Bass abuse

[Pillgrimm13]

ide been looking for an ibanez sb900 saber for a why and finally found one when i had the money to buy it. i got it through daddys junky music and it had a bad photo with reflection from the ceiling light. so when i got to the store to pick it up the poor thing had been thumped pretty good with chips scratches dings buckle rash and the best part, the former abuser had put those plastic chome adhesive strips for bike and car accents above the pickups from the neck to the bridge and behind the bridge.

it took me six hours to get the poor thing out of the fetal position and back in decent shape but now shes alot better. im the kind of person that polishes and takes care of my basses. not that they dont get scratched or dinged i just try very had to avoid it. i just dont understand why you would mistreat something you love. any body else have a shelter for abused basses?

 

[R. Laevinus]

Nope. I'm extremely picky about my instruments - will refuse to buy, regardless of the price, if there's so much as a chip in the finish.

Once I have them though, I take the best possible care of 'em I can. Like you, i don't understand why some people are so callous.

 

[hdracer]

I love buying good basses that have been beat up buy some moron for dirt cheap and then fixing them. As long as it is structurally sound and the price is right I enjoy giving a good bass a second life.

 

[duderasta]

I am the opposite, couldn't care less about the cosmetics of an instrument, to me it is a tool, as long as it performs the task I need it to, with the results I need, then I am happy. I don't abuse my gear, but I don't sweat dings and chips.

 

[Martin89]

^I'm pretty much in the same boat as duderasta.

I'm also with hdracer on giving a bass new life though(especially if getting from a moron for cheap). $80 epi les paul standard bass that needed strap nuts and a good wipe down was a sweet player and even sweeter when I sold it for $260 to a guy happy to pay that and probably pamper it even more.

 

[Fetusyolk]

psh, my bass has been through some rough times and i love her the same. now i could care less how beat up a bass is.

 

[IngerAlb]

The way you take care of your bass says a lot about you; IMO the ppl that don't care about their gear and think it's cool to have dings and scratches on their basses don't respect themselves.

I don't like to ride in a car covered with rust and scratched paint (and a car is just another tool after all). You don't walk in rags, right? It's about respecting yourself by presenting to the rest of the world in a proper manner.


Just my opinion...

 

[christw]

I love getting good instruments for cheap because they're beat to hell. I think the history is too cool. However, I don't intentionally beat up my instruments. I'll be annoyed if I ding my new bass, but so what? It's a piece of wood that was put together to take hits. It's still just a bass and there will always be one I like more out there.

 

[carlos840]

The way you take care of your bass says a lot about you; IMO the ppl that don't care about their gear and think it's cool to have dings and scratches on their basses don't respect themselves.

I don't like to ride in a car covered with rust and scratched paint (and a car is just another tool after all). You don't walk in rags, right? It's about respecting yourself by presenting to the rest of the world in a proper manner.


Just my opinion...

I agree with that but i know from experience that you can be as careful as you want, if you use your basses you will end up having some sort of scratch or ding in it one way or another, its only a question of where and when!

 

[Jjango]

The way you take care of your bass says a lot about you; IMO the ppl that don't care about their gear and think it's cool to have dings and scratches on their basses don't respect themselves.

Yeah, just like those classical poseurs, with their beat-up old Stradivarius violins. No self-respecting musician would ever be caught dead with one of those.

 

[Bloodhammer]

I love reviving old electric guitars. (nobody has brought me a bass yet, but I'd take one in a heartbeat) I do it as a hobby and only charge what I spend on parts + beer. It makes me feel a connection with the instrument that goes deeper than my fingers on the strings; of course then the day comes when I set it free back into the wild (my friend's hands) and a mix of pride and melancholy sets in for a while.

I bet with a little tlc, any pawnshop orphan could be somebody's #1 bass.

 

[jbalou02]

The way you take care of your bass says a lot about you; IMO the ppl that don't care about their gear and think it's cool to have dings and scratches on their basses don't respect themselves.

I don't like to ride in a car covered with rust and scratched paint (and a car is just another tool after all). You don't walk in rags, right? It's about respecting yourself by presenting to the rest of the world in a proper manner.


Just my opinion...

I seem to remember there being some big brands out there that make like pre-beat up instruments and charge extra for them? What does that say about the people who buy them?

What about the people that have one really nice bass and one beat up one? They must be bipolar.

For someone to make the assumption that someone else "doesn't respect themselves" due to something as trivial as the cosmetic condition of their instrument or if they drive a rusty car is amazingly presumtiuous and makes me wonder the state of that persons psyche.

But hey, just my opinion...

 

[IngerAlb]

Yeah, just like those classical poseurs, with their beat-up old Stradivarius violins. No self-respecting musician would ever be caught dead with one of those.

Lol! If you don't get it, stop replying with such extreme arguments, mkey?

For someone to make the assumption that someone else "doesn't respect themselves" due to something as trivial as the cosmetic condition of their instrument or if they drive a rusty car is amazingly presumtiuous and makes me wonder the state of that persons psyche.

When you see someone dressed like a bum and looking like a bum, there's a strong chance that person is indeed a bum - as amazingly presumptious as it may be from your part.

If I can play an instrument, gig with it and even tour with it and still manage to keep it in mint condition, anyone can.
A bass should be treated with respect. Period.

 

[lpbass3]

I don't intentionally abuse my instrument, I have used the same bass exclusively for over 15 years now. It show the years for sure, but it is mechanically sound and gets repaired if needed. There are many spots on the neck that have the paint worn thin, there is a gauge mark above my pickup from when I forget to trim my thumb nails, but it is not overly abused. It has been knocked out of a stand before, I have had schaller strap lock studs break flinging my guitar face first onto the stage ( I as a result do not recommend them at least for heavy basses), plus numerous other things. My bass has the character of a well used instrument, but is still a prized possesion. I do however drive a piece fo **** kia that I could care less what it looks like as long as it gets me back and forth to work.

 

[Pilgrim]

The way you take care of your bass says a lot about you; IMO the ppl that don't care about their gear and think it's cool to have dings and scratches on their basses don't respect themselves.

I don't like to ride in a car covered with rust and scratched paint (and a car is just another tool after all). You don't walk in rags, right? It's about respecting yourself by presenting to the rest of the world in a proper manner.

Just my opinion...

I strongly agree. The way you treat your tools says a lot about the kind person you are - meticulous or a slob. There's a difference between normal wear and abuse...and it's not hard to see it when you get a look at an instrument. I think people who beat instruments around unnecessarily reveal a careless personality.

Necessary and normal wear is expected and acceptable. Abuse is not excusable.

When you see someone dressed like a bum and looking like a bum, there's a strong chance that person is indeed a bum.

Absolutely.

If I can play an instrument, gig with it and even tour with it and still manage to keep it in mint condition, anyone can. A bass should be treated with respect. Period.

Absolutely right. Instruments and tools should be maintained in the best possible condition; that's how they perform best and are most dependable. Their state of care also reflects credit - or discredit - on the owner. I like the analogy with the care one takes of their car - an apt comparison. It's yours to care for as you wish, and the result is easy to see.

 

[GianGian]

I actually like when they don't look like a museum piece. When the paintjob is too damaged, I don't like it. It looks kind of dirty. But usually I don't care about it. The thing is meant to make noise, not to look good. For me at least.

 

[duderasta]

The way you take care of your bass says a lot about you; IMO the ppl that don't care about their gear and think it's cool to have dings and scratches on their basses don't respect themselves.

I don't like to ride in a car covered with rust and scratched paint (and a car is just another tool after all). You don't walk in rags, right? It's about respecting yourself by presenting to the rest of the world in a proper manner.


Just my opinion...

When I see a guy with a big shiny toolbox, and it's full of shiny, minty looking tools, my first assumption is that it's all there for show... I respect my tools, and my instruments by using them, bottom line is it is bits of wood and metal and plastic, it isn't going to sound or play any better because it is kept pristine, just like a brand new car won't get across town any better than my old truck. Your attitude indicates you care more about appearance than substance, that I think is your loss.

edit: lol if I was sitting on some really special boutique bass I would likely be careful with it!

 

[Pullman?]

Wow, I feel like I've stumbled into an elitist den or something. If the bass or amp have some superficial damage its just that, superficial. Personally, I quite enjoy the feel of my worn down neck, sure it may look like a abuse it but it plays nicely. James Jamerson and Jaco Pastorius never took care of their instruments but I imagine anybody posting here would give up a leg to talk to let alone play with them.

 

[A-Step-Towards]

The way you take care of your bass says a lot about you; IMO the ppl that don't care about their gear and think it's cool to have dings and scratches on their basses don't respect themselves.

I don't like to ride in a car covered with rust and scratched paint (and a car is just another tool after all). You don't walk in rags, right? It's about respecting yourself by presenting to the rest of the world in a proper manner.


Just my opinion...

So because I drive a 1970 VW van that has rust on it due to years of service I dont respect myself?

Wow never knew that.


I dot dig tons of wear like quarter sized chips in poly paint , I take care of my stuff and wont thrash it but all my stuff is used so i buy thrashed stuff sometimes, oh well I get all my gear super cheap

 

[Pilgrim]

Wow, I feel like I've stumbled into an elitist den or something. If the bass or amp have some superficial damage its just that, superficial. Personally, I quite enjoy the feel of my worn down neck, sure it may look like a abuse it but it plays nicely. James Jamerson and Jaco Pastorius never took care of their instruments but I imagine anybody posting here would give up a leg to talk to let alone play with them.

If someone can play like Jaco or Jamerson, I'll defer to them.

A worn neck is not an indication of abuse. It's pretty easy to tell the difference.