The first ding....

[btmpancake]

True. You wouldn't know unless I told you. The refinish work was done at the Mothership (Alembic HQ), so it's factory-quality.

Would you tell?

 

[pbass2]

I'm usually a bit relieved when I see that first ding on a previously pristine bass, or any gear I obsess over for that matter, like my bikes. Takes the pressure off!
Weird though, I've had my US Glaub for around 10 years, and it's seen some action for sure, but the darn thing is totally ding-less to this day--looks like it's lived in its case the whole time (famous last words I'm sure….)

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

I am dreading this day myself and I am sure it is inevitable. As OP knows, I also purchased a new JG4003 last year. Sorry to hear of your first ding, but at least it is over with. My other bass is a natural finish so dings don't really show up that well though there are a few. Just don't drop it or whack the headstock into a corner and it should be okay. slight dings are to be expected.

 

[covermego]

You should be glad you don't live here..... or do you?

 

[Dr3thepooner]

I have had my Sterling Ray 34ca by MM, for about a year and a half, maybe dozen shows on it or so... still pristine condition.
I always wanted the first damage mark to be from the show, so to speak, a story to be told.

Well... It was a reg. jam night at the practice space, and we have those guitar - neck hangers, which are set up at the ceiling height.
I never used one, but that night decided to... bad idea. Poor ray, somehow, swung it's way out of the neck holder and proceeded to fall ... hitting my bass cab wit its fret board mid air and then landed on its face : |||| ohh terror. One thing saved it - carpeted flooring.

Not a crack luckily, just needed to replace the bent strings and tone pot needed to be straightened....
But , dude .. its not the same.. not like that : (

 

[physics]

It'seems kind of like that inevitable first ding you get on your new car after having parked it in parking lot.

Luckily, the only ding on my bass is only noticeable if I look closely enough. It still bugs me though if I think about it. My therapeutic prescription: play the bass, enjoy the tone and forget about it.

 

[dfoehr]

All the pressure is now gone.

 

[angrychair]

i scratched my Spector by the treble knob when I was reaming the holes for the bigger pots of the hazlab. I was instantly upset, but then realized it's hardly noticeable luckily, and don't care.

 

[wraub]

When you buy your gear used, the first ding matters less...

 

[slobake]

I was sitting in my chair late last night, nursing a beer, watching That 70's show and quietly laughing to myself. The room was dimly lit creating a certain ambiance. I glanced over at my four babies (as I often do) and the light was just right, reflecting off the upper horn of my Rickenbacker 4003...and that's when I saw it. Just a little tiny ding, right by the binding. It almost looks like someone shot it with a BB gun, its about a centimeter in diameter, perfectly indented but not cracking or breaking the clear coat. Just a little indent.

And I have NO idea how it got there. I grabbed an American Standard P bass earlier in the week so I haven't been playing the Ricky much, I don't remember the ding being there and I certainly don't remember hitting the horn on anything.

Sad day. Just gotta live with it now!

on your way to this:

 

[garp]

I recently put my first ding in my most recently-purchased bass. Fortunately, its previous owner(s) also had their share of "oops" moments, so now, after a few days, I can no longer tell which ding is mine.

"Ding, ding, ding...we have a winner!"

 

[Tony In Philly]

I hate it when my Ric's get dings. I think maybe I'll just buy a Flea Jazz Bass for gigs. I'd feel confident even leaning that against an amp at a gig.

 

[fretlessguy]

It has now has been baptized. Now you don't have mollycoddle it. Go play it without worrying about and enjoy it the way it was meant to be.

 

[Ross W. Lovell]

I was sitting in my chair late last night, nursing a beer, watching That 70's show and quietly laughing to myself. The room was dimly lit creating a certain ambiance. I glanced over at my four babies (as I often do) and the light was just right, reflecting off the upper horn of my Rickenbacker 4003...and that's when I saw it. Just a little tiny ding, right by the binding. It almost looks like someone shot it with a BB gun, its about a centimeter in diameter, perfectly indented but not cracking or breaking the clear coat. Just a little indent.

And I have NO idea how it got there. I grabbed an American Standard P bass earlier in the week so I haven't been playing the Ricky much, I don't remember the ding being there and I certainly don't remember hitting the horn on anything.

Sad day. Just gotta live with it now!

Own a lot of older stuff but have bought new instruments now and then. While l abhor getting the first scratch and go out of my way to avoid them, its much more relaxing, once the first one is there its a sign that its mine.

 

[Minirehak 212]

The first day I got my BC Rich I picked it up and the bottom knicked my amp and took a chunk out of it. I just super glued it back in place. I still hate myself for letting that happen

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Something similar happened with my BC Rich guitar. One day I just noticed a long scratch on it, and I have no idea how it got there.
This is a great reason to buy used, so the first owner can suffer with the depreciation & the first dings.

 

[garp]

This is a great reason to buy used, so the first owner can suffer with the depreciation & the first dings.

+1. Not unlike automobiles.

 

[Wolfenstein666]

Buying used isn't bad, but typically with guitars I like to buy new. I'm not much of a trader, when I buy a bass it stays. I like knowing that I was the first and only owner, even if that means the dings are a little more painful.

But, that's just me.

 

[ofajen]

I count myself lucky. My first bass was a well-used Ripper. These days it would probably earn kudos as a "relic". Never had to worry about dings.

Otto

 

[Coolhandjjl]

... 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...

Ric does use a polyester based UV cured clear coat, has been since 2010. Previously, it was polyurethane based. Based on some of the posts here with Ric finish issues by the bridge, perhaps they are not spraying it on as thick as other manufacturers. Marty Bell is in CA, as is Ric, Ernie Ball, and others. California clean air regs regarding VOCs impacted everyone in the biz, causing those companies to reformulate their finishes. Mary Bell would be no exception.