Dropped my bass for the first time!

[Geri O]

Mushroom head, available lots of places. I did Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009EM7MZ...olid=3B15O0G37QJXQ&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Thanx, but I was interested in those Gretsch buttons that screwed on and off.

Actually, I could make my own version of the Gretsch units, but they would be nowhere near as cool...

 

[spaz21387]

I had my old 13 pound mim jazz fall off the strap. It landed on my right foot. That hurt pretty bad haha. My foot saved it from damage. I had a pretty nice bruise on my foot though

 

[dbsfgyd1]

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?

Sorry about the mishap. Hindsight is always 20-20, but just a suggestion, the last thing I do before I give up a firm grip on my bass is to push down on both strap pegs making sure that strap is not going to give way. The second thing is to inspect those pegs on a regular basis to make sure they are not working loose.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

Thanx, but I was interested in those Gretsch buttons that screwed on and off.

Actually, I could make my own version of the Gretsch units, but they would be nowhere near as cool...

Again, Amazon is your friend for parts.
https://www.amazon.com/Gretsch-Chrome-Guitar-Strap-Buttons/dp/B003B0FFMO?th=1&psc=1

 

[bobyoung53]

I had my old 13 pound mim jazz fall off the strap. It landed on my right foot. That hurt pretty bad haha. My foot saved it from damage. I had a pretty nice bruise on my foot though

I was changing strings on my P bass when I was a kid right at the foot of the bed stood up and it slipped off, went straight down body first and landed right on my big toe, man did that hurt! My mother who was hard of hearing was in the room below me and heard it. All the damage was in my toe.

 

[Geri O]

Again, Amazon is your friend for parts.
https://www.amazon.com/Gretsch-Chrome-Guitar-Strap-Buttons/dp/B003B0FFMO?th=1&psc=1

Yes, I found them. Thanx for looking, too! Take care...

 

[SAlcott]

You dented a bass guitar? Try slipping in the snow and falling on a 200 year old double bass. Six months in the shop and $5,000 later, good as new (old). Insurance is a good thing to have.

 

[dmt]

I bought my first good bass in 1971 when I was 18, Sunburst Fender Precision w/case. I used to take the telephone and sit on the top of the cellar stairs right off the kitchen and shut the door on the cord so no one could hear my conversations. It was pretty new, I'd say less than one month old and I decided I was going to play it over the phone for my girlfriend with no amp(must have been a very patient girl). I got the bass, sat in my customary place on top of the cellar stairs, put the phone against the body so the sound would go through the receiver and my girlfriend could hear it, and somehow it slipped out of my hands and went right down the stairs body first on it's back and landed on the cement floor, I can still remember watching it slide down the stairs with horror. It was all scratched up on the back but that's about it, I have since realized that you could probably drop a Fender P bass out of an airplane and it would still play but I was horrified watching it slide down the stairs...

That was a great story, man. I could totally picture it. OMG!

 

[packhowitzer]

Don't sweat it. You can sink way lower than a dent from a three foot fall:

 

[madbass6]

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?

one night at a gig some drunk dude jumped on stage tripped over my bass the Bass slammed face first against the floor! I simply picked it up put it in its gig bag and got rid of it the very next day !

 

[jamro217]

The bottom end of the strap came off the button during a gig once. This was in the long ago days when I played guitar and the one in question was my prized '76 walnut maple necked Strat. Caught it before it hit anything, but looked stoopit in the process. "What kind of dance move is that?! " When I got home I took the strap buttons off and replaced them with metal washers. This means the strap is permanently attached to the instrument and you must lift it up over your head to get it off. If you own more than one each needs a dedicated strap that will never leave its side. Small price to pay for not losing your instrument or your pride.

 

[NecroticImbecil]

Only dropped one. 1979 Rickenbacker 4001. Schaller straplocks ever since on anything I value. On the ones I don't, I take the strap buttons off then reassemble like so: bass-->strap-->fender washer-->strap button and leave strap on forever.

 

[JZQuantum]

Body dings don't bother me like they used to. You just added some free relic'ing that people are now paying good money to have done to their basses. Now you can add some more dings and not feel so bad.

 

[madbass6]

The bottom end of the strap came off the button during a gig once. This was in the long ago days when I played guitar and the one in question was my prized '76 walnut maple necked Strat. Caught it before it hit anything, but looked stoopit in the process. "What kind of dance move is that?! " When I got home I took the strap buttons off and replaced them with metal washers. This means the strap is permanently attached to the instrument and you must lift it up over your head to get it off. If you own more than one each needs a dedicated strap that will never leave its side. Small price to pay for not losing your instrument or your pride.

yeah a small price to pay if doesn't decrease its vintage value being an original vintage instrument.
I think a better choice would of been simple strap locks nothing permanent.
and who's to say one night during removing it over your head it won't hit the ceiling or slip out of your hands making it an even higher /harder /worse hit when it lands, or even worse crack somebody's head open.

 

[jamro217]

yeah a small price to pay if doesn't decrease its vintage value being an original vintage instrument.
I think a better choice would of been simple strap locks nothing permanent.
and who's to say one night during removing it over your head it won't hit the ceiling or slip out of your hands making it an even higher /harder /worse hit when it lands, or even worse crack somebody's head open.

Replacing strap buttons is a reversible mod. Simply unscrew and remove the washers and replace the strap buttons. By flipping a strap over your head you are in no way endangering your instrument. Just the opposite, you're holding the bass in one hand and flipping the strap over your head with the other. What's dangerous about that? When playing your instrument you are probably not holding on with both hands. As far as hitting the ceiling or someone's head, unless the ceiling falls onto your chest or the person tries to tackle you while you're in the process of removing your strap I don't see how that could happen.

 

[Clearwave]

I've been pretty lucky over the 30 years I've played bass.....except for ceiling fans....I have some incredible ceiling fan incidents.

 

[White Funk]

I didn't read the whole thread so this may have been repeated several times, but I never let go of my bass or guitar - I just don't trust the strap or even strap locks - even though they are a good "insurance policy". Having said that, guitars and basses are generally tougher than you would think.

 

[Mike Barrow]

I have never dropped a guitar or bass.
I use fat O-rings over the strap button.
Has worked for me. Go to Ace Hardware and buy 2 O-rings that fit tight over the strap button.
The strap will not come off.

 

[Staredge]

But Fender Music Corp does sell a logo branded version of the Grolsch style washers...
View attachment 3264132

Of COURSE they do.

I've dropped my share in 30 years of playing...until I stopped being a miserly bass player and bought these wonderful things called strap locks.
And for goodness sake, don't do this...

I like the one about halfway through. Guitar ends up on the drum kit.....drummer never misses a beat.

 

[mikecd1]

Yes, strap locks (prefer Schaller)and inspecting the buttons regularly for any looseness. Secure with toothpicks, dowels or whatever as necessary. I’ve caught my bass a few times and my worst mishap was dropping my Hofner while inside case when I switched hands to shake a fans hand who liked the band. Cracked the finish and the jack plate. You just never know!