Double Bass Large varnish chip!

[gotsoul77]

Ok... So while refitting my bridge I used adhesive sandpaper on the front of the body so that I could sand the bridge feet to form. The paper was to sticky and pulled a good sized chunk (about a square inch) of varnish off of the body. I don't care too much about looks, and the wood is undamaged, but will this chip lead to problems down the road - it is a plywood bass btw.

...and yes I know that I am dumb, but this is also my first time setting up a bass.
Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Matthew Tucker]

will this chip lead to problems down the road

no, except that the next owner of your bass might not like the effect ...

 

[gotsoul77]

I doubt this thing will ever make it to another owner. Thanks.

 

[1st Bass]

Good opportunity for re-touch practice.

 

[Bass]

How do you re-touch? I have a few small chips on the edges (which is to be expected, I suppose).

 

[1st Bass]

How do you re-touch? I have a few small chips on the edges (which is to be expected, I suppose).

I use spirit re-touch varnish which I buy from International Violin Co., in a variety of colors

 

[Bob Branstetter]

Unless you are fortune enough to have been given some of the varnish that was applied by the maker when the instrument was made, re-touching (actually varnish matching) is, IMO, one of the most difficult jobs and most commonly screwed up jobs in amateur instrument repairing. Modern sprayed on synthetic finishes that are usually used on mass produced basses are especially hard to match. Bottled oil and spirit color varnishes sold by violin supply houses when used for touch-up usually end up looking far worse than if you had done nothing. They are fine for sealing the wood on worn edges, but for places that are highly visible, think twice before you do anything.

My advice is to either (1) take the instrument to someone who is known to be good at varnish matching for the touch-up, (2) apply one thin coat of a clear spirit varnish on just the bare wood to keep dirt and other contaminants from getting into the wood so someone will be able to do the job properly at a later date or (3) do nothing.

 

[gotsoul77]

Thanks guys.