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Road worn basses. What (or who) are they for?

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Cycleops

Cycleops

Nov 13, 2019
118
117
#1
Are they a godsend for gigging musicians or a gigantic con trick perpetrated on the bass buying public by the marketing men who have run out of ideas?
Why should you buy one and pay for the privilege of having an instrument that looks like it's been dragged down the road? I can see the advantages for the former as any knocks can be put down to the instruments state when it was new, so when it comes to sale time the buyer can't really complain about any further imperfections. As for me it has no appeal as I like to keep my stuff in prime condition.
It must be a great for manufacturers who have a less than great QC. You can imagine the conversation when a QC inspector finds a guitar with a few finish issues. 'This'll need to be stripped right back boss'. 'Ah, just put it in the road worn line'.
Would anyone on here buy one or has anyone bought one and would care to share their reasons for buying?
 
#2
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#10
Cycleops said:
Are they a godsend for gigging musicians or a gigantic con trick perpetrated on the bass buying public by the marketing men who have run out of ideas?
Why should you buy one and pay for the privilege of having an instrument that looks like it's been dragged down the road? I can see the advantages for the former as any knocks can be put down to the instruments state when it was new, so when it comes to sale time the buyer can't really complain about any further imperfections. As for me it has no appeal as I like to keep my stuff in prime condition.
It must be a great for manufacturers who have a less than great QC. You can imagine the conversation when a QC inspector finds a guitar with a few finish issues. 'This'll need to be stripped right back boss'. 'Ah, just put it in the road worn line'.
Would anyone on here buy one or has anyone bought one and would care to share their reasons for buying?
Click to expand...
Simple answer: They're not for everyone.
 
#11
Back in the day when you had to put wear on your bass all by yourself just by using it a lot over a long period of time, Jeans were the same. They were thick and uncomfortable when new. They also were pretty dark. You had to wear these for years to get them where you wanted them, lighter in color and comfortably worn in.
Nowadays we skip that part and you buy them fancy right out of the store. Of course, the stonewashing they do takes years' life off the fabric ... Well, this is about guitars. But it's the same. A well worn in guitar with battlescars looks, to some, a lot better than a shiny one that's close to new. There is a demand for vintage instruments. These are strictly limited since you can't produce vintage instruments, so the prices are way up.
But who said you can't produce vintage? Hold my beer! Some acid bath on the metal parts, some manual labor on the wood (But never take that screwdriver to the back of the neck) and you have a brand new retro instrument.
I can see where it comes from. In my personal book, however, you've two choices: Either cough up serious cash and get that original '64 model or buy a new one and play it every day for the next forty years.
 
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