NGD: Meet the Star Spangled Stanger

[DeathJag]

Even before 2016, I'd feel super weird about playing that. I get the coolness of it, but it's like old confederate stuff and it makes me uncomfortable. I'd refinish it. Like when some kid goes way overboard to make the coolest guitar in the shape of a gun. Great effort but misguided.

But perhaps someday it will be worth a lot, just like Nazi stuff is to some people.

[Telliot]

Even before 2016, I'd feel super weird about playing that. I get the coolness of it, but it's like old confederate stuff and it makes me uncomfortable. I'd refinish it. Like when some kid goes way overboard to make the coolest guitar in the shape of a gun. Great effort but misguided.

I completely agree with this. I’ve been uncomfortable with America’s obsession with putting flags on fucking everything my entire life, and it’s only gotten worse. At this point it feels like an intimidation tactic and not patriotism (If it ever really was the latter). If it were my guitar I’d have it stripped and refin’d. The craftsmanship is something I can appreciate but that’s where it ends with me. I’d feel like I was sending a message every time I played this guitar — especially in public — and that isn’t a message I want to be associated with, even accidentally.

[caples]

Im not sure how I feel about this... on the one hand I think its cool but the whole patriotic thing bothers me. Maybe id cover most of it with stickers.

[Sonichris]

Even before 2016, I'd feel super weird about playing that. I get the coolness of it, but it's like old confederate stuff and it makes me uncomfortable. I'd refinish it. Like when some kid goes way overboard to make the coolest guitar in the shape of a gun. Great effort but misguided.

But perhaps someday it will be worth a lot, just like Nazi stuff is to some people.

Comparing this guitar with Confederate and Nazi stuff? Lame.

[Unicorn Warrior]

I guess it would depend on the context you’re playing in. But I probably wouldn’t change that. It’s too perfect. I’d almost bet you could fetch a high price on reverb with it being an old refinish. I can see some Nashville singer song writer putting up a lot of cash for something like this.

Also, not sure why all the hate. I typically don’t like seeing the flag plastered all over things as well. Reminds me of truck stop gas station cigarette lighters, knives, blankets etc…. But this doesn’t fall in the category. This, is in my opinion, is a true vintage relic that tells a story at this point. It’s from a period of time where the country and the world was really shifting and changing. The movement of music, culture, and politics was an unprecedented time in history. Why was it painted that way? Idk, but I’d be hard pressed to change it.

[mackerelmint]

File this under "rock as is", 100%.

An interesting point of flag ettiquette is that you're not supposed to wear the flag or paint it on stuff, as that's considered disrespectful.

I also think that pearl clutching about a flag being on something and comparing it to nazi or confederate flags is silly at best and totally backward at worst. For one thing, malinchistas are lame, and for another thing, guys, it's YOUR flag, too. Don't let the fuckheads monopolize it by laying on a fainting couch every time you see one. Don't give them that power.

[Flurko]

The guitar looks cool but do what you like regarding the flag, I'm not American so I don't really have an opinion on this one -i sure wouldn't play a guitar with a french flag!-

This being said both Wayne Kramer and Ted Nugent played American flag themed guitars, so you can say pretty much whatever you want politically with this design

[MattK]

Yeah immediate MC5 vibes rather than I dunno, Blake Shelton. And at the time it was painted it had a whole other context.

[ainm]

I'm not American, but I'd 100% leave that refinish. I'd also not play it in public because it's upside -down and I wouldn't wish to debase the flag of another country, but if you're American and hate what some of your fellow people appropriate the flag for, then it's frigging perfect! I think you'll only devalue it with a newer refinish.

Someone asked earlier about the British flag. It has an upside-down too. IIRC, the diagonal stripes are thicker on one side than they are on the other. Very hard to spot, so much so that a Conservative politician recently put out material where she was superimposed on an upside-down Union Jack.

So what do we do when in distress? Hoist it upside-down, of course. And then send out increasingly passive-aggressive semaphore when nobody comes to our rescue.

[Nevets]

On the one hand I think it's cool and should be kept the way it is. On the other it's something I would never have as part of my collection. If it came into my hands I'd sell it immediately to someone who could appreciate it.

[marqueemoon]

it's YOUR flag, too. Don't let the fuckheads monopolize it by laying on a fainting couch every time you see one. Don't give them that power.

I agree.

[JVG]

I can’t believe no one has mentioned the stars on this thing.

The stripes are pretty neatly done, but the stars are all over the shop - wonky and asymmetric. Fucks with my OCD !

Despite this, i must admit there is something oddly appealing here.

[Unicorn Warrior]

I can’t believe no one has mentioned the stars on this thing.

The stripes are pretty neatly done, but the stars are all over the shop - wonky and asymmetric. Fucks with my OCD !

Despite this, i must admit there is something oddly appealing here.

I noticed it. Definitely part of the charm

[JSett]

I can’t believe no one has mentioned the stars on this thing.

The stripes are pretty neatly done, but the stars are all over the shop - wonky and asymmetric. Fucks with my OCD !

Despite this, i must admit there is something oddly appealing here.

100% this looks like it was done while drunk, high, or both...which makes it even more perfect

[panoramic]

my response was too serious, do what you want with it man