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So this happened.

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#42
Tituscrow said:
Just checking out your gear on your profile, and that's some pretty sweet kit you've got there.

Out of interest, being as you wouldn't mind any of your basses suffering a harmless little cigarette burn, what's the upper limit of the damage you'd accept before you flipped?

Not looking for a pissing match, but genuinely curious.
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Some of my gear has cigarette burns. The presence of a headstock burn never ever for a split second stopped me from buying a bass. I don't know what damage I'd accept before I flipped. I've never given it a lot of thought. An ugly, serious ding or gouge in the wood somewhere would probably be where I'd get miffed.
 
#45
Marial said:
If it was one of my Fenders or Squires I wouldn't care. If it was my Pentabuzz I'd be absolutely furious. I don't know if that's weird or not, but I guess I'm used to the aesthetic of a beat up Precision or Jazz, but a tatty looking 'high end' bass just bugs me no end.
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it shouldn't matter if it's a hundred dollar SX or a ten thousand dollar whatever, the guy disrespected you and your property and should be held accountable.
 
#46
smcd said:
I can't believe what I'm reading here. Is this the kind of generation we've raised? One that gets their little pink panties in a twist over something as innocuous as a cigarette burn on a guitar headstock?? Christ, the was a day back when men were men that you could barely find a guitar that *didn't* have a cig burn there.

That burn mark won't devalue your bass one thin dime. In fact, here in these days of no-smoking-anywhere, it gives off a bit of anachronistic charm. Don't go pissing yourself over something as harmless as this.
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Respect lost. I've known you to have some harsh opinions in the past, but wow.

Back to reality: in 30 years, this mark will have no bearing on value. While this is still a contempororary instrument, though, it counts just like any dent or ding would.

I loaned a near-mint bass to a friend with my eyes wide open. (He was taking it on the road, and is known for being a little hard on gear. I actually loaned him two basses and an SVT Classic head. I also offered my 810, provided he purchase a road case for it.) I joked at the time that I should just go ahead and decide what color to refinish it in. He took the bass, changed some hardware, and the bass came back with chips, scratches, and stickers. The SVT lost one of its feet. My friend and I had no issues over this, and are still good friends.

When you loan you gear out, know what to expect. Otherwise, you might be disappointed.

What happened to your bass could be considered disrespectful. It may also be outside of his personality to pay attention to such things. If you loaned your bass, you should know beforehand which category he falls into.
 
#47
smcd said:
Some of my gear has cigarette burns. The presence of a headstock burn never ever for a split second stopped me from buying a bass. I don't know what damage I'd accept before I flipped. I've never given it a lot of thought. An ugly, serious ding or gouge in the wood somewhere would probably be where I'd get miffed.
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I know where you're coming from. The burn itself is a minor one. But the thing is, it wasn't his bass. IF I were to borrow a bass from a friend or relative (which I don't have to do), I would never stick a smoke on the headstock like Clapton and countless others always did. If it was my bass, sure. I'm free to do whatever I want. But with somebody else's gear, I would make an EXTRA effort to treat it with respect. I was always taught to respect the property of others. It's just common courtesy.

I DO let friends and my sons borrow my basses from time to time. Because I'm willing to let them use them, I understand that something negative could happen. If so, I'll live with that. But the only reason I'd loan gear to somebody is because I know they have that same respect for the property of others as I do. So to me, it's not the burn itself that is the big deal. It's the lack of respect demonstrated by putting the cigarette on the headstock in the first place. Coupled with the fact that he didn't even bother to tell me about it.

IF he said to me afterwards, "Man, I am SO sorry! I wasn't thinking, and if I can make it right, I will", then I'd accept it (as long as it was genuine). But I'd also add something like, "Well, #### happens sometimes. But I really don't think it's cool that you would have put the cigarette there in the first place, knowing that it was my bass and not yours."
 
#48
I wouldn't post in a forum for advice on this. Why are you?

I would have confronted him immediately. If he's sorry and a good friend I would let it go but be angry.

If the explanation sucks (it will) I'd be very vocal and perhaps physical about this.

All of this is your call. Do something.
 
#50
OP mentioned this happened at a tailgate party, so it's highly likely alcohol was involved. alcohol and common sense are like clark kent and superman, you never see them in the same place at the same time. worse things could have happened. calmly ask him about it and try to resolve this issue if it bugs you that much.
 
#55
Bass players are the Rodney Dangerfields of bands - no respect. Lead guitarists can sometime be the worst dissers because they often have unreasonably high opinions of themselves, which is probably a good thing. You wouldn't want a lead guitarist with low self esteem. But I kind of like a battle- hardened look to my guitars. It adds character. But that's just me.
 
#60
smcd said:
I can't believe what I'm reading here. Is this the kind of generation we've raised? One that gets their little pink panties in a twist over something as innocuous as a cigarette burn on a guitar headstock?? Christ, the was a day back when men were men that you could barely find a guitar that *didn't* have a cig burn there.

That burn mark won't devalue your bass one thin dime. In fact, here in these days of no-smoking-anywhere, it gives off a bit of anachronistic charm. Don't go pissing yourself over something as harmless as this.
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Jeez. I often appreciate your no-nonsense/pull no punches responses here, but I think this is pretty lame.

For me it's not about the cig burn, it's the lack of respect.....plane and simple. When you barrow somebody else's stuff you return it in the same condition as you got it....That's how I was raised, and I wear XL boxers so they don't get twisted-up.

Honestly, the burn looks pretty minor and I bet it would rub-out with a bit of cleaner wax and a micro-fiber cloth, but it's not about the burn.
 
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