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

[woodyng2]

I usually don’t have that option. Most basses i’ve bought online have turned out to be as good as i’d hoped for. Funnily,i bought a bass earlier this year that i did get to try out- twice- in a store before i bought it,and now after 10 monthes,I’m going cold on it.

 

[JimmyM]

I don't buy basses where I have to worry about it too much either way. As a matter of fact, I don't buy basses anymore. I got all I need.

 

[pravus]

My first two Dingwalls were ordered without having tried one first. One of them was a custom ABZ and took over a year to build. I did do some research first but ultimately it was a gamble that worked out well for me. My thought process was that if there was anything about them that I couldn't live with I could probably resell them for a decent price and I spec'd the ABZ with a fairly basic configuration.

 

[bass12]

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.

That’s the thing: wood is inconsistent. Doesn’t matter what brand we’re talking about. My second-to-last custom order was a Sadowsky Jazz. It was absolutely gorgeous but the notes of the first few positions on the E string sounded a bit lifeless compared to the surrounding notes. I went down to the Sadowsky shop and tried every NYC Jazz they had in stock and there was only one that passed muster sound-wise to my ear. Each of those Jazzes had its sonic quirks and that’s just how it is with wood. I discussed with Roger what I didn’t like about the bass I’d had built and he knew that what bugged me would very likely not bug someone else, so no problem - I was able to trade it in. On one hand it’s a frustrating reality of organic material (wood) but on the other hand that reality is what makes it so special when you find “the one” (or “a one” as the case may be ).

 

[NikkiVibes]

Im so fussy about necks and ergonomics. last time I went to the store I think I tried 6 basses and 3 were alright for me as far as necks go.
2 of them, I wouldve had hand issues regarding the neck shape within minutes of playing. Something about the neck shape and my thumb shape and angles or something.

I really feel I have to try before I buy.
But, If I have tried that particular brand and instrument before, I could feel safer ordering one without playing it first.

 

[TOOL460002]

1k? No problem. 6k? Problem. Granted I've never been in the market for something like that, so perhaps that's why I feel that way.

 

[tb-player]

1k? No problem. 6k? Problem. Granted I've never been in the market for something like that, so perhaps that's why I feel that way.

The good thing about returning a $6k bass is that you get 6-grand back and you got to play a really nice bass.

 

[jerry]

Basses I can afford are not usually found in stores I can get to.

Same here, I'm on an Island. I'm lucky, Lull's and Laklands seem to work out great for me.

 

[hbabels]

As long as I’ve done my homework research on the item and seller making sure there is some reasonable return policy if somethings not right then yeah no problem. I’ve acquired a lot of cool gear at some great prices that way.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

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?

Not here, but I don’t buy a lot of basses, exactly two over the last 43 years. One is a Fender, the other I bought from guitar center that came with a money back guarantee, not to mention a 30 day warranty, and the ability to extend it.

While I understand you are in a remote area, most are not and if at all possible, inspecting the bass before cash changing hands if preferable IMO.

As for buying online, it’s a great way to buy a bass... until it isn’t as all the tales of deals gone south that post on this board on a regular basis can attest.

 

[eliascalles]

the closest real music store to me is about 1100 miles away, so yeah I end up buying most of my instruments online lol.

 

[Real Soon]

Frankly...only one of the basses I currently own is one I got to try out before purchasing, and that was a 1960 Precision that I would've bought at its price even if I hated it. So far from that, I've invested in restoring it and it's never leaving my stable.

All the rest got mailed in, via official channels or retail outfits.

Sadly, I only got a really good idea of what specs and measurements I like after Atlanta Bass Gallery closed, so I had no choice but to take that route. It's been a gas, though. Speaking of which, practice time on the new 6-string

 

[sonojono]

As I read this post I just bought a bass from Poland, now granted I've had experience with this bass before but with the upgrades the previous owner did to it (added Aguilar preamp and custom fitted Bartolini pickups) piqued my interest at a price I could not pass up.

Now I know the gf will kill me but she's a bassist too so she gets it LOL

 

[Crispus]

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’ve just realized my current herd of 5 were all purchased without trying first. I was aware of the builder/quality, so less risk. 3 are definitely lifers, no plan to move the other two. Come to think of it, none of these were expensive and I really like them all! I am grateful!

 

[ezstep]

Clearly most of you guys are not left-handed. We are forced to buy before we try quite often.

Having said that, I have never been disappointed with an untried purchase. That might be due to serious research before said purchase. My last new bass - well upward of two grand, custom built with my choices of woods, color, top, radius, hardware, pups, tuners, etc. The luthier was in Seattle, and I am not. I was not able to try it out first. It is a keeper.

 

[MetalMaximus]

I’ve bought several (typically) used items without trying them first, but usually from Guitar Center. They never give me grief if I want to return something, and if it’s because there’s something wrong with it or the condition is not as-described, they’ll refund shipping.

That said, I have bought a couple of amp heads without trying them first and with no possibility of return (one on eBay and one on Reverb). It worked out fine. I wouldn’t do that with a bass, though. You can have a rack of 12 identical basses (brand and model), and they’ll all feel a little different. CNC construction has reduced variability, but there’s still variance in the wood itself, fret leveling and crowning, and nut cutting.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

I buy from Sweetwater. Their customer service is exceptional for retail....not just music retail.

While I don't normally do this, but I've had "shootouts" where I buy multiple like items. The one I like is the one I keep.

 

[tb-player]

I buy from Sweetwater. Their customer service is exceptional for retail....not just music retail.

100%. Sweetwater is great.

 

[Spectre Gunner]

As long as there is a fair return policy with no questions asked then sure. At least that way I can spend some time trying it out with my own gear and compare it to my other basses. In that case I’m much more likely to buy. Having to pay for return shipping is fair.
Otherwise, I’m reluctant to take the risk in the first place and no sale. I only return purchases about one out of ten times at the most.

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

most online retailers are cool about letting you return stuff.