Double Bass who puts cotton candy on a bass?????

[nathanmcnathan]

So, yesterday was the first practise for our school's commencement band... I haven't played the school's bass in about a month, since all our school's bands are now finished for the year (exams start wednesday). So, I pick up the bass, and there's some sticky substance all voer the strings and fingerboard... I use a damp paper towel to wipe it all of, but the strings are almost completely dead. So, I go around asking everybody if they've seen anybody near the abss, and about 3 people say they say a guy (I know who it is, some stupid grade 9 tuba player/pothead) playing the bass.... with cotton candy. I haven't been able to completely rmove the stickyness, and the bass feels horrible now. It was a bad enough bass to begin with, so it's really pissing me off! So, any opinions?

 

[logicman69]

Planet Waves makes a great three step cleaning kit. I've used it on several guitars that have come into the shop with funk all over them.

And then find the guy that did it and give him a swift kick in the shins.

 

[JimmyM]

Give him the kick off school grounds, though.

 

[Warpeg]

Let me get this right. This kid picked up your bass without your permission and 'played' the bass with cotton candy? As in, he used the cotton candy to strum the strings? Never mind why he used it like a pick--Why did he have cotton candy at school?

 

[toman]

who puts cotton candy on a bass?????

Me!

 

[bassteban]

Planet Waves makes a great three step cleaning kit. I've used it on several guitars that have come into the shop with funk all over them.

And then find the guy that did it and give him a swift kick in the nads.

There- that's better.

 

[lobey]

I was hoping to see something pink colored, but I guess not.

Maybe try using Goo Gone. It's good for removing sticker residue.

 

[John Wentzien]

Peanut butter!

 

[Surprise Panda!]

you should've got me, i'll eat it off

 

[nathanmcnathan]

I think someting's wrong with the guy... he's obviously not all there... about 3 people saw him do it, yet he honestly believes that he didn't... but maybe it's because he's a major pothead, and plays tuba... once we all got locked out of the music room at lunch because there were no teachers, and he ran in, locked the doors, and stayed in or lunch unsupervised... a bass was propped up in the corner balanced by its bridge, stuff was lying all over the floor...
what an idiot...

 

[Jake deVilliers]

Warm water should dissolve the sugar Nathan. Dry it well afterwards.

 

[Marcus Johnson]

I wouldn't try any "goo gone" or planet waves stuff on a double bass, even a school bass. DBs are different than slabs. Listen to the DB guys on this one (like Jake).

 

[Eli_Upright12]

also Denatured alcohol as always, if it can get the likes of Pop's rosin off, cotton candy should be no problem. One time at our school some viola player got smart and tried to play a bass with a pick, I had a word or two with him about that one. but on the other side, we had a guitarist who also plays cello replace a string on a bass when it broke and I was out of town, guy did a real nice job too, even realigned the bridge a little.

 

[1st Bass]

If it really was cotton candy, then warm water is all you need-- and most of the other things won't work particularly well, and may damage the finish. cotton candy is just colored, spun sugar.

Sounds to me as though your school has a problem with supervision, staffing, or something....

 

[Bassamatic]

Warm Water will dissolve sugar - alcohol and goo gone probably will make it worse - these are different types of organic compounds. You may have to let it set for a while - using a hot damp cloth, etc.

 

[-Sam-]

metho

 

[Andrew McGregor]

No, not meths/denatured alcohol... that's the solvent for instrument varnish.

 

[nicfargo]

Is this on the strings or the fretboard? If the strings, I've heard of people boiling their strings to bring em back...worth a try I guess. If the fretboard, which on a school bass I'm sure is nothing special...certainly not ebony, just use warm water on a rag.

 

[nathanmcnathan]

When I first noticed, I cleaned the fretboard and strings using a wet rag... seemd to work, but I noticed that the fingerboard is now a much lighter colour...

 

[canshaker]

When I first noticed, I cleaned the fretboard and strings using a wet rag... seemd to work, but I noticed that the fingerboard is now a much lighter colour...

you took off the dirt...