Guitar life...

[jagged]

How long does the average guitar last?

 

[Larry]

Usually longer than the owner. If well maintained. IE proper humidity. care ect.

 

[Sweat]

Hell take care of it and it will last longer than you do

 

[Astrofreq]

I heard nine years. After that it explodes.

 

[Warg Master]

I heard nine years. After that it explodes.

I like this explaination... uh oh, wait... I have one that's going on 8 years... it's only go 1 year left before explosion??!!?? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

 

[dfrady]

I've got a 1969 Martin and it's still going strong.

 

[candid_x]

how long is a string?

how much do you play?
how hard to you play?
how willing are you to refret?
how much are you willing to spend to keep it in action?

 

[ivanmihaljevic]

Well, when a string breaks, you'll obviously gonna have to throw your guitar into a garbage can.
There's no use in having a guitar without a string

 

[Chris G]

Perhaps this is a question about sustain?

 

[candid_x]

Well, when a string breaks, you'll obviously gonna have to throw your guitar into a garbage can.
There's no use in having a guitar without a string

Geeze, man; I get three string changes outa my axes. Then it's firewood baby .
Never had one splode on me though.

 

[roburado]

Think about violins from the 1700s. Why should a guitar be any less long-lived with proper care?

 

[Crimson Sunset]

If you shred for 6 hours every single day, your guitar will return to dust after 2 years...

 

[Jimmyb]

If you're Brent, about 3 weeks

 

[jagged]

Regular usage...

So say... I play an average of 1 hour a day, how many years until the guitara gets into bad shape? Neck gets bent way out of shape, and etc...

I'm asking because I might buy a used guitar as opposed to a new one...just wondering what the life would be so I can make a good choice on a guitar.

 

[Jimmyb]

Buy a used one. Provided it's in good shape (ie, not been dropped, modified in a way you don't like, set fire to, used as a hammer) then you should have no issues.

Look at how many guitars from the 60's are still being used today...

My own reference point, I have a 10 year ols Axis Sport (actually I've got two thinking about it) and both of them play and sound like they're brand new.

 

[jagged]

Buy a used one. Provided it's in good shape (ie, not been dropped, modified in a way you don't like, set fire to, used as a hammer) then you should have no issues.

Look at how many guitars from the 60's are still being used today...

My own reference point, I have a 10 year ols Axis Sport (actually I've got two thinking about it) and both of them play and sound like they're brand new.

That's true... As long as the body is alright right. If after a few years, the neck starts going crazy, I can always just get a new one from EB...

 

[hbucker]

The problem with guitars, IMO, is the owners who eventually stop taking care of them. Or the owner dies and their family either doesn't care about the guitar or doesn't know how to take care of it. So they store it in the attic and 30 years later somebody finds an old, dried out P.O.C. guitar and gives it to their kid to spray paint for fun.

There is no reason that a solid body guitar can't last for centuries if it is well taken care of. Of course wood changes over time and some guitars will just become unplayable over time regardless. But my guess is most well made guitars should be fine. New frets are inevitable. And I'm guessing that pickups eventually go dead but that's years and years from now.

If you're concerned about buying a used guitar because it won't last as long as a new guitar I simply offer up this analogy: My friend was shopping for hardwood floors. He wanted Maple but told the Salesperson that he'd heard that Maple doesn't last as long as Oak. The Salesperson said, "Well... that's correct. Oak will last about 250 years. Maple will only last about 225 years."

Sounds to me like you're worried about the shorter life of Maple if you know what I mean. And as long as it's in good condition, my philosophy is: Any gear worth owning is worth buying used.

If it can't stand the "stress" of more than one owner, it isn't a roadworthy piece of gear.

 

[Roubster]

Well it really does depend on how much you use your geetar. For example look at Steve Morse. He is still using his No. 1 after more than 20 years now. Steve has his guitar in hand almost 24/7 and has gone through I think about 5 re-frets if not more now, so if you play like him than a new guitar would last maybe 30 years or so? However Stainless Steel frets last much longer I beleive so that could be an option for a re-fret. I always like my guitars new.

 

[Larry]

I've never bought a used guitar. I like to break 'em in. Make the scratches and dents

 

[jagged]

Well it really does depend on how much you use your geetar. For example look at Steve Morse. He is still using his No. 1 after more than 20 years now. Steve has his guitar in hand almost 24/7 and has gone through I think about 5 re-frets if not more now, so if you play like him than a new guitar would last maybe 30 years or so? However Stainless Steel frets last much longer I beleive so that could be an option for a re-fret. I always like my guitars new.

I only play about an hour a day on average... so not that much.

I also like my guitars new, there's just something about being the able to treat it well and take care of it. With buying used, its hard to judge on how well the previous owner took care of it, scratches and dings arent always a good indicator of the care.