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How would you grade this bass?
- Thread starter tbz
- Start date
Man. The only reason I can think of for that reeking is the wood is rotting. Either that, or the seller is questionable as funk and not only does he have weapons grade sweat. Not only does he shower on a leap year. He probably spilled a dark, treacle like substance over it from a device which is found in every second college dorm room. On several occasions.
Also. Those dings. I don't even know if this is good condition. I'd say fair. The smell is a big deal breaker. Sorry this arrived in such a state. I imagine you looked forward to it.
Also. Those dings. I don't even know if this is good condition. I'd say fair. The smell is a big deal breaker. Sorry this arrived in such a state. I imagine you looked forward to it.
How old is it? Year is in the S/N.
It's obviously been played, from the look of it by a working player, whom from my experience, unless they're OCD, don't polish the brass and the like. The small marks are small. I sounds to me like you were looking for a closet queen and didn't get one. As for did it meet some arbitrary grading scale, well those are very subjective and personal and what's 'excellent' to you might be 'fair' to someone else with different experiences and expectations. Try to get the Reverb conditions upheld in court, because I doubt you will as they're so vague and subjective.
The smell will go away with a wipe down and a $2 bottle of vanilla essence cleaner like what I use in my fridge. If the case smells too, pray it down and leave it outside in the sun. It probably shouldn't smell and that been noted, but it's not like it lived in a septic tank.
I assume every single instrument I buy will require, new strings, a set up, a clean, maybe the pots cleaned and a fretboard oil at minimum.
It's obviously been played, from the look of it by a working player, whom from my experience, unless they're OCD, don't polish the brass and the like. The small marks are small. I sounds to me like you were looking for a closet queen and didn't get one. As for did it meet some arbitrary grading scale, well those are very subjective and personal and what's 'excellent' to you might be 'fair' to someone else with different experiences and expectations. Try to get the Reverb conditions upheld in court, because I doubt you will as they're so vague and subjective.
The smell will go away with a wipe down and a $2 bottle of vanilla essence cleaner like what I use in my fridge. If the case smells too, pray it down and leave it outside in the sun. It probably shouldn't smell and that been noted, but it's not like it lived in a septic tank.
I assume every single instrument I buy will require, new strings, a set up, a clean, maybe the pots cleaned and a fretboard oil at minimum.
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Dont see too much wrong with an older bass.
If described as excellent and charged top dollar for that reason, then maybe I'd send it back but otherwise ask for money off to reflect revised condition.
Sounds more like buyers remorse to me.
If described as excellent and charged top dollar for that reason, then maybe I'd send it back but otherwise ask for money off to reflect revised condition.
Sounds more like buyers remorse to me.
Except for what looks like some buckle rash on the back most of what you circled is the grain of the zebra wood. So far as the brass goes get som Flitz from Amazon and that’ll shine up like new. What I wanna know is how it sounds. My Epic is a beast. I’d also like to know what you paid for it. Keep in mind that a stock Epic goes for $9500 now. I wish you had shown a pic of the serial #. That would tell what year it was made. The first 2 #’s are the birth year so you can tell how old it is. Finally, alembics are the best instruments you can get. I don’t care what anyone says. I’ve been playing for close to 60 years and have played them all from custom made to off the rack and I can tell you that they are the finest instruments made bar none. Mine was 26 yo this past December and it still looks and sounds like new. So clean up the brass, get rid of those round wounds and give it a good set up. You might find you got a bargain-that is if you didn’t mistakenly return it yet.
Smooth_bass88
vaxx!
- Oct 31, 2006
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If that’s the case then the description of the condition is pretty spot on for a 33 year player. That’s why I ask.
Appearance wise I agree. As far as funky smells nobody can really know other than OP. I will say if the house it came from is a nasty house and it's been there for years that smell isn't just gonna go away. Sadly there are many people who dont realize thier house and clothes stink because they've become used to the smell and don't notice it. I had a bass show up in a case with a distinct "filthy house" smell. I pitched the case immediately as it was all in the fabric. I cleaned and oiled the bass, kept it for many months and the smell was always there.
If OP paid top dollar for it and wants a partial refund or to return it then I think he's within his rights.
This is in response to some others, I don't see that as buyers remorse at all. Why should he have to accept a product that wasn't as advertised, especially one with such a significant price tag?
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Because it points to reason re buyers remorse.
If its a 30 year old bass, then i think the condition is reasonable, but depends on the price that was paid.
Not sure about the smell thing but the only thing that matters is what the OP wants to do about keeping the bass.
Looking for endorsement here doesnt really matter.
If its a 30 year old bass, then i think the condition is reasonable, but depends on the price that was paid.
Not sure about the smell thing but the only thing that matters is what the OP wants to do about keeping the bass.
Looking for endorsement here doesnt really matter.
I bought a Fender precision body once and it stunk like B/O. It was horrible. I stripped it down and cleaned multiple times with Lysol disinfectant wipes.
I couldn’t smell it any longer but it took a lot of disinfecting….
Some people sweat all over their basses and then put them back in the case that way. Yuck!
Return and get money back. This bass was probably handled as s h i t in a gumid environment for a long time. Disgusting! Ew.
I think others have already asked the obvious.
What year was it made?
How does it play?
How does it sound?
It wasn’t advertised as mint and once you are outside of mint it becomes very subjective very quickly! A 30+ year instrument with those imperfections could be construed as excellent, if it were an early 60s Fender it would be excellent in many circles.
Buying is a two way street, if aesthetics are important one can always ask for more detailed pics
Ultimately, if you decide to return it I don’t think it will be a loss to you or the seller as I’m sure you’ll find an instrument that will satisfy your needs and the seller will find a buyer that will be happy with the bass.
When I buy older instruments I’m not looking for case queens, those are crazy expensive these days. I’m really concerned with the truss Rod, modifications, neck issues and remaining fret life. Provided there are no large chunks of wood missing I don’t really care. I buy instruments for sound & playability, my preference of course…
People pay for instruments to be made to look like they’re old and have been through the ringer! Im not one for the relic phenomenon because I much prefer the real deal, I do look at my instruments and their scars and wish from time to time they could speak as I’m sure they’d have some good stories to tell!
What year was it made?
How does it play?
How does it sound?
It wasn’t advertised as mint and once you are outside of mint it becomes very subjective very quickly! A 30+ year instrument with those imperfections could be construed as excellent, if it were an early 60s Fender it would be excellent in many circles.
Buying is a two way street, if aesthetics are important one can always ask for more detailed pics
Ultimately, if you decide to return it I don’t think it will be a loss to you or the seller as I’m sure you’ll find an instrument that will satisfy your needs and the seller will find a buyer that will be happy with the bass.
When I buy older instruments I’m not looking for case queens, those are crazy expensive these days. I’m really concerned with the truss Rod, modifications, neck issues and remaining fret life. Provided there are no large chunks of wood missing I don’t really care. I buy instruments for sound & playability, my preference of course…
People pay for instruments to be made to look like they’re old and have been through the ringer! Im not one for the relic phenomenon because I much prefer the real deal, I do look at my instruments and their scars and wish from time to time they could speak as I’m sure they’d have some good stories to tell!
Bass is a 95.
Not quite sure what age has to do with it. I’ve purchased 30 year old stingray case queens listed as “excellent”. Condition was factually excellent.
Those basses didn’t stink and they were not covered in nicks and belt marks.
Folks that are claiming those are just wood features may need to check again with better resolution. Circled marks are almost all scratches that go against the grain. Outside of one or two of the circled lines that could be argued as “wood features” despite being pretty deep.
This is a walnut top with mahogany back btw. For the guy that mentioned Zebrawood lol.
Condition matters. I bought this over several other Alembic epics on sale that were also listed as “excellent” as this had the best price.
Not quite sure what age has to do with it. I’ve purchased 30 year old stingray case queens listed as “excellent”. Condition was factually excellent.
Those basses didn’t stink and they were not covered in nicks and belt marks.
Folks that are claiming those are just wood features may need to check again with better resolution. Circled marks are almost all scratches that go against the grain. Outside of one or two of the circled lines that could be argued as “wood features” despite being pretty deep.
This is a walnut top with mahogany back btw. For the guy that mentioned Zebrawood lol.
Condition matters. I bought this over several other Alembic epics on sale that were also listed as “excellent” as this had the best price.
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Only if that were a Fender Custom Shop bass with a relic spec and it didn't stink that might be accurately described as being in excellent condition.
