NBD Gone Wrong

[tb-player]

A couple of weeks ago, I ordered this F Bass from a shop in Korea.



I was very excited to have found a relatively lightweight BN5 (still heavier than I wanted, but the lightest one I’ve found so far). I looked at it online for almost a year before finally pulling the trigger. It took a couple of weeks of FedEx shipping and me navigating customs forms for the bass to arrive (FedEx is sooo much more difficult to deal with on international shipments than UPS). In fact, I even wrote a blues song about my impatience with international shipping… lol. But it was finally delivered yesterday.

I was extremely excited… until I opened the bass and saw this:


They shipped me the wrong bass! Ugh!

And it came all the way from Korea, so how does this work? Disappointed cannot begin to describe how I felt.

Of course, I played it. It sounded pretty amazing, like every other F Bass I’ve played. It had a thin, fast neck and huge piano-like tones. But it was heavy and that flat army green color is just not my thing.

Since I made the purchase through their Reverb store, I simply applied for a refund and messaged the seller. Because of the 14-hour time difference, I had to wait til this morning to get a response. They were very apologetic. They offered to let me keep this bass with a 10% discount or they would issue a full refund on Monday. I chose the refund, as I am not ready to go through another international shipping scenario to get the correct bass. A refund will be cleaner and easier.

While the situation is not optimal, I’m thankful for the shop’s willingness to correct the mistake. I’m also thankful that I made the purchase through Reverb. They get a lot of grief for their fees. But their Buyer Protection gives a lot of peace of mind. It’s the only way I would ever buy a piece of expensive gear internationally.

Cool thing is, I just got an email from Elrick guitars that the build I started with them 16-weeks ago is ready to ship this week. So there will be a good 6-string NBD coming soon. And I can tell you, it looks amazing. More to come…

 

[kesslari]

I feel sad for you that it went South, happy that it will be resolved well enough.
Enjoy the Elrick shen it comes.

 

[Geepers]

Man, that is disappointing after such an involved process. I feel your pain. Hopefully the Elrick expunges every last vestige of it!

 

[Killing Floor]

Oof.

 

[monsterthompson]

Ugh. That evergreen is still listed on the reverb so they probably haven’t caught the issue yet. Hopefully that doesn’t also sell until this gets sorted out.

 

[monsterthompson]

But it was heavy and that flat army green color is just not my thing.

I do like your pic of it better than the listing photos. I get that it’s not what you wanted though.

 

[Ritter667]

Damn...

I feel you.

Disappointed would not be a word capable of describing fully how I would feel.

But I am happy for you that at least the people you bought it from are taking proper responsibility.

That was one gorgeous bass though, the one that you actually ordered, judging from the first image you posted,

 

[MrAB4003]

Sorry to hear that happened to you OP! Thank goodness you were able to get a full refund and you have a boutique 6 string coming soon. Hope is not lost!

I also checked out your song lyrics. They’re amazing! Please get that recorded because a lot of people feel the same blues!

 

[tb-player]

That was one gorgeous bass though, the one that you actually ordered, judging from the first image you posted,

Yeah, the one I ordered is beautiful. Now that I’ve had a day to think about it, I may just have them ship it instead of a refund. It’s not like I’m a hurry or anything.

I keep going back and listening to this demo video. It’s the very instrument I intended to purchase. You can hear the clarity of the bass. It’s really nice. I have til Monday to decide so I guess we’ll see.

 

[monsterthompson]

Yeah, the one I ordered is beautiful. Now that I’ve had a day to think about it, I may just have them ship it instead of a refund. It’s not like I’m a hurry or anything.

I keep going back and listening to this demo video. It’s the very instrument You can hear the clarity of the bass. It’s really nice. I have til Monday to decide so I guess we’ll see.

Those Music Force demos are awesome.

 

[RandomKaren]

Yeah, the one I ordered is beautiful. Now that I’ve had a day to think about it, I may just have them ship it instead of a refund. It’s not like I’m a hurry or anything.

I'd wait for the one you really want rather than keep something that isn't quite right. Encouraging though that the incorrect one is still a good instrument.

 

[Chrisk-K]

To me, the wrong bass looks better. I understand it’s not what you wanted.

 

[tb-player]

To me, the wrong bass looks better. I understand it’s not what you wanted.

Yeah, it’s a more expensive bass too.

 

[monsterthompson]

Yeah, that’s the other side of the debate in my mind. Get my refund and wait for the absolute perfect F Bass. Or maybe order exactly what I want? We’ll see…

I waited forever for my perfect BN5 to show up. I’m glad I got the one I did, but I kinda wish I had been playing a BN5 a lot sooner. They don’t show up “just right” very often.

 

[tb-player]

I waited forever for my perfect BN5 to show up. I’m glad I got the one I did, but I kinda wish I had been playing a BN5 a lot sooner. They don’t show up “just right” very often.

Pic?

 

[telejojo5]

I guess it's just me but the wrong bass looks a lot better to me....................................

 

[monsterthompson]

Pic?

 

[Rumblefisher]

I'm sorry that you had a jarring experience, I'm happy that the shop was easy to deal. No doubt they will feel some pain with shipping fees. They messed up though so what can you do?

I will say that Marcel has been THE MAN in my speaking with him to order an F bass. Class act all the way. Maybe it's worth considering ordering direct?

Lastly, I want to say, years ago my buddy John-Anthony (who now builds Voltic pedals) left his F bass Studio 5 at my apartment for a couple of months (I lived in Westchester at the time and he was in Staten Island, so it was a bit of a trip to visit either way). Let me tell you, I was sad to see that bass go. I've sought out those Studio 5s all these years later, and they have been consistently VERY lightweight F basses. Something perhaps to keep an eye out for! His was a Ceruse Red finish with a Mac Ebony board...the thing played itself!

 

[2thAche]

That's a bummer. BN5s are amazing

 

[tb-player]

I will say that Marcel has been THE MAN in my speaking with him to order an F bass. Class act all the way. Maybe it's worth considering ordering direct?

That's good advice. I have reached out to them with a sample build including target weight. We'll see what they say. Last I heard, custom builds are 18 months. But hey, I'll still be playing bass in a year and a half. I'm sure I'll be GASsing for something new then too... lol.