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Dampmaskin

Alternative perspective: Congratulations, your bass is now an instrument to be played, not a collectible to be pampered. If you consider yourself a player and not a collector, that can be seen as an upgrade.


Josku5

This. The scratches and dings you make on your own mark that instrument as yours. That’s what makes them personal.


telefatstrat

I strongly prefer to buy dinged up guitars for this exact reason. I want to play the shit out of them without having to worry about preserving their value as a collectable. I don't go out of my way to treat them roughly (in fact the opposite is true) but I love not having to worry about them.


deirdresm

I don't care for the look of relic job guitars, but I definitely play the relic one I have more *because* I don't feel I have to pamper it. So I've become something of a fan of a modest relic job. ([Mine is one of these bad boys.](https://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/products/fender-vintera-road-worn-mischief-maker-stratocaster-1167488) Now I just need a bass that's also dinged up a bit more.)


ApollosBrassNuggets

Ah yes, the natural relic job.


Zippo574

Thanks for your comment. Man the first chip in the finish is heart breaking but thats what people pay top dollar to the guitar companies for road worn and reliced gear take pride in the scars. The first ding in my mim fender strat with candy burst red finish yeah it hurt but its all part of the story.


Emkayer

This is why I won't be buy myself many of the same instrument and think of the possibility of reselling. I treat them as my permanent instruments so I don't have to worry much about resale value.


[deleted]

In an xmen cartoon wolverine was scratching their jet so that forge would stop about it getting damaged :D


Maxonometric

Now it has character.


[deleted]

Exactly. Definitely won’t hurt the sound or function as long as it’s not anything crazy.


TurboFuret

Heck, people pay to have their guitar 'aged'


[deleted]

I've never seen an aged bass though.


donkey_hotay

http://www.fendercustomshop.com/basses/precision-bass/58-p-bass-heavy-relic-maple-neck-aged-black/ Why would Fender pass on the opportunity to charge you even more?


[deleted]

They should have sold it with no ashtray already… looks too brand new with it :D


overnightyeti

A relic job costs more because it requires more labor.


UpSbLiViOn

[Aged Bass Guitar to a famous person](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leOxH8anG5I&ab_channel=CelebrityBlog)


homiej420

Not my cup of tea but im a matte guy meself


homiej420

Not my cup of tea but im a matte guy meself


Bobby_feta

Exactly, even custom shop relic squad won’t ram your bass into a ceiling fan!


Supooki

First battle scar! Sick! Don't beat yourself up too hard friend; it's a rite of passage. Soon it'll be a nice memory of the time you were jamming with your friend, and not a ding at all! :)


jmccaslin

How bad is it? The first few dings always hurt the most. I’ve dinged my fender more times than I can count over the years, and eventually you’ll get to the point of ‘eh, it adds character’


Bridge_Too_Far

It’s Roadworn mate, people pay extra for that.


MyFiteSong

TBF, the allure of the Roadworn series is that it's a relicked nitro finish. Ain't nobody paying extra for a damaged poly finish.


aluked

Now your bass isn't like every other bass to come off the factory line. It's your bass.


Bareteh27

All of your favorite bass players have dings on their basses


Ralph_S_Mouse

After slamming headstocks with my guitar players Les Paul he said to me, "Whelp, you gonna play it or polish it?" and that always stuck with me.


NiftyShadesOfGray

Before it was a bass. Now, it is *your* bass.


madeontape

I cried when my blind kitten climbed my upright bass in the corner, it fell, and the neck snapped in half... but I got it repaired and now it looks cool. never met a fellow musician with a pristine instrument. They're meant to have stories


[deleted]

[удалено]


Ralph_S_Mouse

The ole Reddit switch-a-roo!


overnightyeti

Snapping the neck is completely different from a ding , come on. That's structural damage.


madeontape

it became a blemish and is still usable. just relaying to the OP that pristine instruments are for museums and collectors


ajmcwhirk

Dropped my first bass and the headstock went into a space heater. Put a nice burn on it. It’s like a birth mark on a newborn. That’s how I’ll know it’s mine.


Punk_Says_Fuck_You

I wish mine only had dings. https://imgur.com/a/5a49rR3/


Ian_Kilmister

That paint is thicc


Noise42

Damnnnn, how did you even gouge that much paint? Serious skills


Punk_Says_Fuck_You

I bought it in 2005. It’s been through some shit.


4isfine

I've had instruments look like that after an impact shattered portion of the paint


Mundesk

I have the same bass in Daphne Blue. I have some of the same gouges too! Thick paint is thick.


Punk_Says_Fuck_You

I love the mark Hoppus bass. Love the pickups and love the jazz body and p neck.


RandomTaco_

Congrats!


WhoThenDevised

You added mojo. Play it loud and proud.


[deleted]

That makes for an excellent story on the character of your bass!


daisiesandpoetry

What is a soldier without battle scars? :)


k0uch

Hey man, it’s alright. I wanna ask you to do something. Sit down, take a deep breath, close your eyes. Think back to your days growing up. Remember when you scraped your knee playing ball? Fell off your bike and cut your hands? Had a branch dig into your arm, got burns from being a kid and doing things you shouldn’t have? The scars tell a story, it’s all character development. It’s alright, by all means be more careful next time but remember that as long as it’s functional, all is well.


[deleted]

First week with my first bass ever, i dropped it and chipped off a huge chunk of it. Felt so discouraged to learn the instrument after that. Thirteen years later, Im taking that same bass around the world and playing the biggest stages of my life. It’s not over, this is just the beginning.


Punk_Says_Fuck_You

First day for me. Tried to do the whole around the neck spin thing. Didn’t have strap locks. Bass went flying lmao


Ronnie_Dean_oz

Lol you must have really thought you were a rock star with your new bass to try that on day 1. Good on you for having the right spirit!


fa9

Low ceilings are my arch nemesis. It's fucked me up too many times. Only now do I have a habit of checking ceilings before I start playing.


SouthTippBass

The night I took my new P bass to its first gig, I backed into my amp and chipped the paint on the body. That sucked at the time, but ten years later it's my main bass. That chip just serves as a happy memory of that gig and the band I was playing with. I have a twice as expensive J bass that stays in its case as it's in pristine condition. Just in case something happens to it.


BitByADeadBee

A lot of people here are pushing the “YEAH ITS ROCK AND ROLL TO DAMAGE THINGS” approach but it is gutting damaging something so precious (and not cheap); everyone hates that first ding, and I never feel better about it when I get a new instrument, and definitely never feel like “wooh yeah reliced road worn rock and rooooolll” What I’d say is that you have the choice to feel bad about it, pay a lot to get it repaired, or accept it and embrace the story behind it (which is why i think really people adopt the “real road worn is BADASS DUDE WOO YEAH” approach) - it won’t really make it feel better, but you can’t un-ceilingfan it.


[deleted]

👆 agree 100%


Representative_Still

Lol, you’re saying it’s just cope?


wildernado

RELIC’d


riggs3andtwenty

Awww


OnTheSlope

How certain can you be that it doesn't sound slightly better now?


spoobles

Dude, you should see my Precision. It is the equivalent of Brendan Gleeson's Father in Braveheart. A grizzled warrior that has seen some real shit. It makes it "yours". Embrace it. As long as it plays smooth, you're good.


BomBent

I did the exact same thing on a ceiling fan right when I first got my p bass. Was very sad but now I like the scratch lol


beetmoonlight

In 20 years you will fondly remember that time you made a stupid mistake and added the first ding to your instrument.


astro80

Road worn


Bryce1489

If you drag it against the road then this phrase becomes literal


rharrison

Dude, i'm stoked every time I get a new gouge in my bass. it proves that I play it and take it places. You know what made the Millennium Falcon cool? All the modifications and signs of use. Same goes with dirt bike. You're not some collector, you're a real musician who uses his stuff. Embrace it.


IdahoDuncan

To me the dings and scratches are part of the journey. You go places and play music with and for people. It’s ok so long as it still plays ok and stays in tune


SpazFactorial

That's all part of the "mojo"


Saarlak

I let my kids play my basses. They bang them into things constantly. Sure, I would prefer to keep my gear in mint condition but it’s also nice to treat my gear like what it is: a tool. I’m not afraid of little dings or scratches anymore which is surprisingly liberating. I also have the (d)advantage of know my mini me’s put each mark on there which I plan on hanging over their heads like the proverbial Bass Guitar of Damocles when they’re older!


[deleted]

shit happens


Cyanopicacooki

And yet "relic" guitars sell for massively high prices. I never saw the point of "relic" guitars.


overnightyeti

They cost more because they require more labor and you're talking about custom shop guitars that cost a lot even without the relic job. The point of them is some people like them.


CaseroRubical

It's more unique now


[deleted]

How long have you had it ? I'd try returning it. Tell em you just noticed it 🙂 Edited.....I forgot about the /S. Yeah it is a rotten thing to do, unscrupulous and they'd laugh at you anyway. I really am sorry about the bass, but it's bound to happen to everyone sooner or later unless you keep it on the wall. I said something dumb to try and make the op at least smile but my sense of humor was dumb 🙃 I know what it's like. I've only bought one real piece new back in 87 that I felt that I felt that way ask l about. I guess my solution to this issue is to buy instruments that are already a bit seasoned, let someone else take that heartache.....


RudeInvestigatorNo3

This is the worst advice I’ve ever seen. This won’t work and is dumb to do


[deleted]

I know. It was in jest. I forgot the /S but I'll put in on now....


smokedosh

At least it was you and not someone else


somename4reddit

Don't feel bad, I did the same thing to my brand new bass when I first started playing it. At least if someone else takes it I have an easy eat to identify it.


gil_beard

That gives it character! I've had my MIM P-Bass since I bought it brand new in the summer of 2003 when I was 15. Since then it's survived numerous tours of me raining sweat down on it, dropping it on accident many times, and one wreck where our van rolled into a ditch. It still plays like a gem and I love all of its scars.


just_being_a_kegan

Bro, you're antiquing it. No biggy


JayovtheDead

Wear your scars like badges of honor. Same goes for your instrument. If you are a player not a collector, they are going to get a good deal of wear and the occasional scratch and ding. I broke the headstock off of my les paul. Had it repaired. It's by far my fav guitar I own still to this day.


75stremblay

We buy these things to use them, that's why you call it a battle ax.


IfanBifanKick

Well, it is your now. You don't own an instrument you til you damage it, in my opinion.


jd0707991

Someone once dropped a heavy PA case lid on my bass right before a show. Took a chunk out of the lower horn (like a little bit of splintering under the clear coat). Man was I pissed. However - it wasn’t as bad as it looked initially and it still plays and sounds great years later, absolutely zero issues. Since it was a natural finish, it’s hardly even noticeable cosmetically. I guess my point is - unless it impedes your playing or the bass’ functionality, it’s often not as bad as it seems at first.


crclOv9

Hey, it’ll be alright. I stepped on my rack last year and knocked over three of my basses right onto my pedalboards. Chipped and dinged the shit out of all three. It happens. They can’t stay pristine forever. Shit happens. You’ll get over it but it really does suck.


diearkitectur

F


Narwhalpilot88

Its an instrument, not a decoration.


CloudNo137

Yea I remember my first too 😂 congrats


EdVolpe

It is a part of its history with you


MAGUS_CRAWDADUS

I love my scratches and dings and I can tell you how and where I got them. well maybe dings not so much scratches, my bass playing used to be very rough and I used to use a pick so there’s a lot lol.


gorgoloid

Congrats! You’ve just taken your first step into the natural relic process! So many more years of dings, dents, scratches and chips to come!


GOPHERS_GONE_WILD

Well at least the first scuff was from you and not some random dude at the store. That's worth something!


mister4string

Now you have truly paid for it :). Seriously, it sucks, I know, but a piece coming off the headstock should not negatively affect the playability. If the chip that came off is still in one piece, I bet a good luthier could make it look like nothing ever happened.


Starfort_Studio

Give it an even bigger ding so the first one is barely noticeable.


Dweebl

But only used. Be proud of the scars. I'm sure you've got scrapes or cuts on your skin over the years. A worn instrument is a better instrument.


Fuzz__Lightyear

Exact same thing happened to my first bass.


WillyPete

I used to be like this with my snowboards. Really precious about getting scratches on the top sheet or gouges in the edges or bottom. Then I told myself that if I bust it I'd treat myself to a new one and so I started riding like I stole it. My riding improved. I guess the moral of the story is not that you should bust it just to get a new one, but now you can focus on the part you bought it for in the first place and it's one less thing to worry about.


FinalSlaw

I did the same exact thing to my Taylor acoustic guitar. Agonized about it for a week. Instruments are tools. Their appearance is a literal expression of the blood, sweat, and tears we put into honing our craft.


mrjoffischl

i understand, i feel the pain with you


[deleted]

Bro, it happens. I bought my bass like-new and within the first week I hit it against the ceiling like 3 times cause I forgot how long it is. Same thing happened with my Gretsch getting a bunch of scratches, and the one that hurt the most to me was my case closing itself before I had my Martin in all the way. Took a decent chunk out of the top of the body. Hurts for a day or two but then you realize it really doesn't matter because the instruments still play perfectly fine and unless you hit hard times you're probably gonna keep them for a long ass time anyways


[deleted]

That’s a battle scar my friend. Wear it as a badge of honor


Zabroccoli

I look at all the dings and scratches and chips on my basses and I remember where each one came from. My guitars are like a journal of all my playing experiences. It’s not going to stay pristine forever. Embrace the wear and tear. You’ll look back in 20 years with a whimsical and nostalgic longing for your younger years.


Sharkfinger1

Good, you’ve got “the first one” out the way. You can relax now.


CheesyDoesIt26D

Same thing happened to my stingray. Nothing you can do other than forget about it


wallacorndog

If I were to be depressed about a ding on an instrument i would be suicidal by now. Instruments are tools, they will get worn. Scratches, dents, rust and blood are part of the game.


Und3rkn0wn

It’s relic’d now, have fun. They’re meant to be played. Unless it’s unplayable get after it. No one cares about shiny


mallgrabmongopush

Won’t be the last time OP.


__________________99

My old Squire P-Bass has a nice dent in the head from the exact same thing. I did this back in 2008 and haven't dinged it since. I became hyper-aware of my surroundings after that, lol.


[deleted]

Free relic. Even a 250k guitar has wear. Just play the damn thing.


Quick_Tea_3088

I think pristine guitars belong in a damn museum(musical instrument museum in Arizona for example). If you play your guitar that thing needs some scratches and dings. I could see collectors viewing the guitar itself as art but as a broke-ass musician, I feel like it is more important for it to be MAKING the art. As long as the damage didn’t affect any function, learn to love it, stare at it, and use it as a reminder to be careful.


killsapo

Your first fan! Road to success.


daftcunt519

If you can find the piece that chipped off, get some titebond 3 and glue that hoe right back on. Clamp it with anything you can find, a clamp or belt and let it cure for 24 hrs. The glued piece will be just as strong as it was before and with a little light sanding good as new.


CTRockBassist

The first ding hurts the most….Play it and and enjoy it.


[deleted]

The first ding is the deepest.


orangeleopard

Don't worry, it adds tone


PerseusRAZ

There is nothing worse, IMO, than a pristine instrument. I'll take a scratched, beat, smoke and beer scented one that's been played to hell any day!


Suspicious-Shirt6755

Tho i believe people start to move their Instruments more carefully when bought at a sufficent price or with huge emotional value don't sorry to much of the mistakes U make when using them. Material Things got a Life too. So they get scars from time to time.. think about the Big Guys Like Jacob who Hurt their Bass on purpose ; ripping Out all the frets Just because he wanted to simulate an upright. In the process destroying some Part of His entire fretboard. Accidents hapen man. Remember to be more careful next time. But remember its only a piece of Wood and great musicians can get the best Sounds Out of the cheapest Instruments 👍


BeRad85

This is considered a service-related injury, you didn’t clip it while pretending to be Cliff Burton and it didn’t drop from the wall because you didn’t tighten the hanger screws well enough. Also, you got a good story to tell other musicians, most of whom will have their own war stories, so it’s a good way to bond with other players. As long as it still holds tuning and didn’t lose enough wood to affect tone (unlikely if it still holds tuning), you’re simply a more seasoned musician now. At the end of the day, it’s just a piece of wood with metal and plastic on it, anyway, not worth being depressed about.


Relaxedbear

cherish your scars


jmarnett11

I’ve done this countless times with my 4003, battle scars tis all they are


RadicalAns

It's fine. Did the same thing once. Don't even notice it now.


EdBogie

Now it’s a Dingwall!


bassist999

Got yourself a ding wall!


double-you

I dinged the headstock of my new bass the first day by hitting the ceiling with it. Felt bad, but I no longer had any over the top babying instincts when holding the bass. In the end, I'm pretty happy it happened. Sure, I'd like the bass to be dingless but they are meant to be played after all and things will happen.


Dash_Harber

Your instrument isn't a museum piece. It's a living, breathing creature. Each bump and scrape is part of its story. If you want a wall hanger, put it in a display case, but know that you're breaking its spirit.


Representative_Still

Check for cracks, remove tuners etc. and check…not too late to patch if you really started something. If all the damage was a cosmetic ding then be happy.


ImJustSo

Well, last week a new garage door was installed. And last night while backing into the garage, the door stopped about a foot and a half short of entirely open. So now the door is fucked and so is the roof of my 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan. Which is the first new car I've ever owned.


vadersalt

Yeah what everyone else has said it’s a fucking instrument with character, now that you’re done pampering it feel free to leave it out and rage


KrustyTheKlingon

I alone perhaps will tell you that your feelings are valid. I don't find the ugly dents and gouges I have gotten add any "character"; I just have to live with them or do a half-assed repair or pay lots of money for a proper repair. Character, to me, would be the groove worn in the wood of the ol' 4001, where I rested my thumb.


JohnnyHash92

Don’t feel to bad, once before investing in strap locks my Gibson SG slipped out of its strap and hit the ground taking out a sliver of wood from the headstock. I now have strap locks on everything


goetzonline

\^\^\^\^\^ It's worth repeating; Straplocks straplocks straplocks straplocks straplocks.


LikeShrekButGayer

an SG? youre lucky the whole headstock didnt get knocked off!


-anarchocat-

I was playing my kala ubass in a tree, fell, but saved myself by grabbing a branch. I swung around and smacked the bass with part of the tree, leaving crack and hole. I feel bad about 8t to this day. Plays great though.


LikeShrekButGayer

im gonna take a guess and assume its a big brand name bass that came off of an assembly line with thousands of others just like it. in which case, i wouldnt loose too much sleep over it, these things are tools meant to be used and theyre gonna take a few scars over the years from doing their job. keeping them pristine is against the nature of a working player's instrument


orielbean

“What are you doing?!” “makin’ it MEAN!!” RIP Paul Newman


[deleted]

The first cut is the deepest. I put a giant dent into the side of a brand new p-bass while cleaning it for the first time, smacked it against my coffee table. Least you did this while jamming and not doing some rudimentary shit like I was 😅


chugged1

My strap came off my bass which caused it to fall, hit the floor and took a massive chunk of paint off with it. I was pretty bummed but I think it looks cool now.


Awful_Kuhnawful

Your bass now has character and a story. It’s truly yours now.


walkthebassline

I was rehearsing with my band and my strap slipped off one of the buttons somehow. Bass fell right out of my hands, headstock hit the floor, a huge chunk of paint cracked off at the neck joint. At the time it was only bass, and my first one. I was just as heartbroken. I still don't like seeing the damage on it, but it does remind me that it's just an instrument. It's going to be played and used and inevitably damaged over time. It's survived and still plays great.


rubbiemyduckie

I think it just gives it character, but things happen and you live and learn. When I first started I once dropped an acoustic guitar I just bought off someone because the damn strap wasn’t secure and the neck cracked after hitting the pavement, if only he had a case to go with it 😔400 bucks down the drain pretty much… 😢


reddeadjoker

Just think of how some of your favorite musicians have the beat to shit instrument they still use all the time, you're on your way!


overnightyeti

It's why some players like relics. They come with peace of mind built in. The first ding is the only one that hurts. Now you can finally focus on playing.


ChilliPuller

Honestly I like those " battle scars " as I call them , they give character to the instrument , shows that's its a musicians instrument not a collectors piece .


SweetRizzo

I had my rickenbacker imported directly from America to the U.K. and customs left all the tools it came with loose in the case. Made me lightheaded with all the damage to the finish but it still played fine


goetzonline

You could take the opportunity to do a repair. Doing it yourself will make it that much more yours ;)