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How long until you start scratching your bass

#43
A few days after I got my birdsong sadhana, i had it on a stand about 3 feet away from my computer desk. I had one of those "L" shaped electric screwdrivers on my desk, and somehow it slid off the desk, hit the carpeted floor at and angle, and bounced back up into the side of the bass, putting a little scratch in the wood. It was like a scene from one of the Final Destination movies :( :)
 
#44
How long until I start scratching my bass?

When it first starts itching. <rimshot>

Seriously, it's the day when I forgot to move my buckle to the hip and the load-in went slowly...we were rushed to get started and I strapped the Gibson on and went to town. Later: oops.
 
#45
Fuzzbass said:
...my basses are for go, not for show.
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This isn't aimed at you or anyone else in particular, but I fail to see why "go" and "show" necessarily preclude one another. I've owned basses for twenty years that have been played regularly in all sorts of situations and aside from a small amount of inevitable fret or fretless fingerboard wear, they look essentially brand new with perhaps one or two tiny, unnoticeable scratches.

What's so difficult about playing an instrument without destroying it in the process? :confused:
 
#46
Debased said:
This isn't aimed at you or anyone else in particular, but I fail to see why "go" and "show" necessarily preclude one another. I've owned basses for twenty years that have been played regularly in all sorts of situations and aside from a small amount of inevitable fret or fretless fingerboard wear, they look essentially brand new with perhaps one or two tiny, unnoticeable scratches.

What's so difficult about playing an instrument without destroying it in the process? :confused:
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THAT is the right question, SIR!!! If you take care of an instrument - or anything else for that matter, it shows. If you beat it up, that shows too. Those are two completely different mindsets about how one should take care of ones' belongings.

Fortunately, it shows in used cars too - some take care of them, some beat them up. I avoid the latter...both with cars and basses.
 
#50
My Daion and Alembic are both old guitars that have been used, so I'm not OCD about keeping them perfect. On the other hand, I still clean and polish them regularly, and take care to avoid damaging them further.

My Bongo came to me new, and left with some light scratches on the pickguard and a tiny ding in the back of the body after a year. I made sure to take care of it as best I could, and it turned out well in the end.

I guess, then, that I maintain my used basses and try to keep my new ones new.
 
#51
Pilgrim said:
I've had my Precision since 1967 and it's not scratched yet.

The answer: NEVER. EVER. NO matter what.

A quality instrument deserves quality care. Anything else is abuse and neglect, as far as I'm concerned. Yes, in normal use you will accumulate a chip here or a mark there. I guess that's what some refer to as "mojo". But you NEVER neglect the instrument and let it get beat around.

There is NO excuse. That's my firm, unchangeable opinion.
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Extremely impressive!!!! Pics please!!!

Debased said:
This isn't aimed at you or anyone else in particular, but I fail to see why "go" and "show" necessarily preclude one another. I've owned basses for twenty years that have been played regularly in all sorts of situations and aside from a small amount of inevitable fret or fretless fingerboard wear, they look essentially brand new with perhaps one or two tiny, unnoticeable scratches.

What's so difficult about playing an instrument without destroying it in the process? :confused:
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Preach on! My fairly light touch and modified classical technique are pretty mild on basses. Really, slamming my bass into amps and scratching it up don't help my playing or sound. Besides, it's cheaper for me to treat my guitars and basses well than to beat them up and pay for repairs. I play a lot of neckthrough basses and basses that are either custom or no longer made. If I break 'em, I either gotta spend a lot to get a new one or suffer never having one again.

I know several car collectors who have prized older cars in amazing condition who also own beat up instruments. I never understood why. Personally, I see it a challenge to use something AND keep it in great shape.

Besides, who gives a flying fornication about satisfying some image that other people expect? Be your own dog.

I like to compare my bass gear to my competition road bike. It's a well oiled machine that needs some TLC to keep running the way I need it. I certainly don't baby it, but I do what it takes to keep it clean and working properly.
 
#52
I take care of all of my instruments. I think it started with playing sax (if you don't... it's dead) & acoustic guitars (same deal).

My Ric (got new in '85) is immaculate, other than some thumb wear spots in the neck's finish & a couple of headstock doinks. Oh yeah... & one little burn-spot from a flash pot, 20 years ago. :eyebrow:

I also managed to keep a Turser violin bass pretty pristene, with a year of heavy use, before I sold it.

My Dano Longhorn & my 2-month-old Hofner Icon still look brandy new.

Hint... I NEVER tuck my shirts in, I rarely wear a belt & I ALWAYS get a good hard-shell case for them from day one.

And... Never, EVER use gig-bags... Gig-bags BREAK instruments!
 
#53
J.T. Chester said:
And... Never, EVER use gig-bags... Gig-bags BREAK instruments!
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I have been using them as a way to carry 2 in a double Ritter bag for several years. Sometimes I'll wear 2 and carry 2 in another double bag. If I'm simply taking a bass from my home to practice or a light gig, no problem. I simply carry them in the gig bags gently until I need to use them. Perhaps if I were ever required to put it in a trailer I'd use the hard cases. Putting them in my car has never been a problem with gig bags.
 
#56
Gig bags don't break basses people do.:rolleyes:

I use a gig bag everywhere I take my Zon. When I stow it at home, I put in a HSC.

I definitely don't abuse my basses (temperature, dropping, being careless), but when it comes to playing them I don't hold back. I'll hit, slap, yank, trill, and bend those strings with no mercy. If it can't hold up to that than I got ripped off.
 
#57
My basses don't care if they get dings in them; why should I?

My instruments are my tools. I don't care when my hammer is worn, or when my power drill gets a hefty gouge in it. Only when function ceases is it an issue.
 

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