Steve: Your 8 string is a stunner, but I bet it sounds amazing as well. My b-12M and b-4M were both shiny new custom orders at one point, but have been sweat logged, bumped and bruised and grunged-up. I still wipe 'em down and buff 'em up all purty, but am less concerned about a self-inflicted (note I said "SELF-INFLICTED") ding, scrape or scratch than I used to be. It pretty much comes with the territory. I'd like to keep my Monaco 3 as nice as possible though. I'd be far more bummed if that got battle-scarred, but I'm sure it'll have it's day too.