Anyone bought without playing and been surprised?

tubaman2 · #1 03-01-2011, 12:06 AM

So, as soon as I get the money, I'm gonna pull the trigger on ordering the TC Electronic BH500. I haven't played it yet. I pretty much can't play anything to try out. (There are NO good music shops anywhere close to where I live. I also don't like anything at Guitar Center that's in my price range.) All I have is videos and opinions from the internet, and it seemed like a good fit for a good price with good features.

So, has anyone taken the risk of ordering something they hadn't played yet? If so, how did the experience turn out?

GrowlerBox · #2 03-01-2011, 12:12 AM

Happens with everything I buy. So far, so good ...

ErnieD · #3 03-01-2011, 01:03 AM

If you don't like what the local shops carry, consider your local Craigslist? Sure won't be new but you'll get to hear what you might buy first and there are usually some good deals out there.

ALSO, if your gonna buy without try, the AMPS classifieds here on TB have a huge variety of gear. Again, may not be brand new but alota folks move out amps after a few months or so and they offer them at very good prices.

Don't be afraid to buy used gear, just check it out as much as possible. I've got 3 used amps I bought here a few years ago and still use em, bought about 3-4 cabs here, a couple basses. All were untried but I got to see pics, asked about history of the gear, did searches on some of that gear here and even talked to some TBers on phone before the transactions. So I felt pretty confident I was getting what I expected.

And I've sold amps/basses/cabs here as well. You could even sell your gear here too if you decide you don't care for it after awhile. Just saying, some cool gear around here from some cool cats, give em a chance if you care to. Some of the best money I've spent on gear; happened here.

spaz21387 · #4 03-01-2011, 01:08 AM

I saw one one the portland craigslist about a week ago i consitered checking it out but my tax return hasnt came in yet. I still would like to demo that amp so if its still around ill probably go check it out. I have ordered stuff with out playing it and had good luck so far... i got a squier vm p bass and got lucky no problems just needed a set up... then there was the sx j bass which was nice but if i would have played it i would have known it wasnt for me the neck is too thick.

vin*tone · #5 03-01-2011, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErnieD

If you don't like what the local shops carry, consider your local Craigslist? Sure won't be new but you'll get to hear what you might buy first and there are usually some good deals out there.

ALSO, if your gonna buy without try, the AMPS classifieds here on TB have a huge variety of gear. Again, may not be brand new but alota folks move out amps after a few months or so and they offer them at very good prices.

Don't be afraid to buy used gear, just check it out as much as possible. I've got 3 used amps I bought here a few years ago and still use em, bought about 3-4 cabs here, a couple basses. All were untried but I got to see pics, asked about history of the gear, did searches on some of that gear here and even talked to some TBers on phone before the transactions. So I felt pretty confident I was getting what I expected.

And I've sold amps/basses/cabs here as well. You could even sell your gear here too if you decide you don't care for it after awhile. Just saying, some cool gear around here from some cool cats, give em a chance if you care to. Some of the best money I've spent on gear; happened here.

And the real benefit of this is that if you don't like it, and you take good care of it you should be able to flip it without losing much $.

I've bought nearly everything I own online without trying.

Growly Lytes · #6 03-01-2011, 01:30 AM

Yep recently.I got a class D poweramp.
People say some amps change your sound well this amp gives out crystal clear highs mids & bottom end like thunder.

JimmyM · #7 03-01-2011, 01:40 AM

i've bought quite a few basses i never played before, but i've only bought one amp without playing it...the swr sm-500. played an swr sm-900 and thought the 500 would be more of the same with less wattage. not quite. it's was good, but i never quite embraced it.

ErnieD · #8 03-01-2011, 01:41 AM

vin*tone, I just sold a 410XLT for 40 bucks more n I paid for it and it was already about 5-6 yrs old when I bought it. I put a couple years on it, kept it in very good condition and just sold it a couple months ago. Good gear like that that's taken care of can bring you back what you paid or better.

Then again for OP, I bought 3 Lakland Skyline basses untried. One brand new 55-01 from BassCetral and two, used from TBers. Just bought a couple TC-E RS210, demo cabs from two different Ebay stores that came to me like new.

Also, bought many things from MF, Mu123, AMS, SMD, Sweetwater, RMC Audio, etc. Buying gear online and here on TB is how I pretty much shop for bass gear and accessories now.

MuzikMan · #9 03-01-2011, 05:34 AM

I've bought plenty of electronics and speakers without trying and I always got what I expected. That is only possible after much research on places like TB. I am amazed at how accurate the consensus can be! You just have to know how to filter out the BS.

Bassdirty · #10 03-01-2011, 05:45 AM

I bought an Ibanez ATK305 (during the blowout frenzy before thanksgiving)..I heard alot bout them..(good things)..but was still pleasantly surprised.

Thanks to return policies, I wouldn't be too concerned with buying "sight unseen" these days.

jnewmark · #11 03-01-2011, 05:50 AM

I'd say 50-50 , in my case. Most of the new or used micro heads I've bought in the last 5 years, that I could'nt demo first, I have been disappointed in , with the exception of the MB F1 and the GK MB200. Basses, otoh, I've had great luck, mainly because I've played Fender Jazz basses for 40 years, so I know what I'm getting. As far as trying out new stuff locally, I usually avoid GC, for the obvious reasons ( no privacy whatsoever ), and the local mom and pop variety just does'nt carry a wide selection. I do like buying used here on TB, because I feel I can trust the descriptions to be accurate and honest. I guess in my case, I was just plain underwhelmed when I got the latest and greatest bass head, for the most part.

GBassNorth · #12 03-01-2011, 05:55 AM

Mixed results here - bought a new Fender American Deluxe Jazz bass 5 swampash back in 2005 and was less than impressed with how it sounded when I got it. Upgraded it and it's fine now. Also bought a new G&L 2500 Tribute mail order back in 2008 and didn't care for the brightness and overly hot pickups, sold it and got a used Stingray 5.
On a positive note, bought a Musicman SUB5 and SVT-VR and Thunderfunk 420 and Bergantino HT322 and Bergantino NV610 and Warwick Thumb BO5 and LOVE them all.
Lessons learned - Fender did not have the level of quality control to ensure relative consistancy from bass to bass back in 2005 (that may have changed since). On the G&L the quality was great and it did play like all the others I tried but I should have stuck to my norm which is a rosewood fb vs the maple one I got. I attribute all the good experiences noted above to purchasing high end high quality gear.
YMMV

**xed** · #13 03-01-2011, 05:59 AM

My latest bass purchase was not packed the way it should have been (bass in gig bag and put in a cardboard box with only 2 pieces of foam beside the neck, no protection other than that, bass had about 3-4 inches of play to each side of the body in the box so it was free to bump around all over the place) ...

*ding* crushed (not cracked "crushed") poly finish on the side so I took it straight to the luthier $$$ (this could have easily been avoided with $5 worth of bubble wrap)

no issues mentioned about damage to headstock...
*ding* top of headstock is scuffed badly, I think I can just sand it smooth and then add tung oil and it'll be ok. We'll see.

no issues were mentioned about any abnormal fret wear...

*ding* first 3 frets are worn enough that they need to be replaced (hell, fret #1 is f'ing grooved on the E and A) and then a leveling to get all frets down to the wear level of #5. Bass is still at the luthier $$$

I take a lot of care to be accurate when I put something up for sale and I go out of my way to make sure it is packed correct. Very upsetting when others don't do the same.

treekiller · #14 03-01-2011, 06:02 AM

I bought both of my P Basses without ever having played them. I bought my MIM off the 'bay and it turned out to be a very good bass. I had my local dealer order my MIA P new last year and it is the best playing bass I own. Whether that is attributable to luck or what, I dunno. If you are buying from a reputable dealer, you shouldn't have any problems anyway.

KsPiNeSh · #15 03-01-2011, 06:52 AM

I buy essentially everything without physically trying it first... one of the reasons buying used is so advantageous, as you don't really lose any money when you flip something that you bought used

Definitely do your research (it sounds like you have) and find soundclips, reviews, etc. - every litle bit of information helps.

jgroh · #16 03-01-2011, 07:05 AM

Most of the stuff I have bought in the last few years I got before trying it out first. That includes a Geddy Jazz, 2 Ric's, 2 G&L's, Ampeg SVT-II, Line 6 M9, and a bunch of pedals. I do as much research as I can ahead of time, but there are pretty much only mom and pop music stores around me, and the Guitard Centers are over an hour drive away (and they only have so much bass stuff anyway) So far I have really like all of the things I have bought without trying them out first.

C.Linton · #17 03-01-2011, 07:33 AM

All my current gear (4 basses -, Fender MIA Jazz, 2 Squiers,VM J+P, SX Ursa 1, 1 guitar - MIM Strat, 3 amps- Ampeg BA 115, Fender Rumble 15, Fender SCXD) was all bought online new and untried, and I haven't been disapppointed in any of them. All a very pleasant surprise every time I opened their respective boxes. Lucky? I don't know. I did a lot of research and like to think I made an informed choice that gave me a more than decent chance I was making a good choice. So far, I've been right.

Winemule · #18 03-01-2011, 07:48 AM

How's this: I tried a Shuttle 6.0 at a store about a year ago, and didn't like it at all. Recently, I was encouraged to buy one anyway and spend some time with it to see what kind of sounds were possible out of it. I did, and I now I love the little guy.

electracoyote · #19 03-01-2011, 07:52 AM

Every time.

Johnius · #20 03-01-2011, 07:52 AM

I bought an MTD Kingston bass off Amazon during a recent blow-out sale and I couldn't be more pleased. The craftsmanship is on par with any mid-range American made bass and it sounds great. Lemons and/or dislikes do happen, but I think you chances of success are much better than 50/50.