Something I've always wondered about
 

I've often wondered if whatever guitar was used on the end of "The Diamond Sea" was destroyed in the process.

It sounds like it's being thrown against something at the end.

I'm talking about the version released on Washing Machine here.

good answer! :)

I must listen to the long diamond sea again, I don't remember this.

I have seen Lee get physical with a gtr..Its possible

yeah he throws around his guitar like it's no fucking business

Nonetheless, Sonic Youth have always impressed me with their ability to beat the shit out of their guitars without smashing them. They are the ultimate sustainers of abusive relationships with their instruments and keep the poor things alive purely to beat them some more. Thus I find it hard to believe that a guitar was actually destroyed making "The Diamond Sea". They probably used the same tortured guitar the whole tour after the recording.

probably sounded better for it too

there isn't a guitar smashing in that song.... maybe you're just thinking of when the fuzzed-out guitar gets skull fucked with a drumstick towards the end of the song.