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SHOW YOUR DISTRESSED FINISHES!

#2,021
JIO said:
The issue is that not all basses conform to a standard anything. As far as HM bridges, I like the Schaller 3D because of it's designed-in spacers, which when needed are ideal. But to get to the nitty-gritty, I don't like the words BADASS embossed into it. I frankly wouldn't own a bass with one installed. It's something most peeps wouldn't care about, but I just have never been drawn to low-brow marketing. So when I saw the KA (KickAss which is marginally less distasteful) I tried it (twice) and as I've started - it's a decent design as Hipshot is known for. Fender has upgraded versions of their bent-plate and they are all good - it becomes a visual preference after a while, or at least a "if it's not broke don't fix it" thing.
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Jeeeeez JIO

I hope not. The Badass was 1970's technology. Even though the design was duplicated and the technology was solid and copied many times - I would hope we have progressed and learned a few things since then. It's been almost 50 years now.

I find this even more distasteful. I don't want to be a circus "barker" for any company:

FCH4BKP_2-3c8ac444a010369a8682b655ef71f134.jpg
 
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#2,022
BassHappy said:
Jeeeeez JIO

I hope not. The Badass was 1970's technology. Even though the design was duplicated and the technology was solid and copied many times - I would hope we have progressed and learned a few things since then. It's been almost 50 years now.

I find this even more distasteful. I don't want to be a circus "barker" for any company:

View attachment 3112318
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Pretty sure "Babicz" is Uzbecaminastani for "a pound of baby poop".
 
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#2,023
BassHappy said:
I find this even more distasteful. I don't want to be a circus "barker" for any company:

View attachment 3112318
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God's Favorite Bass said:
Pretty sure "Babicz" is Uzbecaminastani for "a pound of baby poop".
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I'm on the fence with these now popular bridges. The etched name is not as much an issue for me as it's the name of the maker, (but I understand your aversion to blatent branding Rick) - I'm just not drawn to how visually loud it is. (the product gestalt) I'm sure it's really well made and works great. It looks heavy but I don't know if they are - even if they aren't heavy, they look horsy. (a term used in the design industry to describe font that is bulky or over-bold for the application) It's visual presence shouts "look at me". But hey, many players have mounted them on their basses and are happy - so as always all of this is my impression and assessment purely from an aesthetic point of view.
 
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#2,024
wraub said:
Yes, that's an apparently somewhat elusive 13 hole ano gold guard, actual Fender part. I always liked Willie Weeks's '59 Pbass, but I prefer a RW board. Plus, I'm not likely to be getting an actual '59 anytime soon, let alone a RW one.
Call it a budget homage.

And thanks for the kind words re: the bass! It's everything a P bass should be imho.
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I’ve been looking for a 13 hole gold anodized PG for my am STD for like... two years. :(

Beautiful bass you got there!
 
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#2,026
speyer said:
I’ve been looking for a 13 hole gold anodized PG for my am STD for like... two years. :(

Beautiful bass you got there!
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If I had a source for gold anodized material - I'd make you one! I made this hs plate of brass and it was hard to cut but once cut it filed cleanly. I etched it with a metal etch and sealed to with clear nitro. Love the way it looks!

fullsizeoutput_e1b.jpeg

I did the MM-style control plate for it the same way.
fullsizeoutput_28.jpeg
 
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#2,028
JIO said:
If I had a source for gold anodized material - I'd make you one! I made this hs plate of brass and it was hard to cut but once cut it filed cleanly. I etched it with a metal etch and sealed to with clear nitro. Love the way it looks!

View attachment 3133254
I did the MM-style control plate for it the same way.
View attachment 3133259
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Did the headstock plate enhance the tone like a Fender Fat Finger sorta deal or really not a noticeable difference? Either way it gets 10 cool points just because.
 
#2,029
JIO said:
I count on GFB for cutting through the BS! :laugh: :thumbsup:
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Just one schlubs opinion not usually worthy of noting...I just don't care for them. Anything I've tried with them has been a couple of Fenders and action was not all good to what would be playable to me at least and would require serious shimming to be made that way. Perhaps something designed with them in mind would be different and magical. But hey, as always, do what makes you play happy I say.
 
#2,030
God's Favorite Bass said:
Did the headstock plate enhance the tone like a Fender Fat Finger sorta deal or really not a noticeable difference? Either way it gets 10 cool points just because.
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I never really know because it sounds really good and being the second one I made that is nearly identical - it sounds... different. (but only in a different sort of way) :)
 
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#2,033
JIO said:
If I had a source for gold anodized material - I'd make you one! I made this hs plate of brass and it was hard to cut but once cut it filed cleanly. I etched it with a metal etch and sealed to with clear nitro. Love the way it looks!

View attachment 3133254
I did the MM-style control plate for it the same way.
View attachment 3133259
Click to expand...

Very cool. After seeing all this... I might consider making my own from plain anodized. Lurking here to plan a light relic on my 2016 AM std PJ. I’ll probably do it all myself.

Its just way to shinny and new!

1C2DE42E-FE84-405F-9740-5011E0B09D62.jpeg
 
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#2,034
God's Favorite Bass said:
Just one schlubs opinion not usually worthy of noting...I just don't care for them. Anything I've tried with them has been a couple of Fenders and action was not all good to what would be playable to me at least and would require serious shimming to be made that way. Perhaps something designed with them in mind would be different and magical. But hey, as always, do what makes you play happy I say.
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I agree as a fellow schlub and I am glad to hear a critique from someone who has actually used them and rejected them for this and that reason. So many times players are blindly lead by what is 'said' to be the next big thing w/o actually knowing the difference. (as in the example of my brass hs plate... yes - I like the way it looks and regardless of magic function it doesn't take away anything!) As stated I am reacting purely to the way they look, but if they were AMAZING functionally then I'd have to say, ok.., I see why someone would use them. As always - to each there own as a placebo is a powerful drug.
 
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#2,036
speyer said:
Very cool. After seeing all this... I might consider making my own from plain anodized. Lurking here to plan a light relic on my 2016 AM std PJ. I’ll probably do it all myself.

Its just way to shinny and new!

View attachment 3133302
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Frankly it's why I started this thread nearly 5 years ago! I wanted it to be a reference library of distressed finishes - a place one could visit to see how real players distressing looks for enjoyment or reference for a project. I continue to invite posts from anyone open to the look of these road-warriors - I have no interest in unreasonable concepts of "perfection" (usually referring to an unscathed pristine example of a any instrument vintage or otherwise - usually worshiped and not actually played) and generally am bored to tears with those dismissing attempts at a relic-ed 'look' as "not real - as they will only (in a narrow minded way) acknowledge REAL player wear. (as in, made by a REAL man) :yawn: Earth to those folks - it's a 'look' that many players like regardless of ones misconceived allusion of "trying to fool anyone" because - it's a look that they like! I know.., this is hard to comprehend, that one could rock a distressed looking bass w/o actually being the actual 'real man' that incurred the distressing. (this player that goes by the name Sting comes to mind...) The more open your mind and eyes are to the world, the more the world offers for you to appreciate. :)
 
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#2,039
cmcbass said:
Is this one distressed?View attachment 3133263

Or should I have sanded more after the lacquer for a distressed look?
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That's a cool look, but I wouldn't call it distressed. It's like the Fender 'sandblasted' series where ash grain is sculpturally revealed by etching away at the softer part of the wood. It could be distressed on top of that, but it really looks good as is. :thumbsup:
 

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