When I have to play an electric, I have a Fender mustang my freshman roommate gave me because it wouldn't make any noise. I had the wiring monkeyed with until it would, and then later removed the(icky-looking) baby blue paint, replaced it with a grey wood stain and a friend put, I think, thirty coats of flat lacquer over that. Last year the electronics were redone back to the original specs. I had this collector guy look at it recently and he said,"You ruined its collectability when you took the blue finish off." Seems to me a guitar that doesn't make music is just a paperweight. Pretty one, though.