First Things You Do When You Score A Used Bass

[Jazzdogg]

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

+1 Although I usually examine the bass closely for shipping damage before plugging in.

 

[fjadams]

Play it a bit, then take it to my tech for a complete setup and restring.

By complete I mean, check neck and adjust, check frets and dress if necessary, check electronics and clean or resolder if needed, restring, set intonation, check pickup and or pole heights, tighten up all hardware, and whatever else the tech thinks it needs. This costs between $35 and $150 depending on how much work he thinks it needs.

Well worth it for a perfect player when I get it back.

 

[Westie808]

Restring and setup.

Warning: Finger cheese exposure from the strings of a used bass is known to cause such ailments as vampirism, lycanism, zombism and in rare occasions, guitardism.

+10

 

[grendle]

Glad to know I'm not the only one who does this!

I also insert "tools", "stereo gear", or "computer peripherals" into the above declaration depending on the situation.

+1

Fishing equipment and boat /car goodies also fall in this category.

 

[newbold]

Shield the cavity with maple syrup. Makes it play and sound sweeter. I always stick to a bass that's oozing like that.

 

[Lammchop93]

1. Post a thread about it on Talkbass
2. Clean it up and make it look pretty
3. Post pics on Talkbass
4. Setup and Restring if needed
5. Play the crap out of it!

 

[jk47]

Restring and setup.

Warning: Finger cheese exposure from the strings of a used bass is known to cause such ailments as vampirism, lycanism, zombism and in rare occasions, guitardism.

I'm still hoping to find that right mix of used bass vampirism and lycanism cheese so Kate Beckinsale will fall in love with me

Anyway, the first thing I did when I got my used bass was go on the internet to figure out how to set it up myself. That's how I found this site.

 

[mikeswals]

First thing: dump the strings and clean the fingerboard really well.

 

[Jaco D]

Sending it to a tech to give it a once over is a good starting point. For all you know, it might not even need a setup if the previous owner knows his stuff (If you're buddy-buddies with the local tech, this might be just worth a six-pack). Go on an upgrading spree? Unless there is something wrong with the axe or there is something that bothers you, leave it alone. Upgrading for no reason at all is throwing good money after bad.

 

[aus_bass]

1. Thoroughly clean
2. Restring with flats
3. Complete setup
4. Play / Enjoy
5. Convince the wife what a great deal I got & how much $$ I saved.

 

[fishdreams]

Any used bass (played in) bass, I plug in and play for a few weeks without tampering, incl. rehearsals and gigs-just to feel it under all kinds of circumstances, get to know it, let it set itself to my local humidity levels and so on...then I might choose different strings (it might take me a while to determine which ones) and then I do a set up. Then maybe to the tech guy, if necessary.

So really, relax. Give yourself and the bass a chance ;-)

 

[deeptubes]

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."

LOL!

I've had a Fender HM for 6 months that my wife still hasn't seen. One of the beauties of working on the road!

 

[A-Step-Towards]

Tear it apart

 

[msb]

PIMP.

Tramp

 

[darkstorm]

1. check for any signs of damage and excess neck bow. If neither of these are found priceed to step 2.
2. Check every screw and nut on it and tighten any loose ones.
3. Plug it in to see if everything works for controls.
4. Give it basic setup fopr personal taste pref for action.
5. Adjust pups to taste for best sound to you.
6. Play it some more.

 

[Brad Johnson]

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. And if necessary pull it apart and clean it up and make sure everything is tight and adjusted to my personal specs. The final test is gigging with it to see if it's a keeper.

All of this stuff can be done by you, strings being the only out of pocket.

 

[NOT]

Love it