Ken's Corner (Bass Forums Sponsored By KSB)

Go Back   Ken's Corner (Bass Forums Sponsored By KSB) > Electric Basses > Smith Basses, Handmade

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 05-04-2007, 05:55 PM
Ronson Hall's Avatar
Ronson Hall Ronson Hall is offline
Posting Member
 
Join Date: 03-02-2007
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 120
Ronson Hall is on a distinguished road
Post Belt Buckle Scratches: Avoidance Ideas, Anyone?

Hey Folks!

As you know, I'm one of the newest Ken Smith owners, and I must say I'm having a total blast on my beauty!

While polishing Cathyrn II last night after Praise Teamrehearsal, I noticed just a few belt buckle scratches. How do you folks handle this? Is it to be categorized as a normal part of wear that comes with playing, or should I take steps now to cover up my buckle when I play?

I'm really not overly disturbed by this. However, if there's something I should be looking out for with regard to this, I'll do it! Thanks.
__________________
Ronson C. Hall
www.TrueLightSA.com
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 05-04-2007, 06:35 PM
Bob Faulkner's Avatar
Bob Faulkner Bob Faulkner is offline
Senior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 01-22-2007
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 282
Bob Faulkner is on a distinguished road
Default

I don't wear a belt. problem solved

Another useful trick, if dress code allows it, is to simply untuck your shirt and let it cover your buckle.
__________________
Proud original owner of a 2001 Ken Smith BSR4EG lined fretless.

My band's site:
Delusional Mind
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 05-05-2007, 12:54 AM
Albert Smith's Avatar
Albert Smith Albert Smith is offline
Senior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 02-13-2007
Location: St Peters MO
Posts: 193
Albert Smith is on a distinguished road
Cool Position!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ronson Hall View Post
Hey Folks!

As you know, I'm one of the newest Ken Smith owners, and I must say I'm having a total blast on my beauty!

While polishing Cathyrn II last night after Praise Teamrehearsal, I noticed just a few belt buckle scratches. How do you folks handle this? Is it to be categorized as a normal part of wear that comes with playing, or should I take steps now to cover up my buckle when I play?

I'm really not overly disturbed by this. However, if there's something I should be looking out for with regard to this, I'll do it! Thanks.
Ronson, I position my bass just high enough so that the lower extremity of the bass is above my waist, so that I wont scratch the back of my bass. This position is comfortable for me because of my playing style. If you play more like a rock bassist then you might run into the issue of scratches, most rock bassist position thier bass lower.
__________________
Al-Bassman-Smith
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 05-05-2007, 05:30 AM
Paul Phillips Paul Phillips is offline
Junior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 01-24-2007
Location: Woodbridge Va
Posts: 23
Paul Phillips is on a distinguished road
Default buckle rash!!!

What I do is turn my belt buckle to the side a little so it does not dig into the back of the bass, And you still have the belt to help!!!!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 06-22-2007, 05:22 PM
Dennis Michaels's Avatar
Dennis Michaels Dennis Michaels is offline
Posting Member
 
Join Date: 06-20-2007
Location: Wilmington De
Posts: 72
Dennis Michaels is on a distinguished road
Default

I play without a belt...no comments please. I do have a friend that cut up a strap and made a belt buckle cover.
__________________
Dennis Michaels
www.myspace.com/dennismichaelsbass
www.dennismichaels.com
www.kensmithbasses.com
www.eden-electronics.com

Tone matters so play the best through the best.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 06-22-2007, 05:30 PM
Tim Bishop's Avatar
Tim Bishop Tim Bishop is offline
Senior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 02-25-2007
Location: U.S.A.
Posts: 1,274
Tim Bishop is on a distinguished road
Cool Too funny!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dennis Michaels View Post
I play without a belt...no comments please.
LOL! Oh, the temptation.....too funny Dennis!
__________________
Tim Bishop


Last edited by Tim Bishop; 06-22-2007 at 09:04 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 06-23-2007, 04:38 PM
Steve_M Steve_M is offline
Posting Member
 
Join Date: 02-23-2007
Location: moo
Posts: 109
Steve_M is on a distinguished road
Default

I tend to fasten my belt further to one side or untuck my t-shirt/shirt.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 06-25-2007, 07:51 AM
Dennis Michaels's Avatar
Dennis Michaels Dennis Michaels is offline
Posting Member
 
Join Date: 06-20-2007
Location: Wilmington De
Posts: 72
Dennis Michaels is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim Bishop View Post
LOL! Oh, the temptation.....too funny Dennis!
I know, I know... but thanks for letting it be.
__________________
Dennis Michaels
www.myspace.com/dennismichaelsbass
www.dennismichaels.com
www.kensmithbasses.com
www.eden-electronics.com

Tone matters so play the best through the best.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 07-06-2007, 11:30 AM
David Powell's Avatar
David Powell David Powell is offline
Senior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 02-06-2007
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 208
David Powell is on a distinguished road
Default

If you see some vintage photos of the Monkeys that show Peter Tork wearing a belt, you will see something that has certainly been wrongly attributed to 60's pop fashion. His belt is buckled with a huge buckle that is rotated far around to the side. It was not a fashion statement. Peter did this to protect his bass. What I do is go without a belt (at the risk ...) or if I must have one on, I use a braided belt I found that has all leather covered hardware so there is no bare metal. I don't know where to get one because this one I picked up in a vintage clothing store, but someone told me that women's belts are made this way. And I'm thinking, OK, so I'm wearing a woman's belt???

Another thing to watch for if you wear jeans is the rivets. I have recently gone to painter or carpenter style jeans that have no rivets. The rivets are small and sneaky but can put some bad scratches on a glossy finish.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 07-06-2007, 11:42 AM
Bob Faulkner's Avatar
Bob Faulkner Bob Faulkner is offline
Senior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 01-22-2007
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 282
Bob Faulkner is on a distinguished road
Default

I don't really wear the bass that low, and I typically wear shirts that are long enough to cover the top of my jeans so rivets are not an issue.

The biggest source of marks on my basses if the fact I mainly wear button down the front shirts, and the buttons will scuff the wood a little. It's pretty mild in contrast to other sources of rash, but it's there.
__________________
Proud original owner of a 2001 Ken Smith BSR4EG lined fretless.

My band's site:
Delusional Mind
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 11-23-2007, 12:14 AM
James Watkins James Watkins is offline
Junior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 11-20-2007
Location: Columbia, S.C.
Posts: 3
James Watkins is on a distinguished road
Default

I have found the soulution. Google "scratch pad guitar finish protector". These are about $20.00 and they work great!

James Watkins
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 03-25-2008, 01:47 AM
Jeff Jenkins Jeff Jenkins is offline
Junior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 03-15-2008
Location: Nashville/Pigeon Forge, TN
Posts: 4
Jeff Jenkins is on a distinguished road
Default

Since the bass is finished with Oil, you can use a light grade of steel wool pad from Lowes or Home Depot #0000 grade preferably to lightly take the scratches out without going very deep into the finish. Belt buckle rash is really not that big of a deal to players, its just a fact of life. Now, collectors see it in a whole new light, because they are looking to own the bass for awhile, take a few pics with it, and then sell it or trade later for a profit, or a new G.A.S. acquisition. Nothing wrong with that, I do it too, but if you intend on playing your Smith live, dents, scratches, and buckle rash are to be expected and should you decide to sell it or trade it later on, its still going to be worth a little something, for sure!
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 03-25-2008, 09:48 AM
Ken Smith's Avatar
Ken Smith Ken Smith is offline
Bassist, Luthier & Admin
 
Join Date: 01-18-2007
Location: Perkasie, PA
Posts: 4,851
Ken Smith is on a distinguished road
Exclamation what?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff Jenkins View Post
Since the bass is finished with Oil, you can use a light grade of steel wool pad from Lowes or Home Depot #0000 grade preferably to lightly take the scratches out without going very deep into the finish. Belt buckle rash is really not that big of a deal to players, its just a fact of life. Now, collectors see it in a whole new light, because they are looking to own the bass for awhile, take a few pics with it, and then sell it or trade later for a profit, or a new G.A.S. acquisition. Nothing wrong with that, I do it too, but if you intend on playing your Smith live, dents, scratches, and buckle rash are to be expected and should you decide to sell it or trade it later on, its still going to be worth a little something, for sure!
No.......

Guys, Steel wool of any grade can take the finish off down to the wood. Scratches down to the wood can not be taken out that way. Only a re-finish can. Even re-waxing at best might only help hide the marks and mars.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 03-25-2008, 11:17 AM
Bob Faulkner's Avatar
Bob Faulkner Bob Faulkner is offline
Senior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 01-22-2007
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 282
Bob Faulkner is on a distinguished road
Default

I'm thinking I would stab myself in the face with a red hot ice pick before I took steel wool of any kind to my Smith!
__________________
Proud original owner of a 2001 Ken Smith BSR4EG lined fretless.

My band's site:
Delusional Mind
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 09-24-2008, 01:20 AM
Desmund Nichols Desmund Nichols is offline
Posting Member
 
Join Date: 01-20-2007
Location: NYC
Posts: 151
Desmund Nichols is on a distinguished road
Send a message via AIM to Desmund Nichols
Default Slap scratches

I noticed that under the G string, there is about 1 inch square or something that is basically scracthes due to slapping. Now I rectified the situation by makng sure my nails are cut before I play, but is there anyway I can make those scratches go away?
__________________
Des
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 09-24-2008, 05:28 PM
David Powell's Avatar
David Powell David Powell is offline
Senior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 02-06-2007
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 208
David Powell is on a distinguished road
Default

Well, since my last post I have found a nice belt that has no exposed metal buckle parts. It is manufactured by Red Cap Industries in the USA from top grain cowhide for use in the automobile maintenance field where a buckle that would scratch a car's finish shouldn't be worn.

It is available from many suppliers, but I got mine from Automotive Workwear, Inc. They have an online store and the price is quite reasonable and the belt looks like any nice black leather belt. Look for scratchless buckle belt or no-scratch belt on their web site. These have a nice flat face of leather with no exposed metal. Two hooks on the back fasten the belt. The finish will get rubbed off the belt by the guitar (and that's OK) but a bit of shoe polish takes care of that.
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 10-01-2008, 07:04 PM
Jason Mendelson's Avatar
Jason Mendelson Jason Mendelson is offline
Posting Member
 
Join Date: 01-27-2007
Location: Southern CA
Posts: 118
Jason Mendelson is on a distinguished road
Send a message via AIM to Jason Mendelson Send a message via MSN to Jason Mendelson
Default

not sure how mine happened but they do... i keep my bass higher than my belt buckle... when I play upright I have my belt buckle on the side of me...

I think its from the keys in my pocket maybe?





__________________
Thump_
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 10-02-2008, 01:36 PM
David Powell's Avatar
David Powell David Powell is offline
Senior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 02-06-2007
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 208
David Powell is on a distinguished road
Default

I had been tediously careful about my buckle only to find that it was rivets in my Levi's that were doing the smaller damage. So I no longer wear riveted jeans. The Red Cap belt I got is working really well so far.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:32 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © 2007 - Ken Smith Basses, LTD. (All Rights Reserved)