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Fender & Guitar Center - You Could Do So Much Better

#21
To put a positive spin on it, you can use these issues to your advantage in price negotiation (especially with used gear, where the profit margin is generally 50%+). I've done this numerous times (and had it done to me WAY back in the day working at $cam cAsh). I can honestly say that I've never purchased a bass that was Ready To Go exactly the way I wanted it right from the get-go. The vast majority of basses require a little tweaking depending on the player's preferences anyway. Knowing that, if something with an instrument is "off," but it's otherwise solid, I'd bring it up with the salesperson and mention that you'd have to put money into it to get it up to par. Have them knock the cost of a setup from your tech of choice off of the selling price, and use the cash saved to tweak it (or get it tweaked). If your tech is worth his salt, you're going to end up with a better setup than what was done at the factory, anyway, and to your specs rather than generic.

If they don't wanna play ball, then perhaps they don't wanna pay their gas bill that month, either.
 
#22
In all my years of playing, bought only one bass from GC. And that was with a trade and a discount. I just don't like the fact that they (they claim) have all the inventory on the floor. Nothing ever brand new, in the box, in back! And still want to sell it to you at full retail after everyone's had their grubby, nasty hands on them!
 
#23
DWBass said:
In all my years of playing, bought only one bass from GC. And that was with a trade and a discount. I just don't like the fact that they (they claim) have all the inventory on the floor. Nothing ever brand new, in the box, in back! And still want to sell it to you at full retail after everyone's had their grubby, nasty hands on them!
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+1. If I go to a chain store, it's more likely to be Sam Ash these days. I've bought instruments new in box with them before. The new one in Manhattan (34th st) has a particularly good bass section.

I used to love GC when I was young because they had so much stuff. Nowadays I always see the same crap there. Worse yet, it's usually very badly set up (GC Manhattan's Fenders have ridiculously high action.)
 
#25
Never bought a bass off the rack at GC. Reserved one, it was still in the box when I picked it up, but I returned it. Always have to chase someone down to ask a question, so - I just stick with cables or stands - nothing they have there that I want, new bass wise.
 
#27
peledog said:
Never bought a bass off the rack at GC. Reserved one, it was still in the box when I picked it up, but I returned it. Always have to chase someone down to ask a question, so - I just stick with cables or stands - nothing they have there that I want, new bass wise.
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Same here. Strings I'd also rather get elsewhere. I like a nice selection with so many brands out there, and GC carries only four.
 
#28
The GC in my neck of the woods has pretty darned good setups on its basses. But, it's also been open for only a few months. It's a small store in a rural area. My entire state has one 15th the population of NYC :)

I go in to try stuff out - particularly some amps they had. The amp guy steered me away from an ampeg that was pricier than the nearest competitor, which I appreciate.

I figure I pay the "rental fee" in strings and miscellaneous stuff.
 
#29
Moral of this story is,buy from Sweetwater. It will come in near perfectly set up,and you won't ever have have to deal with crap like this ever again!! I would NEVER buy a bass that some kids have been playing and abusing. Then,when he's putting it back,it's being banged against the bass next to it!! I'm just WAY to anal about my basses. Maybe TOO much, but there you go!!
 
#30
Caught the repair guy in the bass room of my local GC--he was give a few test plucks to some basses as they hung on the wall, the high-$$ stuff.

I asked nicely, "Wow, do you actually set up all the basses that come through?" "No," he said, "They only want me to do the high-end stuff."

Maybe that's why I have a poor opinion of MIM basses in general: never seen one in GC that didn't have action like a hunting bow. Thing is that these are Fender's STANDARD instruments, hardly a 'standard' reputation any company would want! Interesting, though, the CV Squires and the MPs seemed to be generally in better playing state; I wonder if these just arrive with a superior setup or perhaps even benefit from better build.
 
#31
fender68 said:
Moral of this story is,buy from Sweetwater. It will come in near perfectly set up,and you won't ever have have to deal with crap like this ever again!! I would NEVER buy a bass that some kids have been playing and abusing. Then,when he's putting it back,it's being banged against the bass next to it!! I'm just WAY to anal about my basses. Maybe TOO much, but there you go!!
Click to expand...

+1 - Sweetwater does a great job.
 
#33
I generally assume that I'll be setting up whatever bass I buy and so don't sweat a bad setup.

OTOH, I did see a MIM jazz at the local GC once where the strings were so high off the neck that I'd suspect some sort of structural damage. It didn't look like it could possibly be corrected without a new neck.
 
#37
Lots of interesting comments, thank you. To be clear, I wasn't expecting perfectly set up basses. My point was, between manufacturer and retailer, one should expect a $1000 instrument to be playable.

I went back there today (to get another look at the Tele Bass). The bass in question was a white American Special Jazz, for $999.99.

Say what you want, but both these companies should be expected to deliver that product in a condition where it can function as designed. Am I surprised? No. Disappointed in two companies with such rich histories.

And now I resume my search for a third bass...
 
#38
I guess I'm an anomaly, but I've gotten some really sweet deals over the years at my local GC. Several excellent deals on used basses. I even got a brand new '08 Am. Std. Jazz (in '08) for a crazy-low price. If you do your homework and know the product you want, you can find some great deals. But you also have to be ready to pounce when you find one.

As far as the set-ups, I don't see that as a big deal. I don't think I've ever bought a bass that I didn't tweak a bit anyway, so I fully expect to do my own set-up once I get it home. And as for the kids wanking on them, you just need to give it a good examination before you buy it. If it's chipped, or obviously flawed in some way, don't buy it. If it just has some grubby fingerprints on it, a good cleaning will have it looking good in no time. Caveat being, IF the price is right.

But I don't really understand all the GC bashing. You're the consumer. Do your homework, and look for the good deals. If you can't find a good deal, don't buy anything. My philosophy is, the more music stores around the better. Doesn't mean they're always gonna' get my business, but
they have done right by me many times...
 
#40
I have adjusted 4 or 5 truss rods in my local GC. Sometimes the tech will hand me the wrench and let me do it on his bench, and sometimes he will do it himself. I have always been able to tell if the rod is working before I would consider a bass. I bought two of them. Come to think of it, these were all used basses. I wonder if they would let me adjust a new bass? I know the tech would do it for me though, when I ask.

As long as you know the rod is working, and there are no fatal twists or warps in the neck, then yes, ANYONE can set up a bass.
 

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