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Neck Dents

Saulful

Saulful

Feb 3, 2020
7
7
#1
Hey guys

A question about nicks and dents on the back of the neck.
How much do they bother you? Would it stop you buying a used bass if there's a nick you'll feel with your thumb every time you play?
Does your bass have any? Does it bother you much or do you just get on with it?

Just curious...
 
#4
Greetings from the North,

My fave has a dent courtesy of a poorly designed stand that partially collapsed while it was cradling it. The dent is way up the neck and I rarely go there. Over time I've convinced myself that the dent was a braille like position marker. Yup it still bothers me sometimes. That stand damaged more than one bass and guitar. I rendered it unusable and scattered its parts into different garbage bins so that there would be no chance of it denting another neck. And yes good chance of me passing on buying a dented neck bass.

Rezdog
 
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#7
Not on a bass, but on the very inexpensive Epiphone Les Paul Special P 90 I got with a special Musician’s Friend coupon recently did I put a dent around the middle of the neck second fret area and the feel did bother me. I took my soldering iron and a folded a wet paper towel and raised it to level. Then I filled the break in the thin finish with Super Glue and lightly sanded off. Finished with grades of Micro mesh until I couldn’t find it with my thumb. I can see it a bit but can’t feel it so it’s good enough.
 
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#12
Saulful said:
Is that hard to do?
Click to expand...

I didn't find it to be.

Here's a youtube about drop filling for chips but the concept is the same for dents. However, I didn't use all the steps in the video since I was interested in a practical/level repair not a perfect finish. Also if there is old finish in the dent I rough the finish up a bit with 320 grit sand paper before filling with CA glue.



I'd be surprised if there aren't more videos on the net about both drop filling and steaming dents in wood.
 
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#13
If you’re in the habit of buying used or vintage basses like I am, those “flesh wounds” (i.e. chips, dents, dings, scratches, buckle rash, etc.) come with the turf.

A neck ding is only as big a deal as you decide to make it for yourself. For my part I just ignore them.
 
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#14
If we're talking the back of the neck, I wouldn't worry too much about them. I used to take the finish off my necks to make them fast but I have two 70's original finish necks, a 74 J and a 73 P, I just love warts and all. Fret dents bother me more.
 
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#17
Saulful said:
Hey guys

A question about nicks and dents on the back of the neck.
How much do they bother you? Would it stop you buying a used bass if there's a nick you'll feel with your thumb every time you play?
Does your bass have any? Does it bother you much or do you just get on with it?

Just curious...
Click to expand...

Yes, my bass has dents. It bothers me for a day or two, then I start using them for non-visual location aides, and they become a useful tool that I wish I would have put there sooner...
 
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