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Double Bass how to fix those ugly scratches on the top?

ctrlzjones

ctrlzjones

Jul 11, 2013
717
627
Barcelona
#1
I am not supposed to use furniture polish, or am I?

The bass is a 'not so expensive laminated student bass that goes by the name 'Bertoni'

All suggestions welcome.

P7090100.jpg
 
#2
Hi CJ,

Your bass looks decent for a student bass: good laminate, inlaid purfling if I'm not mistaken, and a decent chunk of ebony for a fingerboard.

I think those scratches are just the beginning of some character... But if you really want to hide them, just a little bit of Linseed oil on a paper towel, rubbed in gently, will do the trick. Get the boiled kind, so that it will dry. Hardware stores and art supply stores have it.

Cheers,

Paul (eh_train)
 
#5
Yes, I know that this is nothing important, they are on my main bass too and I am not bothered at all. I like signs maturity.

It's just that the bass is borrowed (not from somebody I know personally and I have no chance to talk to the owner face to face)
The whole deal was organised by someone who does not know anything about basses and I do not want to get him into any kind of trouble.
The scratches weren't there the day before yesterday when I took it from the shelf of a music school ...

Actually I have no idea how they got there I have trimmed fingernails and was wearing a t-shirt ...

So: if not lineseed oil, what do I use to make the wrinkles disappear?

BTW the fingerboard is painted and the whole thing does not sound very convincing ...
 
#6
My dad worked on school instruments mostly for 30 plus years, and he swears by Old English scratch remover. It will darken the bare spots and hide those scratches pretty well. There may be more than one color, I don't remember. Since the bass isn't very dark in color, you might want to try a lighter shade of scratch remover so as not to make it too dark.
 
#7
If it were in my shop, I would touch up the scratches using a tiny artist's brush and some garnet polish or seed-lac...or maybe just some orange shellac...depending on how dark that finish really is. You can render scratches virtually invisible. Definitely unnoticeable.
 
#8
Remyd said:
No, don't use that. The finish on your bass and the finish on your coffee table aren't the same at all.
Click to expand...

I think Remyd was saying don't use furniture polish (which was what your OP was about). The linseed oil will definitely work, as will other ones that might even be in your kitchen (walnut and olive oil). Just use a very little of the kitchen variety, cos those aren't treated like the linseed...
 
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#10
Olive Oil Virgen (that is: Native Pressing) - Rubbed sparsely on the surface with a soft tissue worked its wonder.
Please note that now I am pretty sure that any oily (butter) substance would have done the same ...

Boy am I relieved ...

Thanks for the responses ...

/edit on:
Of course I didn't mean to say: smear butter on precious laminated wood. Who would do such a thing ...
I also found out that it was the right hands thumbnail leaving those ugly marks (no, I was not slapping) ... and then had to polish again ...
/edit off
 
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