• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Lacquer finish problems

Should I keep the bass

  • Keep

    Votes: 14 73.7%

  • Return

    Votes: 5 26.3%
  • Total voters
    19
M

m_u

Guest
Mar 1, 2017
23
15
Melbourne, Australia
#1
Hi everyone, I am not sure where to post it but i think this Is a right place.

I bought a 2004 musicman Stingray5 for approx 800$ (I live in Australia). When it arrived I found that on the back side of the body there are wave like lines in lacquer finish. They are about 0.2mm height and can be recognised if you touch them. They affect aprox 1/3 of the back of the body and you can draw in almost perfect rectangle around them. It is hard to explain so please look at the photos.
I suspect the the bass was stored in very humid place but I am not shure.
I have 2 options - to refund the bass, or ask the seller to refund me some money and keep it. I am not very confident what is the right decision so I decided to ask here.

Thanks
image5 (1).JPG image3.JPG image1.JPG image7.JPG . image14.JPG image11.JPG image4.JPG
 
Last edited:
#3
  1. Totally up to you, as it was your purchase, not mine.
  2. If it would have been mine, returning it would definitely be an option, especially if seller did not offer description/pic of said 'flaw'.
  3. It is on the back, and the mirror-like finish looks pretty awesome to me. I'm wondering if a buffer wasn't left on there, too long...? If you hadn't told me that was the back of your bass, I would've thought I was looking at an actual pic, with a cool effect applied to it.
  4. If it sounds great, I'm saying keep it, especially @ $800.
Enjoy it, brother! BTW, I have an '80 Ric 4001 (purchased new) with what I consider a manufacturer 'flaw'... and my OCD allowed me to keep it... cause it's awesome.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati and m_u
#4
Beej said:
Is it an ash body? Those almost look like grain lines underneath the finish, as if the finish has sunk into them. Seeing it in person, does something like that seem plausible, or does it seem to be externally derived rather than internally?
Click to expand...
Yes It is an ash body. All the other finish seems fine. And those "waves" are like wave crest or mountain range (sorry, english is not my native language and it's a bit hard to explain) so they are slightly above the body. There are no other scratches around them and they looks like something internally caused them
 
  • Like
Reactions: Spidey2112
#6
m_u said:
The seller listed it "As New" condition, in addition he tries to assure me that the bass was in perfect condition when he send it to me. Having said that I think that may be during transportation it was left near the heater
Click to expand...

It is a possibility that seller purchased it, in the same condition as you received it... did seller offer multi-angled pics? If 'flaw' was indeed heat induced, I would think evidence would exist also on shipping container, as well as insulating material/case... any?
 
#8
Spidey2112 said:
It is a possibility that seller purchased it, in the same condition as you received it... did seller offer multi-angled pics? If 'flaw' was indeed heat induced, I would think evidence would exist also on shipping container, as well as insulating material/case... any?
Click to expand...
The serial is E40154. I asked MusicMan Directly and their answer is "This StingRay 5 was completed on March 29th, 2004. The color is Black with the Maple neck. It was originally shipped to CMC Music". I continued my investigation and found out that CMC Music is an Australia MusicMan distributor (not Wholesale). Having said that I think that it was not stored properly (in the attic or may be in wardrobe etc).
The seller did offered multi-angle pics and everything was fine. I can post them here.
The bass was shipped in music man hard case packed inside a carton self made box.
 
#15
m_u said:
Here you go.

I'm chatting with seller and he thinks that it was damaged during transportation.
Anyway it was purchased via ebay and the listing was "Music Man 5 string bass. As new. No scratches or blemishes." so I can return it

View attachment 1119033 View attachment 1119035 View attachment 1119038
Click to expand...

Thanks for getting the pics... if those are seller's original pics, they seem to be ripple free, from what I can see... no visible damage to case, or container? Who's covering discrepancy? Seller, or E-Bay?
 
#16
Spidey2112 said:
Thanks for getting the pics... if those are seller's original pics, they seem to be ripple free, from what I can see... no visible damage to case, or container? Who's covering discrepancy? Seller, or E-Bay?
Click to expand...
No visible damage to the package. The package was shipped as fragile via courier service. I think I can claim all the price as item arrived damage. If I do it via ebay - I have to send the bass back and receive a refund from the seller (this is how ebay works I think). Or I can ask the seller to refund me some money (he is almost ready to do it) and keep it
 
#17
m_u said:
I have 2 options - to refund the bass, or ask the seller to refund me some money and keep it. I am not very confident what is the right decision so I decided to ask here.
Click to expand...
If if sounds good and plays good, which I imagine it does :), take him up on the refund and keep it. Deal with the finish later if it proves to be worth it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Spidey2112

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back