Wear-and-Tear: Good or Bad?

[Stilettoprefer]

I buy a bass, Play it, gig it, mod it, get pissed if someone other than me puts a ding or scratch in it, dont really care if i put a ding in it, look at it after a while and recollect the stories behind the various dents and dings. Then continue with playing it as always.

'reliced' basses annoy me.

 

[ehque]

To me, road-worn basses are the equivalent of taking a newborn and intentionally breaking its limbs and slashing its face.

Do you think red basses are like newborns dipped in red paint also?

A pristine vintage bass reminds me of a mental patient locked away his entire life in a padded cell. It's interesting, but sad that it never got to have a life.

Don't understand this either. I've owned some basses for years and they've not picked up a single dent or scratch. Depends on how careful you are with your instruments and what kind of places and music you play.

 

[GL797]

Oy, not again
People buy Roadworns because they like the look and/or feel, sound, etc.

Should they buy a Roadworn now and be rewarded by getting something they like the look of immediately?

Or should they buy a bass they don't like the look of, and be rewarded by having to stick with a bass they don't like the look of for 30 years, just so they can tell YOU stories?

Totally agree, I'm old already as it is. Here's a link on this forum to a cheap Tele copy that I spent 2 days this week relicing. There's much more to it than just chipping up the body. I do this for my enjoyment. If a reliced bass or guitar "annoys" some of you then I'd hate to see how you react to something of real importance.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=728462

 

[Nev375]

Do you think red basses are like newborns dipped in red paint also?



Don't understand this either. I've owned some basses for years and they've not picked up a single dent or scratch. Depends on how careful you are with your instruments and what kind of places and music you play.

No. Why would I think that? Are you under the impression that black aboriginal people have their skin dyed black before they are ritually scarred or tattooed?

I'm not sure I can explain the metaphor any simpler. Of course you can own a bass for years without it getting a scratch. You can teach your child from day one about healthy eating habits and safety equipment and possibly never getting into fistfights. They could live a quiet sheltered life and never do anything risky that might scar them.

I've known a few people almost like that and they seem absolutely soul-less.

It's alright if you don't understand where I'm coming from. I'm quite used to people not understanding my point of view.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

No. Why would I think that? Are you under the impression that black aboriginal people have their skin dyed black before they are ritually scarred or tattooed?

He's making the point that ANY coloration/painting of a bass is just as "false" as relicing a bass. A bass doesn't start out reliced. It doesn't start out red either.

I'm not sure I can explain the metaphor any simpler. Of course you can own a bass for years without it getting a scratch. You can teach your child from day one about healthy eating habits and safety equipment and possibly never getting into fistfights. They could live a quiet sheltered life and never do anything risky that might scar them.

I've known a few people almost like that and they seem absolutely soul-less.

It's alright if you don't understand where I'm coming from. I'm quite used to people not understanding my point of view.

His point is that you can own and use a bass for years, and the one that's beat up will not sound or play any better than one that's been well cared for. There's no "soul" to be had or lost.

 

[plankspanker13]

I know age will show eventually (slightly worn fretboard or light sweating on the neck) but no sratches and dings. I like to keep my gear as close to MINT as possible... But thats just me.

This

Of course, I do keep my least expensive instrument as one to take to "gigs in unsavory places." Typically, I would refer to it as a designated beater, but even my beater instruments are often sold at a good price, and go on to second lives. The point of keeping a beater is that you should not feel so bad about wear & tear. My Squier VM Jag is the designated beater, but is still immaculate, and my G&L JB-2 sunburst is barely beginning to get a bit of that famous mojo, mostly via my finger oils on the fretboard.

 

[sbass traveller]

Beat up and totally thrashed (re: well-loved) basses and guitars are beautiful IMO. Every one is unique and displays the passion with which it was played - kind of cheesy but that's how I feel. Worn away paint? Worn maple fretboard? Yes please.
But, as much as I like the look of the RW or sig relic instruments (the Rory Gallagher strat is one of the sexiest guitars I've seen), it's kind of a cop out. Instruments that you wear through slowly over time by playing is like a badge of honour, and makes it your own. Gear will get dents and dings and scratches and buckle rash, because hey, accidents can happen no matter how careful you are, so I choose to embrace it. It's like art.

 

[ehque]

He's making the point that ANY coloration/painting of a bass is just as "false" as relicing a bass. A bass doesn't start out reliced. It doesn't start out red either.

His point is that you can own and use a bass for years, and the one that's beat up will not sound or play any better than one that's been well cared for. There's no "soul" to be had or lost.

Thank you and thank you.

The idea that a bass has soul simply because it's played a lot, or that a player that takes good care of his instruments doesn't play them as hard as anyone else is strange to me. I baby my basses while playing the snot out of them. Not a dent or scratch on my bass.

 

[Ray-Vigo]

The one thing I'll add is that the thick-coat Poly finishes do not age very gracefully. I'm talking mainly about the M&M candy shell type finishes. The CIJ Fenders I have come to mind. Thin-coat Nitro or thin-coat Poly even seem to age more gracefully. But when you get dings in the thick poly you get the "broken shell" type effect that looks crummy.

 

[Btone]

Thin-coat Nitro or thin-coat Poly even seem to age more gracefully. But when you get dings in the thick poly you get the "broken shell" type effect that looks crummy.

Wonder how the new ('08 and newer) Fender Am Std finish will age. It's supposed to be thinner, isn't it?

 

[Nev375]

He's making the point that ANY coloration/painting of a bass is just as "false" as relicing a bass. A bass doesn't start out reliced. It doesn't start out red either.



His point is that you can own and use a bass for years, and the one that's beat up will not sound or play any better than one that's been well cared for. There's no "soul" to be had or lost.

A bass does not start out with strings or frets either. A finish is more than just a color choice as it does serve the mechanical purpose of protecting the wood.

While the necessity or type of finish may be debatable among designers. Relicing has no use whatsoever other than cosmetic preference.

As for the existence of a soul, just because you cannot detect one does not mean it's not there.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

While the necessity or type of finish may be debatable among designers. Relicing has no use whatsoever other than cosmetic preference.

Neither does any color finish. You can get a clear finish of any type. And what sort of ridiculous notion is it that someone should feel guilty about getting a finish that you DO appreciate the looks of? "I should get a finish I don't want because some random people on the internet say I should..." I don't think so. I'm not about to go start calling people fakes who own basses with pickguards who don't use a pick either.

As for the existence of a soul, just because you cannot detect one does not mean it's not there.

I can't detect the planet Jupiter sitting on top of my bass either. In either case, I'll err on the side of "not quite as crazy."

 

[Dangit]

Another reason I like to buy beat up used guitars is they generally come at a really nice price. If I'm buying something with the intention of just playing it (ie: not buying it as a collectable piece) beat up guitars are the best of them all. They still feel and sound as good as one in pristine condition but with a much lower price tag.

 

[GeneralElectric]

I've owned basses that were beat to **** and I've also beat my fair of basses into the ground. I generally go through enough basses where it isn't a problem.

My main bass is a pretty much pulverized Fender P-bass I've been playing for 11 years. I couldn't tell you where most of those dents and dings came from. However its the bass thats most requested by everyone and I wonder if its only because its a beat up Fender.

 

[klejst]

In my experience I find it really hard to keep a bass over the course of it's life to remain completely in mint condition. You always get a few scratches whether they are from a belt buckle on the back or the casual oops hit of the headstock on something. Personally I took love the look of legit road ware on a bass. My Fender Precision I play as my main I bought used from a guy about four years ago who bought it new back in 1998. It has a few nicks on the body and the vintage white paint faded a little where he once had stickers on it (hardly noticeable though), however everything else is perfect and it plays like a gem and really that is the most important thing to me.

 

[klejst]

Plus if it already is used or has road ware you do not feel as bad when you put a few scratches or dings on it yourself, or I generally don't.

 

[Nev375]

Neither does any color finish. You can get a clear finish of any type. And what sort of ridiculous notion is it that someone should feel guilty about getting a finish that you DO appreciate the looks of? "I should get a finish I don't want because some random people on the internet say I should..." I don't think so. I'm not about to go start calling people fakes who own basses with pickguards who don't use a pick either.



I can't detect the planet Jupiter sitting on top of my bass either. In either case, I'll err on the side of "not quite as crazy."

Somewhere along the line there was a complete misunderstanding here. I never said anyone should feel guilty about having a particular finish or whatnot. I never said anyone was a fake.

All i said was... A (particular aged) instrument with a (particular type) finish reminds me of (metaphore). This is merely my own personal perception and/or emotional impression.

It is not a statement of endorsement/approval/judgment of any type of instrument or their owner.

If you think my statements make me crazy then perhaps I am crazy. But I know that is merely the personal perception of a random person who may or may not be qualified to make that assessment. Forgive me if I don't rush straight out for counselling.

Have a nice day.

 

[mrwink]

I've shared this before... still breaks my heart a little! This is what happened to my MTD 535-24 fretless when I forgot that my chorus pedal was in the bass case and opened the case in the standing up position - even bigger drag now that I'm considering selling this one!