To be worn or not to be worn

[BlueTalon]

As I understand it, one of the things about a good pre-worn finish is the use of tarnished screws and hardware to add authenticity to the look. If the idea of a pre-worn and pre-dinged-&-dented finish doesn't appeal to me, the idea of pre-corroded hardware makes me a little sick to my stomach. So that's a hard pass from me.

That just means more for those of you who like it.

 

[retslock]

I've seen some relic'd basses I'd be happy to own, usually Fender clones for fair prices, and the thing is, I'll be dead before any of my new basses look like this, so why not buy one?
You want to know the funniest thing about relic'd basses?
Other bassists who get all up in arms about it.
Seriously, that entire "Country Club" attitude is even sillier than bassists putting down acoustic basses.
(By the way, not saying you're one of them.)

I just don’t see the point in deliberately doing it. Some of my basses show the effects of the road and that’s ok. The look doesn’t bother me at all. I wouldn’t bother trying to make a new bass look like an old one that’s all. It will get there eventually.

 

[Grinderman]

As I understand it, one of the things about a good pre-worn finish is the use of tarnished screws and hardware to add authenticity to the look. If the idea of a pre-worn and pre-dinged-&-dented finish doesn't appeal to me, the idea of pre-corroded hardware makes me a little sick to my stomach. So that's a hard pass from me.

That just means more for those of you who like it.

A bit of tarnish doesn't bother me at all.

Paying an extra grand so a Custom Shop guitar looks like the body was used a toilet seat in a dive bar for 20 year... naw. I'll keep that extra thousand dollars and take the new bass, functionally the same, that looks new, too.

 

[bherman]

Do what you like. For me, it’s a no brainer. I played the same P bass for 50 yrs and the finish was still in good shape.

 

[BassFalcon]

Awful lot of emotion on here about a finish option. One benefit of that option is that it can make a brand new bass feel like a well worn, broken-in old friend immediately. But maybe it’s better to be angry people can purchase basses with options they like and we don’t.

 

[Rob1957]

Road worn? Nah not for me but whatever some likes is their choice.

 

[digmeout]

Depends on the bass, how it feels , how it plays, how it sounds, whether all the variables add up. Looks are secondary for me depending on all these other things. I played a somewhat road worn Nash P bass once, I sure wouldn't sneeze at one of those.

 

[Dave Leighton]

A bit of tarnish doesn't bother me at all.

Paying an extra grand so a Custom Shop guitar looks like the body was used a toilet seat in a dive bar for 20 year... naw. I'll keep that extra thousand dollars and take the new bass, functionally the same, that looks new, too.

View attachment 4433905

View attachment 4433909

Sweet Jazz!!!

 

[Kukulkan61]

Have at it!!!

 

[Jack Butler]

No to roadworn. Just no.

Agreed. Especially if you're in your 50's or 60's, and decide you like the look and feel of a roadworn, the most logical thing to do is buy a new non-roadworn, and gig it hard in bars until you're 90-100. This is what you must do, or you will have to deal with people on the internet not approving of how you choose to enjoy your hobby and spend your money.

 

[BlueTalon]

Agreed. Especially if you're in your 50's or 60's, and decide you like the look and feel of a roadworn, the most logical thing to do is buy a new non-roadworn, and gig it hard in bars until you're 90-100. This is what you must do, or you will have to deal with people on the internet not approving of how you choose to enjoy your hobby and spend your money.

Do you see anybody in this thread disapproving of what other people do with their money?

 

[Jrussblues]

Fender started this in the 90’s by offering different “wear levels” from the custom shop.
IMO, it’s stupid. Someone wants an instrument that is uniquely weathered/broke in so they have it built that way on an assembly line. Have fun with that.
Here’s a thought, you can relic an instrument to pretend to show you’ve played it more than you have but you can’t relic your actual skills to pretend that you are better than your instrument represents.

 

[Kukulkan61]

Agreed. Especially if you're in your 50's or 60's, and decide you like the look and feel of a roadworn, the most logical thing to do is buy a new non-roadworn, and gig it hard in bars until you're 90-100. This is what you must do, or you will have to deal with people on the internet not approving of how you choose to enjoy your hobby and spend your money.

I dont give a rats a** what people think of my bass or me, they didnt buy it for me, they dont pay my bills, I love the way it looks!

 

[Killing Floor]

Play what you like. Play what brings you joy. Shiny poly, worn, shovel with 2 strings, just love it. If you love it you'll play it.

 

[Killing Floor]

Fender started this in the 90’s by offering different “wear levels” from the custom shop.
IMO, it’s stupid. Someone wants an instrument that is uniquely weathered/broke in so they have it built that way on an assembly line. Have fun with that.
Here’s a thought, you can relic an instrument to pretend to show you’ve played it more than you have but you can’t relic your actual skills to pretend that you are better than your instrument represents.

I'm pretty sure my skills are a relic.

 

[DJ Bebop]

So I can't help but notice the past decade that Fender specifically tends to push these signature series instruments that get a "roadworn" finish and charge a premium for them, even going so far as to charge more for it in a custom or master build. So as far as I can tell that would be cool for collectors that want art, especially when the time is taken to replicate the original instruments wear for the signatures. What about the players? I want to put wear on that instrument myself through time, you know? I just feel like the roadworn finish is the same as getting new jeans with the knees already blown out, a rip off. That is just my opinion maybe some people can jump in there and tell me why it's cool or assure me that it doesn't effect the sound or prematurely end a bass' life.

If you don't like them, the roadworn look, don't get one! it's a style. Like the ripped jeans, you don't like, don't get. Some people like the comfy feel though

Myself, I like the neck feel of the roadworn finish. The bodies can be lighter, more select. The body wear thing though, I can take it or leave it

 

[bobdabilder]

I wouldn't own one. I think it's tacky. If you like it, spend your cash and go for it.

 

[Texaspandj]

I choose basses based on three things and in this order:
1. Appearance. I gotta like the way it looks. Year, use, or abuse affects looks but either way I have to like the way it looks.
2. Feel. It has to feel good in my hands. Weight, balance and neck affects feel, but I have to like the way it feels.
3. Sound. Good workable tone...or not. I can always change the sound with pickups or strings.
My newest MIA Fender bass is 20 years old, and my oldest MIA Fender bass is 24 years old and I try hard not to mark them up. But when I was playing fulltime almost 8 days a week for 10 years, it was hard to avoid the occasional mark.
One thing should be noted, it's a helluva lot easier to mark nitro finish than poly.

 

[Rip Van Dan]

So I can't help but notice the past decade that Fender specifically tends to push these signature series instruments that get a "roadworn" finish and charge a premium for them, even going so far as to charge more for it in a custom or master build. So as far as I can tell that would be cool for collectors that want art, especially when the time is taken to replicate the original instruments wear for the signatures. What about the players? I want to put wear on that instrument myself through time, you know? I just feel like the roadworn finish is the same as getting new jeans with the knees already blown out, a rip off. That is just my opinion maybe some people can jump in there and tell me why it's cool or assure me that it doesn't effect the sound or prematurely end a bass' life.

I want my bass/basses to stay as pristine as I can keep them for as long as I have them. I do NOT like roadworn basses. I think it's an affectation and actually kind of ostentatious - "See how beat up my bass is? I've been playing it for a long, long time and I don't get no respect". That's pretty much my impression of what a roadworn bass is trying to say. It makes me think that whoever it belongs to didn't care enough to be careful with his instrument.

Now bear in mind that I don't mind at all if you like them. You are welcome to, especially if they bring you joy. What brings me joy is playing my current bass for 36-years now and about the only thing you can see on it that shows its age is that the Olympic White has mellowed to almost a butter cream shade of white. I bought it in 1985 in absolutely mint condition (it's an 82). The pickup covers were still in their plastic and had never been mounted. I was working PT at a music store and the time and the fellow taking it in on trade put those pickup covers right into our accessory case to sell separately.I probably should take the screws to the pickguard out and polish the heads up, but outside of that it looks great.

 

[lfmn16]

I want to put wear on that instrument myself through time, you know?

How's that working for you? Got a really nice wear spot through the finish where your arm rests on the bass?

Do you refinish a bass if you buy it used so that you can put your own wear on it?

I have a 90's strat that was my main guitar for 10 years; literally thousands of hours of playing time. It still looks new from a few feet away. Anyone that knows anything about modern finishes knows that they don't wear like the old ones do. You could play it for 50 years and it wouldn't have worn through the poly finish.