Would you Buy a Used Bass From Guitar Center?

[mpdd]

gc - 83 l2k, sounds great, some dings, volume knob turns too far, tuners may be wearing out

what kind of condition do you expect a 30 year old mia bass to be in for 675 dollars, the only problem was the neck was super sticky until i polished it

[milDoo]

I would again. My current bass is a Guitar Center used buy. I love it. And they shipped it plenty safe(proper padding and such). So yes, I would.

[BassNGuns]

I would.
I hear that's how GC makes most of their money is through used gear.
So I would think they need to keep a good reputation.

[kai_ski]

However however however, never sell to guitar center.

[groovaholic]

Not sure if this was totally obvious, but another benefit if you're ordering from a non-local Guitar Center and need to return the item (for whatever reason) you can return it at a LOCAL Guitar Center, not pay return shipping, and get your refund immediately.

Measured against the cost + hassle of trying to flip it yourself, for used gear, I think Guitar Center is the next best thing to buying locally.

IMHO, the used gear at Guitar Center is their only interesting gear -- the new stuff is too homogenous; it just lacks character to me.

[cfsporn]

Originally Posted by kai_ski

However however however, never sell to guitar center.

I had to learn that the hard way...

[Psychbunny]

I am one of the happy GC used buyers. In store Am. Special Jazz, no scratches $520.00 after $80 trade for a dean edge that I paid $60.00 for and I kept the hard shell case. I have not purchased used on the web but as others have said you can always return it to the bricks and mortar store if not satisfied.

[etechstan]

I wouldn't buy a new bass from GC, or anywhere else. The moment you leave the store, its a used bass. I have no issue buying used from GC. Got a MIK Peavey Fury V at GC in Boardman Oh. for $50 because the electronics were bad. Put a new battery in it and it worked great.

[Bredian]

Yea, there are opportunities in their used stuff. Occasionally they mis price.

New - I would consider anything on the rack "demo" and to be priced accordingly.

[NicJimBass]

Originally Posted by smcd

Would I buy from GC online? All day, every day.

This X infinity. I've bought so many basses from there I've lost count. Like others have said, 30 day return policy, so at the most you might be out the cost of shipping. There are some major deals to be had if you know what to look for, you look often, and are patient.

[4001]

I would if I liked it. It couldn't be much worse than some of the neglected new instruments that hang there without any setup at all.

[Flyingfrets]

Without the chance to try it in person, no way. So GC online is out of the question (though I have bought used gear online from other retailers & private individuals).

Here's why...over the past 3 months I've tried used gear in our local store, and every single item had pretty serious issues. Nice used Ovation Adamas played as sweetly as I'd always imagined. Beautiful balanced acoustic and amplified tone. Was in line waiting to check out when I noticed a hairline crack in the heel which opened further with a small amount of pressure applied. J*rk*ff at the register says, "Well, it is used. You want it or not?"

Used Ibanez SR370 "fretted fretless." Dead pickup & the active cicuitry made a lot of noise. Similar issue with an Orange amp - one channel completely dead, the other zapped the $h!t outta me & otherwise just made this un-Godly, earsplitting white noise shreik. Both occassions, the salesdroog claimed they had no knowlege of the problems. I asked if they checked gear when they take it in on trade. "Of corse we do. And it was worrking fine yesterday." No offer to repair it and wouldn't budge on price. Needless to say, no sale.

Given the attitude they copped on each & every occassion, I can only imagine how I'd be treated with an online purchase that went to $h!t. Warranty or no, I don't need that kind of aggrivation...especially when there are enough online retailers that are happy to take my money AND deliver what I paid for.

[tomsthumb]

are there other kinds of basses at Guitar Center?

[4001]

Originally Posted by tomsthumb

are there other kinds of basses at Guitar Center?

[Edward G.]

I would PREFER to buy a used bass instead a new one from GC. They make money almost regardless of what they sell it for, because of how brutally they buy. Add the fact that they definitely want it OUT of there; quick-turn high-profit items are like gold to GC, unlike most of the brand-new stuff. Those are good circumstances for a nice price.

[creis2]

I prefer to buy from GC as opposed to eBay or similar site.

I've bought a bunch of amps and basses from their used site over the years. I've got some really good deals.

When you order, make sure you look it over. If you find any problem, call them and make them pick it up from you. I've gotten stuff with blown speakers or a twisted neck, they have UPS pick it up from me the next day.

You also have 30 days to play it, if you don't like it, you can return it to your local GC. You only eat the shipping (which is cheap, I ordered an Ampeg 810 once and it was only $40 bucks to ship).

I don't work for guitar center or anything, I think they are the worst in a lot of way, but I often scout their used site and find good deals.

[P. Aaron]

Guitar Center doesn't have the time nor the resources to hire Gremlins to infect and defile the used gear. Besides, Gremlins wreak havoc all over & would not know used from new. So, I guess you could call GC 'cheap' for not taking the time to screw up their inventories.

I did get a used Squier Indo-Jazz from GC. It's an ok player but as soulless & generic as a Squier of that type can be.

I'm still thinking about stripping it &. Doing a rattle-can finish.

[ironfistx]

Guitar Center's used gear ratings confuse me. For the same model, I'll see some that are 5 stars that are lower priced than others that are 3 stars.

[creis2]

Originally Posted by ironfistx

Guitar Center's used gear ratings confuse me. For the same model, I'll see some that are 5 stars that are lower priced than others that are 3 stars.

I bough an American P Bass off their used website for $560. It has one star, and I was looking for a good backup bass. I got a near mint Sunburst American P with not one blemish, nice case and all of the case candy that comes with it. This could have been sold as a new bass.

I don't know what's going on there.

[carlis]

why NOT?