GuyR

No wonder my ex-Pino one sold so quick price at £5k

It gives a brief but seemingly frank and contrite account of that and Clapton speaks candidly about the shame he has for his conduct. BB King's on stage tribute to Clapton as the "Most gracious man I have ever met" gives his assertion a level of credibility. Only Clapton knows the truth, but I'd give him the benefit of any doubt based on the interview.

That was a great buy. Well done!!

There are so many other areas of interest this applies to. The word "bass" could be substituted for so many others......

If I have tried something in a shop and I like it enough to buy it, I will buy it there. I am happy to pay for the service I have received in trying the instrument in person. I always haggle and I always get some discount. If we continue to treat shops as a showroom for the Internet, our specialist retailers will continue to diminish in number, our high streets will continue to fill with charity shops and we will continue to pay higher taxes to compensate for the loss of jobs and business rates, while Jeff Bezos gets ever richer...... Sorry, I have gone on a bit of a rant there, definitely not a pop at you Dov65😀, It applies to most forms of retail.

This and "where were you" by Jeff Beck

I had until recently a Bravewood and currently have a CS relic. I prefer the originals.

Of course you do. It is pointless to resist.

There is a lot of variation between 60s models, and some are much better than others, based on the sample I have played and own. I do like them and I also used to have a Morris Minor

My Bravewood J didn't equal any of my pre-cbs Jazzes. My Bravewood Strat is spectacularly good. Sadly I don't have a pre cbs Strat yet to compare it with. Agreed a good Bravewood is a formidable thing.

That is the story often quoted, but I doubt his sweat was ever PH tested. Leaving it in a ditch would not have helped. Definitely human gunk has softened the finish on my bass. Agreed re the Gallagher CS Strat. It is not to my taste, but if it gives pleasure to others, it can't be a bad thing.

In my opinion, the most realistic distressing on a guitar finish I have handled is by Clive Brown. To me, both neck and body indistinguishable from the real thing, of which I have several. His CAR reproduces the straightish parallel checking lines particular to this finish and LPB perfectly. A couple of examples below. I tried the 65, the finish was fantastic https://guitar-auctions.co.uk/portfolio-post/lot-66-1960-fender-stratocaster-electric-guitar-made-in-usa/ https://guitar-auctions.co.uk/portfolio-post/lot-32-1965-fender-stratocaster-electric-guitar-made-in-usa/ Bravewood is also very good, particularly the neck finish, which is similar to Clive Brown's. Fender relics are OK. The body wear is reasonably convincing, albeit the checking usually exaggerated. The simulated neck wear is generally poor, with the unrealistic belt-sander look with definite pronounced edges that I have never seen on genuine examples. The OP's 38 year old Aria, like my 38 year old jv squier, has a poly finish which is much tougher than the nitro finishes most relic finishes are trying to simulate. It will probably never look remotely like a relic. Re the Rory Gallagher guitar, my strong expectation is that most of the finish came off when the guitar was being cleaned over the years. You would never get significant wear where on that guitar the finish is completely gone. If the finish on a genuine nitro fender gets dirty and gunky, the finish softens and the gunk becomes part of the finish. Any attempt to clean it after that can result in the top layers of lacquer and some of the colour coat coming off, exposing the base coat. I have a 64 I have gently tried to clean, using nothing more aggressive than a soft duster and spit and a patch of the red in the sunburst came straight off. I smile when I see old guitars and basses where this has obviously happened and it is presented or discussed as play-wear.

I'd always wondered what went on in church.

Lovely looking bass. I like that your wife is an "enabler" I was very tempted by your AVRI and surprised it took a while to find a buyer.

It's a new fingerboard. It would have had a curved thin fingerboard and the whole of the truss rod would have originally been within the maple part of the neck. It appears to have a slab type fingerboard, which is 100% a replacement. Still looks a nice bass though.

You might wish to consider "furloughing" Mrs Zero.

All on stands for me, all over the house at least one in each principal room. Cases all in storage in the loft. I do cover up the pre cbs custom colour ones to protect the finish from sunlight. Apart from making it zero effort to pick one up, I am constantly reminded of any neglected basses and I enjoy looking at them, not as much as playing them of course, but they are still eye-candy.

Hard luck on that - don't beat yourself up too much. It was an accident and so easy to be wise after the event. A definite warning to others though, I have absolutely avoided any form of unnecessary risk recently. That is what I have been telling the Mrs anyway. I hope your op goes well and wish you a full and speedy recovery.

Got a small number. Only have one poor picture of them all. 62 Casino. Long term loaner. Never going home. 84 jv squier strat. Super light 66 Tele Bravewood Strat Godin A6

Love that. Tell us (much) more.

There seems to be a consensus. This forum remains, thank goodness, a haven of relative common sense and almost exclusive good will. Long may it continue.

did you go and see them all? Do I win the prize?

This might sound ok through it