Is this type of bow even possible?

[jpmcbride]

He tried it before he bought it, and he paid cash. If he was claiming a truss rod issue that showed up when it was adjusted, then he might have a valid position. But the OP did not say that's the case. So given what we know, the deal is done.

My guess is he adjusted the truss rod not knowing what he was doing.

 

[nnnnnn]

I just found a video he made of demonstrating it last night and def didn't look like that.

I assume in the video he wasn't commenting about any problems with the instrument.

Make a copy of the video (don't just save the URL) as proof that it was working normally not only before leaving your house but after it reached his house. Then write or call back and say your know there was no issue before it left the house and he knows too because he played it before committing, therefore you can't accept a return.

 

[Nev375]

Did he change strings to a much heavier gauge?

If so, he just needs a proper setup, as anyone would.

If not, he's been trying to do that himself incorrectly.

 

[mcnach]

Did he store it against a radiator at home or something?

 

[sunnyday]

Could it be a neck bow caused by high string tension due to very low temperatures, like outside in a car for several hours or over night, without loosening the strings beforehand?

 

[ajschnitzelbank]

Maybe find a reputable luthier for him to bring it to and get it checked out? Then you can talk to the luthier and try to get to the bottom of what happened.

If I sold the bass and got a good amount, I’d personally offer to pay for the inspection/diagnosis (say, an hour or so of the luthier’s time, maybe a hundred bucks). But I don’t think you owe him that.

 

[ajschnitzelbank]

Good luck.

 

[Bassclef46]

There was no shipping was a hand to hand sale on which the buyer played the bass for around 3-5 minutes before buying.

I feel like if he played it then he had every opportunity to take as much time as needed to play and make his decision. He made his choice after 5 minutes and is now claiming it has issues when it didn’t leave in that condition. I don’t feel you need to do anything. Politely explain the situation and suggest he contact a tech to set it up for him. I would not return or even partial refund. He played it and was happy and it left in good condition. End of story IMO

 

[HardNHeavy]

He played it, he bought it.....buhhhbyee. who the hell knows what he did to it at home..don't see how the action got so high in just a day...maybe stored it in cold room, dropped it, or just being a pita about it and trying to RIP ya off

 

[loveandbass]

There was no shipping was a hand to hand sale on which the buyer played the bass for around 3-5 minutes before buying.

Tell him to pound sand

 

[loveandbass]

How are we to know the bass did not get shipped like that? All your photos are full frontals, making it impossible for us to know otherwise.

I was going to respond but your post isn’t worthy of a reply

 

[Nephilymbass]

View attachment 4150876 To avoid stories. I sold a bass and it looked like this:
View attachment 4150874
View attachment 4150876
guy who bought it just message me a day later after buying and sends me those pictures below of the neck and the neck heel which looks like it's coming out of the pocket or been unscrewed
I have no idea how the bass got like that but it didn't leave my house like that. I always have my action low and play flats.
I have a stellar rating and would have never sold anything that looked like that

Personally I don’t trust selling to individuals anymore unless it’s something relatively inexpensive and or indistructable like a pedal. Last few big ticket items I’ve sold I just took them to a GC some friends work at and they hooked me up. Sure GC doesn’t pay top dollar but by the time you pay fees and especially with today’s insane shipping prices it’s just not worth the hassle to sell gear that way anymore. Not saying it is the case but I wouldn’t be surprised if buyer received the bass, had buyers remorse and did something to it to justify a return.

 

[drewphishesp]

I consider myself a standup guy as far as these things go, I once paid for a repair for some internal electronics that came "loose" during shipping of a p bass. If he had buyers remorse and it looked like it did when I left my house. Cool message me say you don't like it and I'd take it back and sell it again, but there's no way I'm taking back a bass with a neck like that and I'd never have had it in the first place if the neck looked like that. I don't intend to use fb marketplace anymore. I gave this guy a good discount and 100$ off a good price too. I shoulda taken the 100 less at guitar center and just have been done with it.

 

[Ostie]

He messed with the truss rod and now it’s screwed up.

 

[levis76]

I was going to respond but your post isn’t worthy of a reply

Yet you did anyways?

To the OP, face to face cash sale, he was able to check it out before paying, liked enough to hand over the cash, was able to make a video about it assuming he liked it still, and now it’s messed up? Something isn’t right.

 

[backin82]

This happened to me once, but with an amp. Guy came to my house and played it through his bass with my cabs, purchased it with cash, and left. All was good. The next day he texted me that the mid control didn't work, and that he wanted to get his money back. I told him that I was unaware of such a defect, that he had checked it out prior to buying, and didn't see anything wrong at the time, so I refused to give him a refund. He was pissed, and told me so via text.

But I was confident that the amp was in working order prior to selling, and had zero clue what could have happened to it after the sale. No way I was going to take back a malfunctioning amp that some random person used for 12 hours when I knew it worked fine the day before.

It's the only time I've had an issue buying/selling in person or with cash.

Well.......except the time I sold a motorcycle to a guy that WRECKED THE BIKE ON HIS TEST DRIVE. Dude took off, was gone for a few mins, then came back with the brake lever broken off, turn signals, handle bars, and entire right side of the bike scratched due to him clearly laying it over on his ride. He said, "Man, this thing is way heavier than I'm used to. Not sure if I'll be able to handle this." I looked at him in utter disbelief. Several awkward moments passed in silence. Then I said, "You'll get used to it." in as firm a voice as possible while looking him directly in the eye. He took the hint, and was man enough to purchase the bike from me. Talk about a frightening moment!!!

 

[groooooove]

only thing that can do that overnight would be leaning it against a radiator, or something similar.

if he played it before he bought it, i have no idea what he thinks you can do about this..

 

[Kendescending]

I'm guessing he changed strings and really messed things up by totally loosening the truss rod, and going too far the other way, assuming it's a 2 way truss rod. Seems like some kind of scam. Maybe he dropped one of his weights on the neck? I don't trust like that!

In the pics, I see a set of strings on the floor and in one of the pics, the instruments look to be in disarray. I don't know what's up with the acoustic guitar (upper left corner), but it doesn't look to be in a safe spot.

 

[Mastodon2]

If he played it and bought it for cash then caveat emptor, he has no recourse. Either he has loosened the truss rod and allowed the neck to bow, or he has snapped the rod and it has bowed.

Maybe he has done it deliberately to squeeze you for some "repair" cash or maybe he just has buyer's remorse, either way, don't take that bass back, you don't know what has happened to it.

 

[Mickp]

He also has terrible socks.