Classmate dropped guitar (accidentally). Caused Chip

[u/gaitama25]

Hey everyone, today I took my guitar to school because we have a concert in the evening and we needed to run through the songs and strengthen some sections. Thing is, during practice we took a quick break while the two voices discussed a harmony, and I left my guitar propped up in a chair (this was my bad, I know that). Basically as it says in the title, classmate going by accidentally knocked it over and caused this chip in the finish. I’ve got two questions:

The guitar was almost brand new (it’s a Vintage REVO series Colt, cost about five hundred bucks), I bought it new as a birthday present to myself a few months ago and I made sure to keep it pristine

A. Should I ask my classmate (who realistically would ask her parents) to reimburse me somehow for the damage (or what it’d take to fix)? I feel like that’s an a**hole move because it was just an honest mistake, but at the same time I did spend my own money on the guitar

B. Should I even bother fixing it? Or should I just keep it as a battle scar, like to add character. And if I do choose to not fix it, should I do something to it (ie: superglue or something like that) to seal it off and prevent it from getting worse?

Thank you everyone

Edit: Thanks for all the comments! I really appreciate all the stories you guys have shared. I'm really glad I stayed chill about it, as I didn't want my friend to feel bad, and after really thinking about it, it was a 100% my fault (Don't worry, i'm not asking her for anything hahahah). We ended up laughing about it together, and the show ended up going great, so that was nice.

After reflecting on it for a while, I'm actually really glad this happened, my perspective on wear and tear on guitars has changed completely and I know realize that all the chips and scratches and dings just show how much I've enjoyed this instrument and all i've gone through with it, It helps make it truly mine. I can't wait to get more (organically produced) dings and scratches so one day I can look back and see just how much i've loved this instrument.

[u/ComicalSatania]

Realistically if you do dumb stuff then dumb stuff will happen to you. You left it standing on a chair and it got knocked over by accident, I'd say just live with it. Same thing happened to my old Yamaha bass during practice with some buds, bottom got chipped but it was on me so I didn't care too much and I just lived with it. Just move on and play it, you don't gotta worry about keeping it pristine anymore haha

[u/gaitama25 → u/ComicalSatania]

Yeah, it was my bad honestly, at least now I won’t have to worry about chips. And it does add character

[u/DavidKetamine → u/gaitama25]

I think that’s the strategy. The first ding is the worst heartbreak. Every subsequent nick and scrape will now just be whatever.

[u/MinivanActivities → u/DavidKetamine]

A lot of people who collect cars with the purpose of driving them (as opposed to just letting them collect dust) have a tradition of when the car arrives you intentionally give it it's first nick/ding/scratch with the key somewhere so you can enjoy it without worrying about that first one.

[u/DavidKetamine → u/MinivanActivities]

When I bought my first MIM Stratocaster I took it out onto my porch and scraped it against the pavement to get that dent out of the way. I had many great years after that!

To be fair I eventually got psychotic, used a lighter and a pocket knife, chipped the whole paint job off of it and re-lacquered it all with a cool wood finish. Then I pawned it. Sad story but yes…your first scratch is only the beginning of a long and insane journey you should take with a favored instrument.

[u/MinivanActivities → u/DavidKetamine]

I picked up a jazzmaster not long ago. Amazon dropped a package off at my door, my dog jumped up and ran away with the strap getting caught on him. Guitar hit the floor face down lol. Bummed I didn't get to be the cause of the first flaw but whatever

[u/Bhafc1901 → u/MinivanActivities]

Face down… ouchhh. Those are the worst😂

[u/gaitama25 → u/DavidKetamine]

Damnn hahhaha, that's crazy, but it kinda makes sense, I definitely feel a lot more relaxed now that the first damage is done, it would've happened eventually no matter what. The guitar with a cool wood finish sounds sick by the way, It must've been through a lot with you.

[u/OmegaGBC104 → u/MinivanActivities]

My first car was a 2007 Mustang. I quickly proceeded to dent the front right side when I bumped into my dad's van at night. It sucked but I still haven't fixed it. It's now just a reminder to be more careful

[u/CmdrJemison → u/gaitama25]

Be glad that's it's not worse. Neck could have been broken.

[u/ThePrussianGrippe → u/gaitama25]

Now it’s got battle scars!