Chasing perfection

[El Marro]

And my wife - just because you are married, the courtship doesn’t really end.

Very wise words my friend. something I try to remember in my own relationship as time marches on.

 

[AerGuitar]

I would have thought most people who play and record professionally will have a different take than the audiophiles. I mean, on paper it's been outclassed by newer things, but the Shure SM57 is still an industry standard, isn't it?

I also see a big difference between hobbyists and pros. Beyond the top tier, can afford it all set, when I look at working musicians they often don't go for the expensive, high priced gear (guitars especially) - it's mostly hobbyists who sit on the internet and argue about the influence of "tonewood" on a guitar they then plug into a dozen pedals and an overdriven amplifier... Some great videos all over youtube showing just how little difference a choice of gear can make in a well appointed studio. Last week I saw an online argument with a bunch of guys insisting "I play Fender, Squiers are trash". Meanwhile, in another article I read about how Mark Knopfler's current main stage guitars were a pair of budget Squiers with replacement tuners and a switch in pickups - the latter purely because the originals gave issues with the stage lighting.

SQ series Squires from the early 80’s are the Bee’s Knees!

 

[ragtime_joe]

I’m sorry I can’t resist - this is the same fellow who inquired about a Langlitz I had for sale whom I had to explain that a microscopic white spot on the lining was a piece of lint, and that one photo looked a particular way because of the way the sunlight was hitting it.

In my experience these are the buyers who also ask you to take dozens of additional photos and measurements only to either never send an offer, or low ball you to half of your asking price.

 

[AHP91]

In my experience these are the buyers who also ask you to take dozens of additional photos and measurements only to either never send an offer, or low ball you to half of your asking price.

Totally agree. May or may not have been the case with that jacket and another one with the same person. Learning to ignore those types of people in the future.

 

[El Marro]

Totally agree. May or may not have been the case with that jacket and another one with the same person. Learning to ignore those types of people in the future.

True. Difficult customers reveal themselves and it is usually not worth dealing with them unless you have the patience and need to make the sale.
I always shake my head when someone posts here about how they have been exchanging numerous emails with a maker (without ordering a jacket) only to be surprised when the maker stops replying.

 

[ragtime_joe]

Totally agree. May or may not have been the case with that jacket and another one with the same person. Learning to ignore those types of people in the future.

I had a guy recently send me an offer on a pair of jeans, to which I agreed to the price. When it was time for him to pay he asks for additional photos & measurements only to low ball me again. I was like what the ****? I thought we already agreed on a price. It was seriously infuriating.

 

[Edward]

SQ series Squires from the early 80’s are the Bee’s Knees!

The early Japanese Squiers were better - not least in terms of Quality Control - than what was being churned out by the CBS-owned parent brand at the time. Very collectable now, often sell for as much as a Fender of the era. Squier are in a golden era now, too, if you look at the Classic Vibe line, which is snapping at the heels of the Mexican made vintage reissues, or the Paranormal Series that offers all sorts of what if's that Fender don't even do. I'd have a room full of them if only Fender would realise left handed people exist.....

 

[Cyber Lip]

In my experience these are the buyers who also ask you to take dozens of additional photos and measurements only to either never send an offer, or low ball you to half of your asking price.

LOL so true. I just recently instituted a new zero tolerance anti-time wasters policy and will refuse requests for additional photos.

 

[Cyber Lip]

@AHP91 I did indeed do that, yes. And I would most definitely do it again with any purchase I made - if I don't ask the question then I can't be surprised when the item arrives and I discover it. That's just smart shopping.

So when he confirmed that the spot you noticed and inquired about wasn't a flaw but a piece of lint, you then bought the jacket right?

 

[steve u]

Well,
At my age, I'm chasing (not very fast though)"good enough to get by". Comfort means more to me than the illusion of perfection.

 

[BarryMcCockiner_PhD]

"In our search for the perfect moment, achievement, or form, we often overlook that perfection is already woven into the fleeting and imperfect things around us; to see this is to finally be at peace."

-GG Allin

 

[ton312]

A perfect leather jacket is the stupidest idea ever. It’s not the jacket people who are chasing perfection are after. It’s something lacking in themselves and shaped leather won’t fix it.

 

[bigmanbigtruck]

When I joined TFL, I did see a lot of posts with people obsessing over their "magic" numbers - and I had that mentality too.
Some took it to extremes like the jacket is a no-go if a measurement is off by 1/2" - which appears to be what you're doing. And you’re not doing yourself any favors obsessing over that margin, especially given you’ve been on TFL for sometime (April 2023)

What I'd suggest you to do is go over the Leather jacket database post by @Carlos840. My main takeaway from it was there’s no magic numbers. As long as the measurements are around the ballpark, you can still get a very good fit out of it.

Chasing perfection over a garment fit will just lead you to exhaustion and feeling unfulfilled.

BTW, the langlitz lint story is funny as hell

 

[christianGV]

Hi all,

The week is mercifully winding down, hope you're all well. @Monitor said something interesting the other day in response to @TartuWolf and his post on his jacket journey.

Paraphrasing, Monitor said that part of the problem was that Tartu was chasing perfection, which is a comment that has stayed with me since then.

And now I'm wondering if we're all chasing perfection in the jacket world to some degree.

I have jackets that I can fuss over a 1/4" in the shoulder, or imagine it being 1" shorter - minute stuff that means nothing to anyone else looking at it. My fiancé will look at something I'm fidgeting with and tell me it looks terrific. The challenge of course is that because I'm wearing it my perception is based on feel as much as looks. But am I feeling it too much?

I can't be the only one who feels this way - tell me I'm not the only one.

You’re definitely not the only one — I think anyone who cares about clothes ends up obsessing over those tiny details at some point. The funny thing is, most people never notice, but we do because we feel it when we wear it. Sometimes chasing perfection can take the joy out of the piece, but when you stumble on something that just feels “right,” you know it instantly. I’ve been working on a very limited piece myself, and it made me realize how much of perfection is really about that feeling, not the measurements.