How well do "new basses" age?

[DudeLeap]

Hey everyone, I've always been a fan of the way the true vintage fender basses (50's-70's) have gracefully aged throughout the years and was wondering if the newer models will do the same. I'm thinking the finishes of today have to be more durable than those of the vintage era, so will they actually age as "fast" or at all. I'm not a fan of relicing an instruments but do enjoy the look an instrument that's been around and kind of hope some day (decades from now) my bass looks more broken in.

[Gougedeye]

It has been my experience today's poly finishes are much more durable than the old nitro finishes. Your instrument will certainly age, but not like the vintage ones. You might look into finding an instrument with a nitro finish, like the Fender AV series.

[JonnyAngle]

If you gig a bass long enough, it will naturally get dings and dents. However, the paint won't fade away like the nitro finishes, it just gets "holes in the paint"

[DudeLeap]

gotcha. My P-bass has some "battle scars" but that explains why the finish seems to hold up super well.

[FloridaSam]

Back in the mid 60's before "Relics", "Worn", "Faded" finishes (no matter how beautiful we think they are now) were just considered "used". Funny how what we love about these Pre CBS basses today was considered a flaw that needed a remedy at the time. So many basses and guitars were re-finished from that thin crappy nitro to a nice thick durable coat of poly long before battle scars were sexy. Too sad.

[P. Aaron]

My 2002 MIA P-Bass has held up quite well. The headstock has met a drummer (or 2's) cymbal but I have managed to not ding the body yet nor has it been marred against shirts & blue-jeans rivets. I think it's a poly finish.

It has developed some vibe but that's 'cause I'm just used to it.

My 2010 Precision V is worse for wear because of the 'Thin-Skin' finish. Its headstock is clean...still, but the backside of the body is marred from the many buttons of my western shirts and from general use.