my bass fell on the floor

CooperRex · #1 01-29-2010, 09:42 PM

I'm a newbie bass player. My bass fell out of its stand and on to a carpeted floor. It might have hit a small table along the way. I wasn't in the room at the time. Nothing noticeable in terms of damage on the outside. Seems to sound OK. But how do I know if anything is damaged? Is there anything I should be looking for? Could the neck have gotten warped or something? Thanks

Gord_oh · #2 01-29-2010, 09:43 PM

necks generally wont warp from a drop like that.
as long as their isnt noticeable damage and it plays, you should be fine.
i had a bass bounce around in my car without a case once.
a fall from a low stand onto carpet is hardly worth worrying about.

noahw1 · #3 01-29-2010, 09:55 PM

You should be fine. Mine fell off a stage once! It fell a good 5', it was okay and we played the show with no hitches. Chipped some paint but no problems that I can tell and that was 8 years ago. Onto carpet off the stand is nothing to worry about unless you have a ghost that is pushing it off the stand.

irishpride28 · #4 01-29-2010, 09:56 PM

Plug it in, if it works you're good. If there was a cable in the jack and it's a front-loading input then there would be some input jack damage but otherwise you're good to go

CooperRex · #5 01-29-2010, 09:58 PM

It was plugged into the amp at the time. How would I know if there is input jack damage?

crusie · #6 01-30-2010, 07:05 AM

well first off - does the jack work ? and if so - if you jot around the jack does it sound like it's shortning ? (kind of like when you plug the jack in with a turned on amp)

Truktek2 · #7 01-30-2010, 09:05 AM

I'd be more worried about the carpet.

bassplayer8953 · #8 01-30-2010, 09:15 AM

My prized Ric 4001 once did a face-plant onto a CONCRETE floor in my basement, when something else was bumped and knocked into the stand it was sitting on. Other than a hairline finish crack at the nut (might have even been there before, never noticed) there was no damage. Basses are tougher than they might seem. Of course there's always that outside chance...that's why it pays to take care of 'em...

electracoyote · #9 01-30-2010, 09:17 AM

If there is no visible sign of trauma, chances are nothing happened. At the WORST, the neck may have ever-so-slightly tweaked, but necks tweak all the time due to changes in temperature and humidity. If it plays and sounds the way it did before, not to worry.

Devil Musick · #10 01-30-2010, 11:35 PM

I threw a bass at a sound guy in Poland once and it was fine, you should be all good.

Jon_West · #11 01-30-2010, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CooperRex

It was plugged into the amp at the time. How would I know if there is input jack damage?

There might be some damage but it's not like there's going to be any loss of quality or anything. It either works or it doesn't, and if it does, you're good.

CooperRex · #12 02-01-2010, 04:24 PM

Thanks for the helpful advice. It sounds the same. I was just concerned because I'm pretty sure it hit the side of a table going down, and my wife on the floor below said she heard a thud.

jlo95 · #13 02-02-2010, 06:23 AM

ive been playing for years and ive dropped my bass a # of times, as long as it still works fine and there is no noticable damages that effect sound then ur AOK. Plus it kinda makes the bass look worn.

PJSShearer · #14 02-02-2010, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlo95

ive been playing for years and ive dropped my bass a # of times, as long as it still works fine and there is no noticable damages that effect sound then ur AOK. Plus it kinda makes the bass look worn.

+1

You'll find Basses bounce quite well!!!.

mcapote · #15 02-02-2010, 08:23 AM

I bounced one of mine on a concrete floor a couple times, no problems.

J.A. Raptor · #16 02-03-2010, 04:23 PM

Mine fell down 15 stairs and died horribly. Lucky you.

LCMBassist · #17 02-03-2010, 04:38 PM

My Spector has been dropped, and hurled across a room (dont ask). It survived both we no damage whatsoever. Basses are tough old lumps o' wood. It'll be fine.

J.A. Raptor · #18 02-03-2010, 04:49 PM

Why am I the only unlucky one when it comes to bass dropping?

Ayliffe · #19 02-03-2010, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devil Musick

I threw a bass at a sound guy in Poland once and it was fine, you should be all good.

oh hi dave mustaine.

bassplayer8953 · #20 02-03-2010, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.A. Raptor

Why am I the only unlucky one when it comes to bass dropping?

I bought a (used) bass from another TB'er and FedEx crushed it enroute from him to me. So it was fubar before I even had a chance to play a note. Yeah, there's a claim, and yeah, they'll probably cut a refund, but I wanted that bass, and it was a good price, yadda, yadda, yadda...

...sometimes, stuff just happens. And, it probably bounced a few times, falling down 15 stairs. One of the bounces was fatal...tough break (literally) but you'll get over it. Another bass will be along...probably a nicer one than the other...