headstock protection ideas

[Randracula]

Anyone know what I can put on my Porsche to protect the fenders from running into Chevy Trucks?



tk

A Bra ? Yeah, that's the ticket ! The Bongo Bra !

 

[Mobay45]

Would that be anything like the Bro?

 

[Randracula]

Would that be anything like the Bro?

A " Manzire" if you will........

 

[adouglas]

i would love a nicely fitting silicone cap for a bass' headstock. not covering the whole thing, just a bit.

http://bearep.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=1899

 

[nicolasd]

now we're getting somewhere. i wonder what it would do to the finish underneath over a few years. i'm also thinking anything one could use to protect an area on a bass over the long term would either chemically react... or prevent natural aging to the finish and so in the name of protection you'd end up with a two-tone headstock.

-n.

 

[tkarter]

The truth is you bang it around it gets dinged.

You can break an unbreakable toothbrush.

tk

 

[adouglas]

Just my $0.02, but if you want your bass to remain pristine, buy one and leave it in its case, under your bed. Buy another one to actually use and get used to the fact that stuff happens.

Covering it up with rubber, or sock puppets, or bubble wrap, or you-name-it is IMHO just plain silly. Resale value? What's the premium on a used, "mint" bass over one with the ever-present little ding in the headstock? Enough to expend any energy worrying about? Somehow I doubt it.

Did you leave the plastic on your pickguard to keep it from getting scratched?

Do you play with surgical gloves on to keep the oils from your hands from degrading the metal and wood?

These are tools, not museum pieces.

"Don't even look at it!" - Nigel Tufnel

 

[Colin]

I'm gonna gig with the shop tags hangin off the headstock. I might start a new trend

 

[nicolasd]

trust me, i understand. i've dinged up lots of basses where you get that pain in your chest the first time and you feel like you got the wind knocked out of you. then eventually you get over it... but i'd sure like to put that moment off with a new MM.

i think the idea here is that the headstock tends to get an inordinate amount of dings. if there's a $40 solution that helps me protect a bass that costs thousands... if even for a while, i'm willing to spend it.

our bodies are tools too, but we wear a helmet to protect that mellon!

 

[Steve Dude Barr]

I think that Bongo HS dings are so prevalant due to the design that they are pretty much an accepted thing in the resale market.

 

[Spudmurphy]

When I first bought my Les Paul back in 73 I covered the back with strips of Masking tape running on the diagonal. As the tape wore, I'd just add more to it .

It protected the back from belt rash perfectly. Then one day in my impetuous youth I riipped it all off and rash started to appear.

So I guess you could cut thin strips of masking tape - covered by plastic insulation tape to colour match on the edge of the headstock to protect it from dings.

 

[bassmonkeee]

I think that Bongo HS dings are so prevalant due to the design that they are pretty much an accepted thing in the resale market.

+1. Hell, I don't even know if I've ever seen a Bongo without a tiny little bit of maple showing through the very tip of the headstock.


How sticky is the ipod screen protector film? It's clear. It could protect the Bongo headstock tip. It'd take some cutting and shaping, but it's cheap and easy to find. Spend an hour on the project, and I bet it'd come out alright.

 

[Paul_C]

+1. Hell, I don't even know if I've ever seen a Bongo without a tiny little bit of maple showing through the very tip of the headstock.

my Egyptian Smoke 4HS is clean at the moment, the only one of the three that are here that is though..

the black HH should be arriving in a day or two with a bit of luck


P.

 

[AnthonyD]

I want to keep my equipment as clean and new as the next guy, but the reality is these things are meant to be PLAYED...


Dings happen...

 

[xring]

I don't really understand this thread. I've put alot of miles on all my basses through the years. Gigging and at home. Never ever dinged one headstock. Just be aware of your surroundings.
My Bongo is still pristine.

 

[tkarter]

For the record my SR5 was gigged and in pristine condition. I played it two years in bars and wherever the gig was scheduled.

However my Bongo has a ding on the headstock. From a gig. That is actually why I bought the Bongo because I knew I couldn't keep a bass perfect playing it where I play.

I can and will brag about that SR5. I managed to keep it clean through many a gig. I guessed right when to bring something else along to keep it that way.

My grandson inherits an SR5 that is in showroom condition that grandpa played.

My small claim to fame.

That ding on my Bongo headstock makes me mad. Still it plays great and sounds great.

I won't cry about that but I can see it and yes it is a ding. Makes me think I need to be careful.


tk

 

[Aussie Mark]

INever ever dinged one headstock. Just be aware of your surroundings.

Lucky you for having the ability to predict what drunks on the dance floor will do next when playing in a venue without a stage. I've lost count of the number of "dancers" (mostly female, surprisingly) who have stumbled/fallen/tripped/staggered over a monitor wedge or into a mic stand, forcing me to take evasive action. I'm no slouch in the reflexes department, but more than one of my basses wear battle scars from a mic stand that's become an Exocet in that type of situation. I've never banged a headstock on a drum kit, since I'm aware of where the drummer is, but there are always situations involving other people that you can never predict.

It's like claiming you're a good driver, and are confident you'll never have an auto accident, but it's actually the other drivers you need to worry about, no matter how great a driver you might be.

 

[tkarter]

Good drivers don't have accidents. But...

hence the SR5 that is good and the Bongo that has a headstock ding.



If you really concentrate then yes you can do it. If you are human you will fail sooner or later.

You find a way to protect the headstock guess what it will be a big body ding that happens sooner or later. Knowing when later is helps .

It is all a gamble.

A bass is an instrument. Makes the foundation of the song. Does yours work for that? if so no matter how clean or dinged it is that is what is heard of your bass playing.

No need for cracker crumbs on your pickup however.

tk

 

[mike not fat]

EBMM should make predinged instruments (like preused jeans....) so there would be no probs. I dont care about my bass getting dings, scratchs... of course I don't plan to sell it. But someone who is considering buyin a second hand instrument musn't expect having a scratch n' dings free instrument... So just be carfull as much as you can.

MNF

 

[AnthonyD]

It's like claiming you're a good driver, and are confident you'll never have an auto accident, but it's actually the other drivers you need to worry about, no matter how great a driver you might be.

+1 - great point...