Buying A Bass Without Playing It

[DJ Bebop]

Whether purchasing from a seller in a distant part of the U.S. (or world) or ordering a custom made bass, many of us have had the experience of putting money on the table for a bass we have never played. Personally, I have purchased 4 basses in my lifetime that I did not play before buying. Two of them are no longer with me but were very good instruments. One was not what I expected and I quickly sold it. One bass is still in my possession and I will keep it forever. However, for the majority of the basses I have owned: I played the bass, determined I like it, and decided to buy with no reservations.

So my question(s) for the TB community is how you determine whether you will spend your hard earned money on an instrument that you have never played and, in some cases never heard, of before purchase? What are some experiences, both positive and negative, that we can learn from to support a decision to commission a custom bass or buy a used bass without the benefit of playing it beforehand?

My first new bass was back in 96-97.
It was/is a Carvin Bunny Brunel 5 string solely based on the description. They do have their 10-day trial period. It was better than expected so no need to send it back.

Bought some basses and a guitar through Rondo Music. Had one issue that was quickly handled by Kurt, never a problem dealing with him.

Did the same thing with my WD-800 through Sweetwater, also a keeper.

What I learn was, it depends on whom you are dealing with.

 

[HardNHeavy]

bought 2 without trying them, A Jazz on ebay in 05' the other back in 85', i went to Night Owl Music NYC and pointed to a black P bass hanging high up. Gave a deposit and brought it home 2 weeks later, played fine. The jazz was MIM mint condition 2000' for dirt cheap, couldn't pass that up

 

[Maxi Funkl]

My last 5 BASSES have all been bought on-line of those 5, 4 of them I still own.
But 3 of the 5 I tried out at GC and bought elsewhere.
Of the 2 , I never tried out beforehand 1 was sold and the other I'll never sell.
so, that is pretty good win rate.

But even the one I sold there wasn't any issues with the bass (once I modded it.) I just didn't bond with it. The cousin I sold it too loves it.

It is a lot easier to order on-line once you know exactly what you like neck shape, width, scale etc etc.
If your trying out something absolutely new just make sure the return policy doesn't cost you anything.

 

[mikewalker]

The last bass guitar I actually tried out in a store was a shiny new NY Sadowsky at the Hartke Bass Lounge in Manhattan. That was more than five years ago, and I have bought numerous other basses since then ( I didn't like the Sadowsky ).
The last three have all been custom orders from Europe, but a number of new and used basses also came my way from Reverb.
Whether it's in hand at the store or not, I always consider every bass purchase as a "rental tryout", as I never know for sure if I'm going to bond with one... It usually takes me a few weeks to really get a feel for an instrument

 

[MCS4]

As a lefty, buying instruments in a store is really not an option other than in random, lucky scenarios. I do my research as best I can, and generally only buy basses with a return policy.

 

[bass12]

The majority of the basses I've bought without having tried them first were disappointments, regardless of brand and regardless of whether I was the one choosing the specs. Having said that, some of my favourite basses have been ones I've bought "sound unheard". It's always a crap shoot.

 

[Ric5]

Buying A Bass Without Playing It

I have done that more times than I can count

also a lot of my basses are parts basses so I don't know what it will play like until I build it.

 

[DwaynieAD]

6 out of 7 bought without playing first. I like them all.

 

[dr doofie]

The two “Ls”… Low Budget and Left Handed… have kept the majority of my purchases online, primarily Amazon. I don’t know why but I would say 3/4 of the time I try retail online music stores I get problems of all varieties; Amazon has been consistently efficient with customer service and stock. I guess they have virtually inexhaustible inventory so that must help, with both having things in stock and having things in the “correct” orientation…
But I did learn quickly that Ibanez is a lefty friendly brand, particularly the Talmans, which I love. I saw other mentions of Talmans above… indestructible, right?
I did splurge on a Martin D something or another months ago
(Acoustic guitar)
The finish was called Whiskey Sunset and it looked absolutely beautiful…
I got it and was just finished tuning it, and when I glanced down at the neck I saw the crack, right above the nut, so tiny and minute I considered overlooking it.
But I remembered how much I spent and knew this just wouldn’t remain a little imperfection, no matter how nice it felt and sounded.
So I returned it but never got another. Maybe it was Providence, I don’t know, but I just resigned myself to thinking it wasn’t meant to be.
The first Martin I ever played.
I would ask strangers in stores to play stuff for me so I could hear it

 

[Michael Stanley 2112]

...
I would ask strangers in stores to play stuff for me so I could hear it

I've had Southpaws and newbs ask me this in music stores. My issue was when they asked me for my opinion with the store sales clerk staring right at me.

 

[Silky Johnson]

I buy plenty without having played them before, I try to buy used at a price that I know I can resell for in case I don't like the bass. That way there's not much to worry about.

 

[Pings Bass]

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?

I think they've recently changed policy on shipping/returns for used instruments. Not sure what it is now

 

[rtslinger]

Whether purchasing from a seller in a distant part of the U.S. (or world) or ordering a custom made bass, many of us have had the experience of putting money on the table for a bass we have never played. Personally, I have purchased 4 basses in my lifetime that I did not play before buying. Two of them are no longer with me but were very good instruments. One was not what I expected and I quickly sold it. One bass is still in my possession and I will keep it forever. However, for the majority of the basses I have owned: I played the bass, determined I like it, and decided to buy with no reservations.

So my question(s) for the TB community is how you determine whether you will spend your hard earned money on an instrument that you have never played and, in some cases never heard, before purchase? What are some experiences, both positive and negative, that we can learn from to support a decision to commission a custom bass or buy a used bass without the benefit of playing it beforehand?

Years ago no I would not have but with the Covid situation and not playing live for nearly 4 years I purchase my last 8 or so online

 

[Wesley R]

I've bought four online.each was what I expected and paid for.

 

[MichelD]

My son in law ordered me a new Jazz bass from a mail order outfit and it arrived pristine, and perfectly set up. It's been five years now and I have no complaints, but I should probably have an expert look at the neck and intonation. I don't like fiddling with things I know nothing about.

 

[Michael Stanley 2112]

My son in law ordered me a new Jazz bass from a mail order outfit and it arrived pristine, and perfectly set up. It's been five years now and I have no complaints, but I should probably have an expert look at the neck and intonation. I don't like fiddling with things I know nothing about.

I understand your trepidation, but there are enough Youtube videos (as well as help, here) that you really should learn.

If you need help, my inbox is open to you.

 

[Z-Bass]

I've done both and have had mixed success over the years. Currently of the 3 basses I own, two were purchased on-line and one was purchased in store. All the others were a mix. Some I ended up playing for years, others were moved on after giving it a fair shake. I'd prefer to buy locally in-store after trying out a bass, but I would be limited to only a certain cross-section of brands. And if I do find a brand I'm interested in, sometimes the stores only carry certain models of that brand so you either wait or do your research, order on-line and hope for the best. Ordering used on-line adds a bit more risk, so it's imperative that you do you're due diligence on the seller.

 

[dr doofie]

I've had Southpaws and newbs ask me this in music stores. My issue was when they asked me for my opinion with the store sales clerk staring right at me.

The people I asked would generally get kinda squirrelly at first. When they would start playing whatever guitar store licks they reserved for guitar stores I would stop them and say, “that’s awesome, but please, just play open chords and let them ring…”
Having a clerk there would be unnerving, yes.

 

[Rib 13]

Oddly enough, this query is very similar to "Should I physically date somebody for awhile before proposing for marriage or should I get a mail-order bride?"

 

[Michael Stanley 2112]

The people I asked would generally get kinda squirrelly at first. When they would start playing whatever guitar store licks they reserved for guitar stores I would stop them and say, “that’s awesome, but please, just play open chords and let them ring…”
Having a clerk there would be unnerving, yes.

That's weird because (and it's only happened a few times) when I've been asked, that's normally what I do; chords down low and up high, hitting every fret, all the way up the neck on every string, etc.

... and it is very difficult to say: "This is a cheap piece of junk" when some minimum wage high school kid, just trying to save enough money for his first really nice guitar, is standing there with that pleading look on his face.