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Ding in finish - my bad

NYgiant

NYgiant

Sep 22, 2023
628
1,327
Virginia
#1
Funny, I was just getting ready to post and was reading through and came across the Sadowsky thread, where the guys neck got dinged because it fell out of a stand on a gig a few times.

The bass I’m posting about is nowhere near as nice. It’s only a squier classic vibe 70s P bass I got used. In typical guitar center fashion, some of the issues with it were not advertised. There is a ding out of the end of the headstock, which doesn’t really bother me.

Also, when I got the bass, it was missing a knob. No problem I thought, I’ll just order a new pair and put one on. The ones I ordered are stainless steel and the ones on there are nickel, so there is a slight color and texture difference, but kinda hard to notice. I figured since I got two I would just take the stock one off… Or so I thought. Whatever idiot owned this happened to break the flathead screw to where you can’t get a screwdriver in there. I think it would entail drilling it out possibly… Probably not worth the time so I just put the other one on. I’m posting pictures below.

The thing I’m kicking myself about is when I decided to attempt to remove it, and I was sitting on the couch and had a pair of needle nose pliers on my leg. The bass was on the floor and when I stood up, they needle nose pliers went point side down right into the finish! Really no way to fix it because the poly finish got chipped. Thankfully, it’s not a real expensive bass, still annoying though because it was in great shape. I guess I’ll just take it as a battle scar and move on.

I was wondering if I should get some type of a sticker and put it over it or just keep it as is? I’m still contemplating.

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#4
Father Gino said:
Seriously, you could probably drill the screw out. You don’t care if you ruin the knob and if you drilled into the shaft a little it wouldn’t hurt anything. Might actually hold the new set screw in better.

Just don’t drop the drill on it. Maybe a table is in order 😃
Click to expand...

Yeah, I was thinking about it but… I guess I could do it at another time. It’s not a huge deal, but I guess you can see the difference in the knobs. I don’t think anyone else would notice unless I pointed it out.

And yeah, you’re right… Don’t drop the freaking drill on it!! Ha ha.

The little nick in the finish is just that… But…. you know how it goes when you have a stupid accident…..it stands out.
 
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#5
Stands out as a reminder not to do that again but not much more!

One night I was frustrated by a frequently drunk band mate and decided to plant my firebird headstock on the floor an do some kind of feedback ritual act.

Snapped the multi-laminated headstock right off at a 90 degree very difficult break.

About a new guitar worth of luthiery later the break area has a big extra volute.

I like that it reminds me not to play dumb games with my gear
 
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#6
this thread had good info about filling deep/small dings in a neck:

kevbassman

Thread 'Help! Sadowsky ME took a dive !'

Hey Gang,
I'm sickened by this. Had outdoor gig last Saturday, beautiful weather, but my Sadowsky ME decided to take not 1 but 2 dives off my obviously crappy stands.
Any suggestions on to fix the side of the neck? You'll see 4 notches in bass, 2nd fret.
Wood filler, proxy, ? Leave it alone?
Thanks.
  • Wow
 
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#7
NYgiant said:
Funny, I was just getting ready to post and was reading through and came across the Sadowsky thread, where the guys neck got dinged because it fell out of a stand on a gig a few times.

The bass I’m posting about is nowhere near as nice. It’s only a squier classic vibe 70s P bass I got used. In typical guitar center fashion, some of the issues with it were not advertised. There is a ding out of the end of the headstock, which doesn’t really bother me.

Also, when I got the bass, it was missing a knob. No problem I thought, I’ll just order a new pair and put one on. The ones I ordered are stainless steel and the ones on there are nickel, so there is a slight color and texture difference, but kinda hard to notice. I figured since I got two I would just take the stock one off… Or so I thought. Whatever idiot owned this happened to break the flathead screw to where you can’t get a screwdriver in there. I think it would entail drilling it out possibly… Probably not worth the time so I just put the other one on. I’m posting pictures below.

The thing I’m kicking myself about is when I decided to attempt to remove it, and I was sitting on the couch and had a pair of needle nose pliers on my leg. The bass was on the floor and when I stood up, they needle nose pliers went point side down right into the finish! Really no way to fix it because the poly finish got chipped. Thankfully, it’s not a real expensive bass, still annoying though because it was in great shape. I guess I’ll just take it as a battle scar and move on.

I was wondering if I should get some type of a sticker and put it over it or just keep it as is? I’m still contemplating.

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View attachment 7330052View attachment 7330053View attachment 7330054View attachment 7330055
Click to expand...
If it bothers you that much, buy a thing of plasti wood, wood filler. They make it in various colors, I'd get some cherry wood or walnut colored plasti wood, fill the hole, then use a credit card to wipe it smooth and take the excess off. No sanding necessary. It won't be perfect, but probably would be close enough.
 
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#8
It can be done on several levels of difficulty. A pro would probably tear it down because probably going to sand a little there and then buff it. For a DIY… It’s probably poly. So lacquer won’t melt but I might still use a brown lacquer touch up pen and drop a dot lacquer or super glue on the color to level it up. If it were lacquer it could be dropped filled, sanded and polished out but color matched is still tricky and you might still see a “blemish “ this is certainly in the forgetaboutit mindset but fixing it can be fun and rewarding and also incredibly challenging depending on the goal. Let’s see how it goes for you when completed. Cheers
 
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#10
NYgiant said:
Funny, I was just getting ready to post and was reading through and came across the Sadowsky thread, where the guys neck got dinged because it fell out of a stand on a gig a few times.

The bass I’m posting about is nowhere near as nice. It’s only a squier classic vibe 70s P bass I got used. In typical guitar center fashion, some of the issues with it were not advertised. There is a ding out of the end of the headstock, which doesn’t really bother me.

Also, when I got the bass, it was missing a knob. No problem I thought, I’ll just order a new pair and put one on. The ones I ordered are stainless steel and the ones on there are nickel, so there is a slight color and texture difference, but kinda hard to notice. I figured since I got two I would just take the stock one off… Or so I thought. Whatever idiot owned this happened to break the flathead screw to where you can’t get a screwdriver in there. I think it would entail drilling it out possibly… Probably not worth the time so I just put the other one on. I’m posting pictures below.

The thing I’m kicking myself about is when I decided to attempt to remove it, and I was sitting on the couch and had a pair of needle nose pliers on my leg. The bass was on the floor and when I stood up, they needle nose pliers went point side down right into the finish! Really no way to fix it because the poly finish got chipped. Thankfully, it’s not a real expensive bass, still annoying though because it was in great shape. I guess I’ll just take it as a battle scar and move on.

I was wondering if I should get some type of a sticker and put it over it or just keep it as is? I’m still contemplating.

View attachment 7330051




View attachment 7330052View attachment 7330053View attachment 7330054View attachment 7330055
Click to expand...

Get a set from musiclily which made with light weight aluminium one. Fairly light weight.

That ding are not too serious ,bring the bass guitar to luthier for touching up.
 
#11
If my bass wasn’t at the studio I’d post pics of the wear and dings from 20 years of gigging.

Is ANYTHING functionally wrong with that bass (that I bought new in 1983)?

Nope. I also wash my car once a year whether it needs it or not! 🤪

That ding is yours. The bass is fine. Proceed with life, now incrementally wiser!
 
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#12
Stylee Mousse said:
If my bass wasn’t at the studio I’d post pics of the wear and dings from 20 years of gigging.

Is ANYTHING functionally wrong with that bass (that I bought new in 1983)?

Nope. I also wash my car once a year whether it needs it or not! 🤪

That ding is yours. The bass is fine. Proceed with life, now incrementally wiser!
Click to expand...
You know…..that’s kind of the mentality I’m leaning towards.

Some great info posted here with ideas on how to fix. I think if it was a more expensive bass I’d probably take it in someplace or try the repair myself.

It’s probably standing out more over the fact I keep replaying the idiotic move I made in my head. Having the bass on the floor and not a table while also putting the pliers on my lap while sitting down.
 
#16
Go to you local hardware store, Lowes or Home Depot, get a furniture touch up stick with a color as close as you can get. A drop of stain, or brown sharpie will also work. Fill the hole with the touch up stick, put some crazy glue on top to seal. If you want to get nuts, wet sand the crazy glue with very fine 1000 grit sand paper, and polish with some compound. The ding will be damn near invisible.

I look at this ding as genuine relicing. There will be other dings, scratches and chips if you play the bass. The first one always feels bad but you are no longer worried about keeping perfect.... it is now perfectly flawed.
 
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#17
ahbradot said:
Or screw in another pickguard screw in that hole.
Click to expand...

Oh, Sure! And that will start a new TalkBass thread ten years from now after it's been sold a couple of times; "What is this screw for and did it come from the factory that way?" To which someone will say that it was part of the manufacturing process and provided a known point for the CNC machine or something.
 
  • Haha
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