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

Do you buy a piece of gear without trying it out?

  • Yep. No worries.

    Votes: 316 74.4%

  • Only inexpensive stuff.

    Votes: 45 10.6%

  • Only from a retail establishment.

    Votes: 46 10.8%

  • Never.

    Votes: 18 4.2%
  • Total voters
    425
#121
Nearly all basses purchased online will be fine. Unless there is some glarring issue which usually shows up on those cheaper basses or other instruments.

A several thousand dollar instrument ought to be perfect since their reputation depends on it. When people complain about trying first they are usually looking for fit, finish, weight, neck feel, etc. Generally speaking, at that dollar, they are various flavors of fantastic.

The only bass I have tried before purchasing was my newest '62 reissue p bass since the neck is notorious for being exceptionally wide (by modern standards) so I tried it first, thought about it, and went for it (and got used to the neck).

If it's a fantastic bass, and not some super weird or niche design (I'm looking at you headless, single cut, 7 string, fanned fret, neon green bass) you should be able to resell it at nearly the same cost.

I have a fool proof method for buying online:
1) research the bass, the makers reputation, and read reviews.
2) find a great deal
3) don't be a baby/ snowflake about details.
 
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#122
As a DC guy myself, I highly recommend a train ride to NYC for high-end bass shopping. In case you just can't leave the store without it once you find it.

My last time looking for an instrument, a couple years ago, I tried lots of high end stuff and ended up vibing with something half the price of that stuff, and had my local guy order one. For your main instrument, I think you gotta play it to know.
 
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#123
My solution to this has been buying used at a price I'm comfortable enough with that if I don't like it, I can sell it for basically what I paid. That way, I got to give it a try and am basically only out the cost of shipping. Same with amps, and guitar equipment.
 
#124
Bought my original 4003 Rick new without trying. I knew this would be a very good bass but not until I received and played it just how good. Would I do it again? Yes definitely with well known stuff, you can find experiences all over the internet so it's easy to get a reasonable grip of what you're buying. Unknown instruments would depend on the price.
 
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#125
Bass Viking said:
I agree with your post except the part about “trash”. Instruments in general are much better than they were back in the day. But you’re correct about the high end stuff. “Try before you buy” is a fantasy.
Click to expand...
I mean trash in that it is common cookie cutter blah I have no interest in. The instruments may be OK, but they are boring AF, and entry level, throw away instruments.
 
#126
My 8 basses were all bought online, 7 were bought new. No problems with any of them.
There's hardly a bass or guitar made today that doesn't play worlds better than the lousy instruments I first started out on.
I'm also adaptable, it doesn't have to be just so for me to play it.
 
#127
BarfanyShart said:
As a DC guy myself, I highly recommend a train ride to NYC for high-end bass shopping. In case you just can't leave the store without it once you find it.

My last time looking for an instrument, a couple years ago, I tried lots of high end stuff and ended up vibing with something half the price of that stuff, and had my local guy order one. For your main instrument, I think you gotta play it to know.
Click to expand...
If you’re from DC, do you remember the good ol’ days when you just drove to Chuck Levin’s and Veneman’s to find a great guitar? I miss those days.
 
#129
I typically read reviews and have developed pretty strong preferences over the years. But even the same model high end bass from same manufacturer are “different”. I play a lot of different basses and I feel like I could get used to anything “but a rock in my shoe”. Some of my favorite basses are surprises that developed over long periods of ownership. Not something I could assess at a brief demo. Conversely... some of the basses I loved at 1st ... no longer get played much.
 
#130
The higher the price, the better the return policy should be. Its the cost of doing online business these days and if I'm shelling out the cash and can't try before I buy its a must. Bought three of my five basses online and love 'em!
 
#131
Funny how so many people here are talking about ergonomics but very few have mentioned responsiveness. To me, finding a bass that works ergonomically is pretty easy. Finding one that has the responsiveness/tone I want, on the other hand, can be quite difficult.
 
#132
I used to buy online, but then I purchased an absolute dog of a bass. With the neck actually the shape of a dog's hind leg. The 12th and 14th frets lifted out completely after a day, and the control cavity was stuffed with newspaper. Yep, some guy call tb-player or something.
 
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#133
Passinwind said:
...I wouldn't think twice about flying to CT or wherever to make sure i got it right the first time.
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While not an upright. My last purchase was done with a deposit then a weekend trip to where the bass was. I wound up taking home the one I put on hold but not before trying several others. It was a big mom and pop place with a basement full of tasty items and I was there anyway so why not make sure I was happy with my new bass.
I've bought sight unseen but only a few times. I've been lucky in that none of the new basses I bought that way had any issues that a good set up and fresh strings wouldn't address but I only do that if it's the only way I can get what I want. I'd much rather take a mini vacation to try out a bass. I realize that adds to the cost of an instrument, but it's not like I'm doing it all the time and there is also the frustration and uncertainty associated with waiting on a mail order bass and the aggravation of trying to decide if I want to keep it and address issues, or return it and wait for a replacement, maybe multiple times, before I finally get to settle down with my new bass. To avoid all that drama I just make a little get away vacation out of bass shopping if there's one I'm really interested in. Fortunately I don't feel any compelling need to add another bass to the the household so these little trips are rare, and always fun. :D
 
#134
I like to try before buying if possible.

That said, all of the basses that I was able to try out in person before purchase have been sold. My current #1 and #2 basses (Lakland 5594 and Fender Roadworn Jazz) were bought online from the other side of the country, without even seeing one in person, based on reviews, videos, and a hope that they would be as good in person as they looked on paper. I feel lucky that both worked out great.
 
#136
It is something I would have been wary about in the past, but out of the six basses I have bought online, I've only had cause to return one. Of course, if the distances had been within an acceptable range, I would have taken the drive and given it a whirl first.
 
#137
I purchased the majority of my basses online without trying them. While I'm down to just one bass now, I had up to 14 at one time and had at least 25 pass through my hands. I never had any issues with buying this way; granted, these were all new instruments.

Making this work requires a few things. First, you have to know yourself and what you like, what's important to you. Second, you have to do your research to figure out what you're trying to buy, what others' experiences have been, etc. Lastly, you have to find the sellers that are reputable and good to work with. If you do all of these things, your experience will likely be good.

Of all the basses I bought this way, some resonated better with me than others, but I wouldn't have known that unless I owned them for a while. I only had one with QC issues, but those issues would not have surfaced if I had tried out the bass first - it took owning it for several months to find out.

Anyway, I think most "sight unseen" purchases may go badly more so for used basses or from non-business sellers. Mostly, I think that most of the issues come from impulse buys.
 
#139
I've been playing since 1968. I currently have a dozen basses. Of those twelve, I acquired seven electric basses without playing them first. I played both double basses and my Azola, before I obtained them. The only electric basses I got to play before buying were the two I bought new; the other seven were used, and admittedly, a roll of the dice. My attitude with electric basses has been to buy only those I can afford to buy in cash for a price that will enable me to sell and break even, exclusive of shipping and fees, if I don't like them. So far, so good.
 
#140
Jack Butler said:
That seems like an error I couldn't overlook. An affinity is OK for it's price point, but no way I'd want to pay the price of an upgraded standard for an affinity.
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For sure, they did credit me back for the return of the tobacco burst (I always take screenshots of online purchases) and showed them thier error and what I indeed purchased was a RED standard with SD pickups so after some back and forth it was resolved but I now stay clear of GC purchases.
 

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