Guitar Center Purchase Condition 2 “Gently Used” - ?

Probably the same as other used basses you’ve bought. Some scratches and light dings. You can always return it if it doesn’t meet your expectations, although they usually have pictures of every used instrument.

 

Designation must be new for used instruments at GC, I've bought quite a number of basses through that site, it was "Poor", "Fair", "Good" and I think Excellent or Great back then. Each store seemed to have their own definition of what constitutes a good or fair bass, I've gotten used basses listed as "Good" only to receive something a little more beat up than I expected. All I can say is thank goodness for that return policy.
Gently used though probably means, some pickguard scratches (if there is one), a few on the body maybe, but I wouldn't expect there to be any major dings or belt rash on it, I would say those would make for a "used" rather than gently used bass.

 

Yeah their descriptions or subjective based on the store. I bought two of the same model bass from GC, both were labeled “good”. One was nearly pulverized, with nicks, dings, and chips over the body and the back of the neck. The other was literally NOS! You just never know until you get it in the mail, which can be fun

 

I got a Rockbass from GC a while back, store listed it as "good", it had more scratches and dings than what I would have expected but what made it particularly bad was that the nut was a DIY folded piece of plastic rather than a nut. I took it to my local GC and they repaired it for free, but couldn't believe the store where the bass was originally listed for sale listed the bass in good condition.

 

I believe the method they use to rate guitars is very similar to the Celtic ritual of sacrificing a rooster and reading the entrails for a sign from the gods as to which level the object that the blood was drizzled on should be rated.

 

I hate to say it, but mostly youngsters are in charge at GC these days. There are 20 to 30 year old "experts" there. And that means they all don't do well in evaluating instrument condition or even instrument value, much less have any experience enough to know what they are looking at. I went through that trading a real 1965 Hofner many years back.It was a total fiasco.

If there was a real difference, they'd have properly set up instruments on the floor for demo. But they don't. They tend to overvalue anything they sell, and undervalue anything you bring in to trade. So good luck in getting any real consistency in anything listed as used.

And it is really sad that they don't have better pics of what they sell used. I mean damn, all of them have cell phones talking with their buds or GFs. And they can't take pics of an instrument if you have an interest? Pitiful.

And BTW I see them list things totally wrong in the used section, and many times don't even get the Model of the instrument right. And certainly year of production, is not anything they have an idea of. Just saying. I'd think anyone could do better. My local Music store that has been in business for 4 over decades sure does.

No wonder GC is about to go into chapter 11.

 

I’ve purchased several used basses from GC used and never had a problem. Since the office where I’m employed is closer to the local GC than my home I have them sent there which makes it much easier to refuse it if it is not as described, but I’ve never had to do that.

 

No picture-no buyee.

 

Ah, Guitar Center.

I've purchased "Blemished" and received a bass that was immaculate.

I've purchased "Excellent" and received a guitar that had a half-dollar-sized chip in the paint (wood exposed) and more scratches than dog with fleas.

I've purchased "Good" and received a bass that had only the faintest of easily buffed out pick marks.

It's always a crap shoot, but the return policy is strong. My level of real condition skepticism with online used listings goes Ebay -> Guitar Center -> Reverb.

 

I bought a used bass from GC Online last November.
As I remember it was listed as"good" condition.

The only wear I found on it was this.

I'm not disapointed!

 

If it's being shipped from a warehouse, I'm guessing it was bought new and returned either through buyer's remorse, something someone just wanted to try out (ie. rent for a month) and return or maybe a return upon the insistence of spouse of buyer..lol In other words, it's a customer return not really one of the used basses bought and sold by GC, which is where the "fun" is. So I'm inclined to say it's gently used as advertised as returns have to be in almost like-new condition to get your money back. Post a pic when you do get it.
I've bought something like 30 basses from the GC used site in the past five years, most were what I was expecting, only a few were blatantly mis-categorized, a few were better than expected, even had the protective plastic still on the pickguards which were probably store returns.

 

I bought a bass here on TB that was listed as having some wear on it. When I received it I was a bit perplexed as it had considerably more scuffs and dings than pictures indicated. However, it is the best sounding best playing bass I’ve ever owned and is my current number one player. And I’ve put a lot more dents and dings in it ever since. Point is, cosmetics are not everything.