Dropped my bass for the first time!

[BassSquatch]

Only been playing for about 6 months.
My MIM Fender Noir P-bass is my pride and joy. It's the best decision, hobby, toy, thing I've ever done just for myself in 48 years. I always play sitting down but decided to stand infront of the mirror, on hard tile floor, and try to look at my technique. Strap came lose on the bottom of the guitar and hit the floor HARD! My heart sank but looks like I got away with just a small dent. I will never play standing up again.
Any horror stories to share?

 

[okcrum]

Use fender washers or strap locks on the strap buttons. Problem solved.

Fender Washers - Washer Fasteners - The Home Depot

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/strap-locks#narrowSideBar

I started using fender washers after the first couple of times I caught my bass on the gig just before it hit the floor.

Some folks also use the rubber washers from Grolsch beer or other rubber/neoprene washers.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Only been playing for about 6 months.
My MIM Fender Noir P-bass is my pride and joy. It's the best decision, hobby, toy, thing I've ever done just for myself in 48 years. I always play sitting down but decided to stand infront of the mirror, on hard tile floor, and try to look at my technique. Strap came lose on the bottom of the guitar and hit the floor HARD! My heart sank but looks like I got away with just a small dent. I will never play standing up again.
Any horror stories to share?

My bass has dropped many times. Luckily, only into my hands. My strap is as old as dirt. I got strap locks about 6 years ago. That has never happened again. I switch them out to my new basses whenever I get one.

 

[BassSquatch]

Use fender washers or strap locks on the strap buttons. Problem solved.

Fender Washers - Washer Fasteners - The Home Depot

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/strap-locks#narrowSideBar

I started using fender washers after the first couple of times I caught my bass on the gig just before it hit.

Some folks also use the rubber washers from Grolsch beer or other rubber/neoprene washers.

Thanks! I didn't even know there were such a thing as strap locks. Just ordered a few.

 

[jd56hawk]

Sad to hear.

Other than that, I’ve never even dropped my pick!

 

[mikeswals]

Back around 88 or 89 my 1st bass hit the garage floor, and I bought straplocks the next day. Been using them since.

 

[Jokei]

If you're in a bind, the rubber "washers" on these actually do a good job.

 

[DavetheDude]

Pfff now it's got the first sign of it being played. Enjoy it and get more Marks on it haha

 

[BurnOut]

I have a Les Paul Silverburst Custom that would jump off a strap pretty often. I installed Dunlop locks, still did it. Finally put Schaller locks on it, haven't had a problem since.
Since most of my basses have odd angles on the upper horn, Schallers don't really work well. I've been using the red beer bottle rubber washers. Every bass has it's own strap and rarely ever come off them.
Beware there are cheap versions of those washers out there, they are orange instead of red. I've had them fail several times, nothing tragic, but they weren't no where near as good as the quality red ones.

 

[Cage]

Only been playing for about 6 months.
My MIM Fender Noir P-bass is my pride and joy. It's the best decision, hobby, toy, thing I've ever done just for myself in 48 years. I always play sitting down but decided to stand infront of the mirror, on hard tile floor, and try to look at my technique. Strap came lose on the bottom of the guitar and hit the floor HARD! My heart sank but looks like I got away with just a small dent. I will never play standing up again.
Any horror stories to share?

Strap locks well worth $18

 

[BassmanM]

Only been playing for about 6 months.
My MIM Fender Noir P-bass is my pride and joy. It's the best decision, hobby, toy, thing I've ever done just for myself in 48 years. I always play sitting down but decided to stand infront of the mirror, on hard tile floor, and try to look at my technique. Strap came lose on the bottom of the guitar and hit the floor HARD! My heart sank but looks like I got away with just a small dent. I will never play standing up again.
Any horror stories to share?

Same thing happened to me when I started playing 20 years ago. I was probably afraid to look properly and only noticed the dent a few years later..... Never mind, it contributes to an honest, self made "road worn" look.

Ways to prevent this type of accident have already been mentioned above.

 

[mcnach]

Use fender washers or strap locks on the strap buttons. Problem solved.

Fender Washers - Washer Fasteners - The Home Depot

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/strap-locks#narrowSideBar

I started using fender washers after the first couple of times I caught my bass on the gig just before it hit the floor.

Some folks also use the rubber washers from Grolsch beer or other rubber/neoprene washers.

This.

OP: You just learnt how unreliably straps can fit on standard strap buttons. Use rubber washers or similar in the future and you'll be fine.

 

[Richard Martin]

I dropped my first real guitar on the floor a month ago. I knew better. I threw a generic strap on it and didn't want to look for the rubber locks. It's a 1983 Fender American Tele. No harm, no foul other than another chip of Porsche Red paint popped off. It was blonde colored when I got it but I didn't like that so my neighbor painted it with some leftover car paint he had laying around. It's getting roadworn the old fashioned way.

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

Never dropped one, but about 3 days after I got my new Tony Franklin bass, I bumped it into my Lake Placid Blue Squier, chipping off a small part of said paint.

I am still contemplating buying a bottle of the stuff, to touch up that one small chip.

 

[nilorius]

This is a pretty normal situation and no horror stories there, basses should fall the ground a lot, in different cases.

 

[craigie]

Congrats on getting bit by the music bug! Don’t sweat the ding. I’ve had my bass come off in my hands before but never dropped it in 30 years..... Never came off on a gig. I’m not jumping around but I’m also not stone still. I guess I have trained myself to have my bass in my hands. My #1 has locking pins too but I’ve has the same strap for 25+ years.

 

[JGbassman]

Schaller schaller Straplocks for a permanent system, of if you don't use a strap very often:
You don't have to change anything on the bass, and they are pretty affordable.

Fender Strap Blocks (4-pack)

 

[SteveCS]

It's normally OK if you drop them on the edge. Things get a little more complicated if they face-plant onto misplaced beer glasses...

 

[BassAndReeds]

So many reasons you should NOT play sitting. One reason is your long term health, as it’s quite easy to play incorrectly when sitting.

I’d recommend standing while playing more often. And just be a bit more careful. And maybe purchase $20 strap locks.

 

[Bass Man Dan]

I have never dropped one but last gig we played one of my cables got tangled under my guitar stand and sent one of my basses face first onto a tile floor. Honestly, I inspected it and found absolutely nothing. No damage resulting from it!