Buckle Rash

[GAD]

I've played guitar for over 30 years. I've played lots and lots of guitars and seen even more. I've personally owned probably 15 total.

None of my guitars have ever had so much as a scratch on the back, except for a 1975 Guild S60 that I bought with severe buckle rash. The guitar was damn-near mint everywhere else too.

Maybe I'm just anal about my gear, but it floors me that people aren't careful about this. I'm not talking about dings - guitars get dings and scratches and what-not, but man seeing a guitar where the back has been worn down into the wood on an otherwise seemingly well cared-for guitar drives me nuts. Even when I was gigging regularly my guitars never had buckle rash.

All the people I played with back in the 70s and 80s and all the people I play with now take the time to take off a jacket with zippers, or take off the belt, or tuck a shirt over the belt buckle. Maybe I was just lucky enough to have learned the habit early on in life. My dad taught me to take care of my gear.

I know there are people that say guitars are just tools and such, but to me they're so much more. Hell my garage is a wreck. I don't think I could find half my tools, so it's not like I'm a neat freak or anything.

I've bought gear that was advertised as "near mint" and it's been riddled with chips down to the wood or metal. When I'd complain I'd always get the "I guess you're just really picky" line.

An instrument is something special and deserves more care than a socket wrench. Am I the only one like this?

GAD

[CharAznable]

I don't tuck in my shirts. No belt buckle rash, ever.

[benjammin420]

i dont take anywhere near the kind of care i should for my instruments, and i wear a decent belt buckle, but none of my guitars has much for scraps, nothing thru the finish

[GAD]

Originally Posted by CharAznable

I don't tuck in my shirts. No belt buckle rash, ever.

I never tuck in my shirt either. Maybe being a slob is the path to keeping a neat guitar? I like that...

GAD

[Motorhed]

I don't mind it on used guitars(my 2 Gibsons have it) but I'm careful not to add stuff like that to my guitars myself. I don't wear my guitar low enough for that to be a problem really and I wouldn't wear a jacket while playing unless I absolutly had to. I'm not perfect with my guitars by any means, they all have dings and scratches but I try not to do things that I know could result in damaging my babies.

I just posted this one in the mahogany in finishes other than cherry thread. This is the worst of the ones I have, it goes pretty deep too, must have been some belt buckle lol. My SG has some but it doesn't go through the finish, the pick wear is actually worse.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...r/100_4142.jpg

[shane88]

i don't care

[NG7]

I play a strat so the trem cover takes most of the punishment.

[edwarddavis]

Originally Posted by GAD

I've played guitar for over 30 years. I've played lots and lots of guitars and seen even more. I've personally owned probably 15 total.

None of my guitars have ever had so much as a scratch on the back, except for a 1975 Guild S60 that I bought with severe buckle rash. The guitar was damn-near mint everywhere else too.

Maybe I'm just anal about my gear, but it floors me that people aren't careful about this. I'm not talking about dings - guitars get dings and scratches and what-not, but man seeing a guitar where the back has been worn down into the wood on an otherwise seemingly well cared-for guitar drives me nuts. Even when I was gigging regularly my guitars never had buckle rash.

All the people I played with back in the 70s and 80s and all the people I play with now take the time to take off a jacket with zippers, or take off the belt, or tuck a shirt over the belt buckle. Maybe I was just lucky enough to have learned the habit early on in life. My dad taught me to take care of my gear.

I know there are people that say guitars are just tools and such, but to me they're so much more. Hell my garage is a wreck. I don't think I could find half my tools, so it's not like I'm a neat freak or anything.

I've bought gear that was advertised as "near mint" and it's been riddled with chips down to the wood or metal. When I'd complain I'd always get the "I guess you're just really picky" line.

An instrument is something special and deserves more care than a socket wrench. Am I the only one like this?

GAD

I agree with you 100%, I think the Government is doing a 20 year study why guitar players with nice guitars feel the need to wear ten pound belt buckles with new guitars.
People did not realize ib the old days that if you rub hard metal against wood it harms it. I think we are smarter now . It was mystery in certain parts of the USA for years why guitars got such a bad rash .

[atquinn]

My guitars don't have any buckle rash, but I'm careful about it. They'd be scratched up to hell and back if played them with my belt uncovered. I don't really think it says anything about how much you value an instrument though and has nothing to do with "taking care of your gear".

-Austin

[roomservice]

I'm not particularly bothered about it but I have found that as I've got older and I've got into the habit of wearing belly concealing clothes the instances of buckle rash have dropped somewhat.......

[Polynitro]

I don't wear big ass belt buckles and my Tele sits above the belt anyway...Maybe its a 70s thing? People in the 50s and early 60s didn't wear big ass belt buckles did they? Or maybe they did i dunno.

[rockinlespaul]

I don't mind either way I suppose. I buy most of my guitars used, so if they're beat when I buy them, so be it. On the other hand, if I buy one thats nice, I try to keep it that way.

Into the wood...like this?



I just got this one..it's beat as well but man it sounds good!

[geetarman]

I always play with an untucked shirt and never wear a belt of any kind its those little grommets on jean pockets that piss me off.

[guitarfish]

Originally Posted by shane88

i don't care

There's your answer.

[Taylor 339]

I wear Sansabelt polyester slacks pulled way up when I play. My guitars have always looked like new.