NBD - A bit miffed

[Knavery]

If you look at the basses Sweetwater actually has in stock most (not all) of them have tops similar to OP's. Spector Euro 5 LT Bass Guitar - Copper Burst Gloss - Sweetwater Exclusive

I don't know about you, but that one you linked still looks tons better than mine.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

I have yet to receive an instrument from Sweetwater that isn't the one pictured, for any instrument where they specify the exact serial number you are purchasing.

*Yes. The one pictured on the website is a stock photo. The one they send you is of the actual instrument.
Do they take pics of ALL or just the ones that get the 55 point inspection? (That inspection is for purchases of $300 and up.)


How do they verify that the item they received has not been damaged in shipping? Also, you don't understand the manufacturer restriction on pricing. Manufacturers set a FLOOR, not a CEILING. You can price an instrument as high as you like, but don't you dare advertise it below the lowest price that everyone else is offering.

*The 55 point inspection uncovers shipping damage between manufacturer and dealer. SW even will do minor repairs in-house (buff out a scratch?) rather than send it back and delay the process. Photos they take in-house can be used if the damage occurs during shipment to customer.

*And I do understand that the pricing restriction is a minimum dictated by the manufacturer. But pricing higher than that in ads or online is restricted by competition. If SW does this inspection, it cost them money that the competition isn't spending.

And yet the photos accurately depict the instrument, with the exception that sometimes the instruments look better in the flesh when the lighting isn't causing as much glare.

*Agreed. The goal is to document the instrument's condition, not to sell it.

Marketing photos look better not because the photos are better, but because they make sure to pick an instrument that has the best looking top that they'll ever sell at that price point.

*Yes. That, and the photos are done by professionals who know how to make the instrument look it's best in those pics.

I'm not sure who assumes that a setup is part of the SW inspection, especially since they will gladly sell you a setup.

*People assume what they want. Apparently it's come up a some point or why mention it in the videos?
Yes! SW will sell you a setup. That just doesn't get the same exposure in the catalogs or on-line.

I did a tech screwup replying. You'll have to click to expand above to see my other responses.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

Sorry, but your can analogy doesn't hold up in this case.
THE GCDroid® told Knavery the pic was of the same bass they were shipping him.

And, this is why GC should be held accountable (and, why your car analogy doesn't hold up). Knavery was expecting the bass that was in the photo that the GCDroid® said was the same bass, not the same model and finish, but the same bass.

We'll just have to get along in our disagreement on my point.

As far as GC, that's between them and the customer. Perhaps they send out stuff and hope we'll keep it regardless. Which the OP indicated that he might do. If the buyer wants to hold them accountable his recourse is to return the item, send corporate a terse letter about it, and never deal with them again. Getting any other kind of resolution is just a fantasy.
What do want him to do? Go in the store and start shouting at all the customers about how he got ripped off? Spray paint "RIP OFF JOINT" all across the front of the store. Lawyer-up and take them to court?

 

[Knavery]

They definitely should have said it was a stock photo, but it looks the same to me; it you're bass was pictured in an all white background with really good lighting like in the stock, the grain would jump out more.

Yeah, they're both blue.

We'll just have to get along in our disagreement on my point.

As far as GC, that's between them and the customer. Perhaps they send out stuff and hope we'll keep it regardless. Which the OP indicated that he might do. If the buyer wants to hold them accountable his recourse is to return the item, send corporate a terse letter about it, and never deal with them again. Getting any other kind of resolution is just a fantasy.
What do want him to do? Go in the store and start shouting at all the customers about how he got ripped off? Spray paint "RIP OFF JOINT" all across the front of the store. Lawyer-up and take them to court?

There's a 45 day return policy. I had it shipped to the store near me, so I'll just put it back in the gig bag, place it in the Spector box and drive it back to them.

Here's my dilema. This was listed at $2599.00. Number one, there's nowhere else that has them listed for that price. Number two, if I did buy from someone else, I'd be paying significanty more. There's also the question about the trade-in value of my other bass. Do they give you more trade-in value than if you were to sell it outright to them? I'm not sure. And finally, I get another 10% off buying through GC, but this was the only LT they had in stock. I totally would have gone through SW if they had one, and sell my other bass through Reverb if it took until the end of days. They just didn't have what I wanted. So, it comes down to either living with a good deal and a very lackluster top, or I return it and possibly shell out another 600-700 (possibly more) bucks to get what I want.

But I've beat this to death. Only I can make that decision.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

They definitely should have said it was a stock photo, but it looks the same to me; it you're bass was pictured in an all white background with really good lighting like in the stock, the grain would jump out more.

Maybe even used some kind of optical filter for enhancement? Polarizing filter?? Maybe even on the lights as well as the camera?? Can you even simulate a polarizing filter in the digital realm? Color correction filters on lighting?? Scrims for balancing the light?? Could be a multitude of effects in play here.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

Yeah, they're both blue.



There's a 45 day return policy. I had it shipped to the store near me, so I'll just put it back in the gig bag, place it in the Spector box and drive it back to them.

Here's my dilema. This was listed at $2599.00. Number one, there's nowhere else that has them listed for that price. Number two, if I did buy from someone else, I'd be paying significanty more. There's also the question about the trade-in value of my other bass. Do they give you more trade-in value than if you were to sell it outright to them? I'm not sure. And finally, I get another 10% off buying through GC, but this was the only LT they had in stock. I totally would have gone through SW if they had one, and sell my other bass through Reverb if it took until the end of days. They just didn't have what I wanted. So, it comes down to either living with a good deal and a very lackluster top, or I return it and possibly shell out another 600-700 bucks to get what I want.

But I've beat this to death. Only I can make that decision.

Yep. And you'll ultimately do what's best for you. Not me, or anyone else here.
Best of luck going forward.

 

[mcnach]

For those saying they are the same bass just with different lighting/camera...nope. They have no grain patterns in common.

the angle affects the way the grain looks.

 

[sleddogn]

Yes they do. That could be the same bass and likely is. The cheeseburger comparison is classic. Also a supermodel pic in a magazine as compared to the real thing? The OP's pic sucks compared to the carefully crafted promo pic.

Dude, no way in hell they are the same bass. Take a particular section, end of fret, bottom of neck to body, then look at other real close. NOT the same, and if you think they are, new glasses are in order...

 

[QweziRider]

Never tried to claim or argue its the same bass as I have commented on here its was obviously a different bass clearly by the figuring. I think you didnt see any of my other comments on this thread. I was pointing out the person that tried to doctor up the OPs photos like the stock photo cant even get close to result of the stock photo as the OPs photo is so low quality. And the new ones still wouldn't be good enough to do a doctored up comparison, but they are better.

You're correct. 8 pages and I did not go back to see what else you wrote. What I did do was disagree with your comment, "Any photo the OP takes wont most likely be good enough to get anywhere near what the other photo looks likes for a true comparison," by pointing out that a glaring difference in grain that I saw in the original photos was plenty to make a true comparison.

 

[Iridescentone]

But a Whopper is still just a Whopper and this bass is still just a Spector Euro LT *

* Prices my vary by store.

Some Whoppers are more better than others.

 

[tmvt]

You're correct. 8 pages and I did not go back to see what else you wrote. What I did do was disagree with your comment, "Any photo the OP takes wont most likely be good enough to get anywhere near what the other photo looks likes for a true comparison," by pointing out that a glaring difference in grain that I saw in the original photos was plenty to make a true comparison.

Its clear from the photo the OP took yes, we all can tell that and agree can we move on? I dont think your getting what I was saying.

I was saying the person attempting to do a photo up like the stock photo was never going to get close based on the quality of the original photo. Nothing to do with we wont be able to tell because the photo wasn't able to be doctored as good.

Its clear it doesn't even need to be to tell. It was pointing out how one is done under perfect lighting with professionals allowing another professional to edit the photo to the extreme to make features like the grain pop in a exaggerated and unrealistic manner.

 

[Jeff Scott]

We'll just have to get along in our disagreement on my point.

No worries, mate. We all have our own personal POV and opinions.

 

[LBS-bass]

Wait... a $3K bass comes with a gigbag??? What in tarnation?

It's the current trend. People don't want/use hard cases anyway; even EBMM now come with a gigbag and not a hard case.

All my hard cases are taking up attic space. I'm not sure how I feel about this, though. It's quite traditional for a hard case to come stock, but it does add to the overall cost for most of us because we often have to buy a new gigbag to fit a new bass.

 

[LBS-bass]

Most sellers use stock photos of new products. A stock photo is a professional photograph that's supplied by the manufacturer for promotional use. New products are almost never taken from a box and photographed individually for sales purposes by the retailer as it's a lot of extra work and most products don't vary that much, item to item.

Sweetwater is apparently the exception to this rule with guitars, so if you want to be sure your guitar is the one pictured, you might want to buy from them. Otherwise you're going to get what's in stock of that model, but it won't be the exact one pictured.

 

[sleddogn]

People don't want/use hard cases anyway;

but it does add to the overall cost for most of us because we often have to buy a new gigbag to fit a new bass.

Boy I want one with every bass i own. I have to buy an extra hardcase when it doesn't come with one. So i'm 100% opposite. I've probably purchased over 20 hardcases in last 5 years, and i'm not kidding... Have been shopping for one today actually for a fender bass i just got that only came with bag. I'm not a fan of gig bags, they don't protect when amp head slides and lands on it....

 

[Relayer71]

Late to this party but with GC you will not get what you see because they are not one store (duh). They use one set of stock images for their 100 or however many stores so why would you even think that you're getting what you see?

That's why I love Sweetwater. You can actually select the exact one you'll get. Of course, they're also taking professional images so it may not look as stunning as the real thing, but it will be the exact same instrument.

 

[Lammchop93]

Yeah, they're both blue.



There's a 45 day return policy. I had it shipped to the store near me, so I'll just put it back in the gig bag, place it in the Spector box and drive it back to them.

Here's my dilema. This was listed at $2599.00. Number one, there's nowhere else that has them listed for that price. Number two, if I did buy from someone else, I'd be paying significanty more. There's also the question about the trade-in value of my other bass. Do they give you more trade-in value than if you were to sell it outright to them? I'm not sure. And finally, I get another 10% off buying through GC, but this was the only LT they had in stock. I totally would have gone through SW if they had one, and sell my other bass through Reverb if it took until the end of days. They just didn't have what I wanted. So, it comes down to either living with a good deal and a very lackluster top, or I return it and possibly shell out another 600-700 (possibly more) bucks to get what I want.

But I've beat this to death. Only I can make that decision.

ask Sweetwater for a discount to match GC. I always ask my sales engineer at Sweetwater for discounts on high priced items, and I’ve always gotten something around 5-10%

 

[Zak TMD]

It's the current trend. People don't want/use hard cases anyway; even EBMM now come with a gigbag and not a hard case.

Uhhhh I'd have to humbly and respectfully disagree with you both from my own personal preference and based on the vast majority of players in touring bands I've met when I've played shows over the last couple decades - unless they are a new band / player. Lugging gear* - particularly in vans / trailers - knocks stuff around and gig bags do not provide adequate protection. If you meant "people who aren't regularly gigging don't want/use hard cases..." then I have no perspective on that. Meanwhile I'm over here trying to figure out the most cost effective flight style case.

I will acknowledge that non-regularly gigging players do make up a big percentage people who purchase instruments. And also that it is trending that way, but if I were to buy an instrument for more than say $800, I'd want a HSC. Gibson used to provide em for every instrument over that price, but that's moved up to more than twice that now. The reality is these are being removed from the equation to save money... but it's not like manufacturers are refunding that price back to the buyer - they're still raising prices.

*I do realize that this may not apply to groups who all show up separate to local shows, but I still don't get it because I've found gig bags are great at throwing instruments out of tune.

 

[LBS-bass]

If you meant "people who aren't regularly gigging don't want/use hard cases..." then I have no perspective on that.

I meant people who are gigging locally. I don't know anyone around here who wants to carry a hard case to a show, and I play with a lot of people. Everyone walks in with a gig bag.

If you're traveling and packing a lot of gear haphazardly into a trailer or a truck for travel then, yes, you need one. That doesn't describe the majority of people who purchase instruments, though. But yes, some folks do need them.

 

[MasterBrianD]

Hi Knavery,

I recently got a Blue Euro LT also and noticed that the grain changes dramatically depending on the angle the photo is taken, for example on this first photo taken straight-on in bright lighting it looks like there is no (or very little figuring) on the bottom left:

Then on this photo taken about 5 minutes apart at a different angle in the same lighting you can clearly see the grain, dramatically different, this surprised me at first, it literally looks like a different bass:

Does yours do this at all?

Sorry to hear you are not happy with yours though…. Anyway play it for another while and take advantage of the return policy if you are still not happy with it by the time the return period is nearly up.