SHOW YOUR DISTRESSED FINISHES!

[SJLee]

Boww-chikka-boww-boww!

The bikini lines on the CAR...

 

[SJLee]

Albert has some nice toys. Here's a 68 Jazz in a nicely aged CAR.

 

[_Obra_]

Could I see a wee bit more of that Fender please??

Here are my three Precisions
Vintage Reissue '62 from 1993, Vintage all original 1968 and a Black S9 (1979-1982).

 

[Dynacord]

I like it as an artistic interpretation of the concept, but it's not "authentic" looking.

I'm glad someone said it. I know I may be in a distinct minority but really don't get the love of Nash's interpretation of distress - it does look "distressed", granted, but over obvious and not very authentic IMO (or the also very popular Spitfire tort guards - their green guards are very cool though). Still, valid alternatives.

Nice find. This is what I mean about CAR finishes. They can age in some interesting ways.

Also on the Fenders the variable of silver vs gold metallic coat can make them look quite different (both great - but different).

 

[God's Favorite Bass]

Here are my three Precisions
Vintage Reissue '62 from 1993, Vintage all original 1968 and a Black S9 (1979-1982).

Very nice and thank you for indulging me! Those are beautiful.

 

[JIO]

I'm glad someone said it. I know I may be in a distinct minority but really don't get the love of Nash's interpretation of distress - it does look "distressed", granted, but over obvious and not very authentic IMO (or the also very popular Spitfire tort guards - their green guards are very cool though). Still, valid alternatives.



Also on the Fenders the variable of silver vs gold metallic coat can make them look quite different (both great - but different).

This opens a can of worms which can get pretty convoluted depending on ones viewpoint and flexibility of conceptual reasoning. My objective observation/comment was in context to the thread, which is more focused on actual player wear. Artificially effected relic-ing is acceptable here as an addendum, as cataloging actual distressed basses for reference and visual enjoyment was my intent/objective starting this thread. As a 'look', a player distressed bass/guitar facsimile can be 'authentic' looking - or not. Within the 'not' category, the resulting 'look' can be an artistic interpretation* (as the above Nash example) or an example of an attempt at authenticity fallen short. I am not against artistic interpretation but it puts it in the conceptual grey-zone of "faked mojo" mentality**. We here all love the inherent story a player distressed bass implies - every finish 'imperfection' was the result of hrs & hrs of front-line duty as a bass-player. We also understand that such an instrument has been and should continue to be played, not put behind glass to look at. That's because we are players ourselves and know that any instrument that looks like that has to sound good or it wouldn't have been played that much.

*I have had a few tort pg's made by Mark at Spitfire. I consider his work related to a vintage celluloid imitation tort pg, but in its own category. I agree that some look closer to a vintage tort pg than others, but what I assess them on is each ones individual artistic rendering. Each one is hand painted to allude to a number of examples of vintage artificial tort. Not real tortoise-shell, but a visually textured machine processed facsimile of tortoise-shell. Point being it's already one step removed from the "real" thing. That celluloid product has a certain visual depth to it that is richer than all the dot-pattern photo-reproductions of artificial tort (!) pg's out there. Marks pg's have even more visual depth because the hand painted colours are under a clear plastic layering. That is what makes them special - each one is unique and you can see his hand in the brush strokes & dabs. Like looking at an oil painting up close seeing the hand of the artist in every brush stroke, and then stepping back to see a clearly defined image.

**People with a sophisticated understanding of conceptual reality are generally open to entertain nuance and intricacies in the world. Conversely, those who espouse "fake mojo" have built macho walls to resist a deeper investigation of visual interpretation. It's really as simple as that. As sophisticated adults, we can appreciate both the real player-worn finish and a well executed relic'd finish, and by discussing topics like this openly we gain knowledge and understanding.

 

[Dynacord]

This opens a can of worms which can get pretty convoluted depending on ones viewpoint and flexibility of conceptual reasoning. My objective observation/comment was in context to the thread, which is more focused on actual player wear. Artificially effected relic-ing is acceptable here as an addendum, as cataloging actual distressed basses for reference and visual enjoyment was my intent/objective starting this thread. As a 'look', a player distressed bass/guitar facsimile can be 'authentic' looking - or not. Within the 'not' category, the resulting 'look' can be an artistic interpretation* (as the above Nash example) or an example of an attempt at authenticity fallen short. I am not against artistic interpretation but it puts it in the conceptual grey-zone of "faked mojo" mentality**. We here all love the inherent story a player distressed bass implies - every finish 'imperfection' was the result of hrs & hrs of front-line duty as a bass-player. We also understand that such an instrument has been and should continue to be played, not put behind glass to look at. That's because we are players ourselves and know that any instrument that looks like that has to sound good or it wouldn't have been played that much.

*I have had a few tort pg's made by Mark at Spitfire. I consider his work related to a vintage celluloid imitation tort pg, but in its own category. I agree that some look closer to a vintage tort pg than others, but what I assess them on is each ones individual artistic rendering. Each one is hand painted to allude to a number of examples of vintage artificial tort. Not real tortoise-shell, but a visually textured machine processed facsimile of tortoise-shell. Point being it's already one step removed from the "real" thing. That celluloid product has a certain visual depth to it that is richer than all the dot-pattern photo-reproductions of artificial tort (!) pg's out there. Marks pg's have even more visual depth because the hand painted colours are under a clear plastic layering. That is what makes them special - each one is unique and you can see his hand in the brush strokes & dabs. Like looking at an oil painting up close seeing the hand of the artist in every brush stroke, and then stepping back to see a clearly defined image.

**People with a sophisticated understanding of conceptual reality are generally open to entertain nuance and intricacies in the world. Conversely, those who espouse "fake mojo" have built macho walls to resist a deeper investigation of visual interpretation. It's really as simple as that. As sophisticated adults, we can appreciate both the real player-worn finish and a well executed relic'd finish, and by discussing topics like this openly we gain knowledge and understanding.

Agree with all (my issue with Spitfire is people claiming it's "just like the originals" - it's cool as its own inspired by thing and does look better than the common alternatives).
Also can like other antique effects even when not attempting to simulate actual player wear i. e.

 

[JIO]

Agree with all (my issue with Spitfire is people claiming it's "just like the originals" - it's cool as its own inspired by thing and does look better than the common alternatives).
Also can like other antique effects even when not attempting to simulate actual player wear i. e.

View attachment 3928762

That's why we're here! I'll be visiting this look with my next project bass.

...and I want to do some tests with this look also. I've shied away from it so far because there's already a custom maker who's incorporated the candle-induced look. I want to develop my own version of it and have a few ideas.

Yes, not "just like" - but a unique artisan piece. I love mine!

 

[Dynacord]

That's why we're here! I'll be visiting this look with my next project bass.

View attachment 3928785
...and I want to do some tests with this look also. I've shied away from it so far because there's already a custom maker who's incorporated the candle-induced look. I want to develop my own version of it and have a few ideas.
View attachment 3928783
Yes, not "just like" - but a unique artisan piece. I love mine!
View attachment 3928805

Ah, yes, the 'alligator' finish!

On Wandre inspired builds, have you checked out Harvester Guitars in Australia? Really creative and a sense of aesthetics I think you'd appreciate.

 

[JIO]

Ah, yes, the 'alligator' finish!

On Wandre inspired builds, have you checked out Harvester Guitars in Australian? Really creative and a sense of aesthetics I think you'd appreciate.

Yes, that is the maker I was referring to. Pretty awesome stuff.

 

[_Obra_]

Very nice and thank you for indulging me! Those are beautiful.

No problem, my pleasure

 

[SJLee]

Here are my three Precisions
Vintage Reissue '62 from 1993, Vintage all original 1968 and a Black S9 (1979-1982).

Nice collection.

 

[JIO]

Pirated images.View attachment 3928508 View attachment 3928509 View attachment 3928510 View attachment 3928511 View attachment 3928512 View attachment 3928513 View attachment 3928514

Interesting blue on that '66 J - must be a refin as I've never seem a Fender in that colour other than Fender International Maui Blue ('79-'80)

 

[JIO]

And this one - gives me the willies just looking at it. Note the saddles positions... This is an example of a player distressed bass that I would do a full restoration on. Nothing sexy about it.

 

[JIO]

Nice P-trio ... and is that another variation on aged CAD? (orangie-copper) P-basses just don't pull-off the matching hs the way a J does - I just doesn't look right.

 

[God's Favorite Bass]

Interesting blue on that '66 J - must be a refin as I've never seem a Fender in that colour other than Fender International Maui Blue ('79-'80)

View attachment 3930557

That's my guess too. Thought it was interesting.

 

[God's Favorite Bass]

Nice P-trio ... and is that another variation on aged CAD? (orangie-copper) P-basses just don't pull-off the matching hs the way a J does - I just doesn't look right.

View attachment 3930568

Most matched peg head P's I've liked have all been Oly white so I think you are onto something.

 

[JIO]

Most matched peg head P's I've liked have all been Oly white so I think you are onto something.

It's along the lines of a P with a blocked fb - it's done, but the J was designed as the "deluxe" Fender bass while the P was their "standard" model. The Fender P basses that look good painted are the Fender Japan P's where the neck is painted the same colour as the body. They don't have a pick-guard which make them more modern looking. I saw a red one once that looked sharp.

 

[Longwheelbass]

And this one - gives me the willies just looking at it. Note the saddles positions... This is an example of a player distressed bass that I would do a full restoration on. Nothing sexy about it.

One wonders where this dude was jamming his thumb before he picked up that bass to play it...

View attachment 3930563

 

[LennyJ]

Nice P-trio ... and is that another variation on aged CAD? (orangie-copper) P-basses just don't pull-off the matching hs the way a J does - I just doesn't look right.

View attachment 3930568

I do not know JIO - that orange color looks great to me. Sorry