I know, I know - I only have myself to blame.

Ouch.

I agree there's a lesson to be taught here. Maybe let a luthier handle the work instead of doing it yourself, and let the kids pick up the tab out of their gig proceeds.

^This. No accountability and no consequences is the problem imo. I was raised and taught that if you were ever loaned anything, you treated it better than your own, and simply replaced it without asking if you damaged it. It was simply a matter of responsibility. Seems to be the opposite attitude these days, as in...it's not mine so why should I care? I just see it all the time now. Fortunately there was no serious/permanent damage in this case.
 
I'm sure all will be well with the bass, and the boys, in time. Reminds me of the time we put a piece of Limburger cheese under the windscreen of the lead singers mic, right before we went on. :D Not that we potentially ruined an expensive piece of gear; and, it wasn't even his mic. I love your avatar, btw.
 
This is a lot of noise for nothing. It isn't truly a rock'n'roll bass if it hasn't worn a few stickers here and there along its life.
What's the damage again?
The sticker is only part of the issue. Overstepping the boundary is the main part. “Keep ya hands off my stuff”! Don’t tell me your happy to have any punk messing with your stuff when your not around.
 
The sticker is only part of the issue. Overstepping the boundary is the main part. “Keep ya hands off my stuff”! Don’t tell me your happy to have any punk messing with your stuff when your not around.
Exactly, it wasn't theirs to stick anything on no matter how little or large the effects of the act. No it's not the end of the world and worse things happen at sea so make the punishment fit the crime and get a luthier to fix it and make them pay the bill. The bass is fixed and they learn a valuable lesson at minimal cost
 
I also think using age as an excuse isn't really appropriate. If they are 17-18 they should know better by now. That was 12 years ago for me and I'd never even dream of doing something like that to one of band mates instruments, nevermind one they had a loan of. Swapping guitars in the cases as another poster had said... or when the drummer is too lazy to set up his own kit put every single cymbal on upside down yea... :)
 
Since the sticker hasn't been on very long, you can probably use a hair dryer to heat it just enough to remove it without damaging the finish. You can use Goo Gone to remove any residue from the adhesive. Just test it on a small inconspicuous area first to make sure the Goo Gone doesn't cause any damage.
 
Oh yeah...I never had any intention on going postal - it's just a bass and just a sticker (which is already completely gone), and they meant no harm.
Just a mindless prank - they had no idea whose bass it was - which is kind of the point back to them. They'll learn not to mess with other people's stuff because the consequences could have been a lot worse.

Thanks for all the feedback.

You seem like a really cool dude.
 
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Get some duct tape and a sharpie and make some stickers of your own.
"I'm an idiot who messes with stuff that ain't mine"
Sneak up from behind them and slap the stickers right on their heads/hair.

Hey, it's just a prank right?
 
Unfortunately, a band member or two thought it would be funny to slap on a sticker they found on the floor at their last gig. Opened the case, slapped it on, and closed it. He's pretty pissed off and ashamed, and rightfully so.

See, this is why I don't own a gun.

It doesn't matter that it's not a boutique bass, what matters is that it ain't yours

Exactly. *** is wrong with people? It ain't yours, so keep your dookie-clutchers off of it.
 
My oldest son uses a few basses from the herd, and really loves this Koa/Purpleheart Peavey Unity. He always treats our gear well and I have no problem lending him any bass or amp I own.

Unfortunately, a band member or two thought it would be funny to slap on a sticker they found on the floor at their last gig. Opened the case, slapped it on, and closed it. He's pretty pissed off and ashamed, and rightfully so.

On the upside, the top-side of the body was starting to wear, and I was planning on sanding it back and re-oiling it later this year, but this kinda gets me mad (which is pretty hard to do). I know this is an easy removal job, but the whole situation makes me wants to clunk a couple of heads and give them a life lesson about other people's stuff.

It doesn't matter that it's not a boutique bass, what matters is that it ain't yours
I hear you but this would be my conundrum: I like it. I think the sticker look goes with the worn finish. Negating a need to refinish at all.
 
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Just grab up a handful of “support your local...” whatever they would be loathe to support bumper stickers, preferably in loud garish colors, and plaster all their gear and when they react, just go with the bop and rebop philosophy of pranking as an explaination and become bewildered when they fail to see the humor.