Artificially aged guitars... what do you think?

[Greeny]

There is a new range of Fenders out... the 'Road Worn' series. They retail for around £850, and look amazing. According to Guitarist magazine, they play beautifully too. But what do you think about having an artificially aged guitar? Isn't it cheating to have someone beat the sh*t out of a guitar in a factory so that you can pretend you've been using it on tour for years? Or does Rory Gallaghers beat-up Strat look so amazing that you'd die to have one like that? This new road worn series is the first time I've been tempted by an aged guitar. I love how they look, but reckon I'd feel like a fraud.

I love the website too! One of the coolest I've seen in a while.

http://www.fender.com/roadworn/

[SteveG]

Buy a Strat, play it for 4 hrs a day for years and years, take it on the road, and not only willit look as cool as Rory's you may well find you can play half as good as he did too.

The Vintage Icon series looks pretty nice tho...

[Bluesberry]

I don't like the idea of artifically aged guitars.  I like the idea that all the road scars were created by me and my playing.  Plus I really like it when I get a new guitar and it looks all new and purdy for a while.  I would not like someone else beating up my guitar for me.

Rorys guitar was a thing of beauty in its own way (because of the man who played it), but I would not want to pay for one looking like this.

[beleg]

I agree, there is something not right about faked wear and tear. It reminds me of someone who has their backyard pool designed look like a natural spring coming out of side of a mountain. The fiberglass rocks might look great, but anytime you stop and think about it, something feels off about it. 

[mr2kewl]

i would find it bit awkward to have somone ask, "how'd that gouge get there?" ahh... er... well...

nice new avatar, tim...

[bydle]

I do like aged guitars. It just looks good, just like used jeans.
I've torn my jeans to look cool but I would never do things like this to my guitar though.
But I like them... this one for example:
http://www.fender.com/blackie/blackie_home.html
And here you can find even a guide how to make your own SRV No.1 
http://www.srvguitar.com/DIY.html

[The Reverend 48]

I might be an old tart but I don't understand why anybody would want an aged guitar..If you have aged it with a million battle scars from gigging round the world and you are artiscally attached to a guitar then I fully uderstand that vibe........
 But to buy one to play at home is just crazy. Also I have a real problem with signiture Guitars. Its great to buy a guitar that benifits from a particular artists set up and feel, but I am not sure I would want the artists name on it I would feel a bit of a fraud

OK Rant over I'll get my coat......

[Tony]

In the Taylor Hackford film, 'Hail, Hail Rockand Roll' the filmmaker is aghast that Chuck Berry just throws his guitar in the luggage when he flies to a gig and picks it up from the carousel like it was just another suitcase.  Chuck holds the case up to the camera and says, 'Get an new every year.  Don't you know they're tax deductible?'. Mileage varies, as they say.

[guitarron]

i had a buddy play my strat i had in the late 70's and he did the cigarette in the  headstock bit and burned it
man i was pissed(angry)-but that kind of stuff is gonna happen over the years
imagine how crapped an "aged" strat is gonna look after 20 years of actual abuse
i always thought it was kind of a silly idea
btw have have seen the yngvie malmstein strat that goes for $12k ?
yikes

[lg]

Seems to me it the same thing as buying pre-faded blue-jeans.