Need your help, TB. Would you return this bass??

[tb-player]

They should send you an email with links to the pictures, letting you drool before arrival. In fact the email says something to that effect IIRC.

I was getting ready to say the same thing. I got this email when I made my purchase...

"Before your guitar was listed on Sweetwater.com, it underwent a 55-point Inspection and professional-quality photo shoot. We know you probably want to show off your new guitar to friends, fans, and bandmates, so we're going to give you those photos. Simply click or tap on the images below to view them at full resolution."

 

[Hurricane Jimmie]

So Anyway, I'd keep it....and think of it as a $1,000 scratch. In fact I'd ask the rep if they had one with two scratches hanging around.
Good luck with your decision.

 

[luciens]

Hello. Return it for a refund. Don't tell Sweetwater that you accuse them of knowing about the problem; but obviously they knew and discounted the bass accordingly. They were counting on you not caring enough about the blemish to pass up the discount.

More likely to be shipping damage or a crack that occurred after the fact, then deception by the dealer. SW seems to be pretty meticulous about showing flaws they know about on the ads. If it's a blem or a demo model, it'll be marked that way and discounted. They even seem to post photos of the problems on those models too.

The box too might even have had a big red sticker on the outside saying not to open the case for 24 hours, at the risk of finish checking due to rapid temp changes, etc. Or at least the box for my first jaco did, though I didn't buy it from SW.

So the chances of a screw job are pretty low, based on what I've seen of SW.

Course, I just ordered a second jaco signature from them and, well, we'll see what shape it's in when it gets here and I may eat my words, who knows .

My suspicion is it's a simple finish defect, the crack occurring probably during shipping. It's almost unimaginable to try to ditch a boutique bass with something that glaring and not inform the customer about it....

And yes I agree, don't accept it as is, and absolutely get SW to make it right....

L

 

[bassstrangler]

Here’s the original listing for this bass.

Thanks for all the responses.

Sweetwater is a great company and my sales guy is the best. I know they’ll make it right. I’ve bought a lot of gear there and they’re excellent to deal with. I'm also very aware that they're short-handed in their warehouse and the sales guys have been working from home for 2 months, due to the quarantine. So that may have something to do with their QC right now.

As someone noted earlier, Sweetwater does a 55-point inspection on every guitar above a certain price threshold. The inspection happens at the same time they take the photos of the bass, not on the day they ship it. And since many of these basses hang in their showroom, it’s most logical that this damage happened in the months between the original inspection and my purchase... especially if the bass was hanging by the headstock, given the location of the damage (all my guitars sit on a rack. No pressure on the headstock).

The big downside is, this is the last one they have in stock. As you can see from the link, Sweetwater posts photos of the very bass you’re buying, so you can see the wood grain, color and weight. I’ve been gassing over this exact bass for months. If I send it back, there’s no exchange. I’ve simply lost out on what would have been an incredible deal on a stellar bass. If I work it out to keep it, my concern is that the crack in the finish will get worse, since it extends from the corner of the nut. It’s not just a random flaw.

I've already emailed my sales rep and sent pics. He’ll reply on Monday. I’ll be sure to post the outcome.

They should do the inspection at the time of shipping. I say this because I ordered a bass and three hours later I got a call saying they found a small ding on the bass and offered a discount or a different bass.

 

[Spectre Gunner]

Are you sure it’s a crack and not a scratch? It appears to be too straight to be a crack and doesn’t follow the wood grain at all. Looks more like a scratch to me but I can only go by the photo. If it’s a crack then it’s definitely a return. If it’s a scratch then it’s your call if you’re willing to live with it or not.

Sooner or later, it’s likely to get a scratch or nick unless you don’t actually play it. Buy most take very good care of expensive high-end gear. But for $5k it’s perfectly reasonable to expect a new bass to arrive in perfectly flawless condition. They should replace it with another one. Same deal or a refund. Hopefully they won’t stick you with return shipping costs.

The store will probably return it to Fodera who could repair a scratch and make it totally disappear. If it’s a crack then I have no idea what Fodera does with those.

 

[tb-player]

Are you sure it’s a crack and not a scratch? It appears to be too straight to be a crack and doesn’t follow the wood grain at all. Looks more like a scratch to me but I can only go by the photo. If it’s a crack then it’s definitely a return. If it’s a scratch then it’s your call if you’re willing to live with it or not.

Sooner or later, it’s likely to get a scratch or nick unless you don’t actually play it. Buy most take very good care of expensive high-end gear. But for $5k it’s perfectly reasonable to expect a new bass to arrive in perfectly flawless condition. They should replace it with another one. Same deal or a refund. Hopefully they won’t stick you with return shipping costs.

The store will probably return it to Fodera who could repair a scratch and make it totally disappear. If it’s a crack then I have no idea what Fodera does with those.

It's hard to see in the photos, but it's a finish crack beneath the surface. I can't feel it with my finger. It does not appear to be in the wood.

 

[steelbed45]

They should send you an email with links to the pictures, letting you drool before arrival. In fact the email says something to that effect IIRC.

Hmm...my sales guy sent me a zip file with all of the photos of the bass I purchased.

I've only had to return one item, (faulty SVT7-Pro,) and it was 100% hassle-free. I'd like to think they'd make this right.

 

[MatchFive]

Looks like a finish scratch to me. You can see the wood grain through it. I don't think it's going to get worse. If you plan on using the bass a lot, you might want to consider keeping it. It's bound to get a scratch or nick at some point with use anyway.

 

[FunkHead]

It's hard to see in the photos, but it's a finish crack beneath the surface. I can't feel it with my finger. It does not appear to be in the wood.

I would let an expert look at in person. Then get a nice refund from Sweetwater and keep it. If it's cosmetic only, which seems to be the case, Then it's worth keeping with some money coming back to you.

 

[mickbellinello]

If it happened to me I returned it immediately. In this particular case the price is "high" so if one day I'll decide to but a bass that costs 5K I'll pretend to have a "perfect" instrument.
That's my 2cent

 

[singlemalt]

Looks like a scratch to me.

I’d hit it with some sandpaper and if it disappeared, forget about it already. 200, 400, 600. Done.

If it’s more serious than that, next steps are in order.

 

[Fialka]

I would return any new bass in this condition no matter the cost. It might not move any further, it might be just a scratch, but it is there and definitely shouldnt.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

I think there are already enough opinions here but, hey, have another one - If the discount was right, I would keep the bass. I will be curious on that front though, they've already knocked a LOT off the bass. I wonder how much more room they have the play. That bass is just too damn expensive to live with a flaw though, of any kind. I completely understand the folks who say return it. I don't want a bitter taste in my mouth when I pick up my most expensive axe.

 

[bassstrangler]

I'm assuming Foderas have that thick of a neck finish to crack like that?

 

[bbh]

For me, 5k buys me a like new axe unless specified otherwise. Since you’re dealing with 2 trust worthy companies, I wouldn’t hesitate to contact SW first. If you don’t like the options, contact the builder who might be able to explain what the cause may have been as well as a resolution.
Best case, SW sends it to Fodera for repair no charge to you. Of course you’ll have to wait a couple of weeks for repair time and shipping.
All of my SW issues usually take 3 days to get a resolution. They usually bend over backwards to make you happy. Hope it works out as you like.

 

[MegaSwing]

That would need to be addressed somehow—perhaps more money off, but it would have to be substantial. That will ONLY get worse.

 

[Thunder Lizard]

I'd be thinking Fodera would be up to remedy this somehow.. either a further discount or a replacement bass. At that price point, a finger print on arrival is ok... a crack in the finish is certainly not.

 

[beaglesandbass]

If I’m buying a brand new bass I expect it to have no issues. End of story.

 

[beaglesandbass]

It’s beautiful and I got 25% off list

Is SW upping their promotions to 25% off? May have to jump at the Lakland I was thinking about if so.

 

[eddiebo]

Definitely return it. For that kind of $$$ it should be perfect. Id be shocked if Sweetwater did anything but take it back asap no questions asked as I have always experienced their customer service to be outstanding.