I did a bad thing...

[MotorCityMinion]

I'd worry about it and get pissed. It does not matter if I scratched it or some other duffus did it. Goes the same for anything I own. I can't stand road worn or relicek'd basses, and if I ever did find a pre-cbs that looked used or had a MOJO finish on it, I'd sell it immediately and buy something with a good finish on it. Nope, I don't wear boots to work either.

 

[Robscott]

Similar experience for me, although in my case the strap slipped off the button and the bass landed tail-first on the concrete floor, and broke a four-inch chunk out of the body at the jack.

You gotta use straplocks, first mod you should make to a new instrument. Then again, I guess you don't need some smart** telling you that now

 

[Drgonzonm]

I'd worry about it and get pissed. It does not matter if I scratched it or some other duffus did it. Goes the same for anything I own. I can't stand road worn or relicek'd basses, and if I ever did find a pre-cbs that looked used or had a MOJO finish on it, I'd sell it immediately and buy something with a good finish on it. Nope, I don't wear boots to work either.

Have a buddy who just found a pre CBS fender 30-40 watter, Its in the shop getting checked out. Probably needs to be recapped, three prong cord put on, and some resistors replaced. He got a great deal. will probably pay $4-500 for the recapping.
I guess you would not accept Willie Nelson's guitar if offered to you?

 

[Gaolee]

As far as trying to determine what or who actually scratched it up, consider the distance between the furthermost scratches -- looks like it covers 8 to 10 inches. If that were on my bass, I'd know it wasn't me because I don't shift my bass around nearly enough to cover that area. Does the position of your bass relative to your body move that much when you play?

My instruments often have that kind of pattern on the back due to the rivets in jeans pockets. I don't set out to trash them, but I'm also not trying to preserve anything in some kind of museum quality. They are usually a little ratty when I get them anyway, so it's not like I destroy anything pristine.

That pattern would come from moving around, wearing jeans, not necessarily a buckle, and moving the body a bit. It could happen shifting the neck up and down, moving the body back and forth, or just motion. It wouldn't bother me, but what I do or think has no bearing on anybody else's happiness or pain.

 

[Peteyboy]

You gotta use straplocks, first mod you should make to a new instrument. Then again, I guess you don't need some smart** telling you that now

Makes you wonder why they don't all come stock with straplocks.

 

[diegom]

To the OP:
Sorry to see that. OTOH, it's over with and future dings won't hurt anymore... That, to me, is the great advantage of relic'ed intruments, YOU CAN"T HURT THEM!!!

To @catcauphonic : I love your strap!!! (except for the real tall spikes...)https://www.talkbass.com/members/catcauphonic.218226/

 

[Mr.Ace]

I say that to my wife all the time!

 

[catcauphonic]

To the OP:
Sorry to see that. OTOH, it's over with and future dings won't hurt anymore... That, to me, is the great advantage of relic'ed intruments, YOU CAN"T HURT THEM!!!

To @catcauphonic : I love your strap!!! (except for the real tall spikes...)

Thanks! Had it custom made after buying one 'off the rack' on the maker's eBay page. At first the 2" one was fine for my basswood Yamaha, but once i got my heavier Spector, I ordered one "1inch wider, with 1inch higher spikes!"

I think she did a fabulous job

 

[Drgonzonm]

@catcauphonic, nice straps. I don't guess you haven't put your straps on inside out have you. I don't think there is enough red stuff in a bass player to make that mistake.
again

 

[MotorCityMinion]

Have a buddy who just found a pre CBS fender 30-40 watter, Its in the shop getting checked out. Probably needs to be recapped, three prong cord put on, and some resistors replaced. He got a great deal. will probably pay $4-500 for the recapping.
I guess you would not accept Willie Nelson's guitar if offered to you?

Accepted, photos taken, off to Reverb, sold. Shiny new guitar on the way, get some herb, donate to farmers and pay no taxes. This message has been Willie approved.

 

[MotorCityMinion]

Mikey? From Van Halen? What you doing in here?

 

[4SG]

Gives it character. Not that it needed any but, you know.

 

[CGremlin]

You gotta use straplocks, first mod you should make to a new instrument. Then again, I guess you don't need some smart** telling you that now

Had the locks, just hadn't put them on yet. Go figure.

 

[Kukulkan61]

I move my buckle to the side away from the back of the bass and I don't tuck my shirts in...

 

[bobalu]

Watch out for jeans (or other pants) that have rivets. They can really do a number on the back of an instrument.

That's exactly what it looks like to me given the location of the damage in the pic (not buckle rash)

 

[kleinenenten]

My gut protects the backs of my basses. It protrudes enough buckle rash isn’t a concern!

 

[catcauphonic]

@catcauphonic, nice straps. I don't guess you haven't put your straps on inside out have you. I don't think there is enough red stuff in a bass player to make that mistake.
again

I have not, but during one of our gigs... our lead guitarist backed up to me mid-song, and used it as a back scratcher for himself A few peeps who noticed that got a bit of a chuckle over it

 

[TheReceder]

I've got a couple basses that I use scratchpads on, the rest have varying degrees of buckle rash. But if you can deal with the bass
.not sliding around when you play, the scratchpads work well.

 

[dxb]

Looks like scratches from rivets on denim jeans, but it could been from a belt buckle. Some finishes just scratch easily. I leaned one of my guitars against a chair once and it left a big wide scratch across the back. The good news is most scratches like that are pretty shallow and can be buffed out using a scratch removal kit.

 

[Luciferiad]

We have here a grease-monkey, motorcycle-enthusiast with a TB handle that evokes the Lord Of Darkness, and who wears a big beard that, by definition, is saying "I don't give an eff..." who is worried about some scratches and saying "it breaks my heart." ??

This does not compute. This does not compute at all.

I hereby suspend your man card and refer you to first watch 30 episodes of Portlandia to wake you up to poserdom. If this doesn't work then it must be off to Vienna with you where they will endeavor to figure out all of the internal conflict going on here. And this is coming from me, a cat lover who wears work boots for realz and says "for realz" while observing snowflakes and absurdity on the interwebz.

All in good fun, my friend, but "for realz?" Those scratches? Lucifer is very diapleased with your reaction.

My man card is irrevocable. Lifetime membership.

Scratches on the back of your bass have broken your heart? Wow, better put that thing in a vacuum sealed display case now before some other catastrophe happens. You can hum your bass lines into a mic at gigs!

I see a little hyperbole can be dangerous.

Let me explain: by "broke my heart" what I meant was "had no target for my blind directionless rage, and chose to sulk instead."

Sulking is not manly either, admittedly, but I was in a room of music equipment and throwing things was not an option.

The shock of its sudden and inexplicable appearance is what upset me. No one to blame, not even myself. But unless repairing it cheap and easy (ha!) it's not going to happen, so it is what it is. And judging by how soft the finish seems to be, it's gonna take a few bruises before retirement.

I suppose I COULD put it in a vacuum sealed case, but I'll probably just keep gigging with it. Thanks for the suggestion though -.-