Really GIG worn, dirty, or rusty basses.... no relics allowed. PICS!

[VillageIdiott]

Just thought I would throw this out there. I like seeing really dirty, kind of gross basses. Lots of grime, rust, abuse etc... but earned by playing not relic'ing.

Here is a picture of my MIJ Fender Jazz. Originally Olympic White. I purchased this bass from a band member in Japan. Sadly, it is not my actual sweat and bad taste in pink spray paint that created this mess. I wish my camera could better represent the mess it is in.

Matt.

 

[VillageIdiott]

 

[5StringBlues]

Wish I had better pics of the Jazz bass on the left.



The body had the small dents like the ones seen in the upper horn in it when I bought it in '96ish and I remarked at the time that it looked like it had been in a punk band. The finish wasn't worn thru anywhere but it had tiny dents. Also it had had an active set up installed at some point, hence the battery cutout on the back.


The wear marks around the back pickup are from years of palm muting to get an uprightish sound for playing jump blues and swing.




Pay no attention to the P bass on the right, it's my buddy's and a r e l i c ed bass.

 

[charlie monroe]

2 knobs @5StringBlues ?

 

[5StringBlues]

2 knobs @5StringBlues ?

Stacked volume and tone like the Flea Road Worn and American 62' Reissues

Mines an early Fullerton reissue.

 

[hypercarrots]

the used basses i see in japan are usually in such good shape. but i often see these stickered up rusty messes. at first i thought they were owned by the same guy but there are so many it must be a trend over there.

 

[Flamingo21]

Good thread idea, OP!
Myself, I have no basses worthy of this place. Even my 100+ years old piano looks too good.

 

[Volker Kirstein]

You want dirty and grngy? Here's Froggy before I started woking on it. Note the string retainer...

Bridge and gradoo....

Broken spacer ring, but funtional, tuners...

DNA

 

[MotorCityMinion]

Mines an early Fullerton reissue.

Authentic wear only please: "Really GIG worn, dirty, or rusty basses.... no relics allowed. PICS!"

 

[5StringBlues]

Authentic wear only please: "Really GIG worn, dirty, or rusty basses.... no relics allowed. PICS!"

If you mean the Flea bass pic, it was to explain to Charlie why two knobs.




Context is everything.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Fair warning- if anyone starts relic bashing they’re going to get a warning and this thread will likely get shut down.

 

[jfh2424]

Fair warning- if anyone starts relic bashing they’re going to get a warning and this thread will likely get shut down.

Hm. That certainly puts a lot of power in the hands of people who want to shut down the thread.

 

[VillageIdiott]

Wow. Great pictures. I love the "sticker" basses that come from Japan. I lived there for about 6 years but unfortunately didn't play bass at that time so I didn't realize it was a popular thing there.

Love all the grungy, dirty bass pics! Keep 'em coming.

 

[charlie monroe]

Hm. That certainly puts a lot of power in the hands of people who want to shut down the thread.

That is true technically, but in practice, do you know anyone so anti-relic that they will volunteer for warning points?

This isn't a particularly volatile topic, but you should have seen the "Disarm America" crew anytime the g word was mentioned. They would come out in droves. I guess it worked, because since then, g threads are only permitted in the Lobby.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

It will mostly be vintage basses because poly doesn’t really wear that much. So it normally leaves worn vintage, cheaper poly basses that have been neglected, and basses that have suffered damage.

 

[bolophonic]

I know there are better close-ups of Dave Collins’ Squier, but this photo captures a fair amount of the barf-factor.

 

[VillageIdiott]

Fair point. However this thread would welcome any bass that is GROSS. I think that is the keyword for me. I am as happy to see dirt and rust as I am even hard earned wear.

There must be some really neglected basses out there. My pink Fender definitely sat in someone's damp closet for a while... you should see the bow in the neck. I will take a picture tonight and post it. It is a truly loved and then neglected bass.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

Who says you can't wear out a poly finish?....
I managed to....

 

[bassdude51]

I bought this "high mileage" 1953 P Bass about four years ago. Parts and hardware are 100% original. Wear and tear done by "whoever".

Mechanically, it's in VG condition. Visually, "wabi sabi". Beauty in old and worn.

 

[stubborne]

My '79.. 2nd owner, I bought/borrowed it from my buddy really as a loan so he could pay his rent. He never asked for it back. That was in '89. 2nd BAII bridge, first one rusted up and I had to replace. Original PU guard as you can see was white. Got the urge to go black way back, then really liked the look as it started peeling. I haven't played this bass out in a decade, think I will change that very soon.