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Wear and tear, the double edge sword (axe?)

#41
I spent the last eight years playing in a metal band and several noise rock projects- gigs were pretty rowdy and there was a lot of alcohol involved. Suffice to say, dings happened.

My Thunderbird has a nitro finish, and will ding if you so much as look at it the wrong way. I learnt to just accept it pretty early on- it's no big deal. I wouldn't say I have a disregard for my basses' welfare, I'm just not going to not use them in order to keep them pristine. A bit of polish and fret oil every now-and-again doesn't go amiss either.
 
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#44
TrevorOfDoom said:
Jackhammers do, if you’re into that sort of thing. ;)
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NJD !!!! Been seeking this finish forever.

Ingersoll-Rand-JRD30-Series-Jackhammers.jpg
 
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#45
JRA said:
wear and tear is not a "double-edged sword." common sense says that it's an expected outcome from the use of any reliable tool. right? ;)

i'll play (all thoughts = +/- YMMV) ---

bedroom players: may never let go.

occasional playing with others: may take years.

gigs now and then: a year or so.

regular gigging: less than a year.

music as a vocation: 3 minutes.


IMO: more practice/gigs = fewer worries, less obsessiveness.

good luck getting over the dings and scratches! :thumbsup:
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Lmao :laugh:
 
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#46
Punkbeard said:
Morning all, hope everyone is having a decent Sunday so far...

So, I was doing my usual weekly to fortnightly deep clean on my 2012 USA fender jazz this morning and noticed its really starting to pick up a fair few minor scratches and a couple of minor dings now, it's to be expected from an instrument that gets played daily both at home and the practice room but at what point does one emotionally let go of that mint condition baby and let it become the time served work horse it yearns to be?.

I've got kids and it feels like the same thing, you try and wrap them in cotton wool but it's inevitable that at some point they get hurt and grow as a result.

I envisioned when I bought my jazz that it was going to be kept mint forever but I'm starting to realise that this is virtually impossible, does one let go of the dream?
Discuss...
Click to expand...

In my life I have never owned anything that hadn’t been damaged or aged poorly. Cars, instruments, various, collectibles, pots and pans, and the house I live in. It’s natures way of reclaiming itself, not that I’m a big Mother Earth worshiper either.

As for have a home bound instrument, I can’t offer an opinion, because all of mine are tools of the trade, and frankly, I don’t know any carpenters that care about the scratches on their hammer. Of course you aren’t going to throw your bass off of a roof, but I think you get the gist.

With our kids, we allowed, rather expected them to get “bumps and bruises” to prepare them for the challenges of adult life. And because of that, they are going through life not only with a healthy respect for risk, but also so they can go through life fearless when needed.
 
#47
The first ding is the deepest. After that, it doesn't matter as much and they finally become part of the bass.

If I may ramble for a moment- I bought a satin finished esp ltd d4. It wasn't yet perfect. I decided to buff the finish, I wanted it to SHINE! Burned through a small spot on the back with the buffer. "Crap, that will never do". I decided to paint, swirl and clear it. While it was hanging up drying it fell. I don't know how, and no one will admit to taking part, but it hit the floor from 4ft. I let it be. Since then it's bumped numerous objects, and has taken a couple spills from ground level. I'm okay with it. If I had not let it's appearance bother me so much in the beginning it would be pristine! I understand it's not a $2,000 bass, but it means a lot to me because it's similiar to an ltd b50 I bought as a teen.
 
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#48
Schlyder said:
LOL ... play it hard, and grind that funk deep into it. You bash and scar it it freely without care. You give it the occasional wipe with your dirty T shirt. The more wear they acquire, the better they look. Nothing worse looking than a shiny new Fender bass. And nothing looks better, when beat up and worn, than a Fender bass.
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I could not disagree more. I like my basses to be in new condition for as long as possible. Anybody can trash 'em but it takes real skill to keep them pristine.
 
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#50
I’ve got a bass i bought new in the early 90’s and played daily for almost ten years. It was in fact my only bass for many many years. This included 3~5 nights a week in bars and other assorted venues and the only wear is a shiny spot on the neck pickup where i rested my thumb a lot and the lace sensor logo’s on both pickups have the chrome worn off. Other than that, you might be able to get it under a super beight light and find a tiny superficial scratch but other than a brass nut and non Fender strings it’s as clean and original as the day i took it home.
Don’t get me wrong, i’ve got basses i’ve had for far less time that show wear, but not this one. I think it’s haunted.
 
#53
Hmm. I clean, and inspect all my tools after working on my cars, airplanes, house and yard equipment. They are then carefully put away either in their tool chests/boxes or hung up on their silhouette boards, confident that they'll be ready for their next task.
I treat my basses and guitars with the same respect.
My tools and my musical instruments will get the occasional ding and scratch. I repair what I can immediately.
 
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#54
CatchaCuda said:
The first ding is the deepest. After that, it doesn't matter as much and they finally become part of the bass.

If I may ramble for a moment- I bought a satin finished esp ltd d4. It wasn't yet perfect. I decided to buff the finish, I wanted it to SHINE! Burned through a small spot on the back with the buffer. "Crap, that will never do". I decided to paint, swirl and clear it. While it was hanging up drying it fell. I don't know how, and no one will admit to taking part, but it hit the floor from 4ft. I let it be. Since then it's bumped numerous objects, and has taken a couple spills from ground level. I'm okay with it. If I had not let it's appearance bother me so much in the beginning it would be pristine! I understand it's not a $2,000 bass, but it means a lot to me because it's similiar to an ltd b50 I bought as a teen.
Click to expand...

My beautiful white with tortoise shell pick guard USA Pbass was mint condition until at a patio gig the strap slipped off and it became part of the patio. Still plays as it should with all the dings!!!
 
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#56
Punkbeard said:
Morning all, hope everyone is having a decent Sunday so far...

So, I was doing my usual weekly to fortnightly deep clean on my 2012 USA fender jazz this morning and noticed its really starting to pick up a fair few minor scratches and a couple of minor dings now, it's to be expected from an instrument that gets played daily both at home and the practice room but at what point does one emotionally let go of that mint condition baby and let it become the time served work horse it yearns to be?.

I've got kids and it feels like the same thing, you try and wrap them in cotton wool but it's inevitable that at some point they get hurt and grow as a result.

I envisioned when I bought my jazz that it was going to be kept mint forever but I'm starting to realise that this is virtually impossible, does one let go of the dream?

Discuss...
Click to expand...
Mintiness is wonderful, but after a while you gotta just let go and live. Personally, I got tired of worrying over every bump and scratch when I bought an American Fender in 2015. I sold it for other reasons and now play an '89 G&L L-2000 with many checks and some scratching. I still take care of it, but I do accept the cosmetic damage as a guaranteed thing and part of the instrument's story.
 
#57
One is the VS '62 Precision in July or August of 1983, when the bass was about 3 or four months old. The other is a closeup of the body around taken around 2005 showing the wear and tear. That's from simply playing it. The arm/sleeve wore the finish down through the top coat, the clear coat, a couple of alternating layers of blue and silver, the sealer and even some wood. They're tools to make music, not sacrosanct idols to be undisturbed. Just play them and clean up the more egregious gunk. But don't obsess over them.

JTE w VS 62 1983.jpg



LPB P Bass body wear close up.jpg
JTE w VS 62 1983.jpg LPB P Bass body wear close up.jpg
 
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#58
A story pertinent (or at least tangentially related). Around 1979 I got a brand spankin' new Music Man StingRay. We had a monthly gig at a local place where the stage was just inside and to the side of the door, so anyone coming in and walking to the bar had their back to the stage. The very first gig I played my new 'Ray, during some song with a longish intro during which I played cowbell, this girl I knew in HS came in wearing a pair of pink hot-pants, and she filled them very attractively... I wasn't paying attention to my cowbell hand, and smacked the thumb with the beater. The cowbell fell and landed right on the the cutaway and I got the first ding on that bass.

A month later, same club, same song, same girl, same hot-pants, same posterior, and the bass got its second ding.

Point is stuff happens when you're playing, even if you are very careful. Finish wear, some scrapes and dings, etc. will happen. Try to alleviate it and carefully avoid major damage, but don't be discouraged if the normal wear happens.
jte
 
#59
Punkbeard said:
Morning all, hope everyone is having a decent Sunday so far...

So, I was doing my usual weekly to fortnightly deep clean on my 2012 USA fender jazz this morning and noticed its really starting to pick up a fair few minor scratches and a couple of minor dings now, it's to be expected from an instrument that gets played daily both at home and the practice room but at what point does one emotionally let go of that mint condition baby and let it become the time served work horse it yearns to be?.

I've got kids and it feels like the same thing, you try and wrap them in cotton wool but it's inevitable that at some point they get hurt and grow as a result.

I envisioned when I bought my jazz that it was going to be kept mint forever but I'm starting to realise that this is virtually impossible, does one let go of the dream?

Discuss...
Click to expand...
Depends on where the dings are and the type of bass. If they hurt playability I do get bent out of shape about it. On my warwicks I’ve always done my best to keep them in perfect condition. But when it comes to vintage looking basses like fenders, musicmans, and so on, unless it’s a particular finish like a sparkle finish or something I honestly prefer the beat up relic type look. To me it’s gives the bass character visually and I’m not really into a retro type instrument looking brand new.
 
#60
JTE said:
One is the VS '62 Precision in July or August of 1983, when the bass was about 3 or four months old. The other is a closeup of the body around taken around 2005 showing the wear and tear. That's from simply playing it. The arm/sleeve wore the finish down through the top coat, the clear coat, a couple of alternating layers of blue and silver, the sealer and even some wood. They're tools to make music, not sacrosanct idols to be undisturbed. Just play them and clean up the more egregious gunk. But don't obsess over them.

View attachment 2911714


View attachment 2911718 View attachment 2911714 View attachment 2911718
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Love that
 

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