SHOW YOUR DISTRESSED FINISHES!

[JIO]

more… When attempting to replicate real distressing, it can range from minimal to maximum - but if not done with a certain skill and with finesse, it will look bad. Some people think natural distressing (actual player wear) looks bad to begin with - MUST BE PERFECT! Intellectual comprehension of the iconic and visual nature of a distressed instrument is the key to be able to appreciate its inherent quality. No judgement here, but one either gets it or they don't. Those who are open to seeing the distressed instruments' transformed quality are gifted with a unique, function-related (much played) version of a mass produced, 'one of many like it' product. Like an Egyptian tomb ruin or a deep-sea relic, objects over time take on new visual life that supersedes their original 'new/perfect' state. And that's just visually - to me, there's also the story behind the gouge, the chips & scratches, the buckle-rash…

real -

 

[JIO]

Invalid Link Removed Here's a specific replica of a legendary 'distressed' bass for Robert Trullio's fundraiser for the recent Jaco documentary. So if you think about it, this example brings the point home. Although the actual Bass of Doom was destroyed, reconstructed and refinished (and finally recovered), it's former life as Jaco's beloved and battered J lives on in many versions to this day - from the FCS and luthiers known for their distressed finishes. After checking out the Nash website, I'd have to say they do some serious distressing there - everything from a mild relic to Stevie Ray Vaughan/Nels Cline/Mike Watt battered! Their Guitar Gallery is quite extensive and worth checking out to see the full range of distressing.

 

[A-Step-Towards]

All original '76 and full of checking

 

[JIO]

All original '76 and full of checking
View attachment 620503

cool pic - especially if cropped just below the arched string shadow

 

[JIO]

from a recent sale on eBay - (old) refinished '69 J w/dot/bound neck (!), 70's graphic & clovers, no hoot-n-anny peg. Many out-of-synch details... (cool but sold accordingly) Nice detail pics...

...it was black (or sunburst)... and blue... now Fiesta red! The neck pocket holds the secrets

 

[JIO]

Borrowed from another thread - (Pete) Overend Watts (Mott The Hoople) early 60's T-bird II (owned by a fellow tb'r) Love it.

 

[shrigg]

My 83 P Bass

 

[Muddslide]

Borrowed from another thread - (Pete) Overend Watts (Mott The Hoople) early 60's T-bird II (owned by a fellow tb'r) Love it.

Okay, now THAT is hot. And I love Mott The Hoople.

 

[God's Favorite Bass]

Borrowed from another thread - (Pete) Overend Watts (Mott The Hoople) early 60's T-bird II (owned by a fellow tb'r) Love it.

All the young dudes ain't so young no more...man that is sexxxy. The only non Fender bass that really calls to me is a T.

 

[JIO]

All the young dudes ain't so young no more...man that is sexxxy. The only non Fender bass that really calls to me is a T.

Like this one? She spends too much time in her case - I will make a point about taking her out more often. We spent some 'quality time' together in an earlier chapter. She's a very dominant lady…

 

[God's Favorite Bass]

Like this one? She spends too much time in her case - I will make a point about taking her out more often. We spent some 'quality time' together in an earlier chapter. She's a very dominant lady…

Yeah, I like it alot. I've done Rics, MMs, ibbys, et al...always back to Fenders to stay but I did have a Gibson Artist waaay back when that was heavy and had this giant Moog card in it and I did sorta like it. I think I'd like me a bird someday.

 

[JIO]

Yeah, I like it alot. I've done Rics, MMs, ibbys, et al...always back to Fenders to stay but I did have a Gibson Artist waaay back when that was heavy and had this giant Moog card in it and I did sorta like it. I think I'd like me a bird someday.

My '64 II (bought in '78) is what you'd have to consider the optimal/archetypical/classic T-bird. I modded it with the Seymore Duncan "Hawkbucker" bridge pu in the late 80's and I made the ebony/abalone pg in the early 80's. (still have the orig in VGC) Regardless, it was a player and I own it so I did what I wanted to do and never looked back/no regrets. Haven't played an Artist - cool but complicated. My bird is of reasonable weight (9.6lbs), V/V/T, and defines authority/presence. Sounds - big. To think about a definitive T-bird otherwise… late 70's come closest… and as cool as every other generation is, right to the present (including Epi's).., any newer version will require a generous reinforcement of your presence and willingness to dance the dance together. But having said that, I assembled an Epi Fenderbird years ago and was surprised at how it sounded (more or less) like my '64. T-bird Voodoo.

 

[The Bass Clef]

Here's my old '64 refin'd T-bird w/ headstock repair. I sold it on feebay a couple years ago cuz it hardly ever got played either. Now I kinda wish I still had it. It sounded unreal, but the neck dive was soooo bad I never played it for anything except recording while sitting down.

 

[JIO]

Here's my old '64 refin'd T-bird w/ headstock repair. I sold it on feebay a couple years ago cuz it hardly ever got played either. Now I kinda wish I still had it. It sounded unreal, but the neck dive was soooo bad I never played it for anything except recording while sitting down.

Ah, the dreaded hs break that so many have suffered. I like the nude mahogany birds of the late 70's. And yes, nothing sounds quite like a T-bird. Neck-dive never bothered me much with mine. I've encountered much worse on other types of basses in the past. I loop my strap over the elbow wing (where yours shows wear in the 2nd pic) and it holds it closer to my body and stops any tendincies to dive. Played it for years in Chicago blues bars w/o issues.

 

[funk7856]

 

[A-Step-Towards]

This is one of those late 70s mix up of parts where the guard and neck date to '78, the pots to '79 and the body has a sticker of 3-20-80. I call it a 1979 but whatever. All original except for a replaced Dimazrio pickup one of the Patent Pending ones from the early 80s. Its a trans red or wine color, not mocha. Its very checked, flaked and worn.

 

[JIO]

This is one of those late 70s mix up of parts where the guard and neck date to '78, the pots to '79 and the body has a sticker of 3-20-80. I call it a 1979 but whatever. All original except for a replaced Dimazrio pickup one of the Patent Pending ones from the early 80s. Its a trans red or wine color, not mocha. Its very checked, flaked and worn.
View attachment 654121

I can see that it's been played - hard, but wonder what caused the edge blistering specifically as it only appears there. Like it sat in a stand when not used that was in direct sunlight or something.

 

[infraviolet]

Here's my baby, a 2008 Warwick Streamer Standard. It's got a lot more wear on it now, though. Not quite as perfect.

 

[A-Step-Towards]

I can see that it's been played - hard, but wonder what caused the edge blistering specifically as it only appears there. Like it sat in a stand when not used that was in direct sunlight or something.

I think heat or cold caused initial cracks but I think sweat got under and blistered it, you can see the wear on the front wear the forearm was so I imagine lots of sweat covered it at one point. It also has a cig burn on the headstock, must have seen some sweaty bars and it came out of Atlanta.

 

[barrybass33]