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Best sites for buying a bass?

#25
I've bought probably more than $50,000 worth of gear online in the past 10 years. Mostly bass and recording related stuff. I think all the online stores pretty much deliver the same stuff. All factory packed stuff from the companies you're buying. I don't think sweetwater gets a different squier to send you than andysmusic. There are differences however. Below is my experience with the placed I've bought from online.

www.ebay.com - definitely the best place for lowest prices, best deals, and used equipment. Ya have to know your stuff though for obvious reasons.

http://www.sweetwater.com/ - same as above.

www.talkbass.com - my fav. by far the friendliest customer service. because a lot of their stock ships from NJ I often get what I order the next day. They ship immediately. They have an easy pay plan and I was able to use it even when my credit wasn't so good. Can split the cost in 3 3 month payments.

www.talkbass.com - zzounds is american musical. online companies often have several names and sites for the same company.

Invalid Link Removed - best deals on new gear because I believe they sell the most. all the other places will price match though. the things I don't like about musicians friend are that they sometimes take days to actually ship what you ordered, and I've more than once recieved items that I know had been returned by others. always takes at the very least 7 days for me to get what I ordered, and customer service has been hit or miss. They've stood on their heads for me when there were problems. They'e also reprimanded me and noted my account for haggling saying they'll never go down on a price for me again. :) That made noooo sense whatsoever to me.

Link Removed - music123 IS musicians friend. I order them ATK basses from music123 after pricematching them and when I got my order confirmation it was from musicians friend. Thought I was going crazy, but checked everything I did when ordering (phone, product numbers... didn't even have the musicians friend website number or website at hand), and definitely put the order in to music 123.

Invalid Link Removed - I will only buy from them if it's an awesome deal, a synth, or computer related stuff. For something that may need tech support they're the best, hands down. They'll spend hours on the phone with you getting stuff running, and they're pretty knowledgable. For anything else I won't go near them, especially bass related stuff. If you call them asking about somthing they will call you trying to be your friend for the rest of your life. Think cable guy. They're real hard to politely get off the phone, they have real persistent sales pitches, and I often felt they were talking down to me like I was a kid and they knew more about something I've been living for 30 years. They didn't and their "friendliness" (sales tactics) has been a big putoff for me.

www.andysmusiconline.com - lesser known place that has a lot of stuff in stock still when everyone else has sold out. Immediate shipping, no problems whatsoever. May start using them more.
 
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#27
DwaynieAD said:
I'm gonna go with Talkbass.com
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+1 (for used gear)

I've never had a bad experience with a T'er that frequents TB (on a regular basis). If it's a new-be (particularly if they aren't a Registered User), progress with the same caution that you would anywhere else (ask for references and validate phone numbers).


For new gear:

Rocket Music
Atlanta bass Gallery
Bass NW
 
#30
superdick2112 said:
Bass Central is a great store, and very nice to deal with.
Co-owned by bass greats Beaver Felton and Dave LaRue, their selection and prices are outstanding. When I ordered my Spector, I ended up speaking & dealing directly with Beaver Felton, who was kind enough to spend time with me recounting some of his experiences. Very Cool...
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+1 to Bass Central
 
#37
I like local websites (craigslist and local shops), because i can try before i buy...

Then come online bass communities such as talkbass :)

And last, eBay and similar...

I don't buy new anymore ;) I may have a bass made for myself in the future, but it will be a friend of mine... so there, i may actually buy a new bass again :)

of course, individual manufacturers' websites are a great place to buy new!
 
#38
Joe Nerve said:
http://www.sweetwater.com/ - I will only buy from them if it's an awesome deal, a synth, or computer related stuff. For something that may need tech support they're the best, hands down. They'll spend hours on the phone with you getting stuff running, and they're pretty knowledgable. For anything else I won't go near them, especially bass related stuff. If you call them asking about somthing they will call you trying to be your friend for the rest of your life. Think cable guy. They're real hard to politely get off the phone, they have real persistent sales pitches, and I often felt they were talking down to me like I was a kid and they knew more about something I've been living for 30 years. They didn't and their "friendliness" (sales tactics) has been a big putoff for me.
Click to expand...

I've never had a problem with a sales rep being overbearing, maybe they've just connected you to the wrong one. I've been pretty happy with them.
 

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