POS, POJ...Why? I don't get it!

[gasman]

This is about guitars, but I posted it here because it's also about human nature. Here is my gripe: Why do some people refer to one (or more) of their own instruments as a POS or POJ? I belong to several guitar-related forums and I see this all the time. I realize some instruments might really be substandard, and if that is the case, why not say what is specifically wrong with it, instead of just classifying it as a "POS". Better yet, just get rid of it. Why keep it around if you're going to call it a "POS"? I mean, if a person is going to buy an instrument, it's up to that person to make sure it is up to standards in the first place before even purchasing it. It's been my experience that a person can get a good instrument that is also inexpensive. I don't know, maybe I've been lucky, but all of my guitars are relatively inexpensive, and they are good guitars! I would never dream of calling one of my guitars a "POS"! My most expensive guitar would cost $700 new at today's prices. The rest would be under $500 each. With that being said, I know a lot of guys (some present and/or former gigging musicians) that would love to have my guitars. Again, don't know, maybe I just live in a economically depressed area where $1000+ guitars are not the norm. Anyway, when I see someone call their instrument a "POS", it just rubs me the wrong way. I either think, these guys are gear snobs, or they are ashamed of their inexpensive (but good) guitars and they are saying it's not good (although it might be)because it is inexpensive. What do the rest of you think???

[teal]

I think it's self depreciating activity. SRV always said he wasn't the best guitarist in the house, much less on of the greatest that ever lived.

Couple be a humility thing for some guys.

[Happy Jack]

I hear what you are saying G-man but I think when people first start they buy cheap poor quality guitars and laters as they GAS they get better ones and realise the Fender Squier they bought in a starter pack for $100 is in fact a load of rubbish

I have had two guitars I considered to POS on a Schecter and a Yamaha F310 - both after a decent set up were perfectly good guitars. The Yamaha always was a reasonable guitar but as my expectations and standards went up the quality of the guitar went down in my mind but after a set up to my standards it was OK. The Schecter was just badly finished with poor fret work

I agree though if you think your guitar is POS get rid of it or put it right.

I think it maybe a form of inverse snobbery

[urs]

Oh. So that's a common theme? Lol, and I thought I was very clever and funny
Point in case, however:


Bought it off someone for a few DM when I was 18 or something.
2nd pic: Yes, that someone used permament marker.
1st pic: two of the "knobs" don't do much besides crackle.
The story why I still have it regardless of its estimated worth (single digit?) is somewhere around this board.




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[WhiskeyHotel]

It's just hyperbole to me. Everything is "massive", "awesome",or "tremendous"...or "amazing". With that in mind, I always interpret "POS/POJ" as "I don't like this guitar" or "This is not what I expected for the money".

[pwfirst]

There are guitars out there that are POS and POJ but it would be based on poor construction or materials used and there are some out there. The guitars in the Toys store for the most part are more toys than musical instaments and could classify as junk.
A guitar that is unplayable do to tunning problems is junk. Just and example, Ibanez makes a semi holowbody AS 73. I owned one for seveal years and it was a great guitar. For a few months they produced several guitars that the intonation was so far out of range it cound not be tuned to play on the whole neck. Even basic open chords were off. The luthier I use told me the frets were cut incorrectly. This guitar was a POJ.
My next example is when I go to a Guitar center just check the guitar on the side of the neck to see If you can fell the frets on the edge. ( my personal pet pieve) As the wood dries out the frets start to be prominent on the sides. Fender's are worse for this than giblson or Epi. I think it is finish materials. These guitars are in working order but not well maintained. The fix is simple, just rehydrate the instrament.
So if you buy a guitar that is a POS or POJ you prabable have SFB. (S for Brains).
But even a bad guitar is better than no guitar at all.

[gasman]

You guys have some good insight on this. I think Whiskey hit it on the head with this one:

Apr 21, 2010 7:25:36 GMT -5 WhiskeyHotel said:

It's just hyperbole to me. Everything is "massive", "awesome",or "tremendous"...or "amazing". With that in mind, I always interpret "POS/POJ" as "I don't like this guitar" or "This is not what I expected for the money".

At the same time, like HJ and I say, if you don't like it, get rid of it (or fix it). Case in point: I almost got rid of my Tradition Tele because it had some issues. It is the only guitar I have bought at an actual music store, and the only one that has had issues. That fact alone made me sort of mad. When I bought it, the owner of the tiny store was giving lessons to some kid, so I had to try the guitar out at the lowest volume possible so as not to disturb the lesson going on. I was primarily interested in the playability, neck, and it's ability to stay in tune. All of those things were to my liking so I bought it. When I brought it home, I found the neck pickup to be too quiet and the volume control to be less effective than it should. I toyed with the idea of getting rid of it, but the playability, the tone, and the overall appearance of the guitar made me want to fix it and keep it. I adjusted the neck pickup height and that really made a difference. I know how to improve the volume control issue also, but I have not done it (and probably won't) because I am a clutz when it comes to soldering (which is required to improve it). Bottom line: I can live with it and I am happy with it.

The example above is the closest I've ever come to buying an instrument I wasn't happy with. But I still think holding on to an instrument you don't like and then calling it a POS is sort of harsh (and stupid)!