nick in the neck...

[Tapout73]

I have an '08 american standard jazz. It has a small nick in the neck. Is there a way to cover it up or anything? You really cant see it unless you look close but it annoys me that its there.

[fretlessman71]

Where is the nick - in the back of the neck or the playing surface?

[Craig_S]

If it's a dent and there is no wood missing (gouge), you should be able to steam it out with a wet cloth and a soldering iron. It's best a qualified person does this for you.

[Tapout73]

Its in the back of the neck. More like a dent, no wood missing.

[Pilgrim]

Craig S has it right...put water and heat on it. You can always just dab water onto the ding for a couple of days and see how much the grain rises.

[Zooberwerx]

What's the finish? The steam trick works best on an oil / wax finished surface.

Riis

[BullHorn]

I have the same thing on my '05 jazz bass.

Just 'attach' a cloth with hot water in it?

[Zooberwerx]

Originally Posted by BullHorn

I have the same thing on my '05 jazz bass.

Just 'attach' a cloth with hot water in it?

I use a damp facecloth doubled over and a small hobby iron (used for applying Mylar to model airplanes). Apply the heat for no more than 20-30 seconds then check progress. The procedure takes 2 - 3 applications to avoid damaging the wood. The process also invariably raises the surrounding grain to some extent so I hit it afterwards with Briwax and #0000 steel wool to smooth things out.

Riis

[JLS]

Originally Posted by Tapout73

I have an '08 american standard jazz. It has a small nick in the neck. Is there a way to cover it up or anything? You really cant see it unless you look close but it annoys me that its there.

Nothing you can do, will make it completely disappear. Is your bass a tool, or a trophy?

[wvbass]

Pulling this thread up to say thank you to it and others like it. I just picked up a bass on the used market and it had some fairly decent gouges on the back of the neck at frets one through three. They are a bit hard to see here, but my thumb finds them just fine:



The one circled was the smallest one. There were two or three others running for about two or three inches along the back of the neck.

Half an hour with a wet washcloth (folded in half) and a clothes iron on medium heat, and there is no trace of them! This is as close to a miracle repair as I've seen - especially for a do-it-yourself job.

One thing, though. The moisture can leave the neck feeling a little rough in places, so light sanding with a very fine grained sandpaper may be necessary.

Again, thanks for the tip! My bass would still have these neck gouges were it not for TB!

[koobie]

Dang, learn something new every day! I might try this on a Strat, there's a couple small indentations that I figured were permanent. OTOH, I might just let a luthier do it...

[Zooberwerx]

Works on automobiles, too.

I'm just kidding...don't take a steam iron to an automotive finish.

Riis