Show me some natural wear on your new/vinatage bass!

How's this? ’62 Fender Bass VI bought from roommate for $250 while in college (theory/comp major) in ‘75, a nosebleed to learn on from scratch and still my main bass after several decades of epic sessions and great memories. The ‘antique’ is my forearm wearing through the sunburst layers over 45 years.

Original pickups, a drop-in Dan Armstrong hotwire for series/parallel, a drop-in Staytrem bridge, had the neck re-planed once and a couple of re-frets.

Still playing this one 6-10 hours a week. I want to be Pablo Casals “…when Casals (then aged 93) was asked why he continued to practice the cello three hours a day, Casals replied, "I'm beginning to notice some improvement...".

 

My main stage bass, beat yo snot '66 Gibson Thunderbird II

 

See that little white mark next to the pickup? I beat the hell out of my basses.

Rick B.

 

The original owner bought this '66 brand new and proceeded to install honest mojo onto it across many years. There is some serious funk under the bridge cover from sweat and beer during all those gigs. I am the proud second owner of this amazing example. The front offsets the nearly pristine back. He installed a Fender body guard when he bought it.

 

How about new.


Took delivery of this NG3 in January of 2018. That's not dirt or grime...that's wear through the fretboard finish. It's also had north of 200 shows and countless hours of home practice in that time. Also, I'm not a 'vice grip' heavy player.

 

2014 American Vintage Series '64 Jazz FSR in Daphne Blue with matching headstock. Just playing and gigging it a lot. My all time favorite bass.

 

Such disdain. You're an inscrutable nihilist.

 

Here's my 1969 which I've owned since '79. Most of the damage was caused by my own mishandling and/or carelessness:

 

76 P. Main road bass in the 80s, but it too most of this wear in the decade before I owned it. It never leaves the house anymore, not because I'm protective, but because I never play a P bass anymore.

 

Here's my '74 Fender Jazz.

The majority of all the bruises and scars were all lovingly done from years of gigging before I acquired it.

 

'67 Guild Starfire, with modifications.

 

This old thing, again

 

My mother who was a violinist and a music teacher and who lived during the great depression taught me to take good care of my instruments. Here's my one owner '75 Precision. Oops there's that broken tip on the pickguard! And a bit of buckle rash on the back which might have happened when I loaned it out. And a ding on the neck which happened when it fell over on stage before I could afford a stand. And usually the chrome isn't on there. And what about those pots I had to replace? Oh well, it's still in amazing condition.

 

Pardon me, but is Nick Nolte really playing this Thunderbird or is just acting again??

 

Thats too bad, you really hate to see a vintage instrument all hacked up and modded. Lol

Seriously, do you know how many Alembic Starfires actually exist? Can’t be more than a handful, right?

 

The jazz on the left and the fretless mutt in the middle have been on a lot of gigs and lots of tours.

 

You're digging in a little bit when you reach for that G string Ed. Seems like the paint doesn't like the acid in your sweat near the F hole too.

 

Some of you guys should be posting on this thread as well if you haven't done so already.
SHOW YOUR DISTRESSED FINISHES!