It must be nice to find all of the basses that you’re interested in locally. Or, do you just settle for whatever you find locally? Not being snarky. It’s a sincere question….
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Anyone Stop Buying Basses Sight Unseen?
- Thread starter overit
- Start date
It must be nice to find all of the basses that you’re interested in locally. Or, do you just settle for whatever you find locally? Not being snarky. It’s a sincere question….
Yes. If I had had to rely on the local stores and local used market, I wouldn't have any of the basses I currently own.
“Settle” is an interesting word here. The presumption being that whatever might be local to me might not be top notch. The sentence also presumes that I’ve only ever bought an instrument in the vicinity of where I live.
I own a number of instruments (not just basses) but not all of them were purchased in the city in which I live. But each and every one was tried before it was bought, to ensure that it met the standard that I expect and need from the gear that I use to pay my bills.
I’ve bought many sight unseen , both retailers and private sales. I have twenty something basses. I’ve also come to accept that if something initially feels a bit off , that will change if I put in some time playing it. I seem to get used to just about anything.
Sometimes I simply had no choice , the bass I wanted was simply not available locally , and in some cases no longer in production.
Edit … no regrets. If I found something that intrigued me I’d have no reservations about buying something sight unseen. But importing from the US does get expensive after the exchange , shipping and duties. What first seems like a great deal can become quite expensive…
Sometimes I simply had no choice , the bass I wanted was simply not available locally , and in some cases no longer in production.
Edit … no regrets. If I found something that intrigued me I’d have no reservations about buying something sight unseen. But importing from the US does get expensive after the exchange , shipping and duties. What first seems like a great deal can become quite expensive…
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In my city local stores have tons of choice. That is, as long as you want a Fender, Squier, or Ibanez. 
These days I am hesitant to buy sight unseen. When I have, I’ve been both disappointed and pleasantly surprised, in about equal measure. The last instrument I bought from the TB classifieds was not necessarily misrepresented by the seller, but certain things were problematic with it, mostly due to lack of proper maintenance. I was able to correct most everything, but it reminded me that some people don’t keep their instruments in good shape.
I’d say in the last 15 years or so I’ve almost entirely bought gear locally. Fortunately in So Cal that’s feasible - I know in other areas you really have no choice but to have things shipped to you.
I’d say in the last 15 years or so I’ve almost entirely bought gear locally. Fortunately in So Cal that’s feasible - I know in other areas you really have no choice but to have things shipped to you.
No, but I'd add that I ONLY buy from real businesses and never from friends, as it's a great way to lose that friend when money changes hands. I want no part of some guy with a stack of basses in his mom's spare bedroom with a Reverb or EBay store, or an idividual.
Real businesses have real Return Policies, usually pretty dependable grades on used gear (though not always . . . ), warranties on new gear that apply nationwide, rational shipping rates, etc., which is how I prefer to spend money. I'm through ever rolling the dice with some guy in Des Moines on EBay and the like, NEVER again.
Real businesses have real Return Policies, usually pretty dependable grades on used gear (though not always . . . ), warranties on new gear that apply nationwide, rational shipping rates, etc., which is how I prefer to spend money. I'm through ever rolling the dice with some guy in Des Moines on EBay and the like, NEVER again.
I won’t buy a bass without actually seeing pictures of it, no stock photos!
Also, I’m absolutely done with GC used online, I bought 2 basses over the last several months and they were both messed up. Each case those basses were listed as great condition with pictures that hid all the physical defects, so that’s a tricky thing in itself, even when provided pictures they don’t always tell the full story.
They were fine with giving me a refund, but it’s just not worth the hassle. They also took the basses back and immediately listed them again for the same price with no mention of what I relayed to them, so that’s lame as hell on their part and I want nothing to do with that.
Also, I’m absolutely done with GC used online, I bought 2 basses over the last several months and they were both messed up. Each case those basses were listed as great condition with pictures that hid all the physical defects, so that’s a tricky thing in itself, even when provided pictures they don’t always tell the full story.
They were fine with giving me a refund, but it’s just not worth the hassle. They also took the basses back and immediately listed them again for the same price with no mention of what I relayed to them, so that’s lame as hell on their part and I want nothing to do with that.
I did ask/say it must be nice to have ALL of the basses that you’re interested in locally, didn’t I? And, I simply asked if you settled! Why so defensive? I don’t know but your interpretation is flawed.
If you can find what you need in your local area, that’s great but others may not have the same options. It’s most certainly possible to have success finding instruments that you aren’t able to try in advance. The overwhelming majority of gear that I have an interest in is unlikely to be found local to me.
Unfortunately, that’s the reality for many! I must say that I never just buy without doing quite a bit of research. Sometimes it leads to a purchase and quite often it doesn’t.
What do you mean"sight unseen?
Buy online with not even a static picture?
Totally blind?
Or do you mean not that you haven't played it first?
There is a difference.
I've bought many basses that I saw online.Did I play them first?
No.
Not every bass is available to play locally.
Did I have to return one or two because I couldn't cope with an issue?
No.
Buy online with not even a static picture?
Totally blind?
Or do you mean not that you haven't played it first?
There is a difference.
I've bought many basses that I saw online.Did I play them first?
No.
Not every bass is available to play locally.
Did I have to return one or two because I couldn't cope with an issue?
No.
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I just orded a yamaha trbx 505 it was impossible to try it first nobody has one even remotely close to me but doing my research that checks all my boxes
Yeah, most of my basses and some of my guitars were bought online, not locally. I’m currently waiting on a bass to be delivered hopefully today!
The day I stop buying sight unseen will be the day I stop buying gear.
In my city local stores have tons of choice. That is, as long as you want a Fender, Squier, or Ibanez.
… exactly why I’ve bought so many sight unseen. Or there’s been online deals the local retailers simply would not match , even if they had the item in stock. Most of my tastes seem to run beyond what most retailers would stock.
Providing clarity to an asked and answered question is not the same as being defensive. I believe that it is your interpretation that is flawed in this case.
Local simply means “nearby.” That doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with my mailing address. If I’m in Japan, as I was recently, anything I buy at Ikebe Gakki is local to me at that moment, and I certainly will have played it before forking over my hard-earned cash.
If you wanna buy things sight unseen, go right ahead. It doesn’t matter to me what you do with your money. I only said that I wouldn’t do that myself for any reason and then explained why, when prompted to, by you.
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JazznFunk
Supporting Member
Pretty much all of the basses I own I bought sight-unseen, from reputable online dealers (Musicians Friend or Sweetwater). Never an issue. I did buy sight unseen from private sellers a few times in the past 25 years and most of the time it went okay, but there always seemed to be some small detail that wasn't clearly communicated. None were deal breakers. I also took a chance recently on a Reverb purchase that turned out to be a potential nightmare, but I had the means and wherewithal (and skills) to remedy it perfectly. I didn't anticipate a project, but it turned into one, and the seller was great to work with. Most local music shops have nothing that interests me, so online is still my go-to option, provided I have ways to remedy a situation if one arises.
The major exception to ALL of the above is my double bass. I went to the shop in Greensboro (Bass Violin Shop), tried a bunch, and walked out with the best one I could afford at the time (2004). I would never even consider buying a double bass or truly acoustic instrument sight-unseen. There are way too many variables at play versus solidbody instruments.
The major exception to ALL of the above is my double bass. I went to the shop in Greensboro (Bass Violin Shop), tried a bunch, and walked out with the best one I could afford at the time (2004). I would never even consider buying a double bass or truly acoustic instrument sight-unseen. There are way too many variables at play versus solidbody instruments.
