Leen2112 Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 I cannot believe what a complete twat I've just been. After tonights practise we took away the gear we will be using at the next gig. So I zipped my bass (Ibanez 1205 VNF) into my strap on case and loaded my other stuff on a trolly and headed out to the car park where my bass suddenly fell out the bottom of my case! Hitting the ground and falling right down and comming to a stop with a nasty crashbang! On inspection I think I've got off lightly as It was probably me who never zipped it up completely. The damage is many chunks and dents on the back of the body where the stones and chips embeded themselves, you would never notice from the front, but I will. I tuck my shirt around my belt buckle for f's sake. I adore this bass. I was very lucky with a bass a few years ago that when sold It gave me the cash to buy this from new. Would there be any way to repair the pot holes? Filler?? Cheers Leen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiltyG565 Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 I'm no expert, but I would sand it flat around the area, then spread some cementy kind of polyfilla type filler into, and sand it flat, then get somebody very good at spraying and painting things to touch them up. Hope it's not too bad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRBboy Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 Gutted for you dude! I guess it would be difficult to patch up because of the finish. It would be worth taking it to a really good Luther though and see what they can do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 Do not panic. A good luthier will often work wonders in this sort of repair...and it will be money well spent! As a furniture maker I would always AVOID using wood filler (nasty) unless absolutely necessary. The 1205 is a wonderful, natural finish bass...I love mine so feel your pain. Often a wet cloth and a hot iron can work wonders on the dents that aren't too bad. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetaFunk Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 I agree that you'd best take it to a good luthier. On the positive side it's still a great bass and will continue to be so try and look on the bright side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 (edited) Hey Leen, you're lucky it's a timber bass, not a painted body. You can do a lot of the repair yourself. What you need to do is sweat the wood back out. Don't use filler. First clean the debris out of the holes. Use a toothbrush if necessary, or something... whatever. Then plug in the clothes iron. Mrs Leen will tell you what it looks like Get a soft, old cloth and a bowl of water. Dip the cloth in the water and put a small piece of the wet clot over a dent and get the tip of the iron and heat the cloth/dent. Doing this will normally cause the wood to swell and the dent will recover. If not go find a Stanley knife and take a look at the dents and cut the wood WITH the grain. DON'T go across the grain. Just do small cuts, don't go hacking at it. Then steam the wood with the cloth/iron again. When the wood has swollen back out you'll need let it dry out. When dry you need to sand the wood to get rid of any rough bits. Finish it off with really fine grain paper (at least grade 350, finer if you can get it). Sand it WITH the grain, not across it. After this it'll look a ton better than it did. Finish off by re-applying the finish - oil or lacquer; whatever it has already. But get the proper stuff for wood furniture, not car paint lacquer. And NOT paint-on varnish or it'll look cr@p. PM me if you need more info Then meet me down the pub and buy me a beer. Cheers Rich PS (if you live anywhere near me I'll be happy to meet up and give you a hand) Edited June 27, 2013 by Grangur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 [quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1372373135' post='2125143']...PS (if you live anywhere near me I'll be happy to meet up and give you a hand) [/quote] Good evening, Rich... Just to point out, despite your very generous advice and offer... Location:[b][i]Herts/Essex[/i][/b] Location:[b][i]Fife[/i][/b] ...Ain't it always the way..? Well done for proposing, that man, though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 (edited) Damn. (You don't see folk's locations when you're using the mobile version on a phone) With patience and a little persistence he should be able to get the result though. Even if the dents dont completely recover he wont have to sand it as low. A good place to get wood lacqure from is www.morells.co.uk. for an Ibby I'd use natural matt lacqure. Edited June 28, 2013 by Grangur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 [quote name='Leen2112' timestamp='1372365612' post='2125001'] ..... I tuck my shirt around my belt buckle for f's sake.... [/quote] Thank God, I thought it was just me Good luck with the repairs, I know I'd be gutted if it happened to me - not a big fan of the road worn look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leen2112 Posted June 28, 2013 Author Share Posted June 28, 2013 (edited) [quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1372400194' post='2125199'] Damn. (You don't see folk's locations when you're using the mobile version on a phone) With patience and a little persistence he should be able to get the result though. Even if the dents dont completely recover he wont have to sand it as low. [/quote] Thanks for the tips, these dents etc are deep and many, I'll give it a go but would feel safer giving to a pro. Edited June 28, 2013 by Leen2112 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 (edited) Send it to me if you like. I'll take a look. Probably best if you post or pm me some pics Edited June 28, 2013 by Grangur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 Jimmy Moon in Glasgow is the man for the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigsmokebass Posted July 17, 2013 Share Posted July 17, 2013 Ibanez hahahaha BSB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njr911 Posted July 17, 2013 Share Posted July 17, 2013 You didn't "damage" it you "relic'd" it. I'll be worth more now /glass half full Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jailbait Posted July 17, 2013 Share Posted July 17, 2013 (edited) anything on the back of the body is fair game and will happen from just playing over time anyway. front is just character you can live with or not lol. also depends if you intend to keep it forever. Edited July 17, 2013 by jailbait Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iceonaboy Posted July 17, 2013 Share Posted July 17, 2013 I have a Status Eclipse which was my only bass for about 20 years. It was bashed and worn and I decided to strip it and spray it. I wish I had left it because it had character and now it looks sh*t Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigsmokebass Posted July 17, 2013 Share Posted July 17, 2013 I'd leave it, to a collector they may see it as "years of touring" instead of a clumsy drop BSB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted July 17, 2013 Share Posted July 17, 2013 It's a working tool and will get knocks. Once you get too many, you get it refinished..unless it is valuable and will increase.. and start again. If the bass is made of decent material, someone will be able to make a decent job of fixing it up. At least you know it can stand being dropped... .. and you'll learn to carry it properly.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted July 17, 2013 Share Posted July 17, 2013 I've done Grangur's damp cloth + iron (albeit a soldering iron) repair on a couple of natural finished guitars now and it really works. One of the repairs was on an MM neck and after I'd done it you could barely see it and certainly not feel it. Give it a go, go slowly, taking your time and I reckon you'll be surprised and pleased. JTUK makes a very valid point about it being a tool, if it still performs as required, then it's not the end of the world, just a dent (no pun intended) in its resale value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted July 18, 2013 Share Posted July 18, 2013 Hey![size=4][quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1374078384' post='2145073'][/size] I've done Grangur's damp cloth + iron (albeit a soldering iron) repair on a couple of natural finished guitars now and it really works. One of the repairs was on an MM neck and after I'd done it you could barely see it and certainly not feel it. Give it a go, go slowly, taking your time and I reckon you'll be surprised and pleased. JTUK makes a very valid point about it being a tool, if it still performs as required, then it's not the end of the world, just a dent (no pun intended) in its resale value. [/quote] You doubted my word!!!??? How could you?!?! I used to repair solid oak furniture. I've sweated dents out of all sorts of pieces of furniture. Not done many on basses yet , but I've just been lucky so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted July 18, 2013 Share Posted July 18, 2013 [quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1374174144' post='2146168'] Hey![size=4] You doubted my word!!!??? How could you?!?! I used to repair solid oak furniture. I've sweated dents out of all sorts of pieces of furniture. Not done many on basses yet , but I've just been lucky so far. [/quote]Not at all Sir, just giving your post the old +1. It amazes me that this works as you'd think that once the wood dried it'd go back to its previous, damaged, form, but not so. Organic materials are amazing are they not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefrash Posted July 18, 2013 Share Posted July 18, 2013 Thats a very good tip from Grangut. all my instruments are painted finish at the moment but thats a definite tip for the future! Cheers! As others said though, As long as its still working, and the big dents dont have sharp edges then I'd be tempted to try not restore it back to former glory, but accept it and move on! Genuinely roadworn gear is cooool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3below Posted July 18, 2013 Share Posted July 18, 2013 My daughter, a long time ago (aged 3 at the time) decided my USA Strat should become reliced ...... Despite a polyurethane solid colour finish thicker than an orange skin, the damp tablecloth and iron technique removed significant amounts of dents. I have also used the same method on a very beaten Yamaha bass neck (poly finish again). The dents that can be removed are surprising. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted July 18, 2013 Share Posted July 18, 2013 [quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1374078384' post='2145073'] I've done Grangur's damp cloth + iron (albeit a soldering iron) repair on a couple of natural finished guitars now and it really works. One of the repairs was on an MM neck and after I'd done it you could barely see it and certainly not feel it. Give it a go, go slowly, taking your time and I reckon you'll be surprised and pleased. [/quote] A couple of weeks ago I was careless and rested my Stingray against the amp while I was trying to plug some cables on the back... and the bass fell. Ouch! The back of the neck has now two dents. Not huge... but noticeable. It's a maple neck, oil finished... I remembered this technique and it's tempting me to give it a try, but I was a bit worried about messing with damp cloths and heat on the neck of the bass... Hmmm... shall I? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted July 18, 2013 Share Posted July 18, 2013 [quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1374174144' post='2146168'] Hey![size=4] You doubted my word!!!??? How could you?!?! I used to repair solid oak furniture. I've sweated dents out of all sorts of pieces of furniture. Not done many on basses yet , but I've just been lucky so far. [/quote] How about dents on the back of an oil finished neck (MusicMan Stingray)... any danger? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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