Is it wrong to sticker your bass?

[eb0248]

Okay -here's another chance for me to show how unhip I am! But I'm speaking straight from the heart and I'm not telling anyone to do anything I don't do myself.

NO! NO STICKERS!

Your mission is to play your instrument and keep it sounding and looking like it did when it was new. No stickers - no relicing.

Yeah, tell that to Keith who started the whole relicing BS

Beater bass bought with stickers for $65 on craigslist
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Beater Bass after sticker removal and a few embellishments
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Note: Stickers permanently stained pickguard, installed new one.

Beater Bass headstock before and after. I did add waterslide decal and gifted the bass to my daughter.
If she wants stickers, it's her choice
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This the coolest thing I've been all day (it's 6/16/20, I'm a little late)

 

[eb0248]

The amount of elitism and condescension in this thread is phenomenal. Big reason why I quit visiting so often.

Kiddo, if you want to put a sticker on your bass, put a sticker on your bass. Its that easy. If you're more worried about reselling your bass than you are enjoying it and playing, there are other issues that need addressed.

I've always loved the self-righteous w/o a modicum of snark.....SO fun at parties

 

[Pops OB]

I hate stickers. Period. That said, it's your bass and you can do anything it pleases you to do to your bass. Why should you care what anybody else thinks?

 

[Volker Kirstein]

I use stickers on many of my basses. Mainly inlay stickers, but often others. Here, there are stickers on the headstock, inlays, pickguard, and back.

 

[Energy]

It's definitely wrong to sticker my bass. I don't know about yours, though.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

Your do bass, do whatever you want with it.

Through in a wood chipper for all I care.

 

[Will_White]

Nope.

 

[Paulabass]

In many years of music retail- We did not accept trade ins with stickers, OR faded spots where stickers had been removed. They are also nearly impossible to sell privately.

 

[JRA]

i haven't dressed/adorned an ax with stickers but i've seen a few axes that i thought looked pretty cool with them. i think the best ones i've seen: the stickers tell a story (tours, philosophies, social politics, etc.). i also think that some axes have been stickered without much thought. they don't do much for me.

but i'm with the "it's your ax, do what you want" group.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

I have a small repair shop and have had MANY geetarz and basses brought in by new owners wanting the old stickers removed. The trick is finding out what combination of heat, vegetable oil, WD40, denatured alcohol, or Goo-be-Gone will get 'em off without hurting whatever finish is under there. I've always managed to get them back to completely-un-stickered eventually...

BUT... the only real "damage" that I've noted is where a sticker has been on so long that the finish doesn't "age" (usually UV fading or yellowing) under the sticker, and even when it's GONE, the profile remains.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

Didn't read all the pages but it cracks me up when someone always goes to "don't do anything to devalue your instrument!"

It's your bass, use stickers or bright paint and get out of the "black hole" of a million-bajillion black and sunburst basses, whatever you'd like, it's yours!

I've had a few over time, never had an issue with the finish being ruined or the sticker peeling off.

 

[SidNitzerglobin]

If your bass is a vintage instrument w/ potentially fragile finish, I'd advise against it. In any other case, I'd say do what you want w/ it & don't worry what's "right/wrong".

There's the least potential for uneven aging or any other finish damage over time putting the stickers on a pickguard if you have one. Worst case scenario, all you need to do is replace the guard. Only one of my basses has been stickered by me, my first bass:

The sticker added something for me aesthetically & that's the opinion that should count the most IMO.

 

[Paulabass]

I've never put on a sticker, but I used some car wrap once.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

The amount of elitism and condescension in this thread is phenomenal. Big reason why I quit visiting so often.

Kiddo, if you want to put a sticker on your bass, put a sticker on your bass. Its that easy. If you're more worried about reselling your bass than you are enjoying it and playing, there are other issues that need addressed.

THIS!

It's ridiculous how people feel their opinion is supposed to be considered universally correct and not take into account that someone is an idiot for disagreeing.

But that's the "joy" of internet forums, you have to take the bad with the good. No one will change my mind on this any more than they would on short scales, picks, straps, pay, cover band, etc. You know, all the things people on here are so sure of. Doesn't make me universally right either.

 

[B-Mac]

I heard that stickering your bass is bad, and that you shouldn't do it, but I think it looks so cool! Is it really that bad to sticker your bass?

I couldn't do it.
I worship basses.
They are a temple of a (bass) god.
I am in awe of their beauty, elegance, simplicity, complexity.
But that is just me.
It is your bass.
Do what you wish.
Have at it!

 

[B-Mac]

I've never put on a sticker, but I used some car wrap once.
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Pretty cool! Mopar fan?

 

[never-enough]

I've never put on a sticker, but I used some car wrap once.
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I would love to see a picture of this, if possible.

 

[Fresh Eddie]

A little WD-40 will take off sticker goo. I've had stickers on and off basses for a bit over 30 years and the only finish that was ever permanently marred was a bass that already had finish problems.... in some cases the sticker actually protected the finish from surface scratches.