I hope this is the right place for this thread.

I took my Ibanez GSR 200 FM TBS to Long & McQuade for a complete set up, and it came back with notes from the tech guy on the receipt saying, quote: "Attempted setup and lowering of action. bass has numerous loose frets. would require re-seating and dressing frets, not recommended due to cost (approx $200) set up as well as possible with minimal buzz.

So, I ordered this bass having no previous musical knowledge (save for flute in elementary school) or having tried anyone else's bass or guitar EVER. I am looking for someone to tell me that this bass isn't the worst disaster ever, and that, for someone who is just starting out, it will work well enough.

I am willing to accept that I got what I paid for (though I do think there could be worse basses than this one) and I've learned my lesson from buying things online (though the source was highly trusted and I still value my purchases). I just hope that with time, as I gain experience and play and get to know what I like and what sound I'm looking for, I will be able to buy a new bass that is more like a Macintosh computer than a PC. Macs working like a dream and PCs tending to cause many headaches.

Is there a book I can read or website I can go to, or would you advise hanging out at my local bass specialty shop in order to learn more about makes and models of bass guitars? Maybe I should meet some people who play bass and make friends with them well enough to be allowed to hold theirs and see what they feel like.

In the meantime is there anything I could/should do in order to take more/better care of my bass? Is this problem of loose frets likely to get worse? They look pretty well glued in there to me...

I am not ready to get a new bass right now. I just want the one I have to work. It will, won't it? Should I be embarrassed to play it in front of people? That is, only if it sounds bad I guess.

I don't know how confident you are working with your bass but I was reading this article that may help you repair your fret problem yourself for minimal money. Check it out,

http://www.stewmac.com/tradesecrets/ts0043_gluefrets.hzml?jrl=357594&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ts0043&clk=157361

I believe the same happen to a friends $500 Ibanez, but he paid to get repair and was quite mad.

As for check out different basses, just visit a music store and play the basses that look nice to you and feel and hear the difference.
If they ask if you want to buy just tell them you are checking something out or planning ahead...
Thats how I got into the fretless, I saw my first real live one in the store and decided I should aquire one somehow with little money
not the $800 they wanted.

THis site and some google searching will get you an idea of whats what in the bass world.

Hope I help

Thanks very much!
That is helpful. I'll have to think about my fret "problem". I may not do anything about it for a while...until it bothers me too much or I figure out a solid, fail-proof solution.
I like to do my homework. Reading on the internet is helpful, but there is much to be said for going to the store and actually trying the basses. I will have to build up the courage to do it. Maybe early in the morning on a weekday would be best. I'll think about it. Thanks!

You didn't get what you payed for. Numerous loose frets is not a common problem with that bass. I can understand maybe one or two lifting up and needing reseating, but more than that indicates something really strange. You just don't see that on those Ibanez basses, or other brands of similar quality. In fact, I've played a number of the GSR 200s and they all had excellent necks, very nice fretwork and the ones a few of my stucents use stayed that way for years.

I'd question the capabilities of the repairman who diagnosed the problem. If it is true, ask for a replacement. I've got an Ibanez SRX 300 which is about the same price range but fancier pickups. The neck is flawless and has stayed that way for 3 years. All I had to do was adjust the truss rod slightly a couple times to adjust for changes in humidity.

Every once in a while a bad one does slip by and if that's the case you should be compensated, unless you bought it used. If you were in Hamilton I'd offer to take a look at it for you no charge.

Hmm...I get what you're saying about the experience of the tech guy. Maybe he doesn't know what he's talking about! In comparison to the picture on stewmac.com, I really don't think the slots are too big. Maybe he was just using "loose frets" as a way to explain the consistent buzz I heard last night on at least one fret.

You're right about my warranty. For several months I didn't know the battery in the back was dead and had to call Axe Music (in Edmonton where I ordered this bass) to find out what to do about this mystery electrical problem.

Thank you, 62bass for offering to look at it. There's a specialty store, "Club Bass" at Queen and Ossington downtown Toronto. Maybe I'll ask one of those guys to take a peek and tell me straight up what the deal is. After that I'll consider shipping it back to Axe for a replacement. humph :S

It is possible that the frets are loose. It can happen if the tang does not hold, and the lower the price the less time they spend on QC.

You should be able to see if a fret is loose. Typically the crown will not be flush with the fingerboard. Usually the ends lift up. If it's really loose, it will move when you push down on it with a hard object.

If I were you I would inspect very closely the frets. If you have a straightedge, you can put it on the frets, parallel to the strings, and rock it back and forth over a high fret like a see-saw. High frets torpedo a good setup. I would not be surprised to hear about a guitar tech making an incorrect diagnosis, but neither would I jump to that conclusion without taking a good look at the frets.

Hmm...I get what you're saying about the experience of the tech guy. Maybe he doesn't know what he's talking about! In comparison to the picture on stewmac.com, I really don't think the slots are too big. Maybe he was just using "loose frets" as a way to explain the consistent buzz I heard last night on at least one fret.

You're right about my warranty. For several months I didn't know the battery in the back was dead and had to call Axe Music (in Edmonton where I ordered this bass) to find out what to do about this mystery electrical problem.

Thank you, 62bass for offering to look at it. There's a specialty store, "Club Bass" at Queen and Ossington downtown Toronto. Maybe I'll ask one of those guys to take a peek and tell me straight up what the deal is. After that I'll consider shipping it back to Axe for a replacement. humph :S

Club Bass is a good shop and Dave, the owner knows his stuff. He has some very nice high end basses too. There's also the 12th Fret on Danforth at Woodbine. They're very good. Send me a PM if you want me to take a look at it and can make it out to Hamilton. If it's a fret that has come loose it's not all that hard a fix. A whole bunch of them would be. Like I said, that's unusual for that bass.

Yes, knowing about the battery helps.:)

On the matter of playing in the store, go do it. Pick up any and all and play a little (maybe not the $$$$ boutique instruments). You can learn a lot about them without even plugging them in. Plug in and play a few that seem most interesting. The fact that you're worried about this means you probably won't be one of the cretins who abuses the store and other customers by playing your favorite three licks all afternoon with the amp cranked. Any good salesman knows a beginner will do a lot of learning and playing and checking out before buying their second (and third and fourth) instrument. The ones who treat you well will probably get a sale from you down the road and the ones who don't won't be there that long anyway. These forums are great for getting knowledge, but you've got to also get some instruments in your hands to see how they differ, and hanging with people who are interested in the same things you are is automatically fun and educational. You'll also get a handle on how bad your fret problem is compared to the other basses you play- if you don't feel a difference it may not be an issue you have to deal with right now.