• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Dropped my bass for the first time!

Beer bottle red rubber washers? How does that work? Can someone please show a pic?

They tend to pop off on straps with thick leather strap ends, though. Popped off this all the time.
2chxqap.jpg
 
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?
Fenders are nearly indestructible. You have absolutely nothing to worry about and you should not be afraid to play your bass while standing up. My 1962 Fender Jazz Bass, according to legend, has been through a glass window, been in a dumpster (or some kind of large industrial waste container), and has probably been dropped a hundred times. Admittedly it definitely shows some serious wear, but it functions and plays just fine.
 
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?
Playing standing up is important, get strap locks, don’t quit trying.
 
I still don’t understand why strap locks don’t just come with a bass? I know it’s business but if fender was like hey we realize you just spent 1200 bucks on a guitar so we are just gonna install staplocks for you I would feel more taken care of. I dropped my first bass at my first band practice when I was 12. I have had strap locks on every other bass to this day.
 
When I built my Warmoth, I went with two different strap buttons:

1) Diago, which is similar to the washer concept, except there is a small cut-out where you could actually take the strap off if needed. I put this one on the butt end, since it’s a little bulky but unnoticeable with the strap on. In my experience, this is the end most likely to come free with a normal button.

2) Elliptical, which is like a normal button except football shaped. I put this on the horn (upper bout p bass). I also angled the button so it’s oriented slightly under the horn instead of parallel with the neck, if that makes sense.

The result is rock solid. I bought a nice strap that I never take off anyway, but I highly recommend either of these buttons. I have never come close to dropping the bass with these on.


5775A0F8-4C7F-43DD-BD74-F43EF157C547.jpeg

2B9F0266-CCFD-4D6C-8BBE-4C7FE7E301EF.jpeg
 
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?

Rest assured that no matter how careful you are, that unless you buy an instrument and leave it in the case untouched forever, that something will eventually happen no matter how careful you are.

I have a '62 Fender custom shop jazz bass here, it's hands down my favorite bass and the neck is really the best feeling/playing neck I've ever had. I've been pretty darn careful with it as I am with all my stuff.

Last week I was playing it sitting down, reached for my zoom recorder with my left hand and as I was bringing the recorder around I bumped it into the neck of the bass. It wasn't even really all that hard, but it apparently hard enough that I now have a small ding in the back of the neck behind the 3rd fret.

Eventually I'll probably take it to get fixed, but it really aggravates me that happened..even more so because I was suffering from a lack of sleep at the time which caused me to be less careful than I typically am.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BassSquatch
In all my days of bass and guitar ownership I've never dropped an instrument. I had heavy footpedal tuner fall off a marshall stack and take a chunk of wood out of my stratocaster body that was open in it's case at the time. I left the dink there covered in gaffa tape to teach me a lesson. I have seen a number of guitars and basses dragged onto the floor from people tripping over cables on stage. They are real tripping hazards and it's amazing there are not more accidents.
 
You're a disgrace to the force. Turn in your badge and your bass.

Just kidding! As the other posters have said, your bass is going to hit the floor, hit the ceiling fan, get knocked around, and so on. I swear by the new Schaller S-Locks; the new mechanism handles thick straps much better than the washer and thin nut style. For stands, either Hercules or Ultimate Support with the auto-grip at the headstock. For everything else, consider your surroundings before you move. An ounce of prevention...
 
  • Like
Reactions: BassSquatch