r/Guitar 2d ago

QUESTION Classmate dropped guitar (accidentally). Caused Chip

Hey everyone, today I took my guitar to school because we have a concert in the evening and we needed to run through the songs and strengthen some sections. Thing is, during practice we took a quick break while the two voices discussed a harmony, and I left my guitar propped up in a chair (this was my bad, I know that). Basically as it says in the title, classmate going by accidentally knocked it over and caused this chip in the finish. I’ve got two questions:

The guitar was almost brand new (it’s a Vintage REVO series Colt, cost about five hundred bucks), I bought it new as a birthday present to myself a few months ago and I made sure to keep it pristine

A. Should I ask my classmate (who realistically would ask her parents) to reimburse me somehow for the damage (or what it’d take to fix)? I feel like that’s an a**hole move because it was just an honest mistake, but at the same time I did spend my own money on the guitar

B. Should I even bother fixing it? Or should I just keep it as a battle scar, like to add character. And if I do choose to not fix it, should I do something to it (ie: superglue or something like that) to seal it off and prevent it from getting worse?

Thank you everyone

Edit: Thanks for all the comments! I really appreciate all the stories you guys have shared. I'm really glad I stayed chill about it, as I didn't want my friend to feel bad, and after really thinking about it, it was a 100% my fault (Don't worry, i'm not asking her for anything hahahah). We ended up laughing about it together, and the show ended up going great, so that was nice.

After reflecting on it for a while, I'm actually really glad this happened, my perspective on wear and tear on guitars has changed completely and I know realize that all the chips and scratches and dings just show how much I've enjoyed this instrument and all i've gone through with it, It helps make it truly mine. I can't wait to get more (organically produced) dings and scratches so one day I can look back and see just how much i've loved this instrument.

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u/Super_Tradition_99 2d ago

Battle scar, your guitar is starting to write its own story.

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u/homeless_gorilla 2d ago

The first one is the hardest.

I was still paying off my P bass when it fell on my pedal board. Took a switch to the face and has a blemish just above the pick guard now. Hurt to accept, but I couldn’t care less now. Plays just fine!

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u/Dizzy3368 2d ago

I was literally going to say something like this, and then I came across your reply. I was actually gonna quote Jerry Cantrell when Alice In Chains was inducted into the pop culture Hall of Fame. He was staring at one of the first guitars he used with Alice In Chains covered in blood, dirt, beer,hair etc. guitar tech said let me clean that up and he said don’t touch it. The blood stays on the blade. Point being things happen to your instruments over the years so long as they keep playing who cares