Basses for sale repeatedly here: Duds?

[deepestend]

Yeah, usually it's me and not the instrument. I've bought the Source Audio Spectrum three times. I think it's clear that the problem was me.

 

[DWA2469]

Really? I've never really kept track, and perhaps you have, so you may have a much better handle on it than I do, but I do look at the classifieds all the time. It may also be that since I have no interest in them, I don't pay attention to entry level basses, but it has always seemed to me like at least 50% of the listings in the TB classifieds are high-end, high-priced, and/or boutique basses like Custom Shop, NYC Sadowsky's, Fodera's and lately it seems a lot of Spector's. When I joined in 2019 after 20 years mostly out of the scene, I couldn't believe how many $5000-ish basses I was seeing in the classifieds here and had NO idea that anyone's business model was copying Jazz basses and selling them for those kinds of prices. I knew of Sadowsky's when I was still gigging, but I don't think they were going for that kind of money back then.

I think the OP said Facebook?

 

[ZuluFoxtrot]

I think the OP said Facebook?

I didn't mention anywhere specifically really.

Thinking about this a bit more, there are a few basses I wish I had kept and made some string changes on too and maybe even tweaking setups a bit more.

My current favorite bass is an F Bass AC5 (avatar pic) and recently did the annual 0000 Steel Wool and Tung Oil treatment of the Ebony board, and I changed strings to the La Bella Super Polished and hated it even after going through the simple setup with a fixed bridge by changing the ebony insert that I made to use standard non-tapered strings I just didn't like it at all....then changed them "back" to a new set of my favorite strings and the bass just came alive again.

Possibly it's our ears and the sound we hear in our head when we strike a note that makes it a "dud" to us, and a keeper for others?

I must say, I recently bought a bass that I probably didn't need and it shot right up to my #1 fretted instrument. This morning I swapped strings, dialed in the setup to be exactly like it was when delivered new, and same thing, it just didn't seem the same, so back to the strings that were on there even though they are 3 months old and I was still having to cut the treble and the bass sounded perfect again to me.

I really enjoy this chat and thanks to all who are participating, it's good bass bench chatting, thank you

 

[FretRiff]

I don’t think you should assume that buyers in any music classifieds are necessarily looking for ‘keeper’ basses. When one can easily resell a bass for close to what was paid for it a lot more people are willing to try out instruments at relatively low cost to at the very least gain experience with a brand or a model.

Similarly, I know lots of synthesists and guitarists who regularly buy, try and flip pedals — often re-buying or re-rebuying a pedal based on how they are thinking about getting a sound/scape.

 

[moon-bass]

I wouldn't read too much into it. I have a habit of buying a few basses to try (same with pedals and amps) and then selling the ones that I don't like pretty quickly. I rarely let a bass "grow" on me - I'll know within the first few days if it's for me or not, and a lot of times that results in a quick turn around.

Also, impusle buys and all that jazz ...

 

[dune]

I think the OP said Facebook?

Yes, you're right, thanks for pointing that out. My mistake for sure. I now see that it's an "F" and not a "T". Duh.

 

[micguy]

I was single for about a decade, and I went on blind dates (internet dating) during that time. I didn't marry all of those women (actually I didn't marry any of them). That doesn't make them "duds" - they just weren't the right person for me (I did find her, but though other means).

Buying used basses is literally a blind musical date. You should expect that most of them won't be...your bass. If you go into a music store that has 100 basses on the wall, how many do you take home on average?

 

[ZuluFoxtrot]

I was single for about a decade, and I went on blind dates (internet dating) during that time. I didn't marry all of those women (actually I didn't marry any of them). That doesn't make them "duds" - they just weren't the right person for me (I did find her, but though other means).

Buying used basses is literally a blind musical date. You should expect that most of them won't be...your bass. If you go into a music store that has 100 basses on the wall, how many do you take home on average?

That's a great and funny perspective!

 

[PhinDog]

Yeah, usually it's me and not the instrument. I've bought the Source Audio Spectrum three times. I think it's clear that the problem was me.

That's funny, the SA Aftershock is my habitual culprit. It's going to fix everything, but hasn't the past 3 times I've owned it.

 

[micguy]

That's funny, the SA Aftershock is my habitual culprit. It's going to fix everything, but hasn't the past 3 times I've owned it.

I must be more advanced. It only took me 2 times to really decide the Aftershock was not for me. ;-)

 

[PhinDog]

I must be more advanced. It only took me 2 times to really decide the Aftershock was not for me. ;-)

They are hard to pass up when they come through for $99.

 

[ZuluFoxtrot]

Yeah, usually it's me and not the instrument. I've bought the Source Audio Spectrum three times. I think it's clear that the problem was me.

My repeated pedal purchase is some type of super-pedal. Origin Effects Bassrig I've bought and sold 2x. Micro POG at least 2x.

 

[micguy]

They are hard to pass up when they come through for $99.

So....cheap frustration (a hundred different sounds, and it takes you a long time to realize that none of them really work for you, even after excessive tweaking). Not a good buy for me at any price. I'm sure for some folks, they're the bee's knees.

Why are bee's knees good, anyway?

 

[DuluthDank]

In my experience the place with the highest percentage of duds by far is Guitar Center used. That's where people often go to cut their losses on poorly maintained gear, assuming the employee won't notice or care.

 

[salmon256]

Only a couple of basses I seen that.

The Squier Paranormal Rascal and some ESP models.

And everyone shared similiar why, awesome bass, wanted to give it a try, wasn't for them want to sell it someone here for a deal.
That's where I mostly seen "duds" but they aren't... also some older basses that seem awesome like from Yamaha, ESP, etc., they are old for a reason they are aged a bit.

I think everyone is just giving it a try and they decide it isn't for them. Nothing wrong with that and I agree I rather someone who is going to play it get their hands on it then me letting it dust up.

 

[FretRiff]

Only a couple of basses I seen that. The Squier Paranormal Rascal and some ESP models. And everyone shared similiar why, awesome bass, wanted to give it a try, wasn't for them want to sell it someone here for a deal.

Some people love the Rascal (Lobster made three videos featuring it) but while video reviews often briefly mention its size until you put one is your hands you don't fully grasp that it's a short scale bass that's as big or bigger than a normal scale bass and as heavy or heavier too! Many people who choose shortys want a smaller size and lighter weight, not just the scale, and they buy the Rascal then decide... nope.

But I've seen all sorts of models regularly flipped....

 

[salmon256]

Many people who choose shortys want a smaller size and lighter weight, not just the scale, and they buy the Rascal then decide... nope.

Hence why I love it. I'm a smaller person so I give the illusion of a big bass... but a nice short scale

 

[Camaro69]

Serial Flipper is an awesome term
I've settled into mostly one a year

It's easy to buy and sell basses to try when you're able to unload them at almost no overall loss, but that makes me the dud not the bass

 

[GretschWretch]

I was single for about a decade, and I went on blind dates (internet dating) during that time. I didn't marry all of those women (actually I didn't marry any of them). That doesn't make them "duds" - they just weren't the right person for me (I did find her, but though other means).

Buying used basses is literally a blind musical date. You should expect that most of them won't be...your bass. If you go into a music store that has 100 basses on the wall, how many do you take home on average?

"Other means," I assume, being the laundromat?

 

[micguy]

"Other means," I assume, being the laundromat?

Introduced to each other by a mutual friend.