I agree it is not real wear and tear, like, it is not real aging. It is not however “factory” wear and tear, it is manually made by an artisan. Each bass is “aged” by hand, and each one will look unique and won’t look the same. From this point of view, those hardcore aged Sandberg basses are more original and unique looking than the brand new ones.
In my twenties, I was a goth/punk, and many of my clothes had “fake” wear and tear, because I had done that to them myself. The difference here is that I didn’t pay anyone to do that, I did it myself.
I kind of miss those times. In my university years, I was the only one in my class who only wore black, and black nail polish. I carried my stuff in a plastic folder I had completely covered with black-and-white photos of my favourite bands, with ripped edges, and covered by clear contact paper.
Yeah, but back to aged basses, maybe they would be “more punk” if the person herself had done all the scratches, intentionally or not. As Barney pointed out, polyurethane finishes will never age like that naturally. And if one wanted to do that work oneself, it would be necessary to have the right tools and know exactly what and how to do it. Chances are the bass would look horrid instead. I mean, I doubt it is easy to make a bass look like that aged Sandberg without the proper tools and knowhow.
I agree with that too!
One way to look at it is that it is art. Another way to look at it is AAAAARGH, a perfect instrument made with love and care is perfectly ruined!
It is a love it or hate it kind of thing. If I could have only one Sandberg, I would prefer a very neat and new one. If I had more money than I need, I would like having a hardcore aged black and white Sandberg because it looks so cool, and it is a good instrument (if it had been beaten the shit out of it and dragged on asfalt, it wouldn’t play well anymore).
The Swedish have a saying: taste is like buttocks: divided in the middle. Meaning, people have different tastes.
