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Protecting your finish
- Thread starter humbass
- Start date
)))Nice thoughts. Just like you, I want to keep my instruments in mint condition. First scratch or dent always hurts very bad. Belt off, wrist band on for rehearsals. Not going straight from car oil change to practice. Polishing/cleaning cloth is always near.
Now that my older bass starts to darken and my use shows a bit, I love the (light) wear.
In my opinion there is a huge difference between "sh#t, I dropped it and now i has a big chipping etc." AND "10 years been great on stage and with my band and my bass shows it". The second one might be the "honest wear" you mean.
I'm not a big vintage or relic fan. I try not to polish the fretboard after each song. But I will go over the areas where my arm and finger rests and the neck after a gig/rehearsal.
Only thing I'm worried about is the frets that show some scratched when using bendings. Don't know if thats normal wear or bad bending habits. ?!?
...... to keep my arm from rubbing the finish off the bass. Have I've gone overboard?
personally I think so but if you want to keep it mint it might be the ticket. it's your bass, protect it as much as you care and enjoy playing it.
One really nice feature of Sadowsky basses is the plastic protective sheeting on the front and back of the basses in places where there is typical wear.
I just started using a shooter sleeve like the ones basket ball players wear in order to keep my arm from rubbing the finish off the bass. Have I've gone overboard?
You wear that on gigs?
IMO you are going overboard. Taking off a belt or ring or not wearing a shirt with buttons is normal, but not the sleeve IMO.I know a guitar player that wears one... But he was a heroin addict, so he uses it to cover needle tracks. Just looks weird in any case. Just IMO though.
Damn, just caught myself searching amazon for a sleeve. No, my wristband is enough every now and then. :-D
Have you tried polishing with zymol or meguiers? IME the finish those polishers apply does help with skin oils but turning your belt buckle to the side and removing rings and watches are also good things to do to protect the finish.
I only use a microfiber cloth, no polish or cleaning liquid.
Do you use seperate cleaning cloths for body an strings/fretboard? Because of the danger to rub the dirt (and maybe metal particles) from the strings into the lacquer of the body?!?
Do you use seperate cleaning cloths for body an strings/fretboard? Because of the danger to rub the dirt (and maybe metal particles) from the strings into the lacquer of the body?!?
I have 4 basses and 1 guitar. I keep them clean from grime and dust as much as possible, wipe 'em down after playing, etc. But, imo, playing them inherently involves some wear, simply due to mechanical action. Even that shooter sleeve will, eventually, cause its own wear.
I say, don't sweat it. Just play.
Consequently, my most used basses have honest wear from decades of playing.
That's because they were played. A lot.
But, ultimately, to each his own. Enjoy regardless.
wraub
I say, don't sweat it. Just play.
Consequently, my most used basses have honest wear from decades of playing.
That's because they were played. A lot.
But, ultimately, to each his own. Enjoy regardless.
wraub
Totally. I've got two on my CS Heavy Relic Tele because I'd hate for a guitar of that value get worn.
my basses are 200 dollar beaters. I dont really care after that first ding.
interesting sidenote- fender released a product in the 60s that was a clear plastic sleeve that would fit over the body. it was really dorky looking and some Tb members referred to it as a bass condom.
interesting sidenote- fender released a product in the 60s that was a clear plastic sleeve that would fit over the body. it was really dorky looking and some Tb members referred to it as a bass condom.
This sleeve is really crazy. But the shop seems to be real, so no joke.
So there must be buyers for that.
Maybe for a really valuable bass I would buy it, but I don't have that much money. Already have a collectible, but I play it. The wear will come, honest wear I hope. Over the years.
So there must be buyers for that.
Maybe for a really valuable bass I would buy it, but I don't have that much money. Already have a collectible, but I play it. The wear will come, honest wear I hope. Over the years.
+1
Is there an option to have "steal me, I'm expensive" monogrammed on the guitar condoms?
you can make your own sleeve easy enough.........take a sock and cut the end.......wouldnt wear it in public, but ok for practice
Personally, I can't be comfortable about playing bass if I have to worry THAT much about normal wear.
One could make a case that jeans are much coarser fabric than dress pants though.
One could make a case that jeans are much coarser fabric than dress pants though.
