Polyester Finish Repair

[Boogie.Man]

First, let me state forthright that I am very OC and anal. I know it's best to leave it alone and focus on my music, etc.; but I am who I am. If fit and finish wasn't an issue I might have other basses in addition to my Music Man basses.

My new StingRay has a little area on one of the edges where it is slightly dinged. I think that rubbing compound, and perhaps even just polishing compound, could take care of it, followed by a good guitar polish. Standard guitar polish, haze removers, aren't quite enough.

Can you safely use rubbing compound?

What about using polishing compound?

Thanks,

Ken

 

[shakinbacon]

First, let me state forthright that I am very OC and anal. I know it's best to leave it alone and focus on my music, etc.; but I am who I am. If fit and finish wasn't an issue I might have other basses in addition to my Music Man basses.

My new StingRay has a little area on one of the edges where it is slightly dinged. I think that rubbing compound, and perhaps even just polishing compound, could take care of it, followed by a good guitar polish. Standard guitar polish, haze removers, aren't quite enough.

Can you safely use rubbing compound?

What about using polishing compound?

Thanks,

Ken

I don't recommend it. However, I would never try it either.

Please don't do ANYTHING until you talk to someone knowledgeable about this. If you're OC now and you make it worse... you'll go nuts.

 

[patpark]

rubbing or polishing compound will not fix a dent in the finish. its just going to polish the dent. not make it go away.

a good repair person will have a lot of different ways to fix it. you should take it to someone who has experience with finish repairs and let them suggest the best method based on the type of finish it is and the location on the body.

 

[Bassmedic14]

I'd leave it alone at this point, your bass now how character like it or not..........look at it this way, now you don't have to freak out about it......it's been reliced

 

[koogie2k]

Well...to each his own. Believe me....my bongo has been through hell and back. You have not idea....I see it as a tool....others more personal. Nothing wrong with that. To each his own. However, if it bothers you that much...take it to someone who knows what they are doing. Otherwise...you screw it up you will hang yourself. Now, we don't want that do we?

 

[bradfordws]

Super glue! I don't recommend you try it yourself though. I've done it and it works - learned from my local repair guy. If slightly dinged means that it doesn't go through to the wood, it can be done. A drop of super glue - let it dry - level it - color sand and re-buff. Find a good guitar repair shop and they can probably do it. I have a Stingray that I bought used for a good deal, but it has a couple of fixable dings - haven't fixed them yet, but plan to do so. I'm a little nuts about dings in the finish too. I have a bass from 1990 that still has no major dings! I could never buy one of those new "relic" instruments!

 

[Boogie.Man]

Thanks for the good advice!

Even though I'm an experienced woodworker, I am going to leave it alone. Finishes have never been my thing. The blemishes are very minor.

For those of you who aren't experienced with it, being OCD is not a treat. It's a real curse and it's hard to fight it. I can't just enjoy things like most people. Things I buy new have to be perfect beyond what the majority of people would accept as perfect. I take medicine to help me control it but it's a daily fight. If something has the most minute flaw, I will find it, and then it will bother me and I'll obsess over it. It's not a choice I make. Ironically, I enjoy my things more after the new has worn off and then the flaws don't bother me.

 

[strummer]

I can't just enjoy things like most people.

Wouldn't a solution be to only buy second-hand gear?
Fwiw I have a friend with the same condition as yours, and he doesn't enjoy it either.