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The first ding....

#21
Recently I was bending over with my Roger Waters Precision and dinged the bottom ( almost near strap lock ). I was upset at first, I still try to avoid dings if possible-but at the end of the day it doesn't affect playability and I'm not looking to ever get rid of the bass, so I guess it is " mojo " lol.

I have seen many basses/guitars that are far more exotic than a basic alder body out of Mexico, so I can't get too hung up on it. When I look at basses like Warwick for example, I would feel worse if I did something to a " high end " bass.
 
#24
Character... I'm good with that. I recently received a flawless Skyline 55-01 from the classifieds and it only took me a few days to get that first ding. I tried to put on a pickguard using the "slightly" wrong size drill bit on a drill I had not used before. Lets just say the first ding became many, some large and some small... some deep and some not so much. That was just the body... I wont comment on the pickguard itself.
 
#26
You should buy a Squier. I gig with metal clasped bracelets and I beat the heck out of the upper bout with my forearm and I can't get a ding on it for the life of me. I'll NEVER have a road-worn bass! :roflmao:

EDIT: I AM sorry for your loss. ;)


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#30
Here's the deal - nobody has mentioned this yet, but it's covered in other RIC threads. The RIC finish is VERY soft and not very ding resistant. This is not a RIC hate comment. I have a 4003S in Mapleglo that I really like. Long story short - I was taking off the pup cover as most folks do - easy operation - turn some screws. I lightly tapped my screwdriver by accident on the surface of the body and I swear it made a little ding - very hard to see unless you turn it just right in the light, but the fact is - it was a light tap - any more force and it would have been a BB-sized ding. You could ding a RIC by tapping your straplock or audio cable end against it by accident. On a Fender or Music Man, nothing would happen because they use the usual polyester clear coats which are very durable. I wish RIC would change their finish, but they won't. If I ever accidentally jack up the finish on my RIC by accident or something, I'd just get a refin by Marty Bell who uses a more durable poly finish. Did you leave the strap with strap locks in the case? That may have done it. Anyway - my $0.02.
 
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#31
bwoodman said:
Here's the deal - nobody has mentioned this yet, but it's covered in other RIC threads. The RIC finish is VERY soft and not very ding resistant. This is not a RIC hate comment. I have a 4003S in Mapleglo that I really like. Long story short - I was taking off the pup cover as most folks do - easy operation - turn some screws. I lightly tapped my screwdriver by accident on the surface of the body and I swear it made a little ding - very hard to see unless you turn it just right in the light, but the fact is - it was a light tap - any more force and it would have been a BB-sized ding. You could ding a RIC by tapping your straplock or audio cable end against it by accident. On a Fender or Music Man, nothing would happen because they use the usual polyester clear coats which are very durable. I wish RIC would change their finish, but they won't. If I ever accidentally jack up the finish on my RIC by accident or something, I'd just get a refin by Marty Bell who uses a more durable poly finish. Did you leave the strap with strap locks in the case? That may have done it. Anyway - my $0.02.
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Yeah, I do that every time. I keep the strap in a separate alcove above where the bass sits. Long story short; it's very possible that that happened or the instrument cable. I just don't remember anything bouncing off of it, but my memory is shoddy at best anyway.
 
#32
Wolfenstein666 said:
Yeah, I do that every time. I keep the strap in a separate alcove above where the bass sits. Long story short; it's very possible that that happened or the instrument cable. I just don't remember anything bouncing off of it, but my memory is shoddy at best anyway.
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I hate the first ding though. I have a Tobias Killer B5 (pre Gibson), trans purple - bought it new in 1990 and it only has ONE ding near the bottom strap button. I'm nuts about taking care of all my basses and I'm the type who will even get a ding repaired if it's in an obvious spot. If it's on the back, I might let it go.
 
#33
bwoodman said:
I hate the first ding though. I have a Tobias Killer B5 (pre Gibson), trans purple - bought it new in 1990 and it only has ONE ding near the bottom strap button. I'm nuts about taking care of all my basses and I'm the type who will even get a ding repaired if it's in an obvious spot. If it's on the back, I might let it go.
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I'd be much more concerned if if messed up the finish or if it was larger, but it's just a little indent (no paint or clear coat missing) and it's pretty tiny. Just a bummer! I'll get over it.
 
#34
I feel your pain! I remember, with great clarity, crawling around on my bedroom floor with a magnifying glass and tweezers trying to find the first chip I knocked off the headstock on my then brand new 79' 4001. I eventually found it , adrift amongst the pot seeds and dust bunnies, and tried to Krazy glue it back on, which made it look worse. Eventually the horror and heartbreak subside! The Ric finish is gorgeous, but oh so fragile. Because it's UV activated, I think it's just one thick coat of clear over color. Your best bet is probably a laquer drop-fill, done right it's nearly invisible, or just squint a little and try not to look at it. :D
 
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#35
Gilmourisgod said:
I feel your pain! I remember, with great clarity, crawling around on my bedroom floor with a magnifying glass and tweezers trying to find the first chip I knocked off the headstock on my then brand new 79' 4001. I eventually found it , adrift amongst the pot seeds and dust bunnies, and tried to Krazy glue it back on, which made it look worse. Eventually the horror and heartbreak subside! The Ric finish is gorgeous, but oh so fragile. Because it's UV activated, I think it's just one thick coat of clear over color. Your best bet is probably a laquer drop-fill, done right it's nearly invisible, or just squint a little and try not to look at it. :D
Click to expand...

It's even worse after the RIC finish battle I fought!
 
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