Beaters to save your good guitars?

[backline]

There's a used Epi Sorrento on the wall at the local used gear store. Kind of a thin 2 X P90 sort of archtop like a 175T or Casino structurally, but with a single cutaway.

It's kind of cheap for an archtop ($439-used -good shape) so I'm tempted.

I've had lots of "beaters" to use vs my nice jazz guitar, over the years, but I've never really kept a beater archtop around.

 

You guys keep beaters as protection against #1 ax abuse?

[Steiner]

Not I. I bought them to play 'em. I have a beater to wrench upon but I don't seem to be drawn to it like the Heritages

[Kuz]

I am just very careful when I play, so no beater needed.

 

I use a stand when gigging. I put them in the case when not in use. I stay away from the bass player when he is swinging around to adjust his amp.

 

Basically, you have heard of "defensive driving", I use "defensive playing"!

[brentrocks]

when i had my collection of EBMM EVHs, i had 2 of the 6 that i wasnt afraid to play....1 of them i never got out because it was so rare and worth $4000, i was afraid to scratch it. i see now that was stupid of me because what good is a guitar that sits?

[mars_hall]

I don't have any guitars that I would consider a "beater", but I do have some guitars that are worth more than I paid for them.

 

One guitar I just played for the first time in about 5 month is my Epiphone Spotlight. There is a big storm coming through and I just placed all my H150s in their cases. The Spotlight is a neckthrough guitar and I have put APH-1s in it with coil taps... It is an incredible guitar has actually more sustain than my Heritage guitars, which I incidently just installed TonePros TP-6s on to improve the performance. The Spotlight is a 25.5" scale and sounds very twangy (Fenderish) in the coil-tapped mode. It has a nice edge in full humbucker mode.

 

I love this guitar and it does way more than I would expect, given the money I have put in it.

 

[backline]

Hmmm.

OK.

Let's change the perspective.

 

Perhaps in August my wife and I will travel by car from here on the left coast to Denver, to visit my mother and a brother.

I have always enjoyed playing some guitar while on vacation and once put 10,000 miles on a Tele in one month. I generally have taken more durable guitars on trips, rather than subject any form of fragile acoustic guitar to a hot car environment which might soften the glue in a car while we're eating in a resturant.

 

Last December In drove out to Denver alone for my mother's 90th birthday and took along an archtop, because I didn't fear overheating it, and I had plenty of room inside the vehicle.

 

This August, if we are indeed traveling, I won't be taking my H-575, though I do appreciate a bit more practicing volume (unplugged) than a plank design guitar usually affords me.

 

The aforementioned Epi Sorento is an affordable substitute to the H-575 for practicing, has the same scale length, and takes up less room. I don't intend to subject it to any overheating scenarios, but unforeseen things can happen on a trip and I'd rather they not happen to my H-575.

If I knew I was going to cook a guitar I would just take a strat or tele, as I have knocked around the country with those and didn't seem able to hurt them. But I'd rather play in my comfort zone on a substitute archtop.

 

I've never melted down a guitar in a hot car or attic, but have seen the results.

 

Anyway this is my thinking so far.

Call me a worry wart.

[skydog]

Yes, I agree. Every Heritage owner should also buy the equilavent (in $) Gibson and save the Heritage for special moments.

[High Flying Bird]

Get a good cheap 535 from the bay and carry it with you. I only paid a little over $900.00 for my gold 535 and it is my main guitfiddle now. I remember calling it a beater the first night I got it. I popped it on a chair and almost puked. No harm though.

 

I am used to my Heritages so a lesser guitar would not fit my hand correctly.

[Kuz]

Hmmm.

OK.

Let's change the perspective.

 

Perhaps in August my wife and I will travel by car from here on the left coast to Denver, to visit my mother and a brother.

I have always enjoyed playing some guitar while on vacation and once put 10,000 miles on a Tele in one month. I generally have taken more durable guitars on trips, rather than subject any form of fragile acoustic guitar to a hot car environment which might soften the glue in a car while we're eating in a resturant.

 

Last December In drove out to Denver alone for my mother's 90th birthday and took along an archtop, because I didn't fear overheating it, and I had plenty of room inside the vehicle.

 

This August, if we are indeed traveling, I won't be taking my H-575, though I do appreciate a bit more practicing volume (unplugged) than a plank design guitar usually affords me.

 

The aforementioned Epi Sorento is an affordable substitute to the H-575 for practicing, has the same scale length, and takes up less room. I don't intend to subject it to any overheating scenarios, but unforeseen things can happen on a trip and I'd rather they not happen to my H-575.

If I knew I was going to cook a guitar I would just take a strat or tele, as I have knocked around the country with those and didn't seem able to hurt them. But I'd rather play in my comfort zone on a substitute archtop.

 

I've never melted down a guitar in a hot car or attic, but have seen the results.

 

Anyway this is my thinking so far.

Call me a worry wart.

 

Ok then. That's what Teles and Strats are for. Although I agree with Ron that I would be less motivated to play.

[pushover]

You guys keep beaters as protection against #1 ax abuse?

 

This was actually part of the reasoning of how I ended up with the Gibby LP Vintage Mahogany. I save up playing my 157 for when I'm playing things. When I'm just practicing and repeating the same stuff over and over again, I use the LP. Probably saves up some needless fretware on the 157 and it certainly has fewer dings that it would otherwise have as well.. I think it's pretty good as a beater guitar. Probably could/should have bought something cheaper, but I do like sound of the BB pro Pup's on it.

[Kuz]

Huh, I don't get dings or scratches when I practice. I rotate all my guitars (none are beaters) so they all will break in evenly. I play all my guitars very often (each probably has a couple hours a week on them) and they all look mint.

 

Just my opinion, but if I was going to spend money on a beater, i would be kicking myself for not saving that money I spent and put it toward a new Heritage or another keeper guitar.

[TheRecordFable]

Since my purchase of my H-555 I've played the holy hell out of it (How could I not?), mind you only home in the studio but hard none the less.

I think you should play your guitar and be careful but not baby it. The battle scars give character and unless you plan on selling WHO CARES.

I also have a couple junkers from my youth but play my American bitches much, much more.

[stevieboy]

In general I don't go for the idea of a "beater" guitar, but you have defined a specific need that I think is reasonable and practical. I certainly wouldn't take a good archtop or semihollow on a trip like that. Personally, I take a tele on trips, but if the Epi is what you want, I'd say do it. You get a guitar for the use you see, you get P90's (always a good thing!) and it's used so you wouldn't lose a lot if you decided to sell it.

[Dick Seacup]

My cottage and backyard guitar is an Ovation 1868 Elite. I don't have to worry about heat and humidity, can plug in if I happen to find an amp washed up on the beach, and although some discount the "tone" of the shallow body, it works well enough for my meager talent (and tin ear). Of all my guitars, it happens to be my wife's favorite. It's definitely not a beater (not a thing wrong with it and in good to excellent condition), and I didn't buy it thinking I would ever play it "in the elements," but it fits the bill perfectly.

[backline]

My cottage and backyard guitar is an Ovation 1868 Elite. I don't have to worry about heat and humidity, can plug in if I happen to find an amp washed up on the beach, and although some discount the "tone" of the shallow body, it works well enough for my meager talent (and tin ear). Of all my guitars, it happens to be my wife's favorite. It's definitely not a beater (not a thing wrong with it and in good to excellent condition), and I didn't buy it thinking I would ever play it "in the elements," but it fits the bill perfectly.

 

 

 

Jeez yes!

I forgot all about those.

Once I had an Applause I'd take on scouting trips when our boys were younger.

I'll have to look around for another of those maybe. I wasn't big on the aluminum "fretboard" but I'm pretty sure it could NOT be hurt even if I backed over it (never tried)!

[jbltwin1]

I must say that I DO have a beater, JUST for the above reasons. I have to wrok in some places that I wouldn't take my prized 535 into. I bought an old tele for parts actually, made a neck out out of an aftermarket strat neck, routed the body for two humbucks, added a new bridge and voila-instant backup. Sure, it's not my 535 but I CAN play it when I have to and have absolutely nothing in it. I'm a firm believer in having it IF I need. There would be nothing worse than having NO choice other than take my heritage to some of the crapholes tha I play to make a living.

[Gitfiddler]

Funny you should ask about 'beaters'. I originally picked up my previously owned, well played/broken-in 150 as a 'player' guitar so I wouldn't beat the hell out of my 157 triple p'up.

 

Turns out I use and love the 150 so much that I tend to really baby the heck out of her. Yes, she has battle scars, but there's just something about it that makes me NOT think of her as a 'beater'.

[Sparky]

I think if you're taking a road trip the idea of a "beater" is a good one. For awhile I was buying cheap guitars and

upgrading them, but I really felt strange sitting in my music room plucking on a POS with my Heritage sitting in its case a few feet away. Since I came to the realization that life was too precious to waste time playing POS guitars I've been thinning the herd, but I still have an upgraded Agile I'll keep for shady playing situations.

[Dick Seacup]

Jeez yes!

I forgot all about those.

Once I had an Applause I'd take on scouting trips when our boys were younger.

I'll have to look around for another of those maybe. I wasn't big on the aluminum "fretboard" but I'm pretty sure it could NOT be hurt even if I backed over it (never tried)!

 

Yeah, the Applause (on the OFC they call them "Applesauce") guitars are OK for what they are, but I think they were maybe a little to far into the "built to a cost" envelope. :0

 

Here's my "beater":

[skydog52]

These Heritages are too good not to play.

I have some beaters for my wanabee guitar player inlaws

to play. I am the only one touching my Heritages. My 16 year

old son starting playing recently, but he can't touch them.

He gets mad at me but hey he will get his hands on them

when I'm gone.

[pushover]

These Heritages are too good not to play.

I have some beaters for my wanabee guitar player inlaws

to play. I am the only one touching my Heritages. My 16 year

old son starting playing recently, but he can't touch them.

He gets mad at me but hey he will get his hands on them

when I'm gone.

 

Yeh.. this made me smile... My 16 year old knows not to touch my geeetars.. She's good about it.. And not to ask to drive the Mustang. My 3 year old is in the process of learning... The hard way!!

[mars_hall]

Yeh.. this made me smile... My 16 year old knows not to touch my geeetars.. She's good about it.. And not to ask to drive the Mustang. My 3 year old is in the process of learning... The hard way!!

 

 

Got to hand it to the guys that invented duct tape

[Dick Seacup]

Our 7yo has "Music Appreciation Day" this Thursday. I had no idea until I overheard Mrs. Seacup asking him the other morning, "Where are the maracas you got for Christmas?" He said, "I'm not taking maracas, I'm taking a guitar."

 

Her: A guitar? Where are you getting a guitar from?

Him: I'll take one of dad's.

Her: And, how are you going to get that to school?

Him: Oh, he has cases for all of them, I'll just put one in a case and carry it.

Her: I would think that would be a little heavy for you to carry to school.

Him: Nah, it'll be OK.

Her: Did you ask dad if you could take one of his guitars? Because, I don't think he'd say yes.

Him: Nah, it'll be OK.

 

I told her I could probably teach him "On Top of Spaghetti" on the ukulele by Thursday and he could take that. Which is when I found out that his new plan is for me to take one of my guitars and entertain his class. Like that's going to happen.

[SouthpawGuy]

Our 7yo has "Music Appreciation Day" this Thursday. I had no idea until I overheard Mrs. Seacup asking him the other morning, "Where are the maracas you got for Christmas?" He said, "I'm not taking maracas, I'm taking a guitar."

 

Her: A guitar? Where are you getting a guitar from?

Him: I'll take one of dad's.

Her: And, how are you going to get that to school?

Him: Oh, he has cases for all of them, I'll just put one in a case and carry it.

Her: I would think that would be a little heavy for you to carry to school.

Him: Nah, it'll be OK.

Her: Did you ask dad if you could take one of his guitars? Because, I don't think he'd say yes.

Him: Nah, it'll be OK.

 

I told her I could probably teach him "On Top of Spaghetti" on the ukulele by Thursday and he could take that. Which is when I found out that his new plan is for me to take one of my guitars and entertain his class. Like that's going to happen.

 

Spoilsport !

 

[Steiner]

Our 7yo has "Music Appreciation Day" this Thursday. I had no idea until I overheard Mrs. Seacup asking him the other morning, "Where are the maracas you got for Christmas?" He said, "I'm not taking maracas, I'm taking a guitar."

 

Her: A guitar? Where are you getting a guitar from?

Him: I'll take one of dad's.

Her: And, how are you going to get that to school?

Him: Oh, he has cases for all of them, I'll just put one in a case and carry it.

Her: I would think that would be a little heavy for you to carry to school.

Him: Nah, it'll be OK.

Her: Did you ask dad if you could take one of his guitars? Because, I don't think he'd say yes.

Him: Nah, it'll be OK.

 

I told her I could probably teach him "On Top of Spaghetti" on the ukulele by Thursday and he could take that. Which is when I found out that his new plan is for me to take one of my guitars and entertain his class. Like that's going to happen.

 

Class starts @ 8:15, be there and ready to go at 8:00