I'm ever so slightly OCD, so I like my new basses to be new and shinny. Although to clarify, the paintwork I'm not too bad about, a bit of sanding or a few dings that's ok, if the bass was right for. It's the hardware. When I see some of the relics and all that grime and dirt and rust on the chrome etc...I just want to get a pot of brasso out and give them a good clean. They look like you might catch dysentery or something equally horrid.
I didn't realise until recently that Rory Gallagher's guitar looked like it did due to a rare condition. When he perspired, which he did a bit, his sweat was a lot more acidic than most other peoples and it gradually weakened the paint and it came off. Well, that's what his brother said in an interview. Who knows.