SHOW YOUR DISTRESSED FINISHES!

[BurningSkies]

One thing that’s interesting: the darker areas of wood are harder than the lighter so the wear mimics the quilting. Because the wood is figured on both axes the wear is varied both front to back and top to bottom...it’s difficult to capture in photos, particularly with my lack of ability.

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Ah, I can see that. THat's a lot of hours. Mine has very little below the pickups. I'm guessing the original owners were not slappers.

I haven't shot it, but most of the finish is gone from the 3-9 fret range on the back of the Rastaburst (hi-end bass collectors should commence crying now). I have some Tru-oil waiting for it for protection per Sheldon, but haven't had at it yet.

 

[BearCave]

Awesome - what date is stamped on the neck? My '66 (I'm the second owner also) is dated Sept 5th.

 

[BearCave]

Only a couple of my basses don't get Dunlop Strap-Loks - this one gets a less invasive strap restraint.

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I use the same strap "set up" on mine too.

 

[ICM]

I'm loving these Dingwall shots!

Also, 5 is the Fender code for a P-Bass IIRC. I've only ever seen 5 on a P neck.

That is unless the 5th of every month was relegated to making P-Basses.

 

[JIO]

I'm loving these Dingwall shots!

Also, 5 is the Fender code for a P-Bass IIRC. I've only ever seen 5 on a P neck.

That is unless the 5th of every month was relegated to making P-Basses.

I did not know that - thanks for that insight!

 

[Big Jon 71]

I don’t know if this has been posted or not
But this is a thing of beauty there’s NOTHING like a
P bass let alone one that’s all worn out. Can’t beat it

 

[JIO]

I don’t know if this has been posted or not
But this is a thing of beauty there’s NOTHING like a
P bass let alone one that’s all worn out. Can’t beat it

It's possible this one has been posted before, but regardless it's a thing of beauty seeing it. (possibly again) I study that bass and can almost hear all the music played on it over decades - the stories it could tell if... (welcome to tb!)

 

[Big Jon 71]

It's possible this one has been posted before, but regardless it's a thing of beauty seeing it. (possibly again) I study that bass and can almost hear all the music played on it over decades - the stories it could tell if... (welcome to tb!)

Thank you! I had been poking around on here for awhile figured I’d join in on the conversation.

Yeah that bass is like a war relic or pulled out from an archaeological dig in Egypt or something.

 

[CaseyVancouver]

The Voodoo-Prima is currently splattered in blood across the pickups, strings & wood between the pickups. I had a bleeder the other day and didn't even notice until the strings got really sticky. Not usual for me to lose some plasma while playing, but this time it was full on.

I recall blood getting on my very white pups/pick guard back in the '80s. Something to do with youthful enthusiasm and fingers not yet abused into submission. Was playing in a loud rockabilly band that had the energy of punk. Did lots of Link Wray.

Later I could play very hard and not get calluses or blood blisters.

 

[JIO]

Thank you! I had been poking around on here for awhile figured I’d join in on the conversation.

Yeah that bass is like a war relic or pulled out from an archaeological dig in Egypt or something.

I've posted my similar player (extreme) worn '66 P here a few times so am especially drawn to a (early 60's) P like the one you posted. We're up to 87 pages and if you have time flip through the past 4+ years of posts to see many wonderful example. If you played that bass you posted a pic of - you would hear why it is so beautiful. I feel that way every time I play my '66. In fact, any time I hand it to another bass-player to play - they all have the same experience. I went to a holiday Beatles sing-along in December and loaned it to the bass-player who flew in from San Diego that day to play the gig. I loved hearing him play it and after playing Penny Lane, he said "this is the Penny Lane bass" - it sounded exactly like the recording. Granted, he was a talented player - but the bass sounded sublime. This is the true beauty of these heavily worn instruments.

 

[JIO]

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I recall blood getting on my very white pups/pick guard back in the '80s. Something to do with youthful enthusiasm and fingers not yet abused into submission. Later I could play very hard and not get calluses or blood blisters.

It's true! Back when I started it was all about 'getting calluses" - now, I adjust my amp and bass controls so I'm barely touching the strings! (comparatively)

 

[Big Jon 71]

I've posted my similar player (extreme) worn '66 P here a few times so am especially drawn to a (early 60's) P like the one you posted. We're up to 87 pages and if you have time flip through the past 4+ years of posts to see many wonderful example. If you played that bass you posted a pic of - you would hear why it is so beautiful. I feel that way every time I play my '66. In fact, any time I hand it to another bass-player to play - they all have the same experience. I went to a holiday Beatles sing-along in December and loaned it to the bass-player who flew in from San Diego that day to play the gig. I loved hearing him play it and after playing Penny Lane, he said "this is the Penny Lane bass" - it sounded exactly like the recording. Granted, he was a talented player - but the bass sounded sublime. This is the true beauty of these heavily worn instruments.

I can only imagine how that thing plays. I’ve got a blue Washburn Taurus T 14 I’ll trade even Stevens ........ Kidding.

I played a 59 p bass at gruhn guitars that had a $6500 price tag. That thing was sharp. It was beat up. I played around on it unplugged. You could feel the history. Crazy.

 

[JIO]

I can only imagine how that thing plays. I’ve got a blue Washburn Taurus T 14 I’ll trade even Stevens ........ Kidding.

I played a 59 p bass at gruhn guitars that had a $6500 price tag. That thing was sharp. It was beat up. I played around on it unplugged. You could feel the history. Crazy.

Wow - that's cheap (was it years ago?) I played a '61 J at Chicago Music Exchange about 4 years ago with a $20,000 price-tag. (no joke) It was awesome but not for that price.

 

[Big Jon 71]

Wow - that's cheap (was it years ago?) I played a '61 J at Chicago Music Exchange about 4 years ago with a $20,000 price-tag. (no joke) It was awesome but not for that price.

Hmm yeah the price tag could’ve been 5 digits. Now that you mention it. But It may as well of been a million in my eyes. Way out of my price range. It was a couple years ago. There were actually a couple of nice vintage p basses in there when I saw that one. But I was really struck by that one I played.

 

[JIO]

Hmm yeah the price tag could’ve been 5 digits. Now that you mention it. But It may as well of been a million in my eyes. Way out of my price range. It was a couple years ago. There were actually a couple of nice vintage p basses in there when I saw that one. But I was really struck by that one I played.

For sure - I was lucky to afford my '66 and it was nowhere near that expensive. Most of those instruments are out of reach for real players - now only affluent collectors/investors own them to oogle while sipping brandy and smoking cigars with their friends after dinner. Aside from the obscene asking prices - it's a fact that the 'players' among them (and they usually aren't the pristine examples) are certainly the 'real deal'. Leave it to capitalism to corrupt art/beauty 9 times out of 10. The 1 out of 10 exception would be like if Pino Palladino bought that $20k '61 J ... you know 1) he has the money and 2) he'd play it like nobodies business and it will sound amazing.

 

[BurningSkies]

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I recall blood getting on my very white pups/pick guard back in the '80s. Something to do with youthful enthusiasm and fingers not yet abused into submission. Was playing in a loud rockabilly band that had the energy of punk. Did lots of Link Wray.

Later I could play very hard and not get calluses or blood blisters.

I have a random skin condition that has had the attention of multiple doctors, allergy specialists and dermatologists. It effects my fingertips and knuckles, and my skin just shreds and breaks open. So I spend much of my playtime with my fingers superglued or newskinned shut. It's like playing a cheese grater. Its been discovered that it's a strange 'off brand' problem with gluten, oddly enough. It heals across a few months when I go gluten free.

 

[JIO]

I have a random skin condition that has had the attention of multiple doctors, allergy specialists and dermatologists. It effects my fingertips and knuckles, and my skin just shreds and breaks open. So I spend much of my playtime with my fingers superglued or newskinned shut. It's like playing a cheese grater. Its been discovered that it's a strange 'off brand' problem with gluten, oddly enough. It heals across a few months when I go gluten free.

I'm sorry to hear that and give you a lot of credit for continuing to do the thing you love regardless. There's that Scott Divine guy who does on-line bass tutorials - he has to wear gloves while playing due to a skin issue. He's a beautiful player too - it didn't stop him either!

 

[BurningSkies]

I'm sorry to hear that and give you a lot of credit for continuing to do the thing you love regardless. There's that Scott Divine guy who does on-line bass tutorials - he has to wear gloves while playing due to a skin issue. He's a beautiful player too - it didn't stop him either!

Yeah, he's a great player...he's actually got a neurological disorder that involves sensory skin input that can be really debilitating, giving shakes and tremors and worse.

For me it can be really painful to play but I can work through nearly anything if I have to. But yeah, there's more 'investment' given the pain level to play lots of times.

 

[JIO]

Yeah, he's a great player...he's actually got a neurological disorder that involves sensory skin input that can be really debilitating, giving shakes and tremors and worse.

For me it can be really painful to play but I can work through nearly anything if I have to. But yeah, there's more 'investment' given the pain level to play lots of times.

With Scott in mind - have you ever tried wearing gloves?

 

[BurningSkies]

With Scott in mine - have you ever tried wearing gloves?

I've tried but been unsuccessful. I just can't get the feel right...then my skin falls apart and I just bleed into a glove anyway!