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

[Tosh]

there's always an element of risk, but I'm willing to take a chance from time to time.

I'm interested in an Emerald Balor but I don't think there's any chance I could try it before I buy it. Still need to find the coins...

 

[Passinwind]

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.

I have the great luxury of working with and for a pretty great luthier whose shop is about two hours away from me, and I can readily take a bass or two home for a few weeks just about any time I care to. That leads to GAS surprisingly rarely and in most cases it actually works just the other way. The first bass I got from him was a return from an endorser and was defintely nothing I ever would've ordered without having played it, sincer both fretted basses and fivers just aren't normally on my radar. It needed a different electronics package to really blossom and I never committed to trading for it until I got that done to my satisfaction. The second one was built out of NOS parts for a discontinued model that we selected together, and I had never even broached the subject of getting another bass from my friend, he just really wanted me to have a fretless one since he knows that's essentially all I play. He played both of the two fretless BGs I owned and managed to top them both in one build, let me set the trade value, and delivered it with no electronics installed beyond the custom pickups so I'd have a blank slate to work with. To say I'm spoiled would be an understatement, I think.

 

[skwee]

I have such varied opinion on this (read: inconsistency?):

I ordered a $150 EAB from Musician's Friend years ago that has been wonderful and consistent. Love it. My Fender Jag Deluxe was purchased barely used from a Music-Go-Round, and I definitely needed to play it for awhile to understand how great it was going to be. My Steinie Spirit was something that I was looking around for used for a long time (I saved about a hundred bucks doing so), but wanted to play one to make sure.

Now I'm looking for an telecaster (guitar) addition to the stable, and am considering just ordering one, even though the price point is higher than I'd like it to be without playing it beforehand. This may influence whether I order from Sweetwater (trust their setup and QC better), or GC (for ease of return if I don't like it).

 

[JW56789]

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.

This would mirror my experience and outlook, with the additional caveat I NEVER buy from individuals UNLESS it's a local Craigslist or word-of-mouth transaction, face to face. With an established business, they have procedures in place for exchanges or returns.

I've been at this a long time. I also am not prone to buying 'white whales' that would have very narrow resale options. I do my homework, may shop for a relatively long time for the right deal, and am not the kind of guy to send a bass back for 1mm different string spacing or a pound or two either way. I can read the specs, have a fairly good idea what I'm looking at, and buy when everything fits into place, I'm not going to get GAS and buy on impulse.

 

[Matt R.]

Being left handed, I always laugh at that “try before you buy” stuff.

 

[tb-player]

This thread is coming back to haunt me now. Last night, I saw a Brubaker for sale in the classifieds and I snapped it up. I've been looking for a nice but not too flashy Brubaker for a while, but never seemed to find the right fit. This one looks great. Cool thing is, this morning I reached out to Kevin Brubaker. Since he's kind-of nearby and the bass is from 2011, he's agreed to take a look at it once it arrives, just to make sure everything plays well... just another reason I like boutique basses. The builders are usually super helpful.

 

[gtmalone]

It depends. Probably no problem with a retailer but would check the return policy. Something from eBay or CL, I don't know. Would depend on the bass, price, condition, feedback, etc. I would probably drive a couple of hours if it's something I really wanted.

I have a '98 Carvin BB75F and a '99 Carvin BB75. I was a little worried about the mail order thing but had heard folks talk highly of them. Carvin had a 10 day return policy so I took a chance. I liked the BB75F so much I bought the BB75. They are the blue and yellow in the avatar pic. The BB75F was about 1000 at the time. (options: blueburst, headstock match, straplocks, Hipshot, string E-C, tweed case). The BB75 was about 1200 (options: flame maple top, headstock match, gold hardware, straplocks, Hipshot, string E-C, tweed case).

The BB75 is my favorite bass especially through the Ampeg B15N and PF500/PF210 amps.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Over the last thirteen yeas,I've bought four TuneTWB63 six string basses.
Three were out of a "brick and mortar"

The fourth time it was from GC Online out of S.Carolina.

Didn't have to play it before I bought it.
I knew what I was getting.

 

[alexbib]

I'm interested in an Emerald Balor but I don't think there's any chance I could try it before I buy it. Still need to find the coins...

I wouldn't do that if I were you...

Unlike many other posters in this thread, I've had lots of problems with instruments I bought without trying first. The worst one is definitely the Balor (unless you count the instrument that FedEx completely lost and that never got to me lol). I'd tried a few at their shop during a visit to Ireland and they'd seemed well made. The one I got was a complete lemon.

Try it first is good advice, but indeed it's not often possible because most nice basses are fairly rare.

 

[Bob_Ross]

I'm not sure I would say "no worries" so I didn't select option #1 in the poll -- there's always a certain degree of uncertainty when buying something sight-unseen -- but I have definitely bought basses without having played them first, including the most expensive one in my collection.

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

A little story of waiting on a bass.
I had ordered a custom built Spector USA NS4 fretless. And even specified a 9 1/2 inch radius fretboard. And a beautiful Bahama Blue matte finish. Likely 6 months delivery.

I was called by the person in the USA shop that the strings I had sent to them to set that bass up with, were not acting right. This was a personal call to my cell phone, while I was purchasing Hurricane preparation stuff here in southeast Texas.

I had said I had a second set of strings to send to him. But would have to wait. BTW, if the strings I had sent were working alright, the bass would have been in the mail (already paid shipping on)

That hurricane preparation was for Hurricane Harvey. We got hit by Harvey. Flooded all Postal Centers and all Delivery centers. Shut off electricity and all normal services for a few weeks. Had Spector USA shipped my $6K bass it would have been floating in a flooded Houston FedEx center and would have been ruined.

Thank God the string intonation wasn't right. Eventually it was shipped and the strings set up properly.

Never played her until she showed up a couple of months later. But she is a beauty and my #1 fretless.

.

 

[tb-player]

A little story of waiting on a bass.
I had ordered a custom built Spector USA NS4 fretless. And even specified a 9 1/2 inch radius fretboard. And a beautiful Bahama Blue matte finish. Likely 6 months delivery.

I was called by the person in the USA shop that the strings I had sent to them to set that bass up with, were not acting right. This was a personal call to my cell phone, while I was purchasing Hurricane preparation stuff here in southeast Texas.

I had said I had a second set of strings to send to him. But would have to wait. BTW, if the strings I had sent were working alright, the bass would have been in the mail (already paid shipping on)

That hurricane preparation was for Hurricane Harvey. We got hit by Harvey. Flooded all Postal Centers and all Delivery centers. Shut off electricity and all normal services for a few weeks. Had Spector USA shipped my $6K bass it would have been floating in a flooded Houston FedEx center and would have been ruined.

Thank God the string intonation wasn't right. Eventually it was shipped and the strings set up properly.

Never played her until she showed up a couple of months later. But she is a beauty and my #1 fretless.
View attachment 4011854

View attachment 4011855
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Whoa! That’s a divine intervention from the bass gods kind of story.