Battle scars - opinions?

[NeonVomit]

My new Stingray got its first (very small) scratches on it at a gig last week. I took it off its stand and stupidly bumped it against a floor tom. It didn't even penetrate the varnish, just left a couple of white marks that don't go away with buffing or polish, on the front of the bass above the bridge. You can't even really see them unless you're up close, but I know they're there. I'll post pics if you want 'em.

So my question here is... what should I do? Should I just leave them, as these little marks and dings show that the instrument is being used exactly in the way it was designed to be used and not in a display case? Do these little things add mojo and character to an instrument, making them unique and having a story to tell? I mean, there's a whole market for 'relic-ed' instruments there after all, where manufacturers charge a premium for a bass or guitar that looks like it's been tied to the back of a car and dragged around the block a few times.

Or should I go about removing the marks to return the bass to its totally pristine condition, seeing as I bought it new less than a month ago? I've no intentions of selling it ever, I got this bass to last me a lifetime, so resale value isn't a factor for me. If so, what products would you recommend for removing/covering very minor superficial scratches? It's candy apple red finish.

What do you guys/girls do?

 

[Movielife]

Depending on the mark, I would leave it. If it isn't that bad, it may be best to let it be and not make it worse.

I've learnt from my earlier basses that sometimes you can make bigger problems. However someone may have an idea for safely polishing.

 

[sanderhermans]

Its all up to you but the way i see it, if you fix this scar now mayebe in another month you'll make a new one.... and youll keep on going. and with buffing ect. Chances to make it worse are there. So i would leave it as it is. Deffinetly if resale value is not an issue. A quick fix for black guitars is black nail pollish but for colours it is allmost impossible to match it up. Also this is a fix that will remain verry visible so only hides the scars or dings from a distance. If you want a mint guitar after 20 years, then dont play it. If you want to use a guitar for what its made for, then scars are a part of it. As much as i try to keep my basses as clean as possible, after a few gigs there are allways dings and scars to be discovered afterwards.

 

[muggsy]

I have become much less anal about cosmetic imperfections on my basses over the years. Anything you buy used is likely to have scratches or dings, and anything you buy new is likely to acquire some if you actually play it. The most expensive bass I ever bought new was less than a week old when I chipped the paint on the matching headstock on a ceiling fan. I was inspecting the bass at home after its first gig, and it survived the gig but not the inspection. Bugged the crap out of me every time I saw the chip, to the point where I seriously considered getting the headstock refinished, but I decided that was stupid and left it alone. I ended up selling the bass, but not because of that. Now I don't worry about such things. I take care of my equipment but stuff happens.

 

[five7]

leave it. first one hurts the worst

 

[sanderhermans]

leave it. first one hurts the worst

yes it does but in a way I'm sometimes a bit glad the first ding is out of the way. on future gigs and playing on that bass I don't worry about the condition anymore, which makes playing and handling it a lot more fun

 

[nurnay]

leave it. first one hurts the worst

+1

 

[BigDBass]

Yeah, just leave it. Good chance of making it look worse (unnatural) if you work at it too much.
Keep it and play it and love it a long time and you will have your very own well earned "relic" some day!
Soon enough you'll have notice scars on there and have no idea or recollection of how or when they happened.

 

[Lynottfan]

Leave it, each one tells it own story, especially if its a bass that has or will be with you a long time.

 

[NeonVomit]

Yeah, I figured as much. I'll just treat it as I do my other instruments... the Stingray is the first really good bass I've ever bought new (I also own a Warwick which was bought used so already had a bunch of marks on it) and my other basses are cheap ones. They've got marks all over them that I have no idea how or when happened, so eventually the 'ray will end up like that as well I guess... it's already gotten a lot of use and will see far more!

 

[BigDBass]

I must admit, tho, that I cringe every time I see the 1/2" wide chip on the body edge of my first Sterling. I have no idea whatsoever how it got there (15 or more years ago) and it's really the only major blemish on it after hundreds of hours of use!

 

[xjbebop]

scars are like tattoos, but with better stories...

 

[ksandvik]

Jaco's bass. Shows he played it a lot.

 

[Yango]

Leave 'em. Otherwise you'll find yourself refinishing your bass every second week...

 

[Yango]

The most expensive bass I ever bought new was less than a week old when I chipped the paint on the matching headstock on a ceiling fan. I was inspecting the bass at home after its first gig, and it survived the gig but not the inspection. Bugged the crap out of me every time I saw the chip, to the point where I seriously considered getting the headstock refinished...

Ha ha ha!! OCD strikes again! I'm glad you defeated it!!

 

[njhammer]

Who here hides their body scars?

Thought not.

 

[muggsy]

The most expensive bass I ever bought new was less than a week old when I chipped the paint on the matching headstock on a ceiling fan. I was inspecting the bass at home after its first gig, and it survived the gig but not the inspection. Bugged the crap out of me every time I saw the chip, to the point where I seriously considered getting the headstock refinished, but I decided that was stupid and left it alone.

Ha ha ha!! OCD strikes again! I'm glad you defeated it!!

I'm not quite OCD, it was more the fact that I spent an obscene amount of money on that bass and dinged it within a week in a very stupid and obvious way. It was impossible to look at the headstock and not see the chip, so it's not like I had to go out of my way to notice it. Plus, I never really bonded with the bass and figured out within a few months that I was probably not going to keep it, so the chip didn't help the resale value. If it was a keeper, it probably wouldn't have bothered me as much. My Sterling fretless has a big chip through the finish on the lower body where I dinged it with a strap lock, and I barely notice it. But that bass isn't going anywhere.

 

[koogie2k]

I posted these a long time ago. Still have Warhammer and it has obtained a few more. Personally I would leave them. But as you can tell that would be my answer.


http://forums.ernieball.com/music-man-basses/37838-bloodfist-my-mojo-pics.html

 

[Golem]

My new Stingray got its first (very small) scratches .......

So my question here is... what should I do? Should I just leave them........

Or should I go about removing the marks ........

What do you guys/girls do?

The 2 hugest questions in bassdom are
[in no paticular order]:

Flat or RWs ?

Mojo ... asset or liability ?

Consensus on these is right up there
with "How many angels can dance on
the head of a pin?', "What is the sound
of one hand clapping?" etc etc etc.

 

[Spudmurphy]

I already own a 74 Les Paul almost reduced to matchwood. I look after my MM guitars ever since I bought them and try to retain their original condition - now that's difficult as it depends on what battle scars you get - ranging from a paper cut to a near fatal accident with the instrument. But I've gigged my guitar since 2005 and it's in great shape!

FWIW - take a look at my earlier thread, showing the solution to one of my battle scars
http://forums.ernieball.com/general-music-discussion/41650-guitar-scratch-remover-excellent.html

I don't know the extent of your damage? May need to use some wet and dry paper 600-800-1000-1200-1500 2000 first then the guitarscratch remover. The top clear coat is pretty damn thick! and gives you plenty of room for maneuver!