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How long until you start scratching your bass

#81
Debased said:
Chewing up the finish with a belt buckle is downright careless, IMO, and easily avoided, but it all depends on your priorities. I derive satisfaction from playing and admiring the aesthetics of a fine handmade instrument. There's absolutely no reason to be sloppy or disrespectful just because I'm standing on a stage, however crowded it may be. A little common sense (no paranoia or panic required, thank you), an awareness of the playing environment, and good technique have kept my instruments damage-free for decades, and they deserve nothing less.

Sure, instruments are tools, but I don't pound nails with a fragile, delicately-finished musical instrument, and I don't play music on a hammer, so it stands to reason that I'd bestow the appropriate amount of care on each depending on its intended purpose.
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Yet another remarkable quality of Fenders and their clones is that they aren't fragile: they can take heavy belt buckle rash without falling apart at the glue joints.

Seriously, if you want to care about meaningless scuffs, be my guest. I won't argue that they can affect resale value. But let's not get silly and say that cosmetic imperfections are a sign of sloppiness and disrespect. If I don't care about the possible drop in resale value, and am not nitpicky about aesthetics, then there's absolutely no reason for me to avoid belt buckle rash: it may hurt your eyes, but it doesn't hurt the instrument in the slightest.
 
#83
With my newest bass, Fender MIA Vintage P-bass RI '62, I didn't even know how the first big scratch got there. It was on the back of the bass. Probably because it stayed in a living room where there was a party with over 20 people.
 
#85
I don't worry about it too much. I got my first ding on the Jerzy Drozd about a month after I got it by smacking the headstock on the corner of my amp head.

The latest incident was last week when the Drozd got acquainted with a ceiling fan.

I don't really care anymore though; dings show character.
 
#86
Spencer! said:
I don't really care anymore though; dings show character.
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I guess if you repeat something often enough, you might actually begin to believe it. ;)
 
#89
Debased said:
I think it's an apt metaphor. IMO, it's one thing to have an occasional Fender bender (Yugo), but when you start banging up a Jerzy Drozd (Ferrari), you're damaging a work of art. :bawl:
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Scraped paint on most cars isn't just an aesthetic problem; it can lead to rust-through and serious damage. Scraped finish on a bass? No danger.

I've seen plenty of boutique basses with the finish worn through in the slap spot, above the pickups, etc. I don't feel that the aesthetic value decreases in the slightest. To the contrary, I'm more impressed with an instrument that's so frequently played.

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I think Victor Wooten's favorite Monarch (above) looks better than any showroom Fodera. And it would be beyond ridiculous to claim that it got that way from abuse or improper technique. It got that way from being frequently played by a great artist... one who doesn't limit his technique to that which doesn't affect the finish on his instrument. :bassist:
 
#91
Fuzzbass said:
Scraped paint on most cars isn't just an aesthetic problem; it can lead to rust-through and serious damage. Scraped finish on a bass? No danger.

I've seen plenty of boutique basses with the finish worn through in the slap spot, above the pickups, etc. I don't feel that the aesthetic value decreases in the slightest. To the contrary, I'm more impressed with an instrument that's so frequently played.

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I think Victor Wooten's favorite Monarch (above) looks better than any showroom Fodera. And it would be beyond ridiculous to claim that it got that way from abuse or improper technique. It got that way from being frequently played by a great artist... one who doesn't limit his technique to that which doesn't affect the finish on his instrument. :bassist:
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I think it looks like cr@p, personally, but nothing that a good refinishing job couldn't fix.
 
#92
A new, pristine, mint bass is like a baby. Kinda cute, but really, when you get down to it, pretty boring.

A bass that looks like, well, Wooten's, it's like a grizzled 60 year old man who's Seen Some Things. More wear and tear, but has a bunch of cool stories, advice, and experience. Ultimately much more rewarding to hang out with.
 
#93
Brendan said:
A new, pristine, mint bass is like a baby. Kinda cute, but really, when you get down to it, pretty boring.

A bass that looks like, well, Wooten's, it's like a grizzled 60 year old man who's Seen Some Things. More wear and tear, but has a bunch of cool stories, advice, and experience. Ultimately much more rewarding to hang out with.
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I think this is nothing but romantisizing what is essentially a beat up instrument. Monetary concerns aside, if you were in the market for a similar bass and saw one for sale in that kind of condition, would you honestly choose it over the same model in pristine shape? I sure wouldn't!

This has been my main bass for sixteen years. I've gig'd it regularly and generally played the snot out of it in every conceivable situation. I don't baby it or modify my technique to protect the finish in the least, but it still looks basically as clean as it did the day it left the maker's shop. A little care and respect go a long way.
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This one is twenty years old. It hasn't seen quite as much mileage as the one above, but it's certainly been gig'd and played for hundreds of hours. Would this instrument really look better or be more desirable if it was as beat up as that Fodera?
Tobias4-0701asm.jpg
 
#94
Debased said:
Would this instrument really look better or be more desirable if it was as beat up as that Fodera?
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If you go back and re-read this thread, you'll see that many of us do prefer the look of a broken-in instrument. You seem to find this inconceivable, and likewise I find it inconceivable that someone can be so fastidious about the appearance of his instrument.

But seriously, it's a simple difference of opinion. Like so much else in music, there's no right or wrong here, just personal preference.
 
#95
Fuzzbass said:
If you go back and re-read this thread, you'll see that many of us do prefer the look of a broken-in instrument. You seem to find this inconceivable, and likewise I find it inconceivable that someone can be so fastidious about the appearance of his instrument.
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Yep. Same.

And, in this particular case, no, that Tobias wouldn't look better. But a lot of "regular" instruments, like old Stingrays, Fenders, and such, I think benefit from some mojo.
 
#96
I have an Ibanez SR500 that has the mahogany finish. I know it will scratch easily so I guess I'm a little careful with it but I don't baby it. The scratches will come sooner or later. I have a "used" MIM Jazz and it came scratched and dinged but it looks "ok" and sounds really good. I take care of my gear but if I get a scratch or ding I live with it...not too worried about it.
 

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