Left bass in car overnight and cracked finish

mibrownwy · #1 10-29-2008, 09:15 AM

I have a '75 Fender p_bass with a clear finish. It was left in car on a below freezing night and the finish cracked.

For 33 years I've been careful not to do that! What to do now is the question. Do I have to be concerned about moisture getting in the cracks? Can they be repaired without a total refinish? Or do I just live with it? I'm I going to watch junks of the finish crack off?

Thanks for any input.

lug · #2 10-29-2008, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mibrownwy

I have a '75 Fender p_bass with a clear finish. It was left in car on a below freezing night and the finish cracked.

For 33 years I've been careful not to do that! What to do now is the question. Do I have to be concerned about moisture getting in the cracks? Can they be repaired without a total refinish? Or do I just live with it? I'm I going to watch junks of the finish crack off?

Thanks for any input.

Live with it.

Jarwick · #3 10-29-2008, 09:27 AM

You gotta live with it dude thats life sometimes... Don't feel too bad though most finishes of instruments that "old" are cracked or cracking I would never reccommend doing anything too it, not a bass of that type of value

AlembicPlayer · #4 10-29-2008, 09:31 AM

do not refin!
let it be...

too bad about leaving it the car overnite...should feel lucky it wasn't stolen I guess

RCCollins · #5 10-29-2008, 09:32 AM

definitely live with it, and learn. overnight in the cold? day-um dude.

please don't go refinishing it though!

pricey · #6 10-29-2008, 09:33 AM

Pics?

NS2A · #7 10-29-2008, 09:34 AM

Don't refinish! It'll lose it's value! Make sure you don't alter so you can save it for the next guy!

Seriously, refinish it if you are going to keep it and that's what you want. Don't do something or not do something based on future value or what the next guy wants.

jeff62 · #8 10-29-2008, 09:34 AM

Consider yourself relic'ed.

Don't worry about it... you're lucky it hadn't happenned naturally before now. Play it hard and love it well.

**funkybass4ever** · #9 10-29-2008, 09:41 AM

Looking on the bright side you have a bass with a whole lotta character now

Pilgrim · #10 10-29-2008, 09:47 AM

Now you know why you were smart not to leave an instrument in a car overnight. Never, ever, ever, do that...especially when it's very cold or very hot.

All you can do is live with the result. Refinishing it will reduce its value by more than $1000.

Way Off Bass · #11 10-29-2008, 09:54 AM

i would say that this mistake with a new USA Spector or one of Mike Lulls' latest creations might be a bit more forgiveable, but taking into consideration that you have a piece of work of one of THE music companies from an era of quality they will probably never return to* this may have been an epix mistake. I wouldn't let that thing out of my sight.

at least its not a 51......

ashtray · #12 10-29-2008, 10:07 AM

Be lucky all that happened was some finish cracks (which most likely happened when you brought it back inside and the air temp was much warmer than the guitar's finish). I left a guitar in my car overnight once (never again!) - and the neck twisted. Unrepairable.

Lesson learned. (it's tough unloading the car after a long gig and you get home after 2am exhausted, but I always make sure to drag my basses out at least)

AlembicPlayer · #13 10-29-2008, 10:17 AM

there's a MAJOR meth epidemic where I live.
leaving anything in the car, especially overnight is just asking for it to be stolen. cold damage sucks, but not having it anymore is worse.

I've always gone with the notion...don't leave your instrument anywhere you wouldn't leave your baby child or pet

lonote · #14 10-29-2008, 10:21 AM

Everybody is right, live with it.

Vakmere · #15 10-29-2008, 10:24 AM

Buy another one...........

randbguy · #16 10-29-2008, 11:59 AM

I feel for you mibrownwy, happened to me too. Funny thing is, most people say it looks better now!

Anyway, eventually it will start to chip but thats a long way off yet. I think they were finnished in polyester, very tough stuff. You don't need to be careful of the ceacks at all. Just keep lookin' after it. The earlier instruments that were finished in lacquer have chips coming off. Some of those are down to the sanding sealer, and they are worth,,, well you know, they don't loose their value. Keep enjoying that slamin' slice!

Deepbuzz · #17 10-30-2008, 03:43 AM

I have a somewhat similar problem as the op (except mine is a 90's Jazz).

Do i just want to use CitrusStrip to strip the paint, sand a little, then reapply a couple of new coats?

kyral210 · #18 10-30-2008, 04:10 AM

Tony Iommi famously left his new SG guitar in his car on a hot summers day when he had just got it. Unfortately he had not left the finish enough time to fully cure, and it just flaked off. He lived with it and the guitar still sounded awesome. It also made his guitar unique!

mibrownwy · #19 10-31-2008, 09:53 AM

Thanks for all the positive input. (Go Cougs) Yeah, I know not to leave it in the cold. I've carried it many odd place to prevent that. Just forgot it in the trunk. I think I'm over the shock now and will easily live with it.

Someone asked for a picture so here it is.

Revmizery · #20 10-31-2008, 09:56 AM

That doesn't look that bad at all. at least the weather hasn't screwed it up in others ways such as messing with the neck.