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lomky

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May 31, 2006
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215
:mad:

I was just recording some tracks and I hit my New Sterling into my mac Pro and put a huge chip on it!! :mad:

Suggestions on what to do? Should I put some clear nail polish on it? AAARRGGG!

Two owners, it was like mint shape, and I go and nail it!
 

mynan

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I'd say use a Sharpie before you use the clear polish, but teal might be hard to find...maybe experiment with blue and green on something else.
 

backagain1

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Sep 11, 2004
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I'd say use a Sharpie before you use the clear polish, but teal might be hard to find...maybe experiment with blue and green on something else.

That was my thought too. Try to find a permanent marker of the same color to apply before you use the protective layer. Experiment on a bare piece of wood. Also, isn't there something more permanent than nail polish?
 

Lucas G

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they do make a teal sharpie. i don't know if you can get them individually, but i have a 17-pack of colored sharpies and teal is definitely in there.
 

koogie2k

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Moyock, NC
That's it? I call it character...others call it mojo....some, like Pops said, actually pay to have that done. Relicing = out of ideas in my opinion.

I would leave it....I will post pics of all the damage on my LE tomorrow...then you will understand where I am coming from.

See...each time you look at that chip...you will remember what you were doing at that time. It is another way of looking at it....instead of seeing damage...see a memory. Remeber what you were doing.....making music...that is what matters.
 

CaptainFingers

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Sep 7, 2007
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I would visit a hobby shop first. The kind that sells paint for model cars, airplane, etc. They may have a teal color in stock that is already glossy and maybe even metalic(sparkle). It will dry harder than nail polish.
 

lomky

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May 31, 2006
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215
I would visit a hobby shop first. The kind that sells paint for model cars, airplane, etc. They may have a teal color in stock that is already glossy and maybe even metalic(sparkle). It will dry harder than nail polish.

thanks guys, I feel better today. I just feel bad for the bass and the previous owners who took such good care of it. As far as "fixing" it I like themodel paint suggestion. I don't care to man it perfect I just want to smooth downthe edges so it doesn't get caught on anything. I think I will look for some green model paint and clear coat today.

Maybe my band will become famous and people will need to pay someone $1000 to hit he edge on a mac pro handle :)
 

bradfordws

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Jun 21, 2007
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San Gabriel CA
thanks guys, I feel better today. I just feel bad for the bass and the previous owners who took such good care of it. As far as "fixing" it I like themodel paint suggestion. I don't care to man it perfect I just want to smooth downthe edges so it doesn't get caught on anything. I think I will look for some green model paint and clear coat today.

Maybe my band will become famous and people will need to pay someone $1000 to hit he edge on a mac pro handle :)

Forget the "green" model paint! I think you'll have better luck with a felt tip marker as mentioned they are available in many colors. Then, there IS a trick that guitar repair guys use - super glue! It works well too. You can build up to the proper height of the finish, then wet sand with a very fine grit paper like 1000 - or maybe start out with 800 - you want to get it level with the finish - then it can be buffed out to match the gloss. There are no clear gloss finished available off the hobby shop shelf or hardware store that are as hard as super glue. And the poly finish on the bass is very hard. There is a book out there on guitar repair I think it's by Dan Erlewine which covers this topic.

I used this trick to fix up a headstock where the clear coat was chipping around each tuning post. After building up the glue, I sanded with a block until it was all level. I ended up leaving it satin, although I could have buffed it out to a gloss again.

If it was me, I'd probably take it to my local guitar repair guy because he does this kind of thing all the time. It won't be like new, but damn close. I'm not one of those guys who would buy a relic and I cannot accept a big chip like the one yours has - so I would get it fixed. But that's just me. I have a T***** from 1991 and it looks like new. I know stuff happens. If I chipped either one of my new Sterling 5's, I'd be taking it over to the shop asap. Just my $.03! As others have stated, it adds character, mojo, etc... Your other option - beat it up like a relic and say you've had the bass for years.

Keep us posted on this...
 

silverburst

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Oct 10, 2006
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Long Beach, CA
Then, there IS a trick that guitar repair guys use - super glue! It works well too. You can build up to the proper height of the finish, then wet sand with a very fine grit paper like 1000 - or maybe start out with 800 - you want to get it level with the finish - then it can be buffed out to match the gloss. There are no clear gloss finished available off the hobby shop shelf or hardware store that are as hard as super glue. And the poly finish on the bass is very hard. There is a book out there on guitar repair I think it's by Dan Erlewine which covers this topic.

My repair guy used super glue to fix a chip on my Strat's neck and it turned out perfectly.
 

xring

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Aug 12, 2005
Messages
83
The comments crack me up. It's not character. It's not mojo. Those terms are used to make one feel better about damaging your instrument. A dent in a beautiful paint job on your new car is certainly not mojo.
If your bass is immediately worth more money the moment it was damaged, I'll concede to to mojo stuff. If it bothers you alot after some time has passed, have it refinished. I would pay the price for an instrument I really loved, not others.
 

AnthonyD

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Mar 23, 2005
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New Jersey
One thing if you purchased the bass as "an investment" - quite another if you purchased the bass to play it.


It sounds the same... It plays the same... Don't sweat it.
 

lomky

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May 31, 2006
Messages
215
thanks all, I do agree that the mojo comments are used a little bit to make the damager feel better, but oh well it works a little. But this bass is to be played and it will get damaged, but this ding is pretty bad. I'm going to try the felt marker/krazy glue (Canadian trade name). I just want to make it look a "little" better.
 

SR5Cam

Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2003
Messages
18
Location
Chicago Illinois
I'd leave it. I've got several nicks & dents in my Ray5 that look similar to that. As long as they aren't scratching your hand/arm while you play, i'd leave it.

If memory serves-i've got 4-5 nicks on it that go through at least a few layers. That is not counting the head stock.

The 2nd year that I had my bass, a few guys came up to me and asked about it...then they asked how old it was & they were blown away. They thought it was at least 10 years old. Granted-it's a maple board & i needed to clean it, but yeah.

all the best.
 
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