NBD bitter disappointment

[MobileHolmes]

My concern is that it got wet at some point. The mold and skunk stripe give me that inpression

 

[BrentD]

I have a Stratocaster with finish chipping along the skunk stripe. It hasn't been too wet since I bought it used in 2007-ish, but it has been pretty dry. I don't think there's separation happening on mine but perhaps expanding and contracting at different rates due to different wood. It does bug me, though.

The finish can be fixed, but I would bet it's a thinner finish on that bass than on my guitar. It would be hard to find another one but it might be worth the hunt. I'd say send it back if you're worried at all.

 

[Jogobass]

Clean it up, sell it for more than you got it for. Win Win.

 

[39-Bassist]

Personally I say keep it.
Those are not that easy to find, plus it's an older bass not brand new.
If you have now put the work into it and do you ENJOY it as far as playing and sound? If so then tell seller not happy with the full description and give them a low rating if possible and move on.

 

[J Posega]

Id love to but Shipping to spain is probably gonna be an issue

"An issue" how, exactly?

I once shipped, via USPS, a 70s Rickenbacker from New York State to the Netherlands with absolutely no issue. It wasn't exactly cheap, but it's certainly doable. And that was a neck through bass. Box was huge. A Fender can be disassembled for shipping, saving money and difficulty.

 

[basslayer]

I would send it back. I've never heard of someone selling an item and asking for it back because they got a better offer, but I would use that as an opportunity to get a refund on an instrument that isn't in the expected condition.

 

[Iridescentone]

Wow, I get the whole "mojo" quest, but that bass didn't get that way from simple play wear. It's been badly abused and neglected. That model may be hard to find but I doubt you could find another one in worse shape.

To each their own, but I would get out from under that deal pronto. Since you're already in neck-deep, though.....if you return it for a refund, who is going to pay for all the shipping involved?

Apart from any other possible problems, what is going on here?...

 

[chriscarcinogen]

On my '72 P bass you can feel the skunk stripe raised slightly.

It hasn't moved any in the 25 years I've owned it.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Sending it back seems risky as it seems likely that the seller will claim that you damaged the bass. You cleaned it up and restrung it.

Not with the thorough photo-documentation I’m viewing.

If the bass makes sound and plays well, the other issues can be addressed. I’ll assume this is a rare-bird in Espana.

Riis

 

[MotorCityMinion]

If the price was right and it plays and sounds good, keep it. There's nothing hideous from the pics. It's not uncommon for different woods to swell at different rates. Skunk stripes can often stand proud and still be fine.

 

[BadSanta1281]

I'd keep it and give it a chance. If it doesn't work out you can resell it.

 

[Grinderman]

Bought a Fender JBS fretless which finally arrived today.

I’m gutted. Seller wasn’t “entirely truthful” with his description/photos. I have given the bass a through cleaning because it was flithy. it had mold and I wore a mask.

I even restrung it with new Fender Flats.

but I am now thinking i should have sent it straight back. It has a scartchbonnthe neck that wasn’t it any pic or the despriction. It’s only a scratch but I think it should have been mentioned.
It doesn’t show very well it the pics but the paint, mainly on the back, is dimpling/raising slightly and I am worried that there is mold under the the paint on the body.
Also, the skunk stripe on the back is very noticeable, so that is also worrying. I have other Fenders and never felt. The owner just text me and said it’s been in a cupboard for 7/8 years. So is it possible for a skunk stripe to come unglued?

I am going to drive to the nearest reheasal rooms this evening to try it, I’ve played it at home just to make sure the electrics work.

The seller has called to tell me he has a better offer from a different buyer for the bass. Seems very sketchy. Wants me to send it back.

What a bummer in General……
Pics before during and after cleaning. View attachment 4933821 View attachment 4933822 View attachment 4933823 View attachment 4933824 View attachment 4933825 View attachment 4933826 View attachment 4933827 View attachment 4933828 View attachment 4933829 View attachment 4933830 View attachment 4933831 View attachment 4933832 View attachment 4933833 View attachment 4933834 View attachment 4933835 View attachment 4933836

Whoa, it's my first Fender, I bought new at the old original Guitar Center in Beverly (South Side of Chicago) when I was in high school in 1986! It's literally that one but it was exactly the same model, color and specs. Crazy to see what it may look like now.

It's my 55th birthday today, coincidentally. I'm slightly relic'd now, too.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

If you like it, keep it unless you over-paid for it.
My 1st question is what did the seller state the condition was ?
2nd how did the photos look on the ad?
3rd price ?
I guess that one would be in the “fair” category.
I only buy from GC. Bought 4 online. No questions asked return. I have returned 2 w/o issues from GC
If you decide to return it, I believe I would want to see the returned $$ 1st. If you used PayPal there will not be any issue.
I have seen the skunk stripe raised before. The skunk stripe material is harder than the neck maple. It does not “age” the same.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

Sending it back seems risky as it seems likely that the seller will claim that you damaged the bass. You cleaned it up and restrung it.

Yeah on this. I don’t trust people. That is why I buy used from GC

 

[MultiScaleMale]

If you bought without pics, condition is an opinion. Since you've hit it with chemicals and changed the strings, it's probably your bass at this point. Don't return it without the cash in hand.

 

[arbiterusa]

Original bridge was black. That's not original.

The rest looks legit, though. And you have OG knobs. That's a big deal, those knobs alone are worth money.

Just beat and stored underwater (not really but it's been sitting somewhere wet for quite a while). Weirdly the fingerboard looks to be in GREAT shape.

Long as the truss rod is functional I wouldn't worry about the skunk stripe. Yours is not the first and won't be the last where it's either raised or sunk a bit.

 

[Bass V]

bottom line, if this is a potential forever bass then just accept that you got a rare and fine instrument, plus he kept the headstock clean, nice of him. the niggles mentioned are merely part of finding these high quality basses.

 

[Relayer71]

Wow. I'd be ashamed to send a bass off to someone without giving it a thorough clean and polish.

 

[Engle]

27139051[/URL], member: 140411"]hi, I am OK cleaning and can happily live with dinks, dinks and knocks, but the idea that the bass is on its way to falling apart at some point soon scares me.

Dont get me wrong, it feels solid, but I have no idea if the skunk stripe has been like that for 10 years and will be the same for 10 more, or if one hot sweaty gig will see it pop.

Will also have a better look at the truss rod in the studio.

I have an 80’s JBS in rougher condition, but it didn’t have mould when I bought it. The neck has been stripped/oiled and I could feel the edges of the skunk stripe. I was worried about it at the time, but I didn’t pay much for the bass.
I used a cabinet scraper and sandpaper to smooth it out, then re-oiled it. It’s been 5-6 years (at least) and the neck has been solid. It’s one of my favourites, currently on another body.

I wouldn’t worry about it coming apart, but if you want it smooth you would have to strip and refinish, or oil it.

 

[capnjagg]

Option C: Find his other listing, and re-list the newly cleaned bass for more than he’s asking (due to the issues you’ve fixed). You’ll get your money back and then some, and successfully cut him out of his own deal (a deal he cannot make anyways due to the bass being in your possession).

Or you could do what I’d do and just keep it. If the price I paid was still fair, I invested that much of my own time getting it cleaned up, and there was nothing more that seemed likely to cause a major issue (see other users’ experiences with the skunk stripe above), then I’d just play it and enjoy my new purchase.