First Things You Do When You Score A Used Bass

[mantrabass]

To put it simply- I just purchased a new bass from a fellow TB'er and I was wondering what steps most of you go through when you buy an instrument second-hand?

I intend to take it upon arrival to my local guitar tech to give it a once-over.

What else should I do?

& what do you do? Go on an equipment upgrading spree? Buy new odds & ends(strings, cables, picks, what have you)?

 

[IPA]

Play it? I think that's what basses were originally for, although looking at this board sometimes, I am not so sure

 

[FBS1996]

Restring it
Play it
Clean it (if necessary)
Set it up (if necessary)
Play the hell out of it

 

[Lonesomedave]

Play it? I think that's what basses were originally for, although looking at this board sometimes, I am not so sure

while i think maybe that could have been put more DELICATELY... I totally agree with the sentiment. play the S**t out of it for a few days, as this will tell you what, if anything, it needs in order to be comfortable for you.

after that, you will know if it needs anything to work properly. as far as sound, listen while you are playing and then see if you are satisfied.

if not, you can go from there with new PU's, bridges etc, but definitely play it for awhile before rushing into any new directions.

 

[insomniac2295]

Restring it
Play it
Clean it (if necessary)
Set it up (if necessary)
Play the hell out of it

+1

Almost every bass I've ever owned was bought used and this is exactly what I did to every single one of them.

 

[LexD]

I'd examine it carefully (know where all the scratches and dents are, if any) and give it a thorough cleaning if it's been anything short of meticulously cared for. On the same note, I always detail my car before taking it in for service so I never have to hear "it was like that when you brought it here..."

x-tra strings, cables, and a gig bag are the usual suspects.

 

[finalrequiem]

You mean BESIDES post about it here, right?

 

[Relayer71]

0) If bought by mail/carrier, play it, duh! Otherwise, on to 1)...

1) Perform the Dance Of Joy over saving $

2) Think about what to buy next with your saved $

3) Clean it

4) Play it

 

[berwick63]

I typically would do a once over on it, tighten up any loose screws, check the wiring out, sight the neck, check the truss nut. Make sure all the controls work as mentioned. Depending on the care that was previously taken, I might clean the fretboard, body, and bridge(sometimes they can get kind of gunky, if someone sweats a lot)

Usually, play it for a little while before doing all that though, just to get a feel for the new instrument.

 

[johnk_10]

1- i plug it in and play it.
2- i inspect the neck for straightness.
3- adjust the action, pickup(s) and set the intonation
4- restring/readjust it if the strings aren't the type that i use
5- gig with it

 

[Lonesomedave]

....

1) Perform the Dance Of Joy over saving $.....

happy happy joy joy - YouTube

HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY

 

[dvh]

Agree with these responses. Why take it to a tech unless there's something obvious that only he can remedy? In which case, the issue should have been something disclosed by the seller....

 

[PaulMacCnj]

New strings, setup, play, play, play...

 

[M.R. Ogle]

1- i plug it in and play it.
2- i inspect the neck for straightness.
3- adjust the action, pickup(s) and set the intonation
4- restring/readjust it if the strings aren't the type that i use
5- gig with it

I was going to copy/paste/re-arrange what FBS posted, but JohnK's later post was actually much closer to what I do.
(One more step between 3 and 4... check all the electronics for scratchiness, noise, or function. Of course.)

 

[FJR Rider]

Restring it
Play it
Clean it (if necessary)
Set it up (if necessary)
Play the hell out of it

+1

 

[singlemalt]

Hide one of the other basses so the wife won't notice a new arrival.

"That bass, no, I've had that one forever, it just hasn't been out in while."

 

[sj_bass]

Hide one of the other basses so the wife won't notice a new arrival.

"That bass, no, I've had that one forever, it just hasn't been out in while."

+1

I keep the gig bags in the house and the hard cases in the garage JUST for this reason...

but yeah, play the hell out of it first - if there's anything wrong with the bass, it's good to find out early.

 

[madbassplaya]

1- i plug it in and play it.
2- i inspect the neck for straightness.
3- adjust the action, pickup(s) and set the intonation
4- restring/readjust it if the strings aren't the type that i use
5- gig with it

This.

 

[Mound of Sound]

1) Turn around and trade it for something else that 'you have to have'.
2) Regret the trade.
3) Spend the coming weeks figuring out how to get the old bass back.

 

[mantrabass]

I'm 19, so no worries about "the wife" yet. "The girlfriend", however, is eagerly anticipating it's arrival as well. She's known how much I've wanted this.

I was just concerned for how mail carriers treat such large packages.. my biggest concern is to have it come and the box be tarnished. I'm also worried that during shipping the bass itself might need some fine-tuning afterward.