GC New bass damage... thoughts?

[InNoRush]

You 7 strings players are picky, aren't you?

No, I only play fingerstyle.

 

[CGremlin]

Not a chance that I'd keep that.

 

[FerK]

Nope, nope, nope. Back it goes. 200 bucks off a NEW $1000 instrument for that level of cosmetic damage...nope.

 

[FritzM]

Heck no. Typical GC.

 

[Black Sabbatical]

If you picked it up in the store, would you buy it? Imagine going in, seeing it in that condition, would you even bother asking for a discount? Personally, unless it plays better than anything I'd ever touched or heard of, it would be a big no from me.

 

[Doctor Morbius]

You guys are looking at this the wrong way! It's a "relic" so he got a bargain!

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I just received a btb747 from GC. Ordered online... apparently there was only 1 in the entire country that GC had, so they had to ship me one that was sitting in a store. The guy from the store called me and warned me about "shop damage" to it, so I was at least expecting it.

Got the bass today, damage was a bit more than I had expected. See photos.

I'm on the fence about this one. I got an additional managers' discount for the damage; all told (after the already-discounted price I paid + the additional discount) it'll be like $800 for the "new" bass. I'm wondering what other folks might do in this situation.

Second, I'm on the fence about the bass itself. Any suggestions on what I need to do to make sure that I don't get hit with a "wear and tear" charge from GC if I decide to return it altogether?

If you pick up the bass and it plays, feels and sounds awesome, if it brings to joy and bliss, then the cosmetic issues would not cause you any problems whatsoever.

My US Lakland 4460 was bought here on TB, and was EXPENSIVE. It was described as "used". When I initially examined it, I was a bit annoyed at all the dings and dents on it. However, it plays and sounds better than any other bass I've ever played. The dents, dings and scratches do not bother me anymore. After about a thousand or so gigs I've done with it, it actually has acquired even more wear.

 

[DukeCC]

I buy scratch and dent all the time. The only really troubling part of that unit is the neck ding, and nobody plays up that high anyway. If it played well I'd keep it--but only at the cost of $500. That isn't scratch and dent--that is gouge and impale.
I'm not a 7-string player though. My expectation is that those basses have a more high-end appearance (and be played in higher positions, lol). So I'd probably expect to be shopping in more the $2k range for those instruments anyway--if I would ever be in that market, which I wouldn't. YMMV

 

[SBassman]

If you pick up the bass and it plays, feels and sounds awesome, if it brings to joy and bliss, then the cosmetic issues would not cause you any problems whatsoever.

My US Lakland 4460 was bought here on TB, and was EXPENSIVE. It was described as "used". When I initially examined it, I was a bit annoyed at all the dings and dents on it. However, it plays and sounds better than any other bass I've ever played. The dents, dings and scratches do not bother me anymore. After about a thousand or so gigs I've done with it, it actually has acquired even more wear.

No doubt - when a bass just feels and sounds great, it renders the cosmetics all moot.
Willie Nelson with the hole in his guitar can relate.

But, that bass was inappropriately priced. That's not store wear. That bass was abused, and the discount should have been 2X.

 

[rtslinger]

If this is being sold as new with some damage I would have sent it back the neck gouge is too much.
On the other hand to me floor model (store beater) is used and most of the time abused which as you mention you were expecting and got a discounted price. I look at it like this, is the discounted cash that stay in my pocket enough to have this bass brought up to snuff?, if not I'd send it back.

 

[nilorius]

Well if he worned You about the bass damage, You could ask for fotos and nuance script before buying it, to be shure for Yourself. Now, i think there is nothing You can do as try to fix these damaged places and play happily.

 

[Lowbgalaxy777]

I found this imperfection on my new 5 string when it came in from GC. I ordered natural satin and they sent wine red... I didn't take it back, because they knocked $200 off the price and gave me a decent trade in value. It might have been a QC issue from Gibson, but who knows. The indented edge on the side is a birthmark. But, I don't know if I could handle the head and neck damage. Take it back.

 

[Searay]

At this point, I would find it hard to purchase anything from GC.

 

[Bjm272]

I took another close look at it; I noticed some deformation (flattened spot, about 1") on the bottom of the bass. That must be where the bass hit the floor when it fell. I'd attach a photo, but I doubt the damage would show up in a photo.

On a whim, I took the panel off the control cavity. There were broken pieces of black plastic inside? I'm not entirely where these came from... the electronics in the cavity are green (circuit boards) and white (connectors). The only black pieces I could find were the output jack and the cover itself, but those seemed to be in fine shape. Maybe the original cover was broken/shattered and replaced (but the tech didn’t bother cleaning up)?

I'm pretty set on taking it back. At this point, I'm just documenting everything I see in case someone else stumbles across the bass in their travels and is thinking about buying it. Serial number is 181200888, just in case someone confuses this with another one or if a store tries hiding some issues I've found w/ shop repairs.

 

[dalkowski]

File under "Unacceptable."

 

[-Asdfgh-]

If that was more than 50% list it should go back.

 

[bobdabilder]

999 new at sweetwater. Not much of a discount for the damage. I would return it.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

I took another close look at it; I noticed some deformation (flattened spot, about 1") on the bottom of the bass. That must be where the bass hit the floor when it fell. I'd attach a photo, but I doubt the damage would show up in a photo.

On a whim, I took the panel off the control cavity. There were broken pieces of black plastic inside? I'm not entirely where these came from... the electronics in the cavity are green (circuit boards) and white (connectors). The only black pieces I could find were the output jack and the cover itself, but those seemed to be in fine shape. Maybe the original cover was broken/shattered and replaced (but the tech didn’t bother cleaning up)?

I'm pretty set on taking it back. At this point, I'm just documenting everything I see in case someone else stumbles across the bass in their travels and is thinking about buying it. Serial number is 181200888, just in case someone confuses this with another one or if a store tries hiding some issues I've found w/ shop repairs.

OK, more than 33% of list and it should go back!

 

[Ostie]

Unless I bought that for pennies on the dollar, I wouldn’t keep it.

 

[Phlipper]

I've ordered a lot of used equipment from GC but I always have it shipped to my local store so I can send it right back if I need to. I even take my tools stay long enough to go thru a basic setup. I've been lucky though. Got a used SR400EMQM maple neck for $350 that Reverb wanted $450 for. Looked like it just came from the factory. But I've just been lucky. That's all.

Just thought ... if anyone ever wanted something used from the Fayetteville store I'd be happy to go check it out to save a brother the hassle of a return.