Advice - keep or return?

[TheDave23]

Hello! Long time guitarist that recently took up bass. I just picked up a 90's G&L LB-100. It jumped off the wall at me at my local guitar center, absolutely love the color and the feel but after a visit to my tech for a setup I got the sad news that the neck has a "hump and a dip" truss rod is maxed and he couldn't straighten it out even with a 2mm spacer.

I can still return it to GC or I was considering sending it off to warpedneck.com to see if it could be saved.

What would you do?

Picture for fun

Thanks,
Dave

 

[Ggaa]

Return, and keep on shopping....

 

[DWBass]

Return it.

 

[BGroovy]

Return. A lot of those early G&Ls have neck issues. I've had 2 that became unplayable and it's expensive to have the neck re-planed (only real fix).

 

[Sharko]

Return. If you're new to bass you want an instrument you can pick up and play, not a fixer-upper money pit.

 

[FunkHead]

"hump and a dip"

TMI

 

[higain617]

Return it. GC's techs have no ability to evaluate anything they bring in.

 

[dune]

I wouldn't even think about keeping that if the neck is bad.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

return

 

[kcducttaper]

If it was an online sale and wasn't mentioned in the listing, I'd send it back for sure. Used gear has the expectation that it may need some tuning up, but should also be in reasonable condition unless stated otherwise.

However, if it "jumped off the wall at you at your local GC" - meaning you personally played it and had the chance to inspect it yourself before you bought it, I would say GC didn't do anything wrong and you should have caught it before agreeing to purchase the instrument in the condition it was in. I dislike GC as much as everyone else on here, but I don't think they should be on the hook if a buyer doesn't inspect a used instrument in "as-is" condition sufficiently before purchase.

 

[GBBSbassist]

I'd return it in a heartbeat in that situation.

 

[Gervais Cote]

Return without hesitation.

Nowadays, the market is flooded by guitars and basses, you'll find another one quickly.

Back orders created by the pandemic is a thing of the past.

 

[tekhna]

If there was any reliable aftermarket source of G&L necks, I'd keep it. But there isn't.

 

[Spectre Gunner]

Return it before it's too late. There are literally thousands of used basses on the market at any one time so why get attached to one that's defective? This is your opportunity to find something else just as nice that actually works.

 

[Ender_rpm]

I mean, I get all the "return" comments, but G&L often run specials on B stock necks on their website. I'd keep it and just get a new neck. Bass of Theseus as it were.

 

[Mark Karwan]

Dang, that's a looker. Unfortunately, unless they gave it to you for free, or you have the extra dough to attempt a total 'crap shoot' repair, it's in your best interest to return it.

 

[J Wilson]

I'd not buy a problem child PLUS spend even more money to fix a brand new or new to me bass.

Return it. You can always find another one in proper shape. Let GC spend the money to make it right, or sadly foist it off on someone who doesn't realize what they're buying.

 

[Swerve]

However, if it "jumped off the wall at you at your local GC" - meaning you personally played it and had the chance to inspect it yourself before you bought it, I would say GC didn't do anything wrong and you should have caught it before agreeing to purchase the instrument in the condition it was in. I dislike GC as much as everyone else on here, but I don't think they should be on the hook if a buyer doesn't inspect a used instrument in "as-is" condition sufficiently before purchase.

Sorry but this is hilariously dumb. Was OP supposed to bring a truss rod tool and try to turn it themselves? Would GC even allow that? It can be difficult, especially for a new player, to spot deep seated issues like this on the fly. There are also some issues that can reveal themselves over time.

GC has a generous 45 day return policy and they have told me flat out it can be for any reason, or no reason at all, so long as the condition is the same.

 

[lermgalieu]

If it was an online sale and wasn't mentioned in the listing, I'd send it back for sure. Used gear has the expectation that it may need some tuning up, but should also be in reasonable condition unless stated otherwise.

However, if it "jumped off the wall at you at your local GC" - meaning you personally played it and had the chance to inspect it yourself before you bought it, I would say GC didn't do anything wrong and you should have caught it before agreeing to purchase the instrument in the condition it was in. I dislike GC as much as everyone else on here, but I don't think they should be on the hook if a buyer doesn't inspect a used instrument in "as-is" condition sufficiently before purchase.

Respectfully, I don't think that's the point. As I read it, OP is still within the return window and can return it for any or no reason. I also think that it should not be on the buyer to discover hidden defects on purchase. Do you try to adjust the truss rod at the store before you buy something??

 

[beaglesandbass]

Return, it would have to be my dream bass for me to take something I just paid for and then pay to repair it. There are thousands of basses out there.