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Is it wrong to sticker your bass?
- Thread starter xXMoonichoXx
- Start date
Life is too short to act on public opinion. Do whatever the hell you want how you want it.
I personally think a couple nice stickers can look great but would not generally cover the entire bass with stickers.
I personally think a couple nice stickers can look great but would not generally cover the entire bass with stickers.
And if you go with stickers and change your mind, GooGone will remove any adhesive that water doesn't without damaging the finish.
The solution to pollution is dilution...
but really, if I outgrew a sticker I would just cover it with another one I did like. Easy as that, but Meghans Dad is right, if you want a fresh canvas again googone works wonders.
Refinishing is okay because you're leaving the basic architecture of the instrument intact. But that's different than putting stickers or stripping away finush or beating up an instrument to "age" it. I think that instruments have souls and their soul should be nurtured.
Even though I've seen some nice refinish work done, I wouldn't do that either. I'd take the cost of refinishing and put that towards buying another instrument.
If I did it, which I haven't, I would probably not go beyond the pickguard.
But I think you should do whatever pleases you. As I see it, this discussion is no different from modding your bass with different parts, weird colors, and so on. I myself would be more worried if I had to flip a shocking pink bass than a bass with a sticker. Actually stickers are the most harmless purely aesthetic mod in my view.
I don't think I'd pass on a bass I really wanted because of a sticker, even if it left some residue or uneven finish. Fixing it would be easier than what many folks go through when getting a second hand bass back into shape.
But I think you should do whatever pleases you. As I see it, this discussion is no different from modding your bass with different parts, weird colors, and so on. I myself would be more worried if I had to flip a shocking pink bass than a bass with a sticker. Actually stickers are the most harmless purely aesthetic mod in my view.
I don't think I'd pass on a bass I really wanted because of a sticker, even if it left some residue or uneven finish. Fixing it would be easier than what many folks go through when getting a second hand bass back into shape.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
Ah.....another TB Rhetorical Thread........Who'da thunk it?
FWIW, its your bass: do what you want with it.......Stickers are aesthetics: they are the guitar equivelent of tattoos or lip piercings..........I dont put stickers on my basses: I play in a function band that does events, parties, and functions.....stickers would ruin our "Disney-ish" visual motif so it doesnt fit in with this type of band's aesthetics.....I imagine if I played in rock-oriented venues or in punkier-style rock bands, I may be inclined to add a sticker or two for aesthetic reasons that favor them
FWIW, its your bass: do what you want with it.......Stickers are aesthetics: they are the guitar equivelent of tattoos or lip piercings..........I dont put stickers on my basses: I play in a function band that does events, parties, and functions.....stickers would ruin our "Disney-ish" visual motif so it doesnt fit in with this type of band's aesthetics.....I imagine if I played in rock-oriented venues or in punkier-style rock bands, I may be inclined to add a sticker or two for aesthetic reasons that favor them
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I would be surprised if a modern poly finish can be harmed by stickers. Maybe old nitro finishes, but they pick up damage if you look at them funny.
The stickers may block UV and thus the clear or colour coats may discolour faster around the stickers leaving tanlines when you remove them. This would be noticeable on a white or other pale finish, but I don't consider this nearly a good enough reason to try and dissuade OP from stickering up their bass.
I find the responses about resale value especially amusing. OP is new to Talkbass, and hasn't learned to view every instrument sungularily in terms of resale or trade value yet. You never know, they might be thinking about playing the bass once or twice before 'tossing' it.
The stickers may block UV and thus the clear or colour coats may discolour faster around the stickers leaving tanlines when you remove them. This would be noticeable on a white or other pale finish, but I don't consider this nearly a good enough reason to try and dissuade OP from stickering up their bass.
I find the responses about resale value especially amusing. OP is new to Talkbass, and hasn't learned to view every instrument sungularily in terms of resale or trade value yet. You never know, they might be thinking about playing the bass once or twice before 'tossing' it.
As I said in my post, I have put on decals, taken them off, put on others, removed them, then put more back on all without damaging the poly. I wouldn't expect the same results from a nitro finish. The poly's are a hard to damage! (Although, I've done it the old fashioned way ... dropping, banging, scraping....)I would be surprised if a modern poly finish can be harmed by stickers. Maybe old nitro finishes, but they pick up damage if you look at them funny.
The stickers may block UV and thus the clear or colour coats may discolour faster around the stickers leaving tanlines when you remove them. This would be noticeable on a white or other pale finish, but I don't consider this nearly a good enough reason to try and dissuade OP from stickering up their bass.
I find the responses about resale value especially amusing. OP is new to Talkbass, and hasn't learned to view every instrument sungularily in terms of resale or trade value yet. You never know, they might be thinking about playing the bass once or twice before 'tossing' it.
For me it depends on the finish. If it's a tung oil finish, and you want to take the stickers off some day, you will likely compromise the finish if you use a cleaner of some kind. But if it's one of those thick polyeurethane finishes you see in Fender style or most production basses, I wouldn't think twice about putting a sticker on the bass. For me, it's about resale value for when I get tired of the bass...or the stickers.
I will say that stickers look awful when they are hodge podged all over. I don't mind them on guitar cases and pedal board cases though -- those look cool!
I will say that stickers look awful when they are hodge podged all over. I don't mind them on guitar cases and pedal board cases though -- those look cool!
...and if you're sporting a Thunderbird, just tie off the truck nuts to the bridge-end strap peg for practical use as a counterbalance
