Smooth_bass88
vaxx!
- Oct 31, 2006
- 12,122
- 16,793
- Disclosures
- have been on nationally released albums, charting on the Billboard 200
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
How many Basses do you Return per Year?
- Thread starter Hardbassjunkie
- Start date
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,042
- 45,890
- Disclosures
- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
Zero point zero zero over 49 years. But I’ve only ever bought one bass without trying it, which was a custom build with full return rights, and based pretty closely on a model I had tried.
What bass is it? You can PM me if you prefer.Since returning to bass playing in 2002 after a 17 year hiatus, I've only returned one bass. It was a boutique bass by a builder who no longer builds. It was purchased from a well-known and 'reputable' store in the USA. The photo on the website was of the bass when it was brand new. When I got it it had numerous minor scuffs and marks. I liked the bass enough that my plans were to keep it, in spite of it not being minty fresh as represented.
After closer inspection I noticed the neck was 'curved'. Not twisted, but curved. Imagine a long railroad car sitting on a curved section of track. Looking down from above the railroad car represents the bass strings, the tracks represent the neck. The neck curved underneath the strings. As I recall, on the treble side the G string was much closer to the edge of the fingerboard at the 10-12th fret than it was at the nut and 24th fret.
The day after receiving the bass I called the shop. The owner basically told me I was seeing things. I wasn't. I had to pay shipping back to the store (no surprise), plus he wanted to charge me a restocking fee. We argued over that, but he finally relented and agreed to refund the restocking fee. He told me that he would never do business with me again. I was several steps ahead of him on that sentiment.
I knew he would post the bass for sale as soon as he got it back. He did. Sadly, it eventually ended up with a Talkbass member. He sold it in the classifieds here. It caused a major falling out between the two TB members when the buyer discovered the same problem I had observed. This story makes me sad. I still think about how much that bass spoke to me in feel and tone.
M. M.
i've returned i think two basses ever, because they were not as described. one had a broken truss rod (reverb seller tried arguing it was 'in good playing condition' since the action was playable to him... hah!) and i got a good deal on a fender custom shop jaco model but it looked like someone took a router to 4" or so of the epoxy, it was totally trashed and that was undisclosed.
aside from that, i haven't returned a bass. thankfully!
if you're in a situation where you really cant try before you buy, it makes sense. a bass i played in the store first i'd be hesitant about returning.
aside from that, i haven't returned a bass. thankfully!
if you're in a situation where you really cant try before you buy, it makes sense. a bass i played in the store first i'd be hesitant about returning.
I haven't returned any basses this year, last year, or ever in fact.
Any bass I have bought new, I've either sold or traded on this website, Kijiji (haven't posted forever on that site), or eBay (just once, never again!).
Funny enough, the first bass I actually has at my home was rental which returned after a week.
I did have the option to buy that bass, but opted to buy another 4 string bass off a local musician instead which was my very first bass. That was 25 years ago now!
Any bass I have bought new, I've either sold or traded on this website, Kijiji (haven't posted forever on that site), or eBay (just once, never again!).
Funny enough, the first bass I actually has at my home was rental which returned after a week.
I did have the option to buy that bass, but opted to buy another 4 string bass off a local musician instead which was my very first bass. That was 25 years ago now!
The only bass I've ever returned is the fretless Douglas in my profile pic.
When I received it, the routed slot underneath the individual bridge saddle for the B string was too small to remove the string without loosening the saddle to get some wiggle room. I figured this out when I tried to remove the factory installed flats, because I don't like them.
I didn't want to mess with it and risk damaging something and voiding any chance of warranty, so I sent it back to Rondo. I told them I really wanted the bass rather than a refund, so they suggested that they could fix it and send it back to me. Given the instruments they sell, I'm sure it's not the first time they've had to do a little modification to make an instrument playable. I was ok with that arrangement, so I took them up on their offer. It probably cost them more for return shipping from me, and then shipping it back to me a 2nd time, than I paid for the bass. I still have and play that bass just about every day.
I have not ever returned an instrument just because I didn't like it, though I don't have an issue with anyone doing so if that is the policy of the seller. Most online music instrument retailers know that they have to offer such a policy or many people would not buy an instrument that they can't hold in their hands and play first.
When I received it, the routed slot underneath the individual bridge saddle for the B string was too small to remove the string without loosening the saddle to get some wiggle room. I figured this out when I tried to remove the factory installed flats, because I don't like them.
I didn't want to mess with it and risk damaging something and voiding any chance of warranty, so I sent it back to Rondo. I told them I really wanted the bass rather than a refund, so they suggested that they could fix it and send it back to me. Given the instruments they sell, I'm sure it's not the first time they've had to do a little modification to make an instrument playable. I was ok with that arrangement, so I took them up on their offer. It probably cost them more for return shipping from me, and then shipping it back to me a 2nd time, than I paid for the bass. I still have and play that bass just about every day.
I have not ever returned an instrument just because I didn't like it, though I don't have an issue with anyone doing so if that is the policy of the seller. Most online music instrument retailers know that they have to offer such a policy or many people would not buy an instrument that they can't hold in their hands and play first.
Once I’ve eventually made the decision to purchase, I don’t return anything unless the item is damaged or not working correctly. Even then, I wanted the item which is why I purchased it, so if it was a minor issue I might accept a discount or for bigger issues a replacement.
If you’re having repeated issues with buyer’s remorse, you aren’t spending the time to try out and decide what you want. Did a pushy salesperson talk you into buying it or offer a special deal only good if you bought it that day? Those are the kind of traps most of us are smart enough to avoid, but that may be the only valid reason that returning an item you had remorse buying may be acceptable.
If you’re having repeated issues with buyer’s remorse, you aren’t spending the time to try out and decide what you want. Did a pushy salesperson talk you into buying it or offer a special deal only good if you bought it that day? Those are the kind of traps most of us are smart enough to avoid, but that may be the only valid reason that returning an item you had remorse buying may be acceptable.
I’ve never returned a new one. Not sure I’ve ever bought new except for a Glarry actually lol. Out of the maybe 150 I’ve owned I sent back 4. One was a disaster sold by an honest eBay seller who knew nothing about basses. One was a guitar center piece with some hellacious ski jump. The other 2 were probably largely communication/misaligned expectation issues, but they were resolved relatively amicably. I consider that a decent record given that almost all of those were bought site unseen.
Interestingly the first 2 returns above were vintage peavey foundations. Great basses but good lord I had a run of bad luck with them.
I’ve never returned one due to buyers remorse.
Interestingly the first 2 returns above were vintage peavey foundations. Great basses but good lord I had a run of bad luck with them.
I’ve never returned one due to buyers remorse.
I've only owned 7 electric basses since 1984, and never a return for me. With each instrument, there was always a period of adjustment and sometimes a "honeymoon phase", but never a situation when the instrument's qualities were far beneath my expectations.
Nope, I've never returned a bass, either. Sold a bunch but I've never needed to return a bass from a shipper. I don't buy many new ones and the ones I have always worked out, but I did just buy one that had a broken tuner. But GC gave me $50 off and Yamaha's sending me a new tuner, so I'm good with that 
I don't think it's a badge of honor. More like, I can't understand not doing some research and not buying on a whim. With PayPal's return period, not sure I really want to sell anything larger than a pedal on TB if half the membership is so fickle.
I’ve only ever returned one bass, and that was because the truss rod was seized, guitarcenter had no problems taking it back
Ya, it's no badge of honor. I'd have returned them if I didn't like them or felt I otherwise got ripped off. But I knew what I was buying, I can set up almost any bass to play dreamy, and with some of them I just plain didn't expect much out of them
Without the instrument in hand, anything goes. Research only takes you so far. What if you get it and it just doesn't feel good? No amount of research can prevent that, but I'm still going to return it even though it is not defective.
This is true. But if that happens, I give it as good a setup as I possibly can, and it's always changed my mind about basses I didn't like.
