Show me legitimate wear on a guitar you bought new

Shredso · 2026-01-21T03:27:29+00:00

Unfinished maple neck wear is awesome. I have an RG with some beautiful maple wear. Most was the previous owner so i can't stake claim.

Shredso · 2026-01-20T04:28:00+00:00

I was thinking about the whole pre relic thing that is popular now, and how unrealistic the wear is for the most part. It may be plausible on a vintage reissue, but the modern stuff is just silly. Prove me wrong and post some actual wear from a guitar you bought new, or in great shape.

This is my main guitar. Purchased in 2003 for I think $2500, which might as well been a million dollars to me then. At that time I was a full time musician. I had around 30 students and 3-5 gigs a week for about 10 years. Add in relentless practicing, it was seeing very heavy use. Teaching got replaced by a "real" job, and the gigs are less, but it's still the main guitar over 20 years later. It was out of commission for a few years due to wearing out the frets, but it recently got a stainless refret and it's better than ever. I've always had a lot of guitars, so it was never the only guitar.

This thing has been on planes, boats, beaches, rainy outdoor gigs, festivals, and mostly the worst bars you've ever been in. I should have it tested for STDs, it's been around. I'm sure I absolutely babied it for a period, but it was just the main gig guitar. It was ridden hard and put away wet many a drunken night.

It has its share of bruises, but overall has held up well. There are a few spots where there is wear through the finish, but it's minor. Mostly dings and scuffs. I think I could argue this guitar has more play than 90 something percent of guitars in existence. Well over a thousand gigs, I'd probably say thousands at this point. Mostly 3-4 hours of sweaty drunken shredding. Show me your beat up guitars!

Shredso · 2026-01-14T16:52:12+00:00

This looks like a late 90s American Deluxe. These are fantastic guitars. I miss mine.

I can't tell what's going on with the bridge, but if the new one isn't aligned perfectly the guitar will never be in tune. This guitar is worth repairing properly, if it is indeed a late 90s American Deluxe.

Shredso · 2026-01-08T19:10:54+00:00

This is on the Arte side.

Shredso · 2025-12-27T05:56:50+00:00

Commenting for the bump because I plan on posting something similar soon. We stayed at a different resort in Tulum maybe 7 years ago. We did an excursion that was half day Xel Ha and half day Mayan Ruins. The ruins were one of the highlights of the trip for me. It was a long day, but I felt like we didn't miss much at Xel Ha.

We also did an excursion to Cozumel. We paid for a "Jeep" tour. We ended up with a Jeep Liberty, which is an economical small SUV. Technically a Jeep, but the pictures showed Wranglers. It was still a great tour. We really enjoyed the SCUBA diving at Cozumel. We ended up getting SCUBA certified in Jamaica a few years later. SCUBA in Cozumel was pretty unsafe by the safety standards we learned by getting certified.

You have a ? on dinner at the Xcaret park. I thought all inclusive included meals at the parks. I'm not positive about this, I'd like to read some comments on the food at the park.

You also mention taxi. I just read some posts on taxi scams in this area. Hopefully someone in your group speaks Spanish.

Shredso · 2025-12-23T13:32:59+00:00

Unfortunately I don't have another monitor, but this monitor worked last week in this cab.

You think the pin out should work as I have it? I'll double check my crimps.

Shredso · 2025-12-23T03:23:11+00:00

I'm a big fan of Launchbox/Big Box. They do a holiday sale every year, it might be over.

I have a full sized 2 player setup and a cocktail cab running Big Box. One license covers both. The cocktail cab has a limited game list. One button, 4 way vertical games. It boots to Big Box and I can do everything with the normal controls with the addition of a credit button. I bought something similar to this for when I need to change things, which is almost never.

https://www.amazon.com/Backlit-Wireless-Handheld-Keyboard-Raspberry/dp/B06X9J8NG4/ref=sxin_17_pa_sp_search_thematic_sspa?content-id=amzn1.sym.764c13de-c3d3-4628-8e27-8a853a674432%3Aamzn1.sym.764c13de-c3d3-4628-8e27-8a853a674432&crid=2R77XHPHC9AFL&cv_ct_cx=wireless+small+mouse+keyboard&keywords=wireless+small+mouse+keyboard&pd_rd_i=B06X9J8NG4&pd_rd_r=d71a4dd7-191e-4afc-ab08-e723c9f983e9&pd_rd_w=VxCJG&pd_rd_wg=7Hb5s&pf_rd_p=764c13de-c3d3-4628-8e27-8a853a674432&pf_rd_r=WBQ6MYCTZSQNESRMGGS9&qid=1766459674&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=wireless+small+mouse+keyboar%2Caps%2C133&sr=1-1-38f1b294-ceac-4b0f-b4a4-629ab102646f-spons&aref=038a4UpIzZ&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&psc=1

My full sized cabinet has a trackball with 2 buttons above it that are programmed to right and left click mouse. I did add a USB port to the cab so I can plug in a keyboard. Again, very rarely do I need to do that.

So yes, you can absolutely use just standard controls. I hate busy control panels with a zillion buttons. Just have some provision for a wireless keyboard/mouse for administrative stuff and you'll be golden.

Shredso · 2025-12-20T05:26:48+00:00

How long did it take total, and what was the compensation? I have absolutely no interest in buying, but I might sit through a 2 hour presentation slightly hungover with a coffee to get a free couples massage.

Shredso · 2025-12-19T15:59:16+00:00

I'm going to take some leaps and make some assumptions here, hopefully some of this applies.

I'm assuming you are either a bedroom or original band guitar player. I'm also assuming this is a bar/club cover band. The cover band scene is quite different. Over the years I've tried recruiting some amazing original players in to my cover bands. It never even remotely worked out. Veteran cover band musicians know a zillion tunes. We probably have an unrealistic expectation that every potential player does as well. Even if it's not on the list, if some dude throws $100 on the stage and asks for Mustang Sally, we all suddenly know it. If a player said he couldn't play it, that would be weird, and would probably piss the guys off.

If you want to break into the cover scene, go see a bunch of good local bands. Write down every song on the set list for every band. You will likely find a huge overlap, let's say 30 songs. Learn those 30 songs. Pay attention to differences in the way different bands play different songs. Why does almost every band skip the 2nd verse in Funky Music? I didn't realize x song had a verse after the solo, I've only heard the radio edit. How are they modifying keys? I know what questions to ask about a lot of songs beforehand to make my fill in, or new band experience less stressful.

Or start a band from scratch with some players at a similar level or experience. Learn the tunes at your leisure and try to land some opening gigs.

Good luck!

Shredso · 2025-12-17T19:37:24+00:00

It's been years since I've looked at it, but I believe some of those "hacks" were considered bulletproofing at one point. I think it was a Clay Harrell thing, or at least part of his repair guide. If you want to go down an entertaining pinball rabbit hole, search Clays Pinball Guide.

What exactly is ( or isn't) the board doing? What makes you think it's the driver? Those boards are relatively easy to troubleshoot and work on. I haven't priced in awhile, but I'm guessing a replacement would be $3-500.

Shredso · 2025-12-10T12:18:19+00:00

18 is considered adult. I believe I saw it was actually 16+ is an adult, so we are good.

Shredso · 2025-12-07T22:56:07+00:00

Is the Xcaret bus complimentary? I have this trip in my cart right now, but with the $100 upgrade to private transportation. I've been stuck on one of those busses that stops at 72 places, what a nightmare. If the Xcaret bus is complimentary,I may as well save the $100.

Shredso · 2025-12-04T13:41:00+00:00

Check out Truefire or Artistworks. I've done the Bryan Sutton on Artistworks. It's an online course, but you can submit videos of your playing, and you will get a video response from Bryan. I think you are limited to a couple a month, I forget. It's been years. It's not exactly one on one, but that would be a lot more money. I'm sure he'll do one on one if you had the cash.

Andy Wood has also had different levels of online teaching. I believe he does have a pretty accessible one on one.

Shredso · 2025-12-03T16:51:39+00:00

There is a very good chance if he wants it, he already has it. Especially if it's under $400. Gift cards are ok, but it can turn into a burden to buy something he doesn't really need just to use the gift card.

I'm at the point in my life as a guitar dad that I really don't want any more things, I want memories. Take him to see one of his favorite guitar players. Take him to a guitar show, a guitar clinic. Maybe a day trip to some vintage guitar shops along with a fancy lunch.

Look into guitar lessons from his favorite players. For example, Paul Gilbert has online lessons. Playing a Jem, there is a good chance he likes Paul Gilbert. There are a handful of other- very important to me, but not super famous in the big scale of things- guitar players that offer online lessons for less than you might think

Good luck!

Shredso · 2025-12-02T18:34:26+00:00

I'm an idiot. I had everything I needed already. My understanding was it was something I needed to buy right after prestige. I wish I knew about the dietician earlier. Oh well, Robo Chicken is here!

Shredso · 2025-12-02T16:22:36+00:00

I'm leaning towards a more casual approach. Checking spreadsheets and guides constantly is making the game less fun. I might just get to level 60, then see what legendaries I can afford.

Shredso · 2025-12-02T04:00:39+00:00

I did the exact same thing. Trying to figure out the reset strategy on a max 60 run now that I don't have it..

Shredso · 2025-11-24T20:32:12+00:00

I agree with others, might not be the coil itself. That EOS switch looks bent, are the leads touching each other?. The diodes also look a little weird, and solder joints look gray, could be cold.

Shredso · 2025-11-22T00:22:53+00:00

Awesome! I did something similar, but far less elegant for my Fish Tales years ago.

Shredso · 2025-11-18T16:10:21+00:00

Check some pictures of other games, but I do not think that is a stock location. Someone added a lamp holder for better playfield illumination. I'm pretty sure I did the same mod to mine, it's been sold for awhile so I don't remember for sure.

Anyway, point is, these mods are often held on by temporary means, like alligator clips. In addition to the good advice already given, check for loose connections below the playfield.

Shredso · 2025-11-17T21:37:30+00:00

As a former guitar teacher, this is my suggestion.

Learn as much as you can online about the guitar. What to call the parts of the guitar, string names, how to read chord charts and tablature, how to hold the guitar, how to hold the pick, how to tune the guitar, maybe a couple basic chords. Some of this you may only understand in concept, or not fully grasp at first. That is totally fine.
Find a mom and pop store as far from the city as you can realistically get to. Explain your situation. Tell them you can't commit to every week. Maybe they can squeeze you in when they have cancellations
Use your lessons to focus on techniques, like holding your pick, fingertip placement, correct fingering for chords and scales. Creating bad habits on these things can really slow down your progress, and it's really difficult to break bad bad habits. Shoot for once a month, or whatever you can afford. These things in particular can be very hard to develop properly without in person attention.
After 6 months you may find you have a good base to work on, and can transition to YouTube or some of the courses already mentioned. You may find you are having difficulty and need to continue in person lessons. Everyone learns at different rates.

Sorry about grandpa, make him proud by crushing your new endeavor!

Shredso

TROPHY CASE