My lovely wife bought me a five string bass (I'd rather not identify the make/model so as not to offend any who may own this kind), and I don't want it. I'm a four-stringer. It cost her $650.00. I guess she could read my face when I opened the case, and quickly said that she has the receipt and that I could take it back if I wanted to. I went to the store and for that approximate price they also have 3 or 4 Musicman Ray 34 CA's, and 5 or 6 Fender Standard P-Basses, i.e. MIM. If you were me, which would you choose? Thanks.
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Birthday store return/exchange
- Thread starter Octavio
- Start date
atleast consider her feelings before taking it back and swapping it..... I wish my lady would do something as nice as this.... wait, I never give her time to... 
Without knowing what you have I can't tell you what I would do.
However, if you don't like it I would take it back. Buying an instrument is a rather personal thing.
However, if you don't like it I would take it back. Buying an instrument is a rather personal thing.
get her to come with you and get HER to select the new 4 string. it's an honest mistake to make for those who don't play. But by bringing her in during the exchange she still gets the warm fuzzies knowing your playing a bass she wanted you to have.
Thanks for all the responses so far. Yes, the five string is definitely going back, and today is the last day to either return it or to exchange it. What I'm really wondering is what do the readers think of the two kinds of basses I'm thinking to swap it for, the Music Man and the MIM P-Bass?
This is like when you buy jewelry for your wife. You know--if you're doing the buying--that it may go back for soemthing else. Now, it's different with girlfriends, but a wife of some years will simply point out she had something different in mind and exchange it; this will almost always cost the man money--call a fee for not knowing her true taste. No matter what, you should make her part of the process and come up with the perfect solution "together." That's just 30+ years of marriage and sneaking basses from UPS through the door talking.
Do you currently have a four string? If so what model? I ask because it would help to know what you already have because IMO I would get something different. If you already have a P bass get a Ray. If you have a Ray get a P or J.
I agree. You will be getting a 4-string which is what you and she will not feel like she should have just given you the money and not play a role in what you will eventually play (even thouht it IS a personal choice). Besides, who says that you cannot steer her to the section of the store where the basses you like are at...my ex-wife always wanted to spend lavishly on birtday presents for me (with my money of course) but she always got indirect approval for what I would like months in advance.
+1 Excellent idea! If you can swing it in this price range here are three I would sure take a hard look at.
G&L Tribute L-2000 4-String Bass | Musician's Friend
Fender Deluxe P Bass Special 4-String Bass | Musician's Friend
Fender '60s Jazz Bass | Musician's Friend
I don't know where it was purchased but the prices shown on this MF site would be the same at GC and you can almost always get anywhere from 10% to 15% off those listed prices which would put them in a $600 to $675 price range.
