Really faint Scratches on Fender Highway One Jazz

South_Bass · #1 10-08-2009, 11:26 AM

Hi Talk Bass

I've had this Bass for about two weeks now and I've already got alot of dings and marks on the finish (which was to be expected). One issue I've got though is that even running my nail along the finish will put a mark/scratch on it. Is there anyway to get rid of these seemingly very faint marks though cleaning?

Thanks

SB

tdizzle · #2 10-08-2009, 11:40 AM

The thin nitro finish on the HH1 wears just by looking at it. It almost seems that they designed it that way, to wear very quickly. You will just have to be very careful. As for the scratches that are already there, you might be able to buff them out, depending on how deep they are. This is not my area of expertise, however.

South_Bass · #3 10-08-2009, 11:55 AM

Ohh right. Well I've now tried moistening my cloth a little bit and buffing but this hasnt done anything either. This was just done really softly with my nail as well! How crazy. Well I guess I just have to be rediculously careful with the finish on this one. Although I am looking forward to it looking a little bit roadworn after a while!

Widdershins · #4 10-08-2009, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by South_Bass

I guess I just have to be ridiculously careful with the finish on this one. Although I am looking forward to it looking a little bit roadworn after a while!

I've got one and the only way to keep the safe is to lock it away and never touch it... there are several polishing products that I'm sure people will mention, but in my opinion it's a losing battle with these series of instruments. Just learn to embrace its "character"

Benjamin Strange · #5 10-08-2009, 12:02 PM

Nitro finishes are very soft, and will wear very quickly. Don't worry about it too much - it will look like a relic job before too long. Fingernails marks are a fact of life - it's a tool, not a museum piece.

South_Bass · #6 10-08-2009, 12:19 PM

Ok thanks guys. Just wondering if these tiny tiny scratches were normal. Nothing to worry about then. Not too bothered, it plays amazingly anyway!

singlemalt · #7 10-08-2009, 12:32 PM

Light scratches will rub out with a bit of rubbing alcohol on a soft cloth.
Don't douse it just a little bit.
Make sure its a really soft cloth.

I believe that alcohol is the solvent in the nitro finish, so go easy.

Bassamatic · #8 10-08-2009, 12:49 PM

I use a polymer car polish (not a wax) that is hard as nails to protect my instruments (and my car). Sometimes I think I have a scratch in my bass or car finish, but it is only in the polish, and comes out when I re-polish.

It is not cheap, but it is the best you can get for your instrument or car, and you need only a very little so it goes a looooong way. It was designed for show cars and only sold direct. Get a bottle of the All-In-One polish and you will be very happy.
www.zainostore.com

South_Bass · #9 10-09-2009, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gio S

I use a polymer car polish (not a wax) that is hard as nails to protect my instruments (and my car). Sometimes I think I have a scratch in my bass or car finish, but it is only in the polish, and comes out when I re-polish.

Will that work ok for a matte finish though? Bit worried about ruining the finish with polishes etc

Pilgrim · #10 10-09-2009, 09:58 AM

It appears that Fender is determined to force you to ruin the finish anyway - if they made it that easy to damage.

In computer terms, it's not a bug, it's a feature. If you're like me and want to keep an instrument pristine as long as possible, looks like we need to stay away from this series and buy the less expensive instruments with poly finishes!

walterw · #11 10-09-2009, 12:40 PM

if you polish and buff the highway 1 body finish too much, you'll wear right through it!

it's supposed to be super thin for tonal reasons (not because it's cheaper that way

), and will "relic up" pretty quickly with regular gigging.

i just wish they did the necks the same way.

CatfishStudios · #12 10-09-2009, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

it's supposed to be super thin for tonal reasons (not because it's cheaper that way

)

So how does the thicker poly base coat and sealer affect the tone? I polished my hwy 1 to a nice gloss. Be careful or you go down to that poly coat... they dont wear down to the wood as easy.

Pilgrim · #13 10-10-2009, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CatfishStudios

So how does the thicker poly base coat and sealer affect the tone? I polished my hwy 1 to a nice gloss. Be careful or you go down to that poly coat... they dont wear down to the wood as easy.

I don't believe there is any poly coat on a Highway 1 - that's the whole point of the expensive and fragile nitro finish, isn't it?

As far as I'm concerned, the finish makes absolutely no difference at all in the sound. Most of the sound in a bass comes from the strings and electronics. In my opinion, they make much more difference than different types of wood, let alone finishes. These are not acoustic instruments, they are electric instruments.

Those who swear on their life that they can hear a difference in the type of finish are welcome to respond, but I respectfully and firmly do not believe it...except to note this: the human ear is fully capable of hearing what it wants to hear, not what is really happening.

walterw · #14 10-11-2009, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

I don't believe there is any poly coat on a Highway 1 - that's the whole point of the expensive and fragile nitro finish, isn't it?

actually, having seen hwy 1s that have been "buffed through", there is indeed some sort of harder layer underneath.

that nitro final coat is done in a way that skips the sanding and final buffing steps, so is actually cheaper than the standard finish.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

As far as I'm concerned, the finish makes absolutely no difference at all in the sound.

"absolutely" might be a little strong, but yeah, i can't really hear a consistent difference either.

Widdershins · #15 10-12-2009, 07:01 AM

There's some type of "hard layer" whether it be poly or something like "fullerplast" or what have you on all Fender instruments with a "nitro" finish... and yup, even the vintage ones.

Pilgrim · #16 10-12-2009, 10:26 AM

Interesting. If there's a hard coat under the nitro, then it is truly just a cosmetic application that's intended to become "reliced" without the inconvenience of actually playing the bass much.

CatfishStudios · #17 10-12-2009, 10:36 AM

I can pretty much guarantee...it has a poly undercoat. All of them... the breathing wood of the hwy one nitro finish is pure marketing voodoo. I own one and love it, but not because of its "nitro" topcoat.... its just a great bass.

E2daGGurl · #18 10-23-2009, 04:00 PM

I must be missing something. I thought the whole idea of a Highway One model was to hearken back to the days of Janis Joplin riding around in Big Rig trucks and people lugging their instruments from Haight Ashbury to Los Angeles and back.

Amiwrong?

Why pay extra to relic something, when Fender gives you a quick and easy way of relicking it yourself???

Someday maybe you'll look at those marks and that it'll be how you remember where and how you were living at the time you got it. At least you get to do it yourself rather than buy someone else's instant history.

Pilgrim · #19 10-23-2009, 05:33 PM

A thought occurs - polish the scratches gently with 1000 wet & dri sandpaper. Then you'll achieve relic status a bit faster.

Me, I've been a relic for years.

walterw · #20 10-23-2009, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E2daGGurl

someone else's instant history.

now that's a good turn of phrase!