the hell out of them. What's the point otherwise? I once had a really nice, really cool, really expensive (for me at the time) old muscle car that I loved to death but was scared to death to drive (because it was so nice, I didn't want anything to happen to it). In the end I sold it because I wasn't enjoying it... it owned me. The guy I sold it to then swapped the heads on the motor, installed some steeper gears, and I saw him racing it at the local 1/4-mile raceway months later. I was shocked and appalled... my beautiful car being treated as such! Then it dawned on me... he was enjoying it way more than I ever did. Lesson learned. It's just stuff... use it, enjoy it... don't save it for someone else.

Exactly.

 

[sparky2]

My band played a wedding gig at the pavilion of a nice river park near here.
This was a few years ago.

It was a good party, and our music was well received.
The wedding party crowd enjoyed dancing to our amped-up oldies, and a good time was had by all.

On one of our breaks, one fellow was admiring my Gibson Les Paul copper-top.
He said, "That is interesting, I have never seen one like it."

I replied, "I hadn't either. That's why I bought it the instant I saw it on the Used Guitars wall at Guitar Center a few months ago."

We talked minor chit-chat for a few minutes, and I went off to find a beverage.
The guy struck me as a bit odd.

I ended up asking the couple who had gotten married, "Who is that guy who was up by the stage a few minutes ago? Is he a brother in law?"

"Nope. Never met him before. He must've wandered in from the marina."

My hackles rose.
I returned to the stage and found the strange guy just starting to reach for my guitar.

"NO," I said to him with no small amount of malice in my voice.

The guy jumped half out of his skin and walked away, briskly.
He disappeared out into the park, and toward the setting sun.

I picked up the Les Paul and gave it the once over.
Polished it with a soft bandana, and strapped it on.

It was time to tune up and begin the final set anyway.

To the point of the thread.
Did I regret bringing my Gibson Les Paul to the gig?
No, not at all.
It sounded great, and my drummer was digging the sounds I got out of it.

I did learn a lesson about stage security though.
I damned sure did.

 

[brianbzed]

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

My most valuable guitars get played live, the same as my not -so-valuable ones. I use some common sense about it, though. Safe ( Security-wise ) gigs are OK for my high-dollar guitars. Rowdy, fight / riot prone gigs- no way!....expensive or collectable axes stay at home.

 

[blee57]

Yep, Play em' all, all the time. Keep a close eye on them though!!!

 

[ROB HOUSTON]

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

Looks like guitarists are a unique bunch. I wouldn't imagine a saxophonist, trumpeter or a trombonist thinking this way. You can easily spend much more on a pro level brass instrument and these musicians gig with them all the time. I know if I were giging I'd play my R8.

 

[Juan Tumani]

Looks like guitarists are a unique bunch. I wouldn't imagine a saxophonist, trumpeter or a trombonist thinking this way. You can easily spend much more on a pro level brass instrument and these musicians gig with them all the time. I know if I were giging I'd play my R8.

Ever priced out a quality set of drums? Has to be one of the most expensive instruments to buy and use on a regular basis.

I can buy a $5000 guitar and for the rest of it's life spend $7-10 on new strings every once in a while.

A drummer spends $5k on a set and the cost of just maintaining it blows my mind. I wonder how many drummers leave their nice kit at home.

However, back to your point it's just as easy to steal a trumpet as it is to steal a guitar.

 

[2Muchgear]

I don’t have unlimited assets but have nice guitars. I have them because I like and want them and play them whenever and wherever I want. I’ve broken two Les Paul necks…both at home, never damaged one out.

if Bonamassa doesn’t worry, I dont either.

 

[captdan61]

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

Your crazy if you DON’T play your best guitars out. In my opinion.