Instrument Abuse - Guitars101

drvmusic · 03-23-2006, 07:34 AM

Is there anyone else out there who cannot stand it when an "artist" destroys a guitar or other instrument. I don't care if it's a White Falcon or a $29 Dean Kiddie Guitar I can't stand to see any instrument smashed. I find it wasteful and honestly think it's cheap theatrics and gets in the way of the music. IMHO, every instrument has some quality that makes it different and those differences need to be used, not destroyed.

On another note, I know so many people with perfectly good guitars who bought them, never learned, and leave them in a closet/attic/basement. Whenever I'm at their houses I ask to play them so they don't warp/deteriorate from non-use.

What's your .02?

Naifuzan · 03-23-2006, 07:45 AM

I also think it's kinda stupid. Especially when people do it nowadays. It was one thing when the who or hendrix did it.
But now, not only are you destroying a perfectly good instrument, but "it's been done", and yeah, it makes it feel like cheap theatrics, as you say.

John Hiatt did a great song about this... "Perfectly Good Guitar".

"Oh it breaks my heart to see those stars
Smashing a perfectly good guitar
I don’t know who they think they are
Smashing a perfectly good guitar"

D.i.n.o · 03-23-2006, 08:24 AM

I agree ...
It really upsets me to see someone destroy something I love so much.
I don't care if it's a $50 Estaban or a $50k PRS, it's just stupid.

metalnick · 03-23-2006, 02:27 PM

Stupid. Wasteful, and annoying as all hell!

What is Destroying a guitar?

Ding! Ding! Ding!

**thectrain** · 03-23-2006, 04:22 PM

It doesn't really bother me. Since about 1975 its lame to do and is just stupid theatrics. The way I see it a guitar is just a tool to express ones talent on, sometimes people really that there guitars sometimes they dont. Really I really dont care if someone smashes a guitar as long as its not mine cause happen to like mine.

Edenbridge · 03-23-2006, 05:02 PM

I totally agree 100% with you. I think its a total waste. Dang it give it to me.....dont destroy it.

Sprint · 03-23-2006, 05:03 PM

Don't take it so hard drvmusic!

It's just a prop. The cost of that destroyed guitar is miniscule compared to the $ spent on a typical rock show for pyro, lighting, dry ice (if they still use that), hairspray and bowls of jelly beans in the dressing rooms (with red ones removed).

Sure it's been done before! But lots of today's rock has been done before. They're all just trying to put a new twist on it. Rock shows are about music, but they've always been equally about theatrics, style, massive ego, shocks to the senses, violence, sex and posing. That's what makes it great. Personally - if it's done in a cool and somewhat original way - I love to see the guitarist use the guitar for a sledge hammer for a while. Who could forget Pete T. smashing that guitar and trying to slam the neck through his Cab - then Keith Moon copies Pete and smashes his drums, then Jimmy copies The Who and sets fire to his guitar, then .... .... then who could forget Cobain at that awards show where he throws his guitar way way up in the air and walks away and the thing comes down and smacks him on head and almost knocks him out - whow - that must've hurt. That stuff is what Rock and Roll is all about - "lowest common denominator" stuff.

I went to see Ted Nugent a while back who hangs his Les Paul on a rope and, as it's hoisted to the ceiling, he shoots it with a few flaming arrows. Yaaaa! That's an original way to ruin a guitar. And who could forget Ace Frehley who guts a Les Paul, fills it with dry ice and Christmas lights, and, shoots fireworks off of a little launcher strapped to the neck. Yaaaaa! So cool, - such an original way to ruin a guitar. That's rock n' roll.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fendor, Gibson, Jackson, (and more probably Squire, Cort and Epiphone) will ensure that no one will ever be deprived of a guitar because the rich dudes are smashing up a few every night.

Don't Worry - be happy

JeffHanneman · 03-23-2006, 05:06 PM

I always wince and say "DON'T DESTROY IT GIVE IT TO ME!"

DannyBoy · 03-23-2006, 05:15 PM

'Tis a bit sacreligious lol. I dont care to see it myself either. No doubt a certain mod will come along and tell us this debate is nonsense. So this is the end of my 2 cents

irongolem85 · 03-23-2006, 07:29 PM

i think its kinda pointless, and is kinda cheap since everybody and thier mother has done it...however...sometimes it works, sometimes a song just comes along and the mood is right and an axe must be sacrificed to the moment...not often, but sometimes...

besides, i wouldnt have any use for the guitars they smash if they were to "not break it and give it to me"...so few lefties destroy axes because they only have the one decent one they could find!

Drak_nyen · 03-24-2006, 05:29 AM

Done properly and with some originallity I can agree it is great to do.

There is a local Reading Heavy-Metal band called Head-On who have a song called "Here Comes The Hammer" & at the start of the song the lead singer smashes something with a dirty great big Wooden sledghammer. That was different and original and in keeping with the theme of the song.

Seeing Yngwie Malmsteen smash up his guitar on the G3 DVD I thought was a little crap. He has been playing his cream Fender with the Ferrari Logo on it then suddenly right at the end of the song changes it (tried to be discreet) & then smashes it around the stage and throws it into the audience.
Now as he has a deal with Fender I am guessing these are probably blank squires that he smashes up but I think its a real waste cos to pay for these kind of costs for doing this stuff it will push up the price of the retail models as anything damaged/given away free has to come from the companys bottom line. Only way to ensure the bottom line stays healthy is to put up prices. I dont agree with us paying any extra for someones ego.
Personally I would rather see him smash a £60 Encore than a £199 Squire as the Squires are better & could be used to help a new beginner learn the art of guitar.

Sorry that was starting to turn into a rant.

My tuppence anyway

Flet · 03-24-2006, 11:23 AM

Other than the frustration of thinking "but that smashed guitar could have been mine to love instead", it's not that bothersome because it's all built into the artists supply/demand cost/benefit marketing ratios. And you can't really say "when Hendrix did it it was different". It's not excusable the first time and not subsequent times. It's all about the show.

wahwah · 03-24-2006, 12:30 PM

I think it's kinda lame because the guys who did it properly were just being copied. I'm saying Hendrix, The Who and Blackmore would be the ones who made it art.

A great story about The Who was they had to STEAL Vox and Marshall amps as well as guitars to smash on stage as no-one would let them have them. They once did a raid on a shop and filled the van (in broad daylight), then went to the Battersea Dog's Home to try and buy a dog to guard the van, and had the lot stolen from outside the dog's home!!! Now THAT'S rock and roll!

HeReSy · 03-24-2006, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wahwah

I think it's kinda lame because the guys who did it properly were just being copied. I'm saying Hendrix, The Who and Blackmore would be the ones who made it art.

A great story about The Who was they had to STEAL Vox and Marshall amps as well as guitars to smash on stage as no-one would let them have them. They once did a raid on a shop and filled the van (in broad daylight), then went to the Battersea Dog's Home to try and buy a dog to guard the van, and had the lot stolen from outside the dog's home!!! Now THAT'S rock and roll!

NOW THATS ROCK AND OR ROLL!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!!!!!

whoever stole that van would be one happy chappy