How much do you TRUST your favorite bass guitar manufacturer?

[lenorules1950]

The fact that I treated my first Precision like crap for years, yet it still plugs in and plays reasonably well, makes me a Fender fan for life.

 

[St Drogo]

When it comes to companies (larger ones), trust should go out the window. It's just bad sense to "trust" a conglomerate of people whose only reason to exist is to make you give them your money. Sure, on a personal level there's probably more ideals to it than that ("I want to make the best bass ever", or "I want the public to have faith in us") but in the end any large company's funded on taking your money. And that's not the company's fault either. It's just the way things go.

IMO. And E.

Of course that's not really relevant, because you're looking for consistent build-quality, right? So. I'll shut up

 

[Ian Perge]

I made the decision a few years ago to only make my major gear purchases (basses, amps, speakers, etc - I'll still grab pedals and cables from Musician's Friend ) from a company or deal of their goods where I can call up have ask a question to someone in the actual shop or even the person whose name is on my gear.

Since then I've had numerous conversations with Mike Lull and Roger Gee of Mike Lull Custom Basses, PJ Rubal (Artist Rep., Customer Service) of Spector Basses, Carey, Stu & Mike from Nordstrand, Dave Noss of Avatar Speakers, Voodoo Labs (Pedal Power 2+ power suppplies), Pedaltrain, Brian of Loop-Master...

And I've never had such wonderful service in my playing career... as well as conversations with plain great people!

 

[TechJunky]

My two favorite manufacturers (Warwick and EBMM) put out quality products, and between the models I've owned and played elsewhere have always been put together well, the only issues being poor setups. I would definitely trust them to send a quality product if I were to order one. I'm not as sure about Warwick, but I know EBMM does a really good job about making things right in the event something were wrong too.

 

[Dr. Love]

+10. Carvin really cares about their QC. And, because they ship direct, they have no one else to blame. I remember getting my LB-76, opening the case, and being floored by the perfection.

Another vote of confidence for Carvin. I'm 3 for 3 on them being winners. The first and third ones were purchased sight unseen. They all sound great, with very consistent feel, quality, and beauty.

 

[paganjack]

Am I the only one that would rather just buy used stuff? I suppose it's partly economics, I can't afford to take the hits on new items, and why not buy something that has already stood up to time a bit?

I'm biased, since I'm a huge fan of 80's Japan Fenders...

 

[Kenner]

3 of my fave basses were bought sight unseen over the interweb....the other 2 were test driven first...and bought new.

 

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

One of the reasons I like Ernie Ball Music Man so much is that their quality control is top-notch. My two Bongos didn't have any flaws when arrived. I've helped some of my students to get some of their products as well, with the same results.

 

[bassplayer8953]

Buying new, before I pull the trigger, i make sure there's a no-questions-asked return policy (in case the particular item is a lemon) and that there's a decent warranty. Other than that, 'ya pays yer money & takes 'yer chances...

...on used, it's a crapshoot, no matter who the mfr is, somebody can get into it & mess it up. Use paypal (tied to a credit card) and be willing to call them on it if the item is a POS.

 

[Matt Wilson]

I play EBMM and trust that the instruments will be built to a high level. Setup by retailers, not so much.

 

[Roy Vogt]

I trust Carvin 100%. If I don't like it for ANY reason, I send it back for a full refund, no questions asked.

What he said.....

 

[Mayers]

Up to date Carvin hasn't disapoint me. I have purchase 3 basses from them I certainly will again in the future.

 

[Mr_Sore_Fingerz]

Out of the box, my Ibanez SR500 played GREAT and still does. No fender bass that I've bought has been good out of the box. I dig Peavey stuff and I'm sure their cirrus basses play good out of the box too.

 

[somegeezer]

My favourite bass manufacturers only do online. =P Custom made to order stuff shipped directly. So I'd have no option bus to trust them. Although, buying anything, online or not... You should get some sort of returns option and most gear will come with some sort of manufacturer's warranty. My Gallien-Krueger has lifetime warranty on it. Because they know their gear is worth it. I think manufacturers are the ones that need to trust themselves, just as GK do.

 

[Baird6869]

I don't really trust any manufacturers.

+1.

I don't DISTRUST the manufacturers, but IMO it is the retailer that has to make things right.

I recently had a huge problem with a brand new RIC and the dealer took it back as defective (no $&!t as the neck was screwed from the factory!) with no questions asked. Turns out that RIC is making it very difficult on the retailer (one of RIC's largest) to return the bass in question. The retailer may take a $1300-1500 hit (which is wrong) and I am 100% reimbursed. This is the way it shoud be though.

I guess I do trust some of the smaller guys like Sadowsky, Roscoe, Dingwall and Lakland as all direct dealings IME have been great.

I am a Fender guy, but all of my Fender "issues" have been front-ended by retailers, so my direct experience with Fender directly is non-existent.

 

[Busty]

Don't buy a Hohner, that's all i'm gonna say… Otherwise i don't want to rely on a manufacturer
and especially on the need for a manufacturer or a customer support anymore…
But i guess the problem's solved whenever you bought a handmade (boutique) bass which you've been able to follow
through the whole building process like i see on a regular bas(s)is here… you'd be already be in contact with
the guy who built it so he would shurely be the best advice and most reliable technician…

The overall reply IMHE = knowing a reliable independent luthier who's able to repair (most of) the defects!

 

[A-Step-Towards]

I guess i "trust' musicman, cant afford it though.

 

[spade2you]

Rob Allen, Chris Stambaugh, Cliff Bordwell 100% and in no particular order. Job done and to amazing quality. Not bad prices, either.

 

[Yakob]

I trust Fender because their customer service is ace and the instruments are great to begin with...

 

[HEADLE]

I'm an Ibanez fan and even the cheap ones I've purchased on-line have needed very little to make them very comfortable to play. I expect to set up any bass I buy so no worries.

H