I would NEVER buy a bass that nice without playing it first!!

[Gougedeye]

Every expensive bass I've ever owned was purchased with out laying hands on the instrument. At a certain price point, I feel pretty confident you're going to get a quality instrument. I have. Not one single fail...YMMV

 

[thabassmon]

Funny, all of the basses that I use were not tried out first, 2 of them were gifts and the third I bought online. I can comfortable play on any of them.

The only one that I tried in the store, and bought is the only Bass I've sold. An Ibanez AEB10 that I grew to thoroughly dislike.

Same goes for guitars with me, I do not think I tried any of them out first.

 

[Garret Graves]

If I can, I try them first. My Skjold’s were custom built, but other than that, and one other exception, they have all been store bought. With my Fenders, I like to feel the weight and test for the infamous dead spot. My last purchase was one I never thought I’d buy- a road worn P bass. It was in a small guitar shop, light as a feather and no dead spot at all, I fell in love on the spot, and it remains my favorite Fender, one of my never sell go to basses. If I only saw it online, would not have thought twice, but in playing it, I was sold.

 

[telecopy]

I’ve seen this said a lot around TB and I’m not sure I agree with it.

It seems to pop up a lot. Sometimes it's advice to someone looking for a bass-- "Don't buy it til you play it first." Sometimes it's talking about high-dollar basses-- "I'd never buy such an expensive bass without trying it out."

I understand this line of thinking. It kind of makes sense, in theory. But in my world, if I only bought basses I could play first, I’d have whatever Fender or Ibanez my local guitar shops have to offer.

Nothing against Fender or Ibanez. They make some wonderful basses. But I sometimes enjoy high-end basses too... and my local & regional guitar shops do not stock boutique gear (If they do, it's usually a fancy Les Paul or a Custom Shop Strat or Tele. Never a bass).

So I have two choices:
Choice #1: Fly to California, Chicago, New York or Florida to play the instruments that interest me, because no one within a couple hundred miles of my home sells Fodera, Sadowsky, Elrick, MTD, Suhr or even Nash. Sometimes I might see a PRS, Brubaker or Ken Smith in the DC area (a couple of hours away from me). But usually that's just one or two, and many times they're entry level instruments.

Choice #2: Shop online using Google & YouTube to get as educated as I can and buy guitars and basses without ever holding them in my hand or plugging them in.

Since return shipping is cheaper than airfare, I choose the latter. Almost every bass I’ve ever owned has been purchased this way. Most times it works out. But on the very rare occasion it doesn’t, the cost to send back a $6000 bass is pretty-much the same as a $500 bass (except for the insurance). And if dealing with Guitar Center (yuck!) or Sweetwater, they have really inexpensive shipping rates, so the return shipping is negligible, if they send you a label.

Dealers who sell online understand this risk. And as long as return policies are not abused, they’re happy to accommodate. That's why they're online. They understand we have to be able to try out a bass, even if we can't visit their showroom. And I assume that risk is factored into the cost of doing business?

Of course, I’ll do all the homework I can. But I will never let the price tag of an instrument keep me from buying, even if I've never played it (let's not get started on custom built basses... what a crapshoot!).

Who here buys basses without trying them out? Who refuses to do so? Why or why not?

I recently bought a new Aria SB1000 from a guitar shop in Japan. Made it all the way to the eastern US in five days with only the gig bag, not a lot of bubble wrap and a single layer box. The box looked pretty rough. The bass and bag were fine. Needless to say I was nervous about this purchase. It was not very cheap and it was semi impulsive. Not impulsive because I've always wanted one. Impulsive because I saw it and emailed the seller and he assured me it was new and was in his shop window and unplayed by customers. Out came the credit card. Was I lucky? I don't know. It worked out. Beautiful instrument and sounds terrific.

 

[got_the_bug]

I've bought a lot of nice basses sight unseen...mostly, used. Often, I end up selling them...sometimes, at a small loss, sometimes, breaking even...once in a great while, ending up ahead. I just chalk it up to the price of getting to try out nice stuff with a trivial rental fee.

 

[logdrum]

The only instrument I bought online was my Universal Hybrid 7 by Wes Lambe/Clay Conner and Charlie Hunter. I already played a Wes Lambe 7-string that I saw in 2 shops in the Bay Area, California, so I was already familiar with their ergonomics. Clay Conner was helpful enough to hook me up with an owner who wanted to trade in an early production and he was just up the road in Denver so reduced shipping rates and the same mile high dry climate. I probably have a rarely used bass body material - a big hunk of cedar. Cedar is usually only used for acoustic guitar top. I was not disappointed at all and this is the only guitar/bass I haven't touched to adjust string intonation or action or pickup heights. It was playable right from the start and I think they are all that way.

For some reason I trust Ernie Ball and G&L (US) better than Fender if I have to buy a bass online again.

 

[logdrum]

It is sad that Bass San Diego finally closed doors.

 

[bass12]

I voted “yes” but I can’t say it’s ever without worry. I always prefer to try a bass out before buying whenever possible, but trying first is often not an option with the vast majority of bass brands that interest me. My success rate with buy-before-try is mixed, with the majority of experiences being disappointments of one kind or another. I have a picky ear, so I can easily be let down by a bass. I sometimes read comments saying that you “can’t go wrong” with certain brands but in my experience that notion just doesn’t hold water. You can go wrong with any brand because each bass has its own personality and quirks.

Of course, there’s something to be said for the experience of placing a custom order. It’s a thrill to choose specs and, if you go with a fancy top, to choose specific pieces of wood. That experience, along with the excitement of the wait - and of knowing you’re getting something made specifically for you - can make it all worthwhile for some. And yes, having a return option (like the one provided by Sadowsky - even on custom builds) offers considerable peace of mind.

 

[Gyver]

I have purchased roughly 15 basses / guitars online from Reverb and eBay over the years. All of them were in the $900 - $1600 price range, and all but two were used. None of them had any issues other than some needing major set ups, which I did myself. I think the key is to read the auction descriptions closely, check the sellers feedback, and ask questions if you are unsure about something. I also rarely buy anything that does not have several high-quality photos and a detailed description.

 

[Zoffy]

The last two basses that I bought were from Sweetwater and were bought without trying them. One I really like and one I like okay enough. But neither one would be something I would return. I changed out the pickups on the "okay" bass and now I like it much better (in fact, it's my main gigging bass). None of my basses are high-end and maybe if I were dropping a lot of coin on a bass I would set my standards higher, but generally I keep what I get. Of course I research the heck out of something before I buy it...

 

[Fender_Bender]

Wood is an organic material that is certainly not consistent. A bass may be totally functional and setups well but if the neck/body combo do not mesh well you could end up with a dead sounding instrument. I had to return one of the fabled Fiesta red Squier Classic Vibe p basses because the E string sound was much quieter and dead sounding compared to the rest. And yes, I tried 3 different sets of strings (and pup heights etc) including TI flats with the same results. There was something unharmonious going on there.

 

[Nebadon2000]

"I would NEVER buy a bass that nice without playing it first!!"

If it's 'That Nice' What's the Problem?

 

[flatrat]

I've bought plenty of instruments (basses, guitars and ukulele's) online, without playing them first. I've had positive experiences with all of those transactions and instruments.

To let the instrument adjust to the climate, I give them about 6 months to settle before getting a professional setup or passing judgment. I've found that it takes the instruments about that long before they stabilize and stay in tune.

 

[LowActionHero]

I'm not super picky, so I'm usually comfortable doing lots of internet research and ordering online.

But most of what I buy is used and has some sort of guarantee, if only 10 days.

 

[Bass Viking]

I sometimes read comments saying that you “can’t go wrong” with certain brands but in my experience that notion just doesn’t hold water. You can go wrong with any brand because each bass has its own personality and quirks.

Yeah, I hate that phrase. A fanboy of Brand X will say that, even though there's no guarantee it's your cup of tea.

 

[Passinwind]

24514583[/URL], member: 142921"]i suppose if you are stuck on playing it first, you would never have the amazing experience of owning a bass custom made to your specs - especially for you.

Actually, I had a bass made (mostly, as with most custom builds) to my specs, visited the luthier a few times while it was in progress, and had right of refusal. And yeah, that was an amazing experience and I’d highly recommend it.

And like my buddy @JRA, I don’t feel that my experience and rationale is all that relevant to anyone else, especially those who don’t strongly dislike selling stuff as much as I do.

 

[tb-player]

Actually, I had a bass made (mostly, as with most custom builds) to my specs, visited the luthier a few times while it was in progress, and had right of refusal. And yeah, that was an amazing experience and I’d highly recommend it.

And like my buddy @JRA, I don’t feel that my experience and rationale is all that relevant to anyone else, especially those who don’t strongly dislike selling stuff as much as I do.

I've gone through 4 custom builds. Each time I learned something more about the process and about what I like. As a result, I finally believe I'm ready for the big one. So I've ordered a Sadowsky, picking every detail. It will be 7-10 months til its in my hands, but I have high hopes it will be the perfect bass for me.

With regard to not feeling your experience is relevant to anyone else, a message board is an odd place to hang out... lol. I've learned a lot here, mostly from other people's experiences... less from their opinions.

 

[tb-player]

"I would NEVER buy a bass that nice without playing it first!!"

If it's 'That Nice' What's the Problem?

I just returned a $6000 Sadowsky for refund. It happens.

 

[ShawnG]

I’ve seen this said a lot around TB and I’m not sure I agree with it.

It seems to pop up a lot. Sometimes it's advice to someone looking for a bass-- "Don't buy it til you play it first." Sometimes it's talking about high-dollar basses-- "I'd never buy such an expensive bass without trying it out."

I understand this line of thinking. It kind of makes sense, in theory. But in my world, if I only bought basses I could play first, I’d have whatever Fender or Ibanez my local guitar shops have to offer.

Nothing against Fender or Ibanez. They make some wonderful basses. But I sometimes enjoy high-end basses too... and my local & regional guitar shops do not stock boutique gear (If they do, it's usually a fancy Les Paul or a Custom Shop Strat or Tele. Never a bass).

So I have two choices:
Choice #1: Fly to California, Chicago, New York or Florida to play the instruments that interest me, because no one within a couple hundred miles of my home sells Fodera, Sadowsky, Elrick, MTD, Suhr or even Nash. Sometimes I might see a PRS, Brubaker or Ken Smith in the DC area (a couple of hours away from me). But usually that's just one or two, and many times they're entry level instruments.

Choice #2: Shop online using Google & YouTube to get as educated as I can and buy guitars and basses without ever holding them in my hand or plugging them in.

Since return shipping is cheaper than airfare, I choose the latter. Almost every bass I’ve ever owned has been purchased this way. Most times it works out. But on the very rare occasion it doesn’t, the cost to send back a $6000 bass is pretty-much the same as a $500 bass (except for the insurance). And if dealing with Guitar Center (yuck!) or Sweetwater, they have really inexpensive shipping rates, so the return shipping is negligible, if they send you a label.

Dealers who sell online understand this risk. And as long as return policies are not abused, they’re happy to accommodate. That's why they're online. They understand we have to be able to try out a bass, even if we can't visit their showroom. And I assume that risk is factored into the cost of doing business?

Of course, I’ll do all the homework I can. But I will never let the price tag of an instrument keep me from buying, even if I've never played it (let's not get started on custom built basses... what a crapshoot!).

Who here buys basses without trying them out? Who refuses to do so? Why or why not?

I also live in a major metropolitan area and asked in another thread where exactly all these people were going to comply with their “try before you buy” advice/recommendations. I wasn’t looking at anything that “boutique” (a USA Geddy Lee and a Sadowsky) and there weren’t any to try within a four-hour drive of the 4th largest metroplex in the US. And those that were 4+ hours away (Austin) had new instruments, and I wasn’t interested in paying new prices.
So I did my internet research and found what appeared to be a very good condition used GL at a Music Go Round in Kenosha, WI. The guys there were great, answered all my questions and sent me several hi-rez photos of the bass. The price was right and I bought it. It showed up in like-new condition for 2/3 the price of a new bass.
I found a used Sadowsky here on TB from a very reputable seller who communicated excellently. Again, I made the purchase for a price I thought was reasonable and it also arrived in near-mint condition. Another positive experience.
Neither of these purchases had good return options (Music Go Round allowed for 48-hr return, which would have been ok if the bass showed up in lousy shape, but not really long enough for me to determine if it was going to be the bass for me).
But, and this is a big but, in both cases I paid a price that made me comfortable that I would be able to recoup most, if not all, of the expense (maybe minus shipping) if it didn’t work out. I was pretty sure that I would be able to move either of these basses via the classifieds here if they weren’t a good fit. Luckily for me, that hasn’t been the case.
“Try before you buy” is excellent advice, but very difficult to put into practice, IME.
SPG

 

[Passinwind]

I've gone through 4 custom builds. Each time I learned something more about the process and about what I like. As a result, I finally believe I'm ready for the big one. So I've ordered a Sadowsky, picking every detail. It will be 7-10 months til its in my hands, but I have high hopes it will be the perfect bass for me.

With regard to not feeling your experience is relevant to anyone else, a message board is an odd place to hang out... lol. I've learned a lot here, mostly from other people's experiences... less from their opinions.

I’m just not so sure that my buying habits matter to many, but yes, TB is an extremely odd place to hang out, and I like it that way!

Best of luck with your next build, knowing exactly what you want puts you way ahead of where I’ve ever been as a buyer.