I had a Jazzmaster back in the day, bought it from a classmate in like 7th grade maybe for probably fifty bucks with a shitty suitcase amp that didn't work. He had already spray painted it orange and black with tiger stripes. Like he was doing his best (worst) attempt at a Bengals helmet. Pickguard and all, It looked to me like he basically took the strings off, taped the neck and pickups off, and went to town. Ugliest instrument on the planet and I'm guessing it met a merciful end in the landfill after I left the house. The neck was shot and the body had a crack you could tell had been glued back together. My best guess is someone dropped it on the strap button at one time.
Either way, it's a cool story. If only people took care of shit back then, they'd have some pretty expensive gear now. I love that 58 reissue JM I have, it's so choice and sounds amazing. Everyone in my band literally keeps upping the anti on guitars. My guitar player just bought an actual 68 tele that is about the most gorgeous guitar I've ever seen. I've become a giant gear snob in my old age (mostly cause I can finally afford to be). I started out a Gibson guy but now have become more Fender in my older age.
Right now my main guitars are
1983 Gibson Les Paul Black Beauty Standard. This was my first guitar and I played it in a punk/rock band that toured through most of my 20's. It is beat to shit .... I mean, I've restored it and it sounds great, but it's probably worth closer to $1k then it is to $5k.
1989 Gibson Explorer - again - from my hard rock days. It's also seen better days, but I recently put some new pick ups in it and ditched the mirror pick guard (what made it metal) and have been trying to restore it....slowly. If I pulled that bitch out on stage now I'd get some looks
2010 Fender Tele American Standard - probably my favorite and most versatile guitar. I used it for about 4 years playing out. It's my go to, never lets me down.
2017 1958 reissue Jazz Master - it's my dream guitar haha. I visited it like I had joint custody with it or something at the guitar shop here in town. It sat on their wall for over a year, I went in one day and shot a price that was close to a grand under the sticker price and they went for it. It sounds great, it's a little buzzier then I am used to and keeping it in tune especially in outdoor situations is tougher.
2014 J15 Gibson acoustic (also in the video being played by Billie, the gal) - it's literally, and I mean, literally the best sounding acoustic guitar I've ever played and I've played some great ones. I've put it up against some 60's Doves and even the new Hummingbirds and it's just far superior. Gibson acoustics are expensive but absolutely worth it IMO.