Scratches SUCK!!!

[Roubster]

So I finally managed to scratch the crap out of my beloved Silhouette last night. I was stuffing some paper tissue under the springs and in between to see if it would give me some more sustain like Vai does, or some crap. Basically just some experimentation, but one of the springs popped out of the trem block. So I used pliers to stretch it out to put it back into place, when the freakin thing slipped and with the force of me pulling on the spring from the cavity towards the back of the body, I left a LOOOOOONG scratch with the pliers FROM the beginning of the cavity all the way to the end of the body. It did not go through the finish and you cant see any wood and it is in the back, but that was just so F****** stupid. Well, there is absolutly nothing I can do about it, so I just have to move on . I'm just glad it's on the back of the guitar, because it really looks stupid. Sh*t happens . Now I have to punish myself by playing the HELL out of the Silo, untill my hands fall off.

 

[fbecir]

Scratches are like wrinkles ...
A wrinkle does not make you prettier ... but it shows that you have some experience of life ...
It is the same with guitars : every scratch is a memory of your history as a musician. And a scratch does not change the sound of a guitar !

It is better to make your own scratches than to buy a "Relic" guitar

 

[beej]

Dude, I hear ya. It SUCKS.

Last year after I added a Piezo to my Morse, I wasn't happy with the way the battery compartment sat (it stuck out a tad). So after a beer or two, I took the compartment out, grabbed my Dremel and with one hand tried to rout out a tad more space. Stupid thing to do, because I initially took such care to do it right.

It slipped and I put a big scar down the back of the body So off I went shopping for Blue nail polish to match the Blueburst and hide the shame.

Sucks, but every guitar has a war story to tell. It's like a badge of honour (or idiocy).

 

[pauldogx]

we've all done that at one time or another if you've worked on guitars at all. I know its too late now but Stew Mac makes a spring tool just for that.

 

[blackspy]

I don't know why, but I always feel a little better with a guitar with a scratch or two. If it brand new and perfect, I tend to want to polish it, clean it and protect it more than play it. Then when I do play it, I'm too careful with it, and I don't really connect with it properly. Once they've got a mark or two, and the anxiety of that has past, I can connect with it more.

So, now that you've scratched it, don't worry about doing that anymore and play it like you mean it.

 

[ernie1966]

Been there, done that on the back of one of my Axis guitars. It now has a "racing stripe" from the trem cavity to the end, just like yours. Well, watcha gonna do? Bang your head against the wall a couple of times, I guess.

 

[Roubster]

Yea, like I said, there is nothing else I can do to fix it. Unless one of you guys have a time machine or somethin. I am basically past it already, because it's pointless to whine and bitch about something you cant change. I just wanted to share my FIRST scar in the long history of this geetar to come (I hope). I also hope that this will be the last one from carelesness.

 

[NorM]

Think of it as character. Enjoy YOUR guitar! There's no mistaking it now. You are right, scratches do suck

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

Its character. My red Axis is way tatty - but an awesome guitar!

 

[candid_x]

Uff! Have done the exact same thing, installing a trem spring with needle-nose pliers. D'oh!

 

[brentrocks]

i feel for ya dude, the first time i put a scratch in one of my EVHs....i flipped!!!

 

[robelinda2]

man putting an extra spring in sucks! hard work with normal pliers! always ends in pain

 

[kbaim]

I'd rather scratch up a Fender than a music man.

Back in the 10th grade, I broke my arm skateboarding and had a full cast.

This was less than a year after getting my first electric, a strat.

I played it with the cast on and banged the crap out of it for over a month...but I was very happy to still be able to play it.

 

[Roubster]

I wasnt putting in an extra spring. I was just stuffing some paper tissue under the springs when one just pooped off. Than I was just putting it back and that's when it happened. I'm not that pissed about it anymore really. It's the back of the guitar, and it's thin and does not go through the clear finish. I just now know how it feels to freak up a beautiful guitar now.

 

[caucajun]

scratches suck?

......i disagree..........i can't play a guitar that has no scratches.........just the idea that " it's worth more $$ untouched (should i ever need to sell it)" will prevent me from enjoying an otherwise great playing axe................i had to give up a pristine robin savoy because i didn't wanna be the guy who scratched it! i hadta sell it

luckily, my axis ss piezo had plenty of " character " when i rescued it from the pawn shop..........otherwise....i'd a missed out!

i say........"congratulations.........now you can REALLY start to enjoy it!"

i'm very happy for the two of you!