I've bought hundreds of basses over the years and only two were new. One I resold for a loss the other I still own and play. Always made on selling used basses. ..... Knowing what can go wrong with an instrument, then what can be changed and or fixed is important when dealing in used.
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Do You Avoid, Or Seek Out USED BASSES?
- Thread starter plangentmusic
- Start date
I've had good experience. The best thing is that you don't have to worry about scratching it cause they are already beat up! If something is wrong with it. Which isn't always the case. It's usually cheaper to fix that than to buy the bass brand new so I'm all for it!
I'd much rather have a used bass in most cases. Someone who knows more about it than me has already taken care of it and given it a good set up
I buy used for the opposite reason...It's not as big of deal when I put a dent or scratch in it if the bass already came with some. A new dent, by me, on a big dollar bass would make me
I buy used for the opposite reason...It's not as big of deal when I put a dent or scratch in it if the bass already came with some. A new dent, by me, on a big dollar bass would make me
+1
I love nothing more than a used beater that also happens to be a great player with awesome tone. I know it can take a lickin' and keep on tickin', and I don't have to baby it.
I buy used for the opposite reason...It's not as big of deal when I put a dent or scratch in it if the bass already came with some. A new dent, by me, on a big dollar bass would make me
I guess I can see your point.
I'm going to go against the grain here and say I strongly prefer to buy new. Instruments are super personal to me, buying used is like buying used underwear.
I take a long time to determine my purchases, and have never sold an instrument I bought new.
The two basses I bought used ended up back on the used market. I could never get over the feeling I was wearing someone elses drawers.
I take a long time to determine my purchases, and have never sold an instrument I bought new.
The two basses I bought used ended up back on the used market. I could never get over the feeling I was wearing someone elses drawers.
There are some very good therapists who can help you with this.
(I kid, I kid!)
Seriously, I know where you're coming from. I recently acquired a nice MIM Precision bass dirt cheap for a Phil Lynott tribute bass.
But this thing was filthy. I think the past owner played it right after changing the oil in automobiles or something. It took a good hour or so to disassemble it, clean it up, and put it back together.
But now it's like brand new, and I have an intimate knowledge of all it's idiosyncracies. I tweaked it and put it back together better than it was, and there's some value in that. SD QPs and a mirror PG, I'm in business.
Used, generally, but it depends on the situation. In 30 years of playing, I bought a total of 2 new and 5 used basses for myself. The 2 new ones were both Carvins, customized to what I wanted.
4 of the 5 used ones had something unusual and out-of-production that interested me. Sometimes what you really want can only be found used.
4 of the 5 used ones had something unusual and out-of-production that interested me. Sometimes what you really want can only be found used.
i'm a big fan of used. most of the stores around here only tend to carry fender and squier, and i'm not really a fan of either. instead of buying a $400 bass sight unseen, i'd much rather pay $200 for the same one, only used, and if i don't like it, chances are i could get my money back out of it selling it again.
This thing of used basses being beat up is not all true. Two of my basses that I got used were in nicer shape than anything I have ever seen hanging on the wall of GC or a lot of other music shops. I save hundreds of dollars on them and they were perfect. I paid $500 for my Fender MIA deluxe frettless Jazz that that had one small scratch by the out put jack. I could sell that bass tomorrow for $850 or more and I have played it for over two years.
I seek them out. Good deals and if there's already a little wear and tear you won't have to pamper the finish. That plus I love worn basses but rarely play one long enough to add much of my own.
I'm with hdracer, most of my used basses are in minty-fresh condition. Nothing beats finding a used bass that was an impulse purchase and sat in it's case for the majority of its life, or one that was owned by an anal-retentive type who pampered it (like me).
I have to agree.
I have two great basses I got used -- back in the day before ebay -- when people didn't really know what they had. So yeah, if I drove past a yard sale and they were selling a 62 P for 100 bucks because it had scratches and the strings were old, then of course. But these days I want what I want and waiting for it to come along used is rare.
Then again, I did buy a Marcus Miller used on ebay. I didn't realize it at first, but before long I knew why the seller sold it. The neck was very unstable. I sold it a month later.
As anyone here knows - I am just a teensy-weensy, tiny bit anal about my gear and it has to be spotless and without scratches or dents. That calculates to new.
I've only bought new except for that one transgression with a LP Special that I flipped the next day for a new VM-Jazz. I made a killing on it though. It was sweet to clear what I did on it, but can become a narcotic to me if I do it again.
Used underwear/basses/gear or not - it's personal with me and not just wanting to spend lots of money to fork out for new all the time.
What I figure is that buying new - although I won't get any vintage gear that way - is a safety valve to me to keep me from growing a collection of used-cheap basses and cluttering up my playing and general appreciation for something that I am passionate about: playing bass.
I won't even buy a NEW RW either; that's an oxymoron to me anyway. 'New' and 'RW' should never appear in the same sentence.
I don't ever sell anything - well, a couple of 6-string guitars and a couple of guitar stacks - but that was self-preservation as I have lost all interest in playing a guitar. Bass is my passion and I am adamant about having pristine gear that sparkles and shines and has no marks, scratches or dings on 'em.
Even the cheapest of the cheap basses I own - my 1998 Affinity Squier Precision bass - has absolutely NO scratches or ding, chips or nasal secretions on it anywhere! I play it constantly and it is a 'first-grab' when I want 'that sound', which happens at least three times a week, so it's not a closet or case-queen either.
[DEL]If[/DEL] When I die, you should be first on line to buy some better-than-new gear at what my wife will prolly sell for $20 each. But then I won't care anyway.
EDIT:
I just clicked on MF and found an Active Deluxe Jazz for $50.00 MORE used than I paid for my NEW version of the same thing.
Go figger!
Vintage White, Rosewood Fretboard
Fender Deluxe Active Jazz Bass - Used
The Fender Deluxe Active Jazz Bass has been upgraded with modern features to give the working musician a versatile, sweet-playing instrument at a...
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Buy Used: $615.99
There's nothing wrong with a used bass, it's really just a cheaper bass because it's been owned before. In some cases, the previous owner may not have played it much at all, and if they have...it just gives the instrument more character. I like to think that my bass has a background.
