Case Queens & Closet Classics: Let’s See Them

[norminal]

I know some of you have at least one. Let’s see them!

Here’s my absolute mint condition 1993 Ibanez S540OL. I bought one of these new back in 1991 and regrettably traded it in on a G&L Legacy because, you know, grunge.

I scoured eBay and Reverb for years and actually bought a couple that were in mediocre condition. I ultimately found this beauty that the original owner was selling and had barely played.

The guitar has zero wear and the frets haven’t even been polished. It would definitely pass as NOS:

I pull it out occasionally to play, but my hands don’t get along with the Wizard necks these days. This will become an heirloom after I pass away.

 

[DrewJD82]

Man, I can’t keep a guitar for a week without f*cking it all up with dings and scratches, never mind over 30 years!!! That’s nuts!

 

[norminal]

Man, I can’t keep a guitar for a week without f*cking it all up with dings and scratches, never mind over 30 years!!! That’s nuts!

Definitely wasn’t my doing. The previous owner must have not bonded with it and just let it sit in its case instead of letting it go. I like to think it was just waiting for me to find it. It’s just too clean and sentimental to subject it to any abuse or accidental damage.

 

[itchyfingers]

I'm not an Ibanez fan, but that is a beautiful guitar in the OP.

I used to have a few closet queens, but I was petrified that they'd get a ding that would hurt resale value, so they rarely made it out of the closet. These days, everything I have is a relic, whether put there by the luthier(s), by my dumbass, or from 60-ish years of play.

 

[norminal]

Oh. And I forgot to mention that I found a NOS Ibanez M100C case from that era to store it in.

 

[norminal]

I'm not an Ibanez fan, but that is a beautiful guitar in the OP.

I used to have a few closet queens, but I was petrified that they'd get a ding that would hurt resale value, so they rarely made it out of the closet. These days, everything I have is a relic, whether put there by the luthier(s), by my dumbass, or from 60-ish years of play.

Yeah, my other guitars are a different story. They all have battle scars and various defects. I treat those like tools.

 

[Eagle]

My RG 3120 is almost mint and 22 years old

 

[Eagle]

I had this in recently 1964 ES 345 very little use.

 

[norminal]

My RG 3120 is almost mint and 22 years old
View attachment 4966

Mmmph! What the JPM90HAM could’ve been.

 

[Baba]

I just looked around, and out of my 15 guitars, NONE of them are case queens/closet classics, because I gig them.

 

[norminal]

I just looked around, and out of my 15 guitars, NONE of them are case queens/closet classics, because I gig them.

I was waiting for someone like you to comment.

As I stated. All of mine are beat to hell except that one. It’s sentimental and the point of this thread.

 

[Baba]

I was waiting for someone like you to comment.

As I stated. All of mine are beat to hell except that one. It’s sentimental and the point of this thread.

Oh my bad, I think my post came off wrong. I wasn’t saying that in a snarky way, I was actually surprised I didn’t have one

 

[SillyOctpuss]

I was waiting for someone like you to comment.

As I stated. All of mine are beat to hell except that one. It’s sentimental and the point of this thread.

See my sentimental one is the one I've used the most and got the most playwear/dings.

 

[Eagle]

I had this in recently 1964 ES 345 very little use.
View attachment 4967

It is the latest guitar that I have seen that still had pafs;

 

[FuzzyAce]

Not a "closet queen" but definitely well taken care of... my 1977 Ibanez Artist 2618. Still plays effortlessly even though the frets are old.
I've had her since '95 and gigged her a lot, especially back then. But I was always really careful with this particular guitar, maybe because it's heavy and not something you want to just toss around.

 

[fretworn]

Not a "closet queen" but definitely well taken care of... my 1977 Ibanez Artist 2618. Still plays effortlessly even though the frets are old.
I've had her since '95 and gigged her a lot, especially back then. But I was always really careful with this particular guitar, maybe because it's heavy and not something you want to just toss around.

Mid 1980s.

(I didn’t do the ugly mod - bought it that way. Trade actually.)

 

[Baba]

View attachment 5155

Mid 1980s.

(I didn’t do the ugly mod - bought it that way. Trade actually.)

Man, I was about to get in yo' ass, and walk all up and down you, about that mod. I'm glad you said something

 

[fretworn]

Man, I was about to get in yo' ass, and walk all up and down you, about that mod. I'm glad you said something

It was the 80s

Coming out of the 70s… “mods” were a thing

 

[FuzzyAce]

View attachment 5155

Mid 1980s.

(I didn’t do the ugly mod - bought it that way. Trade actually.)

Same body finish! I dig it.
Mine plays better than any Les Paul or similar that I've ever tried. Don't think I'll ever get rid of it.

 

[fretworn]

Same body finish! I dig it.
Mine plays better than any Les Paul or similar that I've ever tried. Don't think I'll ever get rid of it.

I always love those bridge Ibanez hamburger pups