Do you recognize adhesive used under Essence end pin?

[tomhug]

So I was swapping Schaller's for Dunlop Dual Design. The Schallers were coming loose.


Discovered a bit of a mess under the lower strap pin. I don't recognize this adhesive. It's still kind of flexible. I think someone must have patched (temporarily) the end pin with something. I've picked away a bit of the excess, but I don't want to create a problem that leaves the strap button in this bass unusable. (Got a gig tomorrow)


I'm also thinking the only way to properly repair this is to plug with a dowel in matching wood.


So I have these questions:

• Anyone recognize what adhesive this is?
• Anyone know where to source a small purpleheart dowel or plug?

I'm going to temporarily reinstall the existing strap pins because I have a gig tomorrow.


For the record, here's the other strap pin. It's actually the looser the two:

[StephenR]

Hey Tom

Not familiar with the strap pins you are planning to install but unless the dowel is going to be visible I wouldn't worry about trying to find purpleheart dowels. Any hardwood dowel will work for the repair and purpleheart may be particularly difficult to find. The gunk currently in the hole doesn't look familiar to me but you are going to have to drill out the old hole before you glue in a dowel so maybe use an older drill bit in case you can't get the filler off the drill bit. Shame that the previous owner didn't fix the loose end pin properly it is a common and easy repair.

[gtrguy]

Looks like bubblegum...

[edwardofhuncote]

I'll guess some kind of epoxy that didn't set up all the way.

The ol' toothpick-n-glue trick will get you through the gig, but eventually I'd want to drill that stuff out and replace some wood.

[tomhug]

Yup. That's exactly what I just did.


And I have plans underway to fix it properly when I have some down-time.


I'm baffled why whoever did this didn't just fix it the usual way. Whatever they used was probably more work than standard materials.

[cozmik_cowboy]

So, everyone's missing the obvious question, precipitated by:

"So I was swapping Schaller's for Dunlop Dual Design. "

Are you mad?

Peter (who will spare all his customary rant about the wonders of Schallers & lack thereof of Dunlops tonight)

[tomhug]

So, everyone's missing the obvious question, precipitated by:

"So I was swapping Schaller's for Dunlop Dual Design. "

Are you mad?

Peter (who will spare all his customary rant about the wonders of Schallers & lack thereof of Dunlops tonight)

For me it comes down to a few factors:


1) I have more basses with Dunlops than with Schallers. I'd like to be able to swap straps freely between all my basses, so having a single type of locking mechanism makes the most sense.
2) The Dunlop Duals are shaped more like a normal strap button, so in a pinch these work better (for me) than the Schallers with a conventional strap.
3) I've had a Schaller strap lock come apart on me. Not just come unscrewed, but actually come apart - like a weld failing


However due to the fact that I can't repair the end pin properly, I'll be using Schallers for a while yet. I was strictly a Schaller user for many years, but the number of Dunlop-bearing basses has grown over the years. Really,
I don't want to start a "Coke vs Pepsi" argument - They're both great.

[growlypants]

(...although Pepsi is a little bit better.)

[keith_h]

I don't want to start a "Coke vs Pepsi" argument - They're both great.

I think if you wanted be divisive you would have asked V8 or Turbo V6 and not brought up soft drinks. 

[gtrguy]

Straight OHC Six!

[fmm]

Pepsi really doesn't mix well with anything...

[pauldo]

Totally with David L.  the straight six all weekday, with a coke in the drink holder.   

The Slant 4 on weekends!  (pining for my old IH Scout ).

[lbpesq]

Schaller over Dunlop (If Schaller fails, the "U" keeps the guitar on the strap.  If Dunlop fails, "hello luthier")

Coke over Pepsi (Pepsi is sweeter and gives me hiccups)

Mexican Coke over USA Coke (Mexican is made with sugar, American with corn syrup)

My big honkin' normally aspirated 3.0 liter 4 banger over turbo 4s

Betty over Wilma

Mary Ann over Ginger

Jerry over Trey

Fender over Gibson

Alembic over everything else

Bill, tgo

[gtrguy]

OMG, I used to have a 71 scout II with the 345 years ago.
And, the series 1 4.2 OHC 6! And the old Pontiac OHC 6 with the dual carbs was killer too (the John Delorean special).

[theneighbor]

The gunk looks similar to some 3M 5200 adhesive used in boat repair, it's a polyurethane. Generally used for structural repairs or sealing things that never need to be removed in the future, like through hull fittings. I hope that isn’t what someone used on your bass, but I could imagine someone asking a boater what to use if they don’t want it to come loose again and the suggestion coming out. I really hope it isn't though. It's not uncommon for 5200 to take some Gelcoat, paint, or fiberglass with it during removal. I've used it a few times on my boat, but would never dream of using it to secure an end pin on my bass.

There are some companies that make solvents for it, but I would be concerned about them and your finish. Even with solvents, it can be a real mess to clean up.

5200 link:
http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Adhesives/Tapes/Products/~/3M-Marine-Adhesive-Sealant-5200?N=5510818+3291638463+3293241623&rt=rud

Solvents:
http://www.boatingmag.com/marine-solvents-for-removing-5200

I wish you the best in your clean up efforts and hope it isn't 5200.