Show your wear...

[Demetrius]

Hi, I’m sure some of you are repulsed by the idea of wear on your mandolins, but for those of you who are into the mojo, this threads for you. I’d love to see some of the scars on your workhorses.



Demetrius

[pops1]

That is extremely minimal compared to mine. I have many nicks on top, no finger wear as I use a guard, almost no finish left on the back of the neck and that includes the stain. My main workhorse is a Brentrup A and when I was at Han's I almost didn't want to show it to him. He said " I build them to play and I can tell you play this". He was happy. I have been doing a weekly boat cruise in the summer for around 10 years and a varnished instrument in heat and humidity gets worn. Last year I started taking a lacquer instrument just to keep the Brentrup from getting more abused. Rocking waves means you almost always bump into something at least once a cruise. Sorry I don't have a pic at the moment and heading out soon.

[Demetrius]

That is extremely minimal compared to mine. I have many nicks on top, no finger wear as I use a guard, almost no finish left on the back of the neck and that includes the stain. My main workhorse is a Brentrup A and when I was at Han's I almost didn't want to show it to him. He said " I build them to play and I can tell you play this". He was happy. I have been doing a weekly boat cruise in the summer for around 10 years and a varnished instrument in heat and humidity gets worn. Last year I started taking a lacquer instrument just to keep the Brentrup from getting more abused. Rocking waves means you almost always bump into something at least once a cruise. Sorry I don't have a pic at the moment and heading out soon.

Hey that sounds great! I’d love to see this Brentrup sometime...

[Randi Gormley]

if this works right, you can see the wear on my snakehead. the back just has a long scratch but the front is worn through to the wood grain and it has a repaired crack.

[HonketyHank]

One of the things about MAS is that at some point you have sufficient mandolins to distribute the wear among them all, thus making it almost undetectable. Mind you, you can never have enough mandolins, but you can have sufficient.

[Demetrius]

Woah! see now that looks great man! Very well loved for sure!

if this works right, you can see the wear on my snakehead. the back just has a long scratch but the front is worn through to the wood grain and it has a repaired crack.

[MontanaMatt]

I wear through strings, picks, frets, tuning gears, case latches, cables, vans, clothes, and more...
My mandolins look mint (knock on mando wood) due to my closed hand non planted technique and paranoia, plus toneguard and armrest.
Do I lack mojo?

[Demetrius]

I don't know the answer to that, Ive never met you...

I wear through strings, picks, frets, tuning gears, case latches, cables, vans, clothes, and more...
My mandolins look mint (knock on mando wood) due to my closed hand non planted technique and paranoia, plus toneguard and armrest.
Do I lack mojo?

[MontanaMatt]

I don't know the answer to that, Ive never met you...

I'm just poking fun. It's kinda like shiny trucks vs trucks covered in mud and dents, both can be cool trucks.

[Ivan Kelsall]

I'm with Montana Matt - No wear on either my 10 year old Weber,or 15 year old Lebeda. I bought my Weber new,my Lebeda was 'used' but looked pristine when i bought it,& still does. The first owner of my Ellis,managed to put a few marks on the top - no scratches but dings !,
Ivan

[Eric C.]

Here's mine...

[MikeZito]

When I was younger, I didn't care for bumps, dings, dents, scratches, chips, etc. on my mandolins; (I especially hated the idea of buying new 'relic' guitars from the factory) - but as I get older, and I am becoming a human 'relic' myself, I find that I rather prefer a mandolin that shows good overall wear; (i.e., Bill Monroe's mandolin).

Keep the pictures coming!

[MikeZito]

One of the things about MAS is that at some point you have sufficient mandolins to distribute . . . Mind you, you can never have enough mandolins, but you can have sufficient.

Nice save Hank - for a minute there I thought you had lost your mind!

[pheffernan]

if this works right, you can see the wear on my snakehead. the back just has a long scratch but the front is worn through to the wood grain and it has a repaired crack.

Your '23 sounds a lot like my '24.

[Joey Anchors]

I’m still working on wearing some mojo into my Crystal Forest. I’ll post progress photos in 20 years.

[Ivan Kelsall]

In many ways - what's acceptable to us as individuals,maybe down to the circumstances in which were were raised. Back in the UK,in 1950 when i was 5 years old,i was raised to look after what i had,because there was a very strong possibility that i wouldn't be getting another !. Lessons learned at that age stick !!!!!. Instrument 'wear' is only to be expected,but 'damage' - no way !,
Ivan

[Bob Clark]

I am with Montana Matt; my few instruments look as good many years in as they did new. I play a lot, but I play gently. Might be different if I played a genre that requires a heavier hand, but I really like keeping them looking good. But if play-wear looks good to you or is inevitable with your style of play, go for it!

[Jim Garber]

Hi, I’m sure some of you are repulsed by the idea of wear on your mandolins, but for those of you who are into the mojo, this threads for you. I’d love to see some of the scars on your workhorses.



Demetrius

No criticism of your playing since I know how well you do that, but that looks like posting the pinky would cause that with a nice hard fingernail. Most of my mandolins have pickguards, so I don't have that problem.

Most of my mandolins don't have anywhere near the pickwear that my guitars do. Mostly they get worn around the treble edge of the soundhole.

I have little problem with wear on a guitar, esp what sellers call "honest wear." Hey, what is "dishonest wear" anyway?

[Upis Land]

Hi, I’m sure some of you are repulsed by the idea of wear on your mandolins, but for those of you who are into the mojo, this threads for you. I’d love to see some of the scars on your workhorses.



Demetrius

Dem,

Is that your new, old Stiver? If so I guess that wear is inherited from another's playing habits? Sometimes its nice to embrace the evidence of that which has come before.

[Demetrius]

Hello! Yes Sir that is the new Stiver and you're absolutely right that was put there by the original owner. I LOOOOOOOVE this mandolin!!!!!

Dem,

Is that your new, old Stiver? If so I guess that wear is inherited from another's playing habits? Sometimes its nice to embrace the evidence of that which has come before.

[dustyamps]

Too much moonshine at the barn dances I suspect.

[Marty Jacobson]

Too much moonshine at the barn dances I suspect.

Maybe some of it. But look at the picking pattern... that's a mandolin that's been used as a babysitter. Grandkids come over, want to bang around on the mandolin under the sofa. How else are you going to get pickwear around the strings underneath the bridge (barring modern experimental music, which is also a possibility).

[Jim Garber]

Sorry, Dem... I should not have assumed that that was your top wear. I didn't know it was on your newly-acquired mandolin. I do agree. I almost would prefer the beat up instrument to the pristine one that looked like it wasn't played. Mojo, for sure.

[Demetrius]

Sorry, Dem... I should not have assumed that that was your top wear. I didn't know it was on your newly-acquired mandolin. I do agree. I almost would prefer the beat up instrument to the pristine one that looked like it wasn't played. Mojo, for sure.

Oh no worries Jim, I didn’t take it in a negative way at all...

[dustyamps]

Here is the mandolin the kids played with.