I recently picked up a new (to me) bass which has a natural finish presumably using a poly lacquer.
It’s had a hard life but most of the dings etc don’t bother me. However, last night as I lifted it out of its case and over some obstructions I managed to clatter the top horn on the corner edge of a stone fireplace, putting a big dent into it.
The wood has been compressed and the lacquer cracked. It’s annoying me because it’s right in front of me every time I play the bass, and it’s the first big ding I’ve done to this instrument. In the past I’ve had some success in steaming dents out of furniture, but would that work here? Would I need to remove the cracked bits of finish first? If so, what could I use to refinish it? Clear nail polish? Superglue? Or should I just chalk it up to hamfistedness and resolve to be more careful?