Double Bass Expected varnish wear on a 12 yo bass?

[basscleff94010]

I have bass built by a well-known maker in 2011. The bass sounds great and I enjoy playing it very much. However, I am concerned that the finish is wearing faster than expected. I am afraid this wear is not only a cosmetic problem but may affect the sound of the instrument, long term.
Much of the wear is where the bass sits against my knee but there is some wear on both shoulders too. (Pics attached.)
I have checked with my teacher who says that it is not uncommon. He suggests I am playing too often in short pants and the skin contact is the reason for the wear. (I rarely play in shorts maybe an hour a week.)
I apologize if this is an inappropriate question. I am an amateur, playing mostly orchestral and chamber music. I use a bib at all times, so there is the wear is much less at the shoulders.
I bought Arnold Schnitzer's book, expecting some guidance on this, but there is no mention of this kind of wear.
I would appreciate hearing your experience with this. It is surprising to me that varnish is gone so quickly
Right top shoulder

.
Fulll back

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Might be your clothes. Synthetics, specially microfiber can be abrasive.
But could also be the varnish or the climate.

 

[jmpiwonka]

Seems normal if it’s played alot.
Probably just get it touched up by a good luthier.
Have you contacted the maker of tye instrument, not specifically to ask if it’s abnormal but just to ask what to do to be sure the wood is protected.

great looking wood in that bass btw.

 

[dperrott]

It happens. It depends on what type of finish is on it. You don't want to try to do finish work yourself. It's very difficult and you can easily make the instrument look awful. A luthier who is good with finish could put a top coat on it that would add some protection.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Stop drinking so much vinegar so your sweat is less acidic?

 

[basscleff94010]

Thank you for your suggestions. I have an appointment with Lisa Glass at LA Bass works to have it fixed. And yes, I asked the maker for guidance and he felt Lisa could repair it.

I found the wear surprising because I see 200 year old basses that dont show that wear.

The last question in my post was mistakenly deleted when I add pictures. It was if anyone else has had this same experience.

Thanks again for your suggestions.

 

[TroyK]

It looks like normal wear to me. I don't know about 12 years worth, but I don't think there are 200 year old basses without wear like this unless they've been touched up.

If it bothers you, it's definitely good to get it touched up by a pro. Let us know what Ms. Glass thinks.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Skin pH can also have a lot to do with this. If a player has an extremely acidic skin pH, it can dull strings quickly and eat away at finishes. On the other hand, players with acidic skin usually don’t have to deal with painful, bloody finger splits in the winter.

I have extremely alkaline crocodile skin but even so, there is a worn edge on the upper bass side of the edge of the top that is worn away by direct contact with my forearm. I’ve had a luthier touch it up twice but it always comes back. At this point I just take it as a sign that the bass is getting played a lot and call it patina.

 

[basscleff94010]

You are suggesting I am "antiquing" my instrument, without even trying? (smile)

 

[turf3]

I'm certainly no expert on stringed instrument finishes, but I'd guess that the maker of this instrument chose a soft varnish and that's why you're seeing this wear so early. I suspect this is something to be glad about. It's my understanding that the thicker and more unyielding the finish the more likely it is to affect the sound of the instrument, and not in a good way. If you have a very thin soft finish, I think you may have the best results from the sound standpoint.

Because wood finishes penetate the wood, I think the wood is still being protected. Keep in mind that maple is a very light wood, naturally, and it takes a lot of color in the varnish to darken it as in a bass. So I suspect that only the top coats and their coloring agents are being worn off, NOT the varnish that's penetrated into the wood.

After all, you don't need a thick uninterrupted finish to protect a violin the way you'd want that kind of finish to protect a boat. You just want to give the violin some light protection, not marine protection. I suspect you need not worry about this at all.

 

[james condino]

Why are you dancing around the maker's name? If that was my varnish work, people would not hesitate to name it. This is who made it, this is what you can expect 12 years later from someone who shares a common amount of use and body chemistry.

 

[basscleff94010]

Mr. Condino, I am not trying to dance around anything. I don't feel the maker's name is relevant. This maker made a very fine instrument which I am enjoying playing. I am just trying to understand better what to expect as I continue to play this instrument...and how I can ensure it stays a fine instrument. My question was the result of the surprise of the varnish wearing faster than I expected. I had the wrong expectations and am trying to correct that. I am just an amateur and still learning many things about the bass. And I appreciate all the help I get from the community.(smile)

 

[CryingBass]

Gut size? Not the strings

I am not a svelt guy. Possibly a variable?

 

[Eric Hochberg]

Get it touched up when necessary.

 

[TN WOODMAN]

Get it touched up when necessary.

Or wear the wear proudly like many of your electric bass brethren do as a badge of honor.

 

[Mark_T]

I've taken to using a soft towel where my knee contacts the bass if I'm sitting and wearing shorts. I don't usually bother if I'm wearing long pants.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

Or wear the wear proudly like many of your electric bass brethren do as a badge of honor.

You might not want to wear through the wood though, like Willie Nelson's guitar.

 

[turf3]

You might not want to wear through the wood though, like Willie Nelson's guitar.

That's from playing a classical guitar with no pickguard, with a pick.

 

[BeMoreFrench]

Stop drinking so much vinegar so your sweat is less acidic?

I laughed hard, but my sweat became much less acidic when I switched to a vegan diet (plus: I sweat a lot less than before !). Maybe adding fruits and veggies to your diet would help, who knows !

 

[TN WOODMAN]

You might not want to wear through the wood though, like Willie Nelson's guitar.

That’s what happens when you put steel strings on a classical guitar, play 300 + gigs a year for 50 years & strum aggressively with a pick & no pick guard.