Anybody ever buy equipment without trying it 1st?

Strat-Mangler · #1 08-20-2010, 01:52 PM

The situation : I live in Canada and therefore only have access to maybe 1/30th (with no exaggeration whatsoever) of the lines you guys in the US can get.

It's impossible to see, operate, play through any of the models that you guys keep raving about on this forum. If anything is ordered through a store, it's on special order and can't be returned. No, not even with a restocking fee.

If I import something from the US, I need to pay for the much more expensive shipping, taxes, and duty fees. Even if a store like Musician's Friend would accept a return, that'd cost me the ridiculous shipping fees a 2nd time, along with a restock fee that would, coupled with every other fee I just mentioned, still make me hundreds of dollars poorer than how I started.

So my question is... has anybody ever taken a chance like this on gear and lived happily ever after? Were you so delighted and pleasantly surprised with your purchase that you still thought the merchandise delivered despite the hype?

If so, how would you recommend I proceed to ensure I end up perfectly satisfied with unseen/unplayed equipment?

eltroyo11 · #2 08-20-2010, 01:59 PM

When I was looking into Jazz basses, I played a whole bunch at Guitar Center and decided that there was good enough quality control on the American Standards that I was comfortable buying one through a store on Ebay for a bit cheaper than GC would have been. I've also bought GK and Ampeg cabs, as well as a GK head and used Warwick fretless online without trying them first. I guess I've been really lucky with online buying.

Livewire · #3 08-20-2010, 02:00 PM

First do your research and read a ton of reviews on items you are interested in. Try to find clips of the equipment on youtube with a similair set up, you might get lucky and find someone that has the same bass and amp as you. You can always ask people on talkbass what their opinion is of the product too. I bought a avatar 210 cabinet and a gallien krueger 700rbII without trying them. With the avatar I had no choice because they only have them online, and with the 700rbII, I was just lazy so I just checked the internet and videos, I decided to take the plunge (I know, stupid but hey it worked for me). I've tried other gallien kruger amps before at studios and dug the tone. I love both the head and cab till this day.

Achtane · #4 08-20-2010, 02:04 PM

Well, it's better to be able to try something if you have the resources, but all of my gear was bought without being able to demo it, save for my cab which I did play in-store to make sure it was 100%. I just research the crap out of something before I purchase it -- just get as much info as you can. Read the lower-rated reviews first as long as the reviewer isn't clearly a moron and sometimes flaws will be revealed. Of course pay attention to the good ones as well, but there will be so many more of those in many cases.

edit: actually, the only piece of gear I've bought and found underwhelming was the Bass Micro Synth. Everything else I've been satisfied with.

20db pad · #5 08-20-2010, 02:05 PM

I've purchased a number of basses this way - bought a Spector years ago sight unseen, loved it, still have it and bought others. Did the same with a Lakland 55-02. I've also bought a couple Sadowskys without trying them first, but I already owned one before buying those particular basses and fully knew what to generally expect

Strat-Mangler · #6 08-20-2010, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eltroyo11

When I was looking into Jazz basses, I played a whole bunch at Guitar Center and decided that there was good enough quality control on the American Standards that I was comfortable buying one through a store on Ebay for a bit cheaper than GC would have been. I've also bought GK and Ampeg cabs, as well as a GK head and used Warwick fretless online without trying them first. I guess I've been really lucky with online buying.

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, as I already mentioned, I don't have the luxury of test-driving the gear prior to purchase.

This would all be from word of mouth experience (i.e. you guys).

I'd have to trust that my experience will mirror yours. That's why it's headache-inducing. lol!

evenintheshower · #7 08-20-2010, 02:15 PM

I purchased an Avatar Neo 4x10 without playing it first. It is a great cab and I have no regrets. I bought an early Markbass head without trying it, but they were pretty scarce at the time, so I took a chance. It was a nice amp, too. I have never purchased a bass without playing it first though, although my wife bought me a bass as a gift when we first got married that I hadn't played before, but it worked out great. It seems to me that a bass is slightly different than a cab or a head. You actually have to lay your hands on the bass, so feel is important with that.

dangorange · #8 08-20-2010, 02:17 PM

Research as much as possible, and speak with whomever you might purchase from, or email. I bought a 68' Fender Jazz from a high reputable dealer in NYC with only a picture to go by, and it wasn't cheap.

I did however know exactly what was important to me in a bass, feel, sound, etc. and the guy I bought from knew his stuff and guided me to the right one. It was the best purchase I've made to date.

I also bought an Orange Ad200b and 15" cab online, but that was because my guitarist has an endorsement deal with them and I could get a great price. Again though, I researched everything I could about it, what people's opinions were and weighed them against my own needs. No regret there either, it's a fantastic amp. Good luck!

TMacATK · #9 08-20-2010, 02:33 PM

I think you'll find a LOT of folks here at TB that buy gear sight-unseen. Just take a gander at the classifieds and you'll see why that is. That's a bummer that you don't have access to try out a lot of stuff. I typically trust certain brand names, research them as much as I can, and then just go for it. The amp I use I bought from the classifieds, I've been happy with it so far. The cab I have now I got off craigslist, but only demo'd it for 5 minutes or so before buying it. The bass I've used over the past two years I traded another bass for through TB. I've gone out on a limb many times to get gear sight-unseen, and honestly sometimes it doesn't work out, sometimes it does.

**Staccato** · #10 08-20-2010, 02:36 PM

So far, one Tele, and one bass out of a large herd...

There's plenty of very good gear that passes through the TB classifieds. Just be sure to ask any questions pulling at you before pulling the trigger.

mcm · #11 08-20-2010, 02:38 PM

its the only way to really do it anymore cause the stores only carry junk for the most part.

Jimmy Stump · #12 08-20-2010, 02:39 PM

I've bought lots of stuff without seeing it or hearing it. Most recent is a Bergantino AE210 cabinet from Club Bass in Toronto. I did a lot of research here and other places first, and ultimately just decided to take the plunge.

Tropic · #13 08-20-2010, 02:40 PM

+1 for what everyone else said. A lot of members here do it. There's also a certain amount of luck that comes with buying gear without trying it. I bought my Schecter without trying it (played a couple different models similar but not the one I have) and I got my amp (christmas gift) without trying it but that was because I tried the b100 and liked it. So like everyone said just do research and you'll be halfway there. I think the other 50% is luck.

tdub0199 · #14 08-20-2010, 02:42 PM

i buy online all the time, never had a problem that couldn't be worked out....

JMac4strngr · #15 08-20-2010, 02:47 PM

When buying sight unseen, either buy used so you dont take a hit when you sell it or buy from an online source that has a good return policy so you can send it back if it sucks.

daflores · #16 08-20-2010, 02:49 PM

Almost always. I always research it to death though. I live in a city where there is just no way to try out the stuff that I want.

slick_tu · #17 08-20-2010, 02:57 PM

I've bought quite a bit based on word-of-mouth. My Bergantino NV610 is a great cab. No one close to me sells it, but I read so many raves here on TB I figured I couldn't go wrong. It's even better than I expected. I bought a Fender AV '62 P Bass and a Fender CS NOS '64 Jazz Bass from Musician's Friend because I know Fender is good stuff; I wasn't disapointed. Granted, I don't have the no-return issue that you have, but if it's a name brand with a lot of good reviews, I think you would be pretty safe. I did plenty of research such as the reviews at Harmony Central and threads here at TB. Sometimes you just have to take a chance. I bought a Fender AV '62 Jazz Bass on eBay. I had no other choice because I wanted Lake Placid Blue which has been discontinued in that model. I REALLY lucked out and got a pristine one. The TB classifieds are a great place. I found an '09 Fender MIA P Bass in black and maple for a great price and the bass is like new.

Good luck with your shopping.

Bting · #18 08-20-2010, 03:00 PM

Same situation as you.
Yes I have bought sight unseen/unheard.

Most everything posted above, I follwo to an extent
My purchase process from "I'd like to get a..." is

1) decide what i want to accomplish
2) i.d. what products supposedly meet #1
3) set a too high price, and then filter my list
4) research the crap out of the survivors. Read some High reveiws, read some low, try to read between the lines
5)find a source I can trust
6) grab credit card
7) refresh the shipper web tracking site every hour

Number 1 is the most important step. Know what you want it to do, and as importantly what you dont want it to do.

57pbass · #19 08-20-2010, 03:03 PM

I have purchased several items sight unseen. Whenever I look for gear I look here first for the "skinny". I always get great information off the board ...

I have purchased sight unseen:
Mesa M9
Lakland USA Glaub and Osborn
Eden WT550
Mesa M Pulse 600
Acme B2 cabs

VinceS · #20 08-20-2010, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Livewire

First do your research and read a ton of reviews on items you are interested in. Try to find clips of the equipment on youtube with a similair set up, you might get lucky and find someone that has the same bass and amp as you. You can always ask people on talkbass what their opinion is of the product too. I bought a avatar 210 cabinet and a gallien krueger 700rbII without trying them. With the avatar I had no choice because they only have them online, and with the 700rbII, I was just lazy so I just checked the internet and videos, I decided to take the plunge (I know, stupid but hey it worked for me). I've tried other gallien kruger amps before at studios and dug the tone. I love both the head and cab till this day.

Interesting, the only gear that I've bought site-unseen is also an Avatar 210 and a GK 700RB-II. I still have and use the Avatar today, but the GK didn't do it for me; however, I was able to sell it locally and actually made a small profit.