I bought a new Martin MC 16 two years ago, and within a month or two, I was dragging it around various venues in Sidmouth.It is now starting to look nicely run -in,with dings,scratches, the lot. Four years ago, I bought a new Avalon, which I took to Miskin, & promptly stood it in a waste-bin half-full of water !! I only realised when the lady who had been doing the Corn Dolly Making class came in & shrieked " Oh God!! Whose guitar is that in my water -bin ? " OOOps !! But no probs., it"s off to an Irish sesion tonight !! Then, 3 years ago, I bought a 12-string, took it to a session that night ( The Mount, Corfe Mullen) and my partner"s mandola fell on it & took a chunk out of the lacquer on the soundboard. Life"s like that !! But my friend Frank Docherty, who liked my Avalon so much that he bought an identical one,cannot be induced to bring it out to the pub,as he is TERRIFIED of spoiling it !! So he plays his battered old "pub" guitar & spends ages every time,changing snapped strings !!