If the commerce platform is reliable, return it. There are so many great fretless bass options these days, you can find something that you like. New bass, parts bass, old bass with new fretless neck, etc. I had a p bass fretless from the 80's that got stolen from the band van. It was okay as a fretless but not great. I never really missed it after getting a 1984 g&l sb2!
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NBD bitter disappointment
- Thread starter SpanishDave
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yup the was a hazy grey all over when it arrived and smelt like the back of an old cupboard.
OMG it has some wear ! Send it back !!!
what an odd comparison…..
Save it. Reclaim it. Rescue it. Keep it, if for no other reason than to have your grail AND stick it to the jackass seller. But leave low feedback for misrepresentation if he doesn't give you some sort of partial refund.
There are a bazillion of amazing fretless basses out there, imho.... one of my biggest issues is that so so so many fretted basses have uneven frets somewhere up the neck.... and I've had many defretted that had that issue that turned into absolutely excellent fretless basses with zero issues. A meaty precision pickup is amazing on a fretless, like a dimarzio in the older days or a good meaty SD or an EMG with the right eq choices. If you don't love this bass, send it back, if you can do so still, safely. imho.
But I didn't read the whole thread so am way behind right now and you probably already made a decision and my post is no longer relevant, but just throwing my 2 cents worth in
Best of luck either way. Certainly is a nice MODEL of bass, regardless of condition.
But I didn't read the whole thread so am way behind right now and you probably already made a decision and my post is no longer relevant, but just throwing my 2 cents worth in
Best of luck either way. Certainly is a nice MODEL of bass, regardless of condition.
If it feels/sounds good and/or is a fun player keep it. If not send it back. I've always had to work on used or vintage instruments so rough shape seems pretty normal.
Well, I never been to Spain
But I kinda like the music
Say the ladies are insane there
And they sure know how to use it…
But I kinda like the music
Say the ladies are insane there
And they sure know how to use it…
If you’re that worried, send it back.
Otherwise you’ll struggle with thoughts or (even worst) regrets every time you’ll pick it up.
Otherwise you’ll struggle with thoughts or (even worst) regrets every time you’ll pick it up.
This seller saying he has another buyer with a higher offer could be total BS. It’s already making you more likely to keep it regardless of the flaws to avoid losing it in a competitive bidding war, but you can’t sell something that you already sold and no longer own.
It’s either your bass now to sell or do whatever you want with OR he gives you back your money and then it’s his bass and he can do whatever he wants to with it. I just have a feeling that if you asked for your money back so he could sell it to the other buyer, that he’d come up with something else or some other excuse to stall you to avoid giving you back money that he no longer has.
It’s either your bass now to sell or do whatever you want with OR he gives you back your money and then it’s his bass and he can do whatever he wants to with it. I just have a feeling that if you asked for your money back so he could sell it to the other buyer, that he’d come up with something else or some other excuse to stall you to avoid giving you back money that he no longer has.
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Is this what some call a "crack"? ... 
I would keep it, until something better shows up
I would keep it, until something better shows up
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...or he turns it into a beautiful bass that makes him smile every time he picks it up.
That cut in the neck doesn't look deliberate to me, it kinda looks like the bass fell on something sharp. That's the only thing on the bass I might find worrisome. If it was me, I'd probably replace the bridge (and maybe the pickup), take the tuners and knobs off and clean them with Q-tips and pipe cleaners, and buff out the body with car products. I'd probably eventually have the surface on the back of the neck fixed by a guitar tech. Assuming it plays and sounds good now, it will only get better with more attention. But I realize the OP didn't bargain for all that extra work when he bought the bass, and I can't spend his money for him.
OP, it's your decision. I think it could eventually be the bass you thought you were getting, or even better. But if you decide to send it back, please put the old strings back on.
He does NOT want you to send it back. He's just saying that to "call your bluff " and make you uncertain. 100% send it TF back and have him cover the costs. Tbh you should dirty it back up too. Unacceptable.
It’s only wood wire and glue. Anything can be fixed or repaired. Cool Japanese bass I would keep it.
This is a pile on, which is cool.
Personally, If it sounded and played great, I’d just fix it up.
My ‘78 StingRay was grubby when I got it, but by buggery it was an awesome player…and light in weight. I cleaned it up, even re-fretted it a couple of years in, and I love it.
Personally, If it sounded and played great, I’d just fix it up.
My ‘78 StingRay was grubby when I got it, but by buggery it was an awesome player…and light in weight. I cleaned it up, even re-fretted it a couple of years in, and I love it.
Please figure that glossy black is the finish where fingerprints, rashes, scratches, dirt, stains, and defects or markings of all kinds, can be the most easily spotted ...
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I voted keep it. The seller is sketchy, but you have the bass in front of you and most of what you describe is cosmetic, the neck and body are authentic and it just suffers from reversible neglect.
Give the guy a bad rating and enjoy your amazing new bass!
I would personally clean it and make sure the electronics work. Even if they don't work and the bass feels good, I'd just replace those and enjoy bringing the bass back to life.
Give the guy a bad rating and enjoy your amazing new bass!
I would personally clean it and make sure the electronics work. Even if they don't work and the bass feels good, I'd just replace those and enjoy bringing the bass back to life.
This sounds like moisture all over. The polepieces are rusty, the neck has been suffering from moisture, the finish has probably also been suffering underneath (my guess is there's also mold underneath the finish) and the seller has been untruthful about the sale. No reason at all to keep this bass, there are, as many said, a bazillion cool unlined fretless basses out there that don't worry you. If you keep it, you'll always be doubting about what's going on.
I wouldn't worry too much about the seller claiming you damaged it if you send it back. You documented very well what state the bass was in when you received it. If this guy has another seller to scam with a wet bass, let him do it, but send it back asap.
I suspect that's what the seller wants: make the OP hesitate and choose to keep it.
I think he's bluffing, like a stereotypical used car salesman.
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those are typically real nice basses, the japan made "special" series. i've played at least 5 or 6 of them over the years. I had a student who had a really cool one.
in my experience, when a skunk stripe starts popping up it's a pretty considerable issue. i've seen them repaired and come undone a few times actually. may just be a coincidence.
if he'll take it back, just send it back. no sense in keeping something that's not what you want.
in my experience, when a skunk stripe starts popping up it's a pretty considerable issue. i've seen them repaired and come undone a few times actually. may just be a coincidence.
if he'll take it back, just send it back. no sense in keeping something that's not what you want.
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