Buying A Bass Without Playing It

[Ben Clarke]

The only bass that I still own that I played before buying was my first bass, a late 80s G&L SB-1 that I bought new. Coulda bought a 74 Precision for the same $250, but that's ok I suppose. It's worked out.

The local private used buys in the past have been a quick "sight the neck, play a few notes, ok, thanks!", generally in a parking lot. I'm very comfortable making deals remotely, and a big part of it is the buyer protection available with Paypal or credit card based transactions. It's rare that I will buy without it, and when a seller specs F&F, I will make a method with buyer protection part of my negotiation, even if I pay the cost on top of the asking price.

I also will often ask some "test questions" as a vibe check, like others have said. It also helps energetically that I never try to screw anyone over (at least not in the past 20 years or so).

 

[BlueTalon]

I have bought several basses online in the $300 range -- some great, some not. At that price range, it almost doesn't matter much. A couple basses I gave away, one Squier came with a twisted neck, but it's pretty easy to get a new neck for that. One "mistake" was buying a new Rickenbacker a few years ago -- I didn't know they'd changed how they did their necks, and I was expecting a neck similar to the one on my 70's Ric. It wasn't, it was a lot fatter and much less to my liking. The next Ric I bought, I tried to make sure the neck would be better suited for me, and it was.

But that opened the door for me to buying more expensive basses online. To answer the question in the OP, to feel comfortable buying a bass I have never played or touched, I read what I can about the builder; I read what the builder has to say about his basses and about his building process & philosophy; I see what options are available; I communicate with the builder... and then I trust my intuition. So far, it has worked for me. My Maruszczyk is my #1, and has been since I got it. I have an Adamovic on its way, and I trust I will like it just as much. I will follow that same process when I order my next bass, and I trust I will like it just as much also.

 

[jivetkr]

i do this all the time because i live in the middle of no where with zero access to try anything good. most times its worked out, but Ive had a few duds over the years.

 

[chadds]

When you buy on approval and have it shipped the risk is minimal and it's the same as taking it off the wall and trying it. In fact it's better because you can play it at home or practice through your rig for 24 hrs. (If I practiced for 24 hrs. I'd be a better player or sleep deprived.)

This expands your selection of basses that just might not be in your area. They may be well kept used and wonderful. They fall in your hands and say yes or no. When it's yes it's yes! All of us don't have all bass stores. Access to a Sadowski for example may be difficult.

I've been out the return shipping a few times.

A National Steel Standard four string bass. It weighed about 80lbs. Didn't project and sounded like a stainless stove pot.
A Noel Redding Signature. It was such an accurate copy of an old Fender Jazz that it had the hump in the finger board.
A Leduc. It wasn't the premium one but a low end model.
Takamine ABG. To much to describe. All subjective. Fine instruments.

Triumph! Sight unseen a '51 MIJ P. Still play it. That was in the '80s. All phone communication. $500 +/-.
Got the bill. Due to the exchange rate between Canada and the US at the time I paid $340. Whoa!

 

[Pilgrim]

The biggest problem I've had with a bass was one that I DID play in person.

About 18 months ago I was in a pawn shop in Pagosa Springs, Colorado (SW corner, lovely area) and spotted a mint condition G&L JB Tribute in Lake Placid blue. It was so pretty my wife pointed it out to me, even though she knew I had a dozen basses. I picked around on it and checked it out - it played easily and I really liked it. The bass came with a hard case, strap and a spare tuner. Walked out for $400 for the whole bundle.

Got it home a couple of days later and found out it wouldn't intonate. I had the saddles on the bridge extended so far toward the neck that they were about to fall off the edge of the bridge and it still wasn't quite intonated. I thought I'd have to re-install the bridge, then I got smart and did some research about the G&L online.

Turned out that a factory in Indonesia had made a run of the G&L JB Tributes with the wrong neck. They wouldn't intonate because of it, and I had one of them. That also explains why it was in the pawn shop in such nice condition - evidently the buyer couldn't sort it out and never found a solution.

I called G&L to ask about it, and they immediately told me they knew about the problem. After sending them a photo of the neck and serial number, they immediately shipped me a new neck! I give G&L major points for standing up for their instrument; after all, I wasn't even the original buyer, I got it used. But they stood by their product. I transferred hardware, mounted the neck and the bass intonated perfectly. The slim neck is very nice to play.

Just one example of how playing the bass briefly will not necessarily avoid problems. I've never had a problem that significant with any of the basses I've bought online.

 

[Roger W]

In my whole life I have only owned 5 basses, and I've never seen or touched one of the 4 before the purchase.

First bass was a beater/beater brand new from the JC Penny catalog. 1980 I believe.

Second bass was a copy of a P purchased around 1984 brand new. I had a friend who was a good guitarist. He was going to the big city and said he would pick me up a good bass for what I could afford. He did. Played it for years. It played great.

After 12 years of playing I stopped for many years. Got back into playing. Did a year of homework, given I was an adult by that point. Carvin 2004 LB70P brand new. 10 day return, warranty, etc etc. That was my only bass from 2004 - 2012. KILLER bass for me in every way.

2012 I got my first fretless. It is my avatar pic. It's a fretless version of the 2004 (model, structural specs). Easy choice.

When I wanted a more rustic old-school and low-fi fretless with a bare wood board I researched on our beloved TB for about 2 years. Just reading carefully and seeing what builders are legit. I picked Tom Clement. The bass he built me we spec'd across a ton of emails and he is a total pro IME/IMO.

The only one I've even slightly regretted was the JC Penny catalog piece of crap when I was in my early teens.

YMMV.

Carry on, TB.

This was where I was going to go. Catalog shopping predates the internet by over 100 years. Back in the 1980s I bought a few guitars from George Gruhn via his paper catalog. All my basses were bought long distance.

 

[10xClean]

Years ago I purchased two used basses, one on ebay and one online from a large retailer. Both had truss rod issues, both were returned. Finally found one online in a semi local store(150 miles). Walked in with my little tool kit and requested permission to tweak the truss rod which they were cool with. Walked out with a great deal, the bass sounds and plays great. I will never buy another without inspecting and playing it first. I do all my own setups, mods and fret re-dressing. If the neck is good I can make it work for me, setup is everything.

 

[Djadja]

I came from the high end acoustic guitar world where buying without seeing/playing first is almost a given. Often there the models you want are so rare there is no other option without involving flights to another part of the world while hoping someone else doesn't buy it while you're on your way or just as likely, literally no examples for sale with the details you want so you trust the builder and order. And pay attention to return policies.
That said, I have only purchased one bass after having played it. All of the others were sight unseen/unplayed by me. Obviously I'm OK with the risks. And I've had good experiences. I have returned one bass.

 

[bassclef112]

Even though my earlier post had the condition of return in the sale, I just did exactly what I said I wouldn't.
Impulse buy for something I've wanted for a long time (there was always something else that trumped it). As-Is, no return yadda yadda....
It looks pretty straightforward so I went ahead and took the plunge. It'll be here Monday and I'll see if it's a win.

 

[ebo]

I just bought my first bass sight unseen, from TB classifieds no less. Ships this week and I should have my mitts on it by next weekend. Single most expensive online purchase I’ve ever made. But it’s TB, what could possibly go wrong?!

 

[bassclef112]

Even though my earlier post had the condition of return in the sale, I just did exactly what I said I wouldn't.
Impulse buy for something I've wanted for a long time (there was always something else that trumped it). As-Is, no return yadda yadda....
It looks pretty straightforward so I went ahead and took the plunge. It'll be here Monday and I'll see if it's a win.
View attachment 4958454

What a nice bass! Mint condition. I played it all week and gigged it last night - a pleasure to play and sounds great! An excellent grab and I'm really glad it worked out.