Anyone know what damage this is (G&L L-1000)?

[Neo1]

I'm considering buying this bass, but there is some heavy discoloration around the front straplock. The owner says he's the second owner and all "damage" was done before his time. It feels very smooth and seems solid (fyi - the bass is mahogany), but the color is very different. Is it filler of some sort? I don't think it's just color from someone's strap.
Is there a way to tell without scratching/damaging it? And how much does it reduce the overall value? Thanks for your advice.

 

[Jim C]

Back in the 80's I had a Gibson strap mar the finish near the jack on a natural P bass.
Yours is in the wrong direction though but perhaps from sitting in the case with strap on??

 

[Neo1]

Back in the 80's I had a Gibson strap mar the finish near the jack on a natural P bass.
Yours is in the wrong direction though but perhaps from sitting in the case with strap on??

The seller said it sat for 15 years in a case when he bought it, so maybe that's a possibility (he says he replaced the straplocks and strap when he bought it - still has original straplocks included). Anyone else think this could be what happened?

 

[Killing Floor]

If it was filler there would be more obvious corrections in the finish. The shape is continuous as far as I can tell.
You could grind off the end and pulverize it and whip it in a centrifuge for mass spectrometry or just roll with it. Looks like a pretty old bass and I bet it sounds sweet. I wouldn't let that bother me on a bass of that age.

 

[Slater]

Is the seller willing to remove the strap button to see if there is any evidence of structural damage?

 

[Neo1]

Is the seller willing to remove the strap button to see if there is any evidence of structural damage?

He'd probably let me do it (or he would, I'm sure). But other than a noticeable crack or color difference all the way down the side, what could I look for (as it sits now, it's incredibly solid feeling - the bass is between 9-10 pounds and I trust the straplock). While I don't want to weaken it by taking out the straplock and putting it back in if it's just filler, if I'm thinking of buying it I probably should. I'll post my results.

 

[Neo1]

The seller wrote back the following:
Regarding your request to take a photo of a strap lock screw hole my answer is no. It is solid wood there. Whatever it is that is concerning you is a surface issue. If you want more photos like the last one I sent I can do that for you tonight.
So, I guess I'll go back and examine it closely.

 

[Jim C]

It's a finish flaw. If you want one of those and you think the price is fair, buy it!

 

[WG Plum]

If I liked the bass otherwise, that would not deter me from buying at all.

 

[two fingers]

Yeah if it feels solid, and the bass plays well, I would proceed with confidence.

 

[TomB]

Even if it were filler (sounds like it isn’t) it could still be repaired properly pretty easily.

 

[96tbird]

Looks to me like staining from a black leather strap end and friction from before it had strap locks.