Do minor imperfections also drive you nuts?

Nope. I gave up on perfection a long time ago. My favorite bass has holes in the back where I drilled a bit too far, small deviations from perfectly straight edges on the pickup routs and all sorts of little things that don't fit perfectly. However, it plays like a motherscratcher and sounds like hell on wheels (both are good qualities).

Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without. (Someone else said this statement, but it works)

 

Adds character!

 

Depends on the imperfection. Most of my basses have many. Only some bug me. That pickguard would make me crazy - as a quick fix I'd probably file the part that's "closer" to the neck such that the gap was totally even all the way around. I think a larger, even gap would be better looking than a smaller, inconsistent gap.

 

Not unless the imperfection was really noticeable. In this case, no.

 

I’m getting better. That PG would, admittedly, bother me. I’m pretty ridiculous when it comes to new items, like I actually observe the stitching on shoes for imperfections before buying. Once I get past that annoying period of near insanity I find I’m a lot happier with what I got.

 

Depends on how much the item / bass cost and how new . As I dont buy new now it really dosent worry me . I got bigger things in life to worry about now a days

 

Yes! Absolutely nuts. The smallest thing seems to just scream "you are the worst builder ever" at me. Its tough to balance expectations, but I'm trying to get better at realizing that it will probably never be flawless to me, but as long as I am improving every build that is ok.

 

It depends on the level at which I'm operating at the time. On a $500 bass? No. On an old, relic-y bass? No. On something like a $3500 bass? Absolutely.

 

Yeah, it really depends a lot on the price. A $2000 bass should be darn near perfect in those kind of details. A $200 bass, not.

 

If its a high price item, then ill be more picky. In the OPs situation I would need to see a pic further back where you can see it from the front like most people would. Dont think it would bother me too much (unless it was really expensive) since its an aftermarket item. Id be more likely to obsess over my technique rather than a small inexpensive thing.

 

On a $2000.00 bass? No. On a $40,000.00 car? Not really. I guess not really on anything...all small potatoes in the long run...

 

Do minor imperfections also drive you nuts?
It depends. I think I would return an instrument or that showed any signs of sloppy QC if I were to buy a bass from a big company or; provided it was possible have the issue fixed before taking tha bass home.
I'd be pretty much a zero tolerance kind of guy in that case.

 

Eh, cosmetic stuff has to be way off for me to care. Something like that pickguard wouldn't bother me at all.

 

That first dent /scratch or bent tuner / pot shaft on what was otherwise a perfect looking instrument makes me break out in sweats. After some time has gone by, it becomes like my neighbors, a minor annoyance that I have to live with. I take care of light scratches every few years with Mequiar's. Others leave it and call it Mojo.

 

i'm anal about cosmetic imperfections
that wouldn't bother me

 

The bigger flaw on your P bass is that the PG blocks truss rod adjustment.

 

Some of the most famous musicians play what looks like crap. Malcolm Young never filled in the pickup holes when he modded his hollow body axe. Then there’s Willy Nelson....

I have to learn to get over such perfectness myself though. The thought that when I sell my instruments, who know what will happen to them. Might wind up in a Goodwill or dumpster.

 

all i can say is dont look at the vintage section of classifieds.......

 

Depends, but generally yes.