Buy Used Stuff

[weekendxwarrior]

I buy used exclusively for a couple reasons. the obvious being the price range is more suited for my tight budget. but the other benefit, i've found, is i can get back most of, if not all (or more!) of what i paid for it when i sell it or trade it. and so far, i've traded in or sold almost every bass, amp, and speaker cab i've ever purchased. always searching for the mythic "perfect tone"
just like with a car, an amp or cab (excluding vintage) loses value the day it's sold, because to most people, in most cases, used for 2 hours is still used.
that's my 2 cents.

 

[Swampman Cory]

I'm all about used basses; I figure worst-case scenario I have to take it in for a new set-up and the guy charges me an extra 10 dollars for re-soldering of stuff. But heck, I'd take it in for a set-up anyway, so it's no big deal!

 

[Mekanic]

And in the spirit of this thread, I just bought 13 sets of strings.. USED!

MUAHAHAHAHAAA

 

[butchblack]

I'm sort of mixed on this subject. I have no problem buying used, both my basses were used, my backup bought through E-bay so I didn't have a chance to try it out, though I got it at a price that as long as the neck was OK and there were no structural cracks I'd be OK (it actually was in pristine condition FWIW) my backline 600 was used. However my Avatar SB112 neo was new and I just got the brand new GK MB 210, both of which I'd have no chance finding used when I bought them and I specifically wanted them.

 

[Will006]

i dont think i will ever buy an unused pedal

 

[wave rider]

Mostly bought used equipment via Craigslist, so I've had the chance to examine the merchandise before purchase. Bought some used through eBay; had to replace the speakers on a BBII from there which made it not such a good deal but I'm still very happy with it. New: VT pedal and Wishbasses(!).

Following Mekanic's lead; picked up a Bag End S15LX-D used last week and am delighted with it.

I'd certainly buy new, especially if my needs, budget, and talent justified it. Talent being my weak link...

=wr=

 

[sickest beast]

never thought bout it till now, but everything I play was once owned by someone else.

Mesa Buster 200 - bought from Talkbass classified.
Ampeg 2x15 - bought from a dude in Toronto.
Fender Highway1 Jazz - traded an old drumset to a drug-fiend.

on the way is the way huge swollen pickle, again bought from Talkbass classified.

actually, everyone in my band has used gear as well. i guess cuz it's cheaper, but mostly because we all needed pro gear, so we bought what was available when we had the money.

 

[grue]

I buy used a lot, but I got burned on a used head maybe ten years ago that had hidden problems and ended up being a really expensive doorstop. I'm still pissed. The lesson I took away from my tragedy: The more complicated the piece of gear is, the harder it is to tell if there's something wrong with it, and the more likely you won't be able to fix it if there is a problem.

So, I'm totally cool buying basses and cabs. I'll also buy tube amps, mainly because you can always get them repaired if you have to. I'll also buy pedals if they are not too fancy or expensive. Solid state amps make me nervous, but I've done it. Anything digital I stay away from like the plague.

 

[marklaforest]

I'll admit I like the corny "mojo" factor they tend to have.

Fully agree. I like things that have a "broken in" feel. New stuff doesn't appeal to me at all. I've got a bunch of used basses and I love the way they feel. The other day I went to a store where they sell both new stuff and used stuff. There were two Fender P-basses side by side. Both mexicans. One was used, selling for $250 (canadian $s). The other was a brand new road-worn for $1200. The used one had about as much wear on it as the new one. I shook my head....

Amps, cabs, basses, effects. All used. You know if they've been used and abused for the last ten years or so that they'll probably just keep going. As long as you're aware of what to avoid and what to look for you should be fine. And you save a boat load of money. Plus, most new things lose at least a quarter of their value as soon as you buy them. You can usually sell used things for the same price you got them for.

 

[Fletz]

I had no idea this would be such a hot topic. Thanks to you all, I might actually give some used basses a chance. Great POVs and logic.

 

[gre107]

Most of my gear I have bought used and have never had a problem with it. The only thing I am weary about is buying amps or speakers used but have done so as long as I can try it out.

I bought my Fodera used and it was the best purchase I have ever made! No regrets!

Peace

 

[Sbociol]

I don't have enough money to afford new stuff.

 

[rappa29]

I've been spoiled by my success buying used here on TB. Of the gear I have now, 3 cabs, 1 combo amp and 1 bass I bought used, here.

I've bought bunch of other gear used here that I didn't keep because they weren't my thing. Didn't lose much on them reselling them here either.

I've bought 4 basses off the auction site, used and only had a problem with 1 of them.

I have no problem buying used from a reliable place like TB. Auction sites and Craigslist, not so much. But sometimes have to if I can't find it on TB.

I'm a cheap b@st@rd so I'm all about saving $ buying used!

 

[harry manback]

if it's a good offer, why not? i'm not used to the "new" smell anyways.

 

[protoz]

My entire rig is used save for my big muff and 2003 Fender Aerodyne.

That is mostly because Sunn is no more and I got a killer deal on my Rickenbacker.

 

[ClaytonMUSE]

All my gear is new, only because they were gifts though so I didn't really have a say. However, I would have absolutely no problem buying used at all. I'd be a little hesitant if I didn't get a chance to try it out personally or know its history though.

 

[nozkcb]

I buy almost exclusively used gear for a lot of reasons:

• (as already noted by another poster) used, with a few dings relieves me of the anxiety of a brand new, shiny piece of gear.
• Used means you don't eat the new to used depreciation value loss
• Used gear is broken-in and usually, any problems that the piece would have, has been reviled and addressed by the time I get to it.

 

[blastjv]

Pretty much ONLY used for me. About the only things I'll buy new are strings and on the rare ocassion I have decided on a very specific piece of gear and can not find it used anywhere.

- I prefer to let the original purchaser suffer the instant depreciation of driving new gear off the lot. (lots of times you can't get more than about half the new cost when you're selling gear used, even in 'like-new' condition).

- With most gear, problems are either from wear or manufacturing defects. If you are careful about checking for wear, and general functioning, I feel better about buying used gear that hopefully would have already shown any defects.

- I only buy gear after much over-analyzation and research on the net. I also try to buy from companies with good reputations for customer service. I just bought a used amp from another TB'er. It's a Genz Benz, who has a fantastic reputation for customer service, including helping out people who have bought thier gear second or third hand.

- The biggest thing for me is that, like MANY of us, I really don't know if I want to keep a peice of gear untill I get it home and live with it for a while. I make it a rule to only buy used gear that I am confident I can re-sell for as much and almost always MORE than I paid for it (depending on how good a deal I can haggle).


Just my two cents...


-John

 

[edbass]

Buying new is just silly.

Hmmm... Not to the many thousands of hard working manufacturer's employees, distributors, importers, delivery persons, retail store employees, etc. folks who feed their families, pay their bills, and stay off of the government teat by earning their livelihood in the new musical instrument industry.
Go to NAMM, look at all the people and keep in mind that they just represent the tip of the iceberg; then try to extrapolate that huge gathering of manufacturers, retailers, distributors, etc. into how many total paychecks the industry represents. Isn’t unemployment high enough already? Why would someone want to compound that problem by condemning their source of revenue as “silly” and insinuating that the end users that support it are morons?

How about the money new gear manufacturers that buy the advertising on this and other sites that provide a forum that can be used without shelling out so much as a penny to berate those “silly” individuals who are stupid enough to support their companies by actually purchasing their products?

Besides, if you actually think about it, only buying used is a self defeating philosophy; if everyone did, no more new gear would be sold to become used gear, and the used gear market would skyrocket so high that current new gear prices would seem dirt cheap by comparison.

I guess all those "silly people" should buck up and buy all new gear so that the more insightful and savvy "used only" buyers can continue to have someone to ridicule for being stupid enough to buy it, and provide a steady supply of regurgitated gear for the “enlightened ones” to wisely buy on the cheap!

It sort of reflects society I suppose…

 

[aborgman]

I guess all those "silly people" should buck up and buy all new gear so that the more insightful and savvy "used only" buyers can continue to have someone to ridicule for being stupid enough to buy it, and provide a steady supply of regurgitated gear for the “enlightened ones” to wisely buy on the cheap!

I appreciate those silly folks (and the silly folks that buy new cars too) - because without them, who would take the big depreciation hit for me?