Aged Guitars

I'm not sure how it is in the UK or other parts of the world but when you go into a furniture store here and across the country and go in to the most expensive showroom the majority of styles available are distressed and aged.

Antique reproduction furniture has a market because to buy the real thing, such as a 17th century Italian Standing Man cabinet would cost $250,000.00 if you could find one. Furniture is admired that is from the hand tooled era. Where boards were hewn with an axe hand scraped to smooth with edges hand carved. A furniture piece from that age will have natual worm holes especially European pieces.

Joe has seen enough authentic 57/58/59's that he appreciates the natural wear and age that the guitars go through. Not many people can afford an authentic 57 so a reproduction is the answer. His happens to be a replication of a specific guitar that went through his dad's shop when he was a kid. He also likes the fact that he can play one night after night and not worry about adding any belt buckle rash or nick.

I understand the concept and own distressed furniture and prefer that my furniture not look like it came off the showroom floor yesterday. It is an old money attitude like the Astor's and the Rockefellar's not a gloss and glitz attitude like Trump, a new money guy. I'm neither old money or new money but I make my living working around people with money so I understand the mindset. 

Some people still want their furniture to look showroom new when they have it delivered. Then follow guests and children around making sure they don't scratch or dent the piece. A distressed piece that aquires a new ding just adds to the character of the piece.

There is nothing wrong with either attitudes it is simply a matter of personal preference. I prefer distressed furniture and some guitars but I want my car to look showroom new.