I just accept that the bass will inevitably get dinged. I’m not careless with it, but I also don’t waste any mental/emotional energy on worrying about it. It helps if I think of it as already being dinged. Stretch the time scale out long enough and it will be far worse off.
It’s even better if it actually is already dinged, and I saved a boatload of money buying it as a brand new b-stock, or a used bass if I’m certain there’s nothing wrong with it other than aesthetics. My Corvette for example was a display model at an online vendor’s physical store. It has a bit of buckle rash. I bought it for $1200 off the cost of new. Saved money and don’t have to worry about any potential future scratches ruining the supposed perfection of it.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a nice gorgeous bass - but a dinged bass sounds just as good, and isn’t that the ultimate purpose of a musical instrument?
Click Here for a Philosophical Quote Regarding Impermanence
One day some people came to the master and asked ‘How can you be happy in a world of such impermanence? The master held up a glass and said ’Someone gave me this glass, and I really like this glass. It holds my water admirably and it glistens in the sunlight. I touch it and it rings! One day the wind may blow it off the shelf, or my elbow may knock it from the table. And I say, ‘Of course.’ When I understand that the glass is already broken, every moment with it is precious.