I feel genuinely dissapointed.

[red_rhino]

No reason to keep one that you don't like.

^^^^This. Get what you want. The replacement is not to your liking; you should arrange a return. As others have mentioned, see if you can have the first one repaired under warranty and shipped back to you (possibly at your expense, if that makes it easier to negotiate). You've learned a valuable lesson.

The seller already picked up two extra shipping costs on a $675 bass. They already burned their profits on these extra shipping charges. Now you think the seller should pick up two more shipping charges in order to exchange it for the first bass again?!?!?!

Wow, really I am surprised at how none of you have any sympathy for this seller. Sorry, but the OP has been playing bass for 10 months. He knows nothing about setups, and he knows nothing about his warranty options. He doesn't even realize that these basses all have identical frets. He probably doesn't realize that different playing attacks require different actions for ideal playability.

The seller accommodated this guy to a reasonable level. Asking him to do more is just abusive to the seller. No one in America has any respect for business anymore. There is this pervasive attitude of "if a businessman has more than me, I have the right to abuse him".

Why are you assuming everyone is hostile toward the seller? If this is a commercial seller engaging in online transactions, that comes with certain responsibilities and risks. One of those responsibilities is the satisfaction of your customers. However, I do agree that the seller is under no obligation to ship multiple basses to the customer until they find one that's acceptable. At a minimum, the seller should agree to take back the second bass and end the transaction so that the customer is not stuck with a bass they don't want. Hopefully, the seller and customer can negotiate a repair and re-ship of the first bass so that both parties end up happy. That should be the goal.

It's too bad the seller (who has much more experience than the buyer in this case) didn't offer a repair solution. Perhaps if the buyer had more experience (and certainly does now), the outcome of this would have been different. I have no doubt that the seller felt that shipping another bass would resolve the problem, but alas, it did not.

And that is one of the risks of being in business (online or brick & mortar); there's no guarantee that every deal you do is going to work out. Sometimes you take a hit. It's not abusive for a customer to expect to be happy with their purchase; certainly not in this instance.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

In post #3 - the seller is a store. A lot of replies seem to infer that the seller is an individual. There is a good chance that the original bass, the "one", was sold again and no longer an option to receive. Even if not shipped, locating that exact instrument may not be possible. The store will have four shipments - two back and forth shipments - in total. On a $600 instrument, they're losing money and probably less inclined to ship another. The solution, unfortunately, involves a time machine and going back to keep the original instrument and taking it to a Fender authorized warranty center to be repaired. But how would you know that the replacement instrument would not have the same mojo. Looking at Guitar Center's inventory, it doesn't appear that this instrument is kept in stock at most stores, so hitting some local stores in search of something close to "the one" is not practical. I guess the only solution is to attempt to get the original back and return the replacement. Of little consolation, we all the "the one that got away" stories. I guess you just have to give it a shot.

 

[Matty Koff]

I think you hit them all, so if you're looking for a non-Fender higher end bass in person, you're looking at a trip to Atlanta, Nashville or Knoxville. The Yamaha dealer is Bill Jones Music in Ooltewah - but only through 5 PM Monday. I didn't even know they carried Yamaha guitars and basses (thought they were exclusively Yamaha pianos and organs) until their going out of business radio adverts yesterday. I called today and the lady told me they have two basses left - but couldn't be bothered to tell me the models. I'm betting they are starter to maybe lower intermediate though, which is fine for me but not for a professional. I seriously doubt I'll even run by this weekend as I have zero interest in Yamaha guitars or in most of their basses. Asking around, the only person that ventured an opinion said they were "very expensive", which is obviously subjective.

Chattanooga is a much better town for guitars, especially acoustic and resonators. The only basses I'd call high end that I've seen in the area are in Rossville - Warrior Instruments and Humbucker Music, which I think are owned by the same people. And Humbucker's almost never open and not particularly friendly unless they know you - but they do sell Suhr. Picker's Exchange and Guitar Center are the only places I've bought instruments, and none were basses.

It's not even that I'm interested in "high-end". I'd happy with a better selection of mid-ranged bass guitars. All of my basses were bought new for $850 or less. Anyway thanks for the collaboration my fellow 'Noogan.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I would be tempted to return and grab this: Fender Player Jaguar w/ EMG Pickups

 

[fhm555]

What is their return policy? If you are within that window, return the silver bass for a refund and Find One you like somewhere else.

 

[foothilla]

Why are you assuming everyone is hostile toward the seller? If this is a commercial seller engaging in online transactions, that comes with certain responsibilities and risks. One of those responsibilities is the satisfaction of your customers. However, I do agree that the seller is under no obligation to ship multiple basses to the customer until they find one that's acceptable. At a minimum, the seller should agree to take back the second bass and end the transaction so that the customer is not stuck with a bass they don't want. Hopefully, the seller and customer can negotiate a repair and re-ship of the first bass so that both parties end up happy. That should be the goal.

It's too bad the seller (who has much more experience than the buyer in this case) didn't offer a repair solution. Perhaps if the buyer had more experience (and certainly does now), the outcome of this would have been different. I have no doubt that the seller felt that shipping another bass would resolve the problem, but alas, it did not.

And that is one of the risks of being in business (online or brick & mortar); there's no guarantee that every deal you do is going to work out. Sometimes you take a hit. It's not abusive for a customer to expect to be happy with their purchase; certainly not in this instance.

Hostile isn't the word I would use,.....I would more say that there is a general disregard for the seller's time and money.

These mass produced Fenders are cut by precise, digitally controlled machinery. With a proper setup, most of them can be setup to play almost identically. As such, the first bass could have been easily repaired, but the OP opted for another bass. The other bass arrives after a winter trip in a shipping truck, and now the OP doesn't realize that this bass can probably be set up to play like the first one. So, now he wants to send that second bass back as well. I mean really, it's winter,...the bass has been in shipping trucks,.....a simple truss rod tweak and the bass will probably feel just like the other one. But, with only 10 months of playing experience, the OP doesn't realize any of this, and it has become the seller's problem.

Sorry, but if you look at the bigger picture, the seller has done enough IMO. Customer satisfaction is only a responsibility of a merchant when the customer has reasonable expectations.

 

[juancaminos]

Tell them you're not happy with the replacement and want the first one fixed.

THIS

 

[Koshchei]

Hostile isn't the word I would use,.....I would more say that there is a general disregard for the seller's time and money.

These mass produced Fenders are cut by precise, digitally controlled machinery. With a proper setup, most of them can be setup to play almost identically. As such, the first bass could have been easily repaired, but the OP opted for another bass. The other bass arrives after a winter trip in a shipping truck, and now the OP doesn't realize that this bass can probably be set up to play like the first one. So, now he wants to send that second bass back as well. I mean really, it's winter,...the bass has been in shipping trucks,.....a simple truss rod tweak and the bass will probably feel just like the other one. But, with only 10 months of playing experience, the OP doesn't realize any of this, and it has become the seller's problem.

Sorry, but if you look at the bigger picture, the seller has done enough IMO. Customer satisfaction is only a responsibility of a merchant when the customer has reasonable expectations.

I totally agree with you. If the instruments are of the same series and same year, they'll be within spitting distance of identical when properly set up. The bad old days of barbed wire frets, splinters, soldered paperclip wiring, and seized-at-the-factory hardware are over - these are machine-made, hand-finished facsimiles of the same CNC program.

If the OP wants to return the bass, they should, if it's in accordance with the seller's policy, but expecting them to find and re-ship the original bass back to them goes beyond the pale. My advice would be to get the silver one set up properly. There's no way that there's so much variation in Fender's assembly line that the two basses would be so different; Fender is a well-oiled machine that makes 350+ guitars a day. Rather, I think that it's partly the OP's inexperience and emotional investment in the first one that's clouding his judgement of the second.

 

[Mike Whitfield]

Unfortunately those smaller market music stores don't help the "I won't buy it if I can't play it" musicians that are living in big, expensive markets.

Small music stores are going away in a lot of big cities, not just California cities. There's no doubt the cost of doing business is brutal in big, expensive cities. But, retailers everywhere are realizing that it's cheaper to do online business out of a warehouse (as opposed to a store front). And now we have an even newer generation of retailers that are realizing that they don't even need the warehouse, if they drop ship.


Store front business is largely going away,...unless it's those rare retail shops that corner the "I need it right now business" (groceries, alcohol, hardware stores, auto supply, etc.). It makes me sad, but it's one of those situations where it's jump on board, or be left behind. I live in a huge market, and I already can't imagine limiting myself to instruments that I can find locally.

This is true, and as Matty points out those local stores which remain usually cater to beginners rather than to the professional (at any level) musician. We are fortunate to be a couple hours from Nashville, and due to the recording industry (and its session musicians) there are lots of great stores for guitar and bass. But in Chattanooga, it's easier to find an upright double bass than a high end electric bass. Still, we have some good independents, but there's nowhere one can walk in and try pro grade basses.

 

[red_rhino]

Hostile isn't the word I would use,.....I would more say that there is a general disregard for the seller's time and money.

These mass produced Fenders are cut by precise, digitally controlled machinery. With a proper setup, most of them can be setup to play almost identically. As such, the first bass could have been easily repaired, but the OP opted for another bass. The other bass arrives after a winter trip in a shipping truck, and now the OP doesn't realize that this bass can probably be set up to play like the first one. So, now he wants to send that second bass back as well. I mean really, it's winter,...the bass has been in shipping trucks,.....a simple truss rod tweak and the bass will probably feel just like the other one. But, with only 10 months of playing experience, the OP doesn't realize any of this, and it has become the seller's problem.

Sorry, but if you look at the bigger picture, the seller has done enough IMO. Customer satisfaction is only a responsibility of a merchant when the customer has reasonable expectations.

Respectfully, I generally disagree that even mass-produced instruments are that consistent. Differences in set up don't even begin to explain why a wall full of Fender basses all play, feel, and sound so different, even when made from the same materials. You are assuming a simple setup will make the customer happy. Perhaps it will, but perhaps it won't. Then what? The customer's time and money are impacted.

It's reasonable for the customer to negotiate a return of the second bass. It would set a low bar in this instance if the seller decided to wash their hands of the whole thing and leave the customer with a bass they don't like. I agree that there are instances where a customer's expectations are unrealistic, or their behavior difficult, but I don't think this is one of them. I would encourage the OP to contact the seller and see what can be done, keeping in mind that some flexibility may be required on both sides.

 

[Mike Whitfield]

I totally agree with you. If the instruments are of the same series and same year, they'll be within spitting distance of identical when properly set up. The bad old days of barbed wire frets, splinters, soldered paperclip wiring, and seized-at-the-factory hardware are over - these are machine-made, hand-finished facsimiles of the same CNC program.

If the OP wants to return the bass, they should, if it's in accordance with the seller's policy, but expecting them to find and re-ship the original bass back to them goes beyond the pale. My advice would be to get the silver one set up properly. There's no way that there's so much variation in Fender's assembly line that the two basses would be so different; Fender is a well-oiled machine that makes 350+ guitars a day. Rather, I think that it's partly the OP's inexperience and emotional investment in the first one that's clouding his judgement of the second.

If it's a small shop, they probably have no problem finding the first bass. But if I'm the seller I'm not sending back the blue one unless the OP is either paying shipping both ways, or paying for shipping the blue one AND agreeing in writing to give up his right to return the blue one, if it's even possible to give up that right under Mexican law. Otherwise I'd be afraid that I'd end up taking back the blue one again and would rather just cut my losses, even if that means eating the return shipping and losing a customer. Probably depends on how big a shop; a Guitar Center or Sweetwater would probably do it, but small shops operate on small margins AND small volume. You don't reinforce failure or pour good money after bad. Of course, the law of diminishing returns works against the OP as well - if he pays for shipping the silver one back and re-shipping the blue one, then he's paid half again as much for his bass as he intended.

And as you say, it's almost certain that a good set-up could make the second one play like the first one - IF the OP can somehow articulate the quality. Unless one knows hard dimensions, only way I see would be for him to work with the tech to find one in stock that has the feel he likes, then transfer those dimensions to his new bass. That's assuming that the OP has access to a good (and honest) technician who has enough reasonably similar stock to give him a good sampling to help find his sweet spot. Or failing that, access to a tech who's willing to take the time to make adjustments (and maybe recommend strings) until the OP is happy with the feel of the silver one - which, let's face it, will never be THE bass like the blue one could have been, if only because it's not the finish on which he had his heart set. Might be better to just sell the silver one and try again later.

At this point, neither the OP nor the seller can win or even break even. OP, I feel for ya buddy but you should have asked advice before returning the first one. Hey, don't feel too bad; I've done stupid with commas, this wouldn't even register in my top ten.

ADIT: And as Red Rhino says, definitely ask. Could be the seller will fall all over himself trying to make you happy and make you a lifelong customer - in which case I'm wrong and you can both win, after a fashion.

 

[mcnach]

Haven't heard from the OP for a while-- if he started a story of intrigue, maybe he can clue us in to the rest of it......?

really?

how impatient!
It was merely a few hours!

 

[ElectricBass72]

It's less about expectation/reality of imperfections that I'd readily see in person purchase, which is Not as Bad as it could be (they try their hardest to send good stuff) (Although I maintain it's healthy to not get your expectations up realizing accidents happen) And it's less so with basses and guitars that are relatively simple mass produced things...
It would be more inconceivable to buy a top level violin or a saxophone, flute or a trumpet without trying the same model in store at least preferably the actual instrument. Especially with violin/cello/viola etc., these things are made one at a time and vary greatly one to another. Minute differences make for huge differences in physical playing characteristics and tone and an advanced player sure can tell. Not a beginner...random selection is fine until they get many years into it.

Something I know about, trumpets, it isn't uncommon to buy on a pilgrimage (like to NYC or a horn store like Dillons in NJ) where you try every instrument in stock to find the "Good One." I have a friend who owns a Bach Strad 37 a local professional assessed against every horn in the store, and you know, it Is one of the good ones.

I also wouldn't buy 3rd world instruments without playing them. I own clay ocarenas from Peru, Indonesian ankalang, talking drums (Ghana), Indian Been and Dholak, Tibetan Gyaling, none of these would I buy on line because they are probably tourist junk. With the ocarenas sometimes I had to try 3 or 4 to find one with great sound because they are tourist junk but some play pretty well, some don't play at all.

Every once in a while here someone writes about how they bought the Ideal bass on paper, they get it via UPS etc., and it doesn't sound as good as old Bessie in the cellar, it's has no spirit...and it goes un-played. Maybe trying in person would be good for bass players too.

I agree with everything you've said about ethnic or orchestral instruments. I would want to try these types of instruments out too before I bought. However.... Fender, Squire, Ibanez, Rickenbacker, EBMM, Sterling, ESP, Gibson, Epiphone, etc.... are mass produced and the factories in Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, China... and the USA have mass production down to an art, especially over the past 2 decades. Like I said before... sometimes a few minor adjustments are required, but more often than not... they are ready to go right out of the box.

 

[Mike Whitfield]

Respectfully, I generally disagree that even mass-produced instruments are that consistent. Differences in set up don't even begin to explain why a wall full of Fender basses all play, feel, and sound so different, even when made from the same materials. You are assuming a simple setup will make the customer happy. Perhaps it will, but perhaps it won't. Then what? The customer's time and money are impacted.

It's reasonable for the customer to negotiate a return of the second bass. It would set a low bar in this instance if the seller decided to wash their hands of the whole thing and leave the customer with a bass they don't like. I agree that there are instances where a customer's expectations are unrealistic, or their behavior difficult, but I don't think this is one of them. I would encourage the OP to contact the seller and see what can be done, keeping in mind that some flexibility may be required on both sides.

I think you may be looking at a whole wall of Fender basses all playing, feeling, and sounding so different from your standpoint, but the OP has been playing months rather than years or decades. Personally, if the strings and set-ups were identical, I'm pretty certain that blindfolded, I couldn't tell any difference over a dozen Fender Player series basses. I just don't have the skills or the ears to pick up small differences. On the other hand, differences in factory set-up could easily convince me that they were different models/manufacturers from the feel and sound if I couldn't see better.

Of course, the OP may not have my limitations.

 

[Eric Swaim]

Return it to the store, get the other one back with the pickup fixed by them

 

[foothilla]

Respectfully, I generally disagree that even mass-produced instruments are that consistent. Differences in set up don't even begin to explain why a wall full of Fender basses all play, feel, and sound so different, even when made from the same materials. You are assuming a simple setup will make the customer happy. Perhaps it will, but perhaps it won't. Then what? The customer's time and money are impacted.

It's reasonable for the customer to negotiate a return of the second bass. It would set a low bar in this instance if the seller decided to wash their hands of the whole thing and leave the customer with a bass they don't like. I agree that there are instances where a customer's expectations are unrealistic, or their behavior difficult, but I don't think this is one of them. I would encourage the OP to contact the seller and see what can be done, keeping in mind that some flexibility may be required on both sides.

I've done literally thousands of bass setups. I've done more setups on post 1990's Fender basses, than any other bass. If we are talking about the same modern model Fender (of the same era) they are practically a digital facsimile of one another. They are cut on digitally controlled machines. The woods are the same, dried the same, etc.. If you set the neck relief the same, the nut the same, the saddles the same, the pickup height the same, and with the same strings...they are virtually impossible to tell apart.

If you have any twist/warp in the neck, a high fret(s), or any other anomaly,....then the above statement does not apply. But, In my experience if there is nothing overtly wrong with a mass produced Fender, identical models can be setup to feel virtually identical.

In the old days there was great variance in most manufacturer's instruments, including Fender. But these days those human inconsistencies have been eliminated by digitally controlled machinery. The perceived mojo in these mass produced instruments is a myth IMO. Take modern, unflawed, precision made instruments of the same model (like Fenders),...then add a good setup guy,....and those instruments can be made to play with a consistent feel.

 

[Richard Martin]

The OP has a Players series not an Aerodyne.

Yeah, I can see how they'd put a more expensive pickup into a cheaper bass.

 

[Mike Whitfield]

Had a brief conversation today with Bill Jones, the owner of a very successful Knoxville music store, as he is closing an unsuccessful music store in the Chattanooga market. We discussed his concentration on beginner instruments (which is shared by most music stores IME.) His explanation was that people buy more expensive instruments off the Internet from sellers who frequently charge ten percent over his cost. He can’t pay the rent at that markup. (I did not try pointing out that 10% of a $2,000 instrument is a lot more actual money than 30% of a $200 instrument.) So we have a chicken and egg scenario where B&M stores don’t carry mid to high level instruments because musicians buy them on the Internet and musicians don’t frequent B&M music stores because they don’t carry mid to high level instruments.

To tie it back to this thread, the OP wouldn’t be in the situation were it not for this Mexican standoff. (See how I tied that in? Damn I’m topical.) At a conventional music store, he would have selected or ordered the bass, discovered that a pickup wasn’t working, and had them fix it in a day or maybe in minutes. Nothing but a minor blip.

Unfortunately seeing the problem is not giving me any insight into solving the OP’s problem or the underlying societal problem.

 

[Mike Whitfield]

I've done literally thousands of bass setups. I've done more setups on post 1990's Fender basses, than any other bass. If we are talking about the same modern model Fender (of the same era) they are practically a digital facsimile of one another. They are cut on digitally controlled machines. The woods are the same, dried the same, etc.. If you set the neck relief the same, the nut the same, the saddles the same, the pickup height the same, and with the same strings...they are virtually impossible to tell apart.

If you have any twist/warp in the neck, a high fret(s), or any other anomaly,....then the above statement does not apply. But, In my experience if there is nothing overtly wrong with a mass produced Fender, identical models can be setup to feel virtually identical.

In the old days there was great variance in most manufacturer's instruments, including Fender. But these days those human inconsistencies have been eliminated by digitally controlled machinery. The perceived mojo in these mass produced instruments is a myth IMO. Take modern, unflawed, precision made instruments of the same model (like Fenders),...then add a good setup guy,....and those instruments can be made to play with a consistent feel.

For the vast majority of us, I think this is spot-on. At some level, I think people do develop an ability to distinguish between different examples. Wood from the same tree can vary slightly in density, stiffness, MoE, yielding a slightly different feel, a slightly different resonance, a slightly different sound. I’m not at that level; I will never be at that level. But then, I’ve never seen an atom either and I still believe in them.

 

[foothilla]

For the vast majority of us, I think this is spot-on. At some level, I think people do develop an ability to distinguish between different examples. Wood from the same tree can vary slightly in density, stiffness, MoE, yielding a slightly different feel, a slightly different resonance, a slightly different sound. I’m not at that level; I will never be at that level. But then, I’ve never seen an atom either and I still believe in them.

The OP didn't even mention sound (because the electronics weren't fully functional in the first bass), so up to this point I have been speaking purely about feel.

But, even in terms of sound, I think the debate over the difference in wood tones (in electric basses) is greatly over exaggerated. In acoustic instruments, wood matters, because the wood is your amplifier. But with an electric bass, the instant you hit that note it is transferred to your pickups, and out of your amplifier/speakers. How much can wood really impact that note in a fraction of a second?

Wood impacts the initial punch of a note, and it impacts the (over-valued) long sustaining notes. Beyond that, I don't think the wood has much to do with the sound of an electric bass. The note is much more impacted by the player's attack, setup, the string type, pickup type, preamp, amp, speakers, etc..

And the great "sustain" debate is always a funny one to me. How many bass players rely on long sustaining notes? Yet so many players are obsessed with sustain. I always wonder what their music must sound like, with all these long sustaining bass notes that they desire so much? In reality, you can typically get enough useful sustain for the average bass player out of a cheap instrument. As long as an instrument is setup decently, it's easy to make a big, fat string sustain.