I did this for the first time about a month ago. I had the $$ and wanted to keep it under $2,000. Brick and mortar stores I went to had mostly intro models, so I couldn't try out the basses I was interested in. After a lot of hand wringing and YouTube demos I ordered a G&L JB from Sweetwater. It is exactly what I was hoping for. It sounds and feels great.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Buying A Bass Without Playing It
- Thread starter perfektspace6
- Start date
My criteria are simple: If I like it, it's in good condition (I'm talking like new or very close) the price is right and I want another bass. I'll buy it.
I've never owned a bass I couldn't play, although some were more challenging than others. I've bought at least a dozen basses via Ebay or other online venues.
And most music stores only carry low end stuff. If you want a Gretsch or any brand other than Fender, Squier or Ibanez, Guitar Center won't have it - or not often. So realistically, if you want any variety in choice, you'll have to order without playing it first.
I've never owned a bass I couldn't play, although some were more challenging than others. I've bought at least a dozen basses via Ebay or other online venues.
And most music stores only carry low end stuff. If you want a Gretsch or any brand other than Fender, Squier or Ibanez, Guitar Center won't have it - or not often. So realistically, if you want any variety in choice, you'll have to order without playing it first.
Michael League bought his '59 pbass online, unplayed. It worked out for him though stated he wouldn't recommend buying one that way.
Did it once, used tribute L2500 from GC at a very good price. Would have had to pay ~$25 return shipping if I didn't like it.
It's fine, except for significant neck dive.
With a decent return policy, I'd do it again.
It's fine, except for significant neck dive.
With a decent return policy, I'd do it again.
Somebody wants it, even if I don’t. The only way to play the instrument is to play it, not easily done from far-flung locations.
I try to not get too sentimental about it.
I try to not get too sentimental about it.
i've ordered 2 used guitars only from GC, and they both turned out better than expected. i also live by several GCs, so could i bring the used item back to the store rather than shipping it?
Me? I'm left handed - totally, irredeemably, left handed. And, if you're like me? If you want to play bass - and aren't already a gambler - you soon will be. 'Cause, taking a chance on buying your next bass sight unseen is almost always "this way, or the highway". Out of 26 basses I currently own, there's only one that I played before I bought it; my A-necked '78 P-Bass. Bought it from a lefty GI that I was stationed with, in 1988. As for all the others - including the Serek Sacremento that I ordered a few days ago? Well... "ya pays yer money, and ya takes yer chance..."
However...Over many years, there are some things I've done to... sort of even the odds, and help me decide whether or not I even want a particular bass...
1. Play somebody else's bass. I learned to play bass in 1968 on a friend's lefty '68 Rick 4001. And, I fooled around on various music store's Ricks - right handed ones - over the following years, to know that I definitely wanted one of my own. But... even today, buying a lefty Rick is a roll of the dice. I bought mine (a '73 4001 and a COY '01 4003) at a time when there were no new lefty Ricks - and might not ever be any new ones. Did I get lucky? Yes, I did. The 4001 has been my #1, go-to bass for about 14 years now - since about 5 minutes after it got new strings and a set-up. And the 4003 is a very close second...
2. Fool around in a store. I've never - far as I can remember - ever been able to do this with a left handed bass. Left handed guitars are another matter. I used to do that a lot in Las Vegas, in the old Ed Roman store. Even bought a couple of them, too. Bought a beautiful left handed Gretsch Electromatic Classic from a local music store (A&G Music) a couple of weeks ago, in fact. But, never a bass. However... although I can't play right handed for more than about 5-8 minutes - before I start to get a sick headache - I can do it long enough to know if I'd like to have a left handed one. Or that I wouldn't take one of them as a gift. Or that they're just "meh"... Over the years, I've done this with a lot of basses. It's why I have a Gibson Thunderbird; a Hofner Club Bass (although mine's not a Chinese one; lefty's have to buy German - ouch!); and a Jack Casady Bass (I had to wait a long time for a lefty, though). It's also why I don't have a lot of basses - like a Fender Jazz Bass, or a single pickup StingRay. Did like the 4HH 'Ray I noodled around on, though. Which is why I have a 4HH StingRay Special, when they made some left handed ones - finally...
3. Talkbass and You Tube is your friend. I haven't been talked into a lot of basses this way, but I have been talked into giving a lot of them a pass. I will say, though, that this is simply a result of my choice of the basses I wanted to look at. I made a list, decades ago, of basses that I wanted; models, brands, and types. And, once I got the model and brand spots filled, my search has been for types. Discussions and owner's club threads here, and demo videos on You Tube, are a good way to steer one's self toward a "no", or a "check this one out some more". Further checking results in "they don't make a lefty" all too often, but that isn't the fault of the process. Anyway... whether all of the above works - or fails?
4. Grit your teeth; take a deep breath; and roll the dice. This is what being left handed is all about. More than half of my basses are the result of taking a chance on a really unknown quantity. The rest are the result of taking a chance on a more-or-less known quantity; but, in the end? With the exception of my P-Bass, all of my basses - and 4 of my 6 guitars - were a lucky roll of the dice...
I did it 4 times. 2 Fodera’s, a custom Pedulla, and a Music Man Stingray 5. All unplayed. Kept 1 Fodera and the Stingray.
Interesting - I too have bought 2 basses "sight unplayed" but both were Sadowsky, which actually made me feel MORE comfortable with the transaction as my chances of getting a lemon were pretty much zero.
My criteria for buying without playing:
- make sure the specs are what I want (and I've played enough basses to know what I like)
- buy from somebody trustworthy. I include TBers in that category.
- buy an instrument made by a reputable manufacturer known for their high QC standards.
Sometimes, you just have to take a chance.
It's a life decision, exactly like deciding to get a tattoo (but not quite as permanent, and often less expensive). When you trust someone enough to buy unplayed, you know. If you're uncertain, don't do it. 
Never done the big investment on a custom build (yet!!). That would be tough for taking to gigs - I'd be the dork in the men's room with my gig bag on my shoulder unable to let the thing out of my sight
One terrific experience was with a TB seller (with solid feedback) who posted lots of pictures and also plenty of vital specs for the bass that was up for sale. It was a somewhat unique custom build - a handsome one at that - so I couldn't compare it with others I'd ever come across from that same brand. Once enough time when by with me drooling over the pictures and failing to find any disqualifying specs, I went ahead and bought it.
I may never find a better deal on such a high quality and decent fitting instrument for the rest of my days. But I also know that I wouldn't have wanted to risk my money on a potential lemon if I didn't know as many of the specs as I had to help me get a clear idea of the bass I was looking over from afar.
One bad experience: I was looking for a lighter Jazz bass to replace an old boat anchor, but I also wanted to find something with a wider neck than the typical 1.5" nut width that we find with so many J's. I found a new Sandberg Electra at a terrific price, loved the specs listed on Sandberg's site, so I ordered it.
It turned out that Sandberg didn't have the right specs for their Electras listed on their site at that time - they had the same specs for the Electras as listed for the necks they build in Germany. I was expecting a neck having a nut width of 39.5mm and instead got one that was 37mm wide. I couldn't return the bass because I bought it off a clearance sale listed online by a shop (all sales final) and not from Sandberg itself. So not really a case of bait 'n switch as much as a cosmic conspiracy. Sandberg actually updated their site literally a week or two after this happened.
I eventually traded that one in at a GC.Speaking of... Guitar Center has always been great with their return policy in recent history, at least for me. I've taken advantage of this safety net a few times through the last year or two and even spent a lot of money - over $2K - on what I thought would be my unicorn keeper of a Jazz bass. That didn't work out, but it was an easy return and the store credit has gone toward other things including a great U.S. G&L M-2000 that might just be good enough to finally put an end to my 3-year search for a counterpart to my P/J.
For me, I stacked the odds in my favor. These basses were all bought/ordered having played a version of them in the past:
1. Skjold Zia 5, and Zia 6: I had ordered a custom 6-string from Pete after playing Damian Erskine's Whaleback. Though it wasn't the same model, I figured it would be great. I was right.
2. EBMM Stingray Classic: still, to this day, one of the best sounding a playing 4 strings was a Classic I played at GC when they first reissued them. It was a dark blue color, and had the nicest neck on it. After that, I had it in the back of my mind to get one. A white one came around with a rosewood neck (rare combo) recently, so I got it on Reverb. No regrets!
3. Lakland 55-94: I owned a Skyline 55-02 for many years, and always wanted to try an USA model. I read and re-read reviews and comparisons online about the Skyline vs USA models, and when @nautipaul had his up for sale with a beautiful look and options, I pounced on it. Great bass!
While each individual bass is different, obviously, I feel like I had the odds in my favor with these purchases.
1. Skjold Zia 5, and Zia 6: I had ordered a custom 6-string from Pete after playing Damian Erskine's Whaleback. Though it wasn't the same model, I figured it would be great. I was right.
2. EBMM Stingray Classic: still, to this day, one of the best sounding a playing 4 strings was a Classic I played at GC when they first reissued them. It was a dark blue color, and had the nicest neck on it. After that, I had it in the back of my mind to get one. A white one came around with a rosewood neck (rare combo) recently, so I got it on Reverb. No regrets!
3. Lakland 55-94: I owned a Skyline 55-02 for many years, and always wanted to try an USA model. I read and re-read reviews and comparisons online about the Skyline vs USA models, and when @nautipaul had his up for sale with a beautiful look and options, I pounced on it. Great bass!
While each individual bass is different, obviously, I feel like I had the odds in my favor with these purchases.
I would have to have played another specimen of the bass I was looking at and that would have to have resonated with me pretty strongly to plunk down the cash for a bass I'd never touched, regardless of whose name was on the headstock. The closest I ever came was spec'ing out an Ergo EUB bass, but just couldn't pull the trigger. I ended up getting a NS Designs EUB from Sweetwater, because I'd played one IRL and I knew that if I absolutely hated it, I could return it. 24 interest free payments didn't hurt either.
I ask questions, ask for additional pics if needed, and then just have faith in my modest ability to adjust things to my liking.
With very few exceptions that’s worked out fine.
With very few exceptions that’s worked out fine.
Every new and used bass I've purchased was done without playing first. With the exception of the Ric 4003 all of the basses were in the $150-$800 price range. I'm not very picky about specs and sometimes just go off of how the bass looks. I went through the process of purchasing and weeding out the lesser basses until I ended up with my current 3.
The only bass that came off as a definite "try before you buy" was an Epiphone Les Paul bass due to how different the models can be. The Les Paul Special bass was a mahogany boat anchor that had less going for it than my my boat anchor at the time (the Peavey T-40) but on the 2nd try I landed a keeper with a sunburst MIK Epiphone Les Paul Standard bass which used an alder body with a set maple neck making it lighter than my modded Schecter J-4. I want to put Ric in the same category but from experience sometimes gripes with a bass you like pop up after the honeymoon period is over.
If I didn't buy sight unseen I would have cut out a lot of options I had then that just don't exist now in the same price range so it was a gamble worth taking.
The only bass that came off as a definite "try before you buy" was an Epiphone Les Paul bass due to how different the models can be. The Les Paul Special bass was a mahogany boat anchor that had less going for it than my my boat anchor at the time (the Peavey T-40) but on the 2nd try I landed a keeper with a sunburst MIK Epiphone Les Paul Standard bass which used an alder body with a set maple neck making it lighter than my modded Schecter J-4. I want to put Ric in the same category but from experience sometimes gripes with a bass you like pop up after the honeymoon period is over.
If I didn't buy sight unseen I would have cut out a lot of options I had then that just don't exist now in the same price range so it was a gamble worth taking.
I have bought every bass since my Warwick in 2001 online, and I have never had an issue. I also live in a secluded area and the basses I am interested I am not able to try before hand. I had a period of experimentation where I wanted to try a bass and see what it was like, and online shopping was great for that. My current Ric I bought sight unseen only because it was the Ric I finally won a bid on, and it has been fantastic.
I've bought roughly 20 basses over the years. The first one and the most recent purchase were from a local music store, so I got to try them first. All the others were either ordered new from the manufacturer or bought used online. Get lots of pics first, ask every question you can think of, check feedback for online sellers, you'll be fine.
I've bought all of the basses I have now sight unseen. The only one I didn't care for too much was a Rickenbacker 4001c64. I would up selling it later. Any other bass I've sold was because I needed the money at the time. The 6 basses I have now, all were bought sight unseen, several have been upgraded to fit my needs, and I gig/practice with all of them.
I have a unique issue being a Warmoth Fanboy. I know that the best neck for my hands is a Warmoth P Bass, which is 1"11/16ths nut width, and I strongly prefer the Slim Taper Contour. Pretty much, if it has this neck, I'll dig it. I have purchased several necks & bodies both new and used over the years and never know if I will bond with the instrument until I pick it up from final assembly/setup. I know within seconds.
Then begins the struggle, because if I don't bond with it, even though I love their products, Warmoth builds DO NOT generally hold their value. So, sometimes I am able to move the instrument fully assembled (which I've done a couple times), but often I end up parting them out. My last failed build was due to the body (no arm contour), but I dug the neck, so I used in my next build. Certainly taking a chance each time I attempt it.
