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Beat up Bibles

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Feb 22, 2020
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Honolulu
When I was a church going child, I found myself embarrassed at time to sit next to my mother as her Bible was beat up and used and not shiny and new like the well-to-doers in the pews next to us.

Her Bible’s yellowed pages were torn and falling out; scotch tape kept the spine together and almost ever page had a rainbow of highlighters marking important scriptures and important passages. There was even index tabs for quick reference to a Book or two.

My mother noticed how I winced at times when she pulled out her beat up book and turned along with the pastor to the scriptures at hand. But one day she pointed out the difference between her book and those of the fashionable pious. She said those people didn’t read their Bibles as they were likely pulled from the shelf for Sunday use only. She said our Bible looked this way because we read and used it daily. She said this is how a Bible should look.

Are we able to view guitars in the same light? Might that naturally relic’ed bass be the one? Played night after night in a smoky club or session after session in a studio? Scratches, dings, nicks, scratches and all? Could it have that magical mojo owner p(r)layed to find?

Shall we shun the shiny closet classic that sat under the bed for years days after it came home and the disappointed owner forgot about all those hopes and dreams?
 
Are we able to view guitars in the same light? Might that naturally relic’ed bass be the one? Played night after night in a smoky club or session after session in a studio? Scratches, dings, nicks, scratches and all?
Modern finishes are tough especially compared to old nitro, so even an instrument played a lot should not have a lot of wear. Wood type would also factor in as say basswood is much softer than northern ash or maple and less likely to be impact marked. Many people are careful with their gear and aware of the space around themselves so a lack of dings and nicks don't mean anything.
Smoky clubs? Don't remember the last one I was even in, let alone played in.

Could it have that magical mojo owner p(r)layed to find?
Mojo is magic pixie dust, it doesn't exist in any real way.

You don't need a well worn Bible to lead a righteous life. Just walk the walk and follow the tenets.

I do get your premise though, and there are plenty who only follow Scripture in a casual way so they're seen to be doing it. Your well read Bible tells me your family were more likely to be following the path because you regularly referred to the road map contained within to help you know / remember when you went off it.
 
People love relic instruments. People pay extra for fake relic finished on instruments. I rather think your entire preamble about your mother's Bible could have been skipped because asking 'should we love well-played instruments' would have resulted in the same answers.

The good ones get played. Some good ones sit in cases all their life. Such is the way of things. My Pentabuzz has a relatively soft finish and has been played well over it's 28 year life. You can tell it had some 'player miles' on it. Yet I can see the value in it, as can those I play with (they seem to like the sound I make with it).
 
I bought my Sadowsky off a music student who had put a lot of player miles on it and a ton of player wear and tear!! It has a lot of minor damage to the finish and some serious dings.

I've now played this bass for longer than him and there isn't a single mark on it from me. Road worn is OK but IMO not necessary for any instrument, even the ones that sound great and get played a lot!
 
Play what you like. This front P bass has been played/gigged regularly for 21 years:

IMG_20220415_155334022.jpg
 
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People love relic instruments. People pay extra for fake relic finished on instruments. I rather think your entire preamble about your mother's Bible could have been skipped because asking 'should we love well-played instruments' would have resulted in the same answers.

The good ones get played. Some good ones sit in cases all their life. Such is the way of things. My Pentabuzz has a relatively soft finish and has been played well over it's 28 year life. You can tell it had some 'player miles' on it. Yet I can see the value in it, as can those I play with (they seem to like the sound I make with it).

OP could have skipped the Bible reference..but he didnt ... you could have skipped the reference to their reference and just stated your input to the thread.....but you didnt.
 
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I look at the wear on instruments that I've had since new and see my patterns in it. It's kind of satisfying. In the same way I see the laugh lines developing on my wife's face over the years and know that i helped cause them.

Things get older and show wear. Some of that wear I'm proud to be a part of.
 
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When I was a church going child, I found myself embarrassed at time to sit next to my mother as her Bible was beat up and used and not shiny and new like the well-to-doers in the pews next to us.

Her Bible’s yellowed pages were torn and falling out; scotch tape kept the spine together and almost ever page had a rainbow of highlighters marking important scriptures and important passages. There was even index tabs for quick reference to a Book or two.

My mother noticed how I winced at times when she pulled out her beat up book and turned along with the pastor to the scriptures at hand. But one day she pointed out the difference between her book and those of the fashionable pious. She said those people didn’t read their Bibles as they were likely pulled from the shelf for Sunday use only. She said our Bible looked this way because we read and used it daily. She said this is how a Bible should look.

Are we able to view guitars in the same light? Might that naturally relic’ed bass be the one? Played night after night in a smoky club or session after session in a studio? Scratches, dings, nicks, scratches and all? Could it have that magical mojo owner p(r)layed to find?

Shall we shun the shiny closet classic that sat under the bed for years days after it came home and the disappointed owner forgot about all those hopes and dreams?
Seriously?
 
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When I was a church going child, I found myself embarrassed at time to sit next to my mother as her Bible was beat up and used and not shiny and new like the well-to-doers in the pews next to us.

Her Bible’s yellowed pages were torn and falling out; scotch tape kept the spine together and almost ever page had a rainbow of highlighters marking important scriptures and important passages. There was even index tabs for quick reference to a Book or two.

My mother noticed how I winced at times when she pulled out her beat up book and turned along with the pastor to the scriptures at hand. But one day she pointed out the difference between her book and those of the fashionable pious. She said those people didn’t read their Bibles as they were likely pulled from the shelf for Sunday use only. She said our Bible looked this way because we read and used it daily. She said this is how a Bible should look.

Are we able to view guitars in the same light? Might that naturally relic’ed bass be the one? Played night after night in a smoky club or session after session in a studio? Scratches, dings, nicks, scratches and all? Could it have that magical mojo owner p(r)layed to find?

Shall we shun the shiny closet classic that sat under the bed for years days after it came home and the disappointed owner forgot about all those hopes and dreams?

Why would we shun something just because it’s new? I can appreciate that someone used something until it had nothing left to give but I don’t think that imbues it with any sort of hocus pocus.
 
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