Just bought this bass

**iriegnome** · #1 08-07-2007, 01:32 PM

Well, I had been searching for a Modulus Genesis 5 string. For quite a while actually. I found one at Bass NW. All is good. I mulled it around and I finally called and bought it. This was not the first time I bought from them, but I most certainly forgot about my last experience. Anyway-- I bought the bass. I was told, the bass included the hard shell case and would be "expertly" set up prior to shipping. Well, I received my G5 today and excitedly, I pulled it out of the box.
Much to my amazement, the bass is in a hard shell case as described, sort of. It is a cheap crappy Washburn case that does not really even fit the bass. It is dented and the side channels are so bent, they don't match up. Then, I pulled the bass out and tried to play it. The strings are so high off the board, I can fit my finger under the G string. I don't know what kind of set up they usually send out, but this one is aweful. There is so much reliefe in the neck, it is lifting at about the 7th fret and gets bigger as it heads toward the body. I think my 12 year old could set up my bass as good.
Ok~~Fine, It was not my luthier to set it up, but I decided to call about the shi**y case and the equally terrible set up. The person on the phone said nothing. Not even something like I am sorry about the way the bass was not set up to your liking.
BassNW was one of the companies that I would shop on a weekly basis to see the stock and shop. Well, I am sorry, but their lack of any type of service (even just a sympathetic ear) was enough to end any type of future relationship. I just don't like dealing with people who don't care one way or another. Whining, ME, yea a little, but I somehow don't think my experience was unique. If you tell me up front is has a crappy washburn case, than I expect it. If you tell me, it is only getting a tweaking, but it will need to be set up, than I expect it. What happened was nothing of the sort. They were neither up front or completely honest about both of these issues and it is a shame.

Musiclogic · #2 08-07-2007, 01:50 PM

it's called the Guitar Center Mentality.....it has spread to many retailers these days......they don't have luthiers on hand, or even set up people. They just jack up the bridge until it stops buzzing, and call it professionally set up.

This is a good example of why not to buy from retailers, although it's not a choice everyone has the privilage of having.

Small music stores are more likely to cater to the musician rather than to the profit margin. I can empathise with your dillema, and wish you all the best with the finality.

**iriegnome** · #3 08-07-2007, 02:07 PM

It is funny, but I do expect a little catering to. I am a big customer service person. I do customer service as my job, I do customer service when I talk to people about my job, customer service keeps people coming back and happy.
They sure missed the boat with this one. I agree, I have been in a GC once. Never went back.

bburk · #4 08-07-2007, 02:17 PM

I've been in BassNW many times played scores of their instruments. (even bought one or two

). I've never encountered an instrument in the store that I thought had a poor setup.

Perhaps something happened during shipment?

I've never had any serious issues with any of the products I've bought from them, but with all the minor complaints I've voiced, I've found them reasonable helpful. I haven't been to a ton of B&M bass only stores, but I always thought the service there far exceeded any 'general music' store I've ever been to. I've enjoyed chatting up store employees, they let me play any instrument in the place even if it tell them up front that I'm "just looking around".

I don't know, maybe it's just because they know me as a semi-regular customer.

Anyway, bummer that you had a bad experience. Who did you talk to on the phone? Try asking for Chad.

Musiclogic · #5 08-07-2007, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iriegnome

It is funny, but I do expect a little catering to. I am a big customer service person. I do customer service as my job, I do customer service when I talk to people about my job, customer service keeps people coming back and happy.
They sure missed the boat with this one. I agree, I have been in a GC once. Never went back.

Expectations are the way of the wanten anymore.....moving merchandise is the only business model anymore, it's a shame.
I understand your plight, I used to expect CS also, I have no expectations anymore, unless I know the shop.

You would think they would have served you better. Pitiful

**iriegnome** · #6 08-07-2007, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bburk

I've been in BassNW many times played scores of their instruments. (even bought one or two

). I've never encountered an instrument in the store that I thought had a poor setup.

Perhaps something happened during shipment?

I've never had any serious issues with any of the products I've bought from them, but with all the minor complaints I've voiced, I've found them reasonable helpful. I haven't been to a ton of B&M bass only stores, but I always thought the service there far exceeded any 'general music' store I've ever been to. I've enjoyed chatting up store employees, they let me play any instrument in the place even if it tell them up front that I'm "just looking around".

I don't know, maybe it's just because they know me as a semi-regular customer.

Anyway, bummer that you had a bad experience. Who did you talk to on the phone? Try asking for Chad.

I don't know who I spoke with. I shoudl have written it down, but I thought there should be no real problem. I did not want anything more than someone to tell about the bad set up and really bad case. It is too bad.
It makes me appriciate even more business like Schroeder Cabinets and such.

lefty007 · #7 08-07-2007, 03:01 PM

Did you return the bass or did you get to set it up properly yourself?

**iriegnome** · #8 08-08-2007, 07:28 AM

I jsut got it yesterday. I will not be returning it. I have a luthier that will set it up properly and get it intonnated correctly. These basses are pretty difficult to find used, so I am going to hold on to it.

Pilgrim · #9 08-08-2007, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iriegnome

I jsut got it yesterday. I will not be returning it. I have a luthier that will set it up properly and get it intonnated correctly. These basses are pretty difficult to find used, so I am going to hold on to it.

I don't understand WHY you haven't spoken with Bass NW about your disappointment. You're spending a lot of energy complaining about them without giving any indication that you have given them a chance to help. They have a decent reputation, but they can't help you with a problem they don't know about.

It amazes me how many people buy things but never give the vendor a chance to help with with any problems they experience. Before you complain in public OR spend money with a local luthier, you should have contacted them, explained your concerns in a firm but businesslike manner, and given them the chance to correct the problems. Doing otherwise is unfair to them and to you.

Matthew Bryson · #10 08-08-2007, 10:20 AM

My experiences with BassNW have been like bburks - good. To truly get the experience of what these guys are all about, you need to come in to the shop. My visits are few and far between enough that nobody there would know me, but I always get friendly service. I don't think they did anything wrong here.

I can admit that I've discussed with them how much I could ask for a bass I was selling on consignment, and it came up that I could ask more if I was selling it with a gig bag or case - if I had any old gig bag or case that I could put it in, I could ask a bit more. The reason is simple. They go by the book. No really, there is some sort of bass blue book or pricing guide and they go by it - I've seen them look up values. They do look at the condition of the bass. They don't worry too much about the case. The book lists a price either with a hard case, with a gig bag, or with none. I'm sure price guides don't get into whether it's a nice case or a crummy one or medium nice - it's a working case or it's not. I tend to agree with that.

I've also asked them if they have a good tech that does set ups, and they really don't. They have a good guy that does all of their brand new basses, but used stuff just sells the way it comes in to the store. They're running a business and a lot of those used basses are in consignment - so they don't get much out of selling them. They really can't afford to pay a tech to set up every used bass that comes in on consignment. Also, because it's BassNW, almost all of their basses have great set ups because they are from experienced players. So set ups really aren't usually much of a problem. Doesn't everybody tweak the set up on their new bass anyway?

So - I'm not surprised that the case was not up to par or that the set up was poor. I'm sorry that you are disappointed in that.

At any point before the purchase, did you ask about the action on the bass, or exactly what type of hard case was included? If you did, and were told by somebody that it was a Modulus case, or it had super low action - then that's not cool, but I've always known BassNW to answer those types of questions quite honestly.

Maybe that's why the guy on the phone wasn't much help. He got a call about a used bass, that arrived in good condition, but the hard case was from the wrong manufacturer and a little wonky and the set up was not to the customers liking. The case does close and latch. The guy on the phone was probably scratching his head, not knowing anything specifically about your bass, but thinking "what’s the problem?"

**iriegnome** · #11 08-08-2007, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

I don't understand WHY you haven't spoken with Bass NW about your disappointment. You're spending a lot of energy complaining about them without giving any indication that you have given them a chance to help. They have a decent reputation, but they can't help you with a problem they don't know about.

It amazes me how many people buy things but never give the vendor a chance to help with with any problems they experience. Before you complain in public OR spend money with a local luthier, you should have contacted them, explained your concerns in a firm but businesslike manner, and given them the chance to correct the problems. Doing otherwise is unfair to them and to you.

I totally disagree with almost your whole entire statement. This whole forum is for this very thing. I voiced, or at least tried to voice, my disapproval with BassNW when I spoke to them after the bass arrived. I got nothing but the shrug off and cold shoulder. Frankly, I don't need the agrivation of attempting a conversation with people who do not care one way or another about 1. my business and 2. my approval of a good sale. After my final conversation with the person on the phone, I thought back to the 2 or 3 other times I delt with them. They suck. I have not once had a positive experience with them and I am done. I gave them a couple of chances, and that is pretty much that. Everyone is welcome to deal with these types of things as they see fit. That is why this is such a great open forum.

**iriegnome** · #12 08-08-2007, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthew Bryson

At any point before the purchase, did you ask about the action on the bass, or exactly what type of hard case was included? If you did, and were told by somebody that it was a Modulus case, or it had super low action - then that's not cool, but I've always known BassNW to answer those types of questions quite honestly.Maybe that's why the guy on the phone wasn't much help. He got a call about a used bass, that arrived in good condition, but the hard case was from the wrong manufacturer and a little wonky and the set up was not to the customers liking. The case does close and latch. The guy on the phone was probably scratching his head, not knowing anything specifically about your bass, but thinking "what’s the problem?"

Actually I did ask about the set up. I was told it would not be sent out unless it was set up. I did not ask particulars, because, yes everyone's idea of a great setup is different. Small adjustements are perfectly acceptable. That is not the case with this one. Am I disappointed, I sure am. I was looking forward to taking it out of the box, heading to practice and giving it a whirl. Turned out, the bass was to hard to play as it was set up. Fortunately, our guitar tech was at practiceand he got it playable for the night, but it will go into the shop to be set up properly. I guess here is my problem- Tell me it is not set up and that it will probably need to be worked on or tell me it is going to be set up and I expect it to be playable. If it is not the Original case say so, no need for much more than a few small conversational words. I guess after so many years of playing, I just expect a higher end bass to come with a factory case. That is my fault I agree. But the case is pretty beat up any way and that was never mentioned.