"Never Gigged" is not a selling point to me ! I want to buy a bass that HAS been gigged !

I'm not against well-worn basses or even artificially road-worn basses. I've built a few myself. I like the look. However, many folks like to take a minty bass and create their own history with that bass including it's scars and wear.

Unlike a bass player, a bass does not actually accumulate "experience." It doesn't become a better player from being played a lot.

 

different strokes!

i get it. it sounds like you're a fan of a particular 'look' --- "not new!"

 

A good bass is a good bass, I don't care about it's condition. I don't know if a bass is good or not until I have a chance to play it so it's very rare for me to buy online.

 

It doesn't take very long for road wear to appear in my case so I don't care. Luckily I don't mind, I am far more annoyed by people who treat instruments like newborns and are afraid of getting a ding here and there. It's a tool and it's meant to be played after all.

Now with pedals, I will always try to get one that is as humanly scratched and worn as possible, as long as it functions well. There is something about used and abused pedal housings that just appeals to me, makes me feel confident about it as a tool. So I guess I can sort of relate to a degree with OP.

 

I have a bass that has been heavily gigged for 15+ years, and from more than a foot, looks like brand new (so much for visual "mojo").

Frankly, a lot of basses that look like that are not in as good shape.

Don't buy for looks - buy for sound and playability. If that means so much to you, buy a roadworn or distressed bass. Or play it for a few decades...

 

Hi mb94952

No "carrots"in the poll? No snake oil!

Depends!





may the bass be with you

Wise(b)ass

 

Well I mean, if someone is selling a bass that has "never been gigged and hardly played", they will probably mention it in the description. If the bass went through a thousand gigs and just as many recording sessions, they'll probably mention it too. I guess it's good practice to just be truthful about the item you're selling, regardless if you see something as a "selling point" or not

 

I guess I'm too broke to afford gear that doesn't get played.

 

When Im looking for a used instrument, I seek out ones that have been "played in", I don't want an instrument that sat in a case for years. I want one that someone liked enough to play the crap out of because if someone put that much time into it, good chance its a great instrument.

 

One of the best basses I own was heavily played by a local player for several years. Has cig burns on headstock and a few bumps here and there. I can tell why he loved it... it's light and plays great. Sometimes wear can be a good sign with basses that see a lot of action. In other cases, it may be owned by an irresponsible person who treats it like crap regardless of how well it plays. It helps to know the history.

 

To each his own. I prefer a used bass that's close to new. Any dings should be put there by me, not someone else. I want it to be my story.

 

depends Why it's not gigged ..!!??

did it just suck .?

you don't gig .?

stays in the studio ..?? ( is it a gig in your own house if you play with yourself ..?!!? )

you overpaid for it and don't wanna scratch it ..?


i never would say something wasn't 'gigged ' ... i'd say it's from my home studio usage only ...

or maybe they mean , it doesn't stink of cigs/beer ..!!??

 

i dont want somebody else's "mojo". the other thing i dont want, and is what "never gigged" means to me, is that it doesnt smell like the rear end of a bar at closing time, drenched in booze, cigarette smoke, or the sweat of desperate people.

 

Well, we live in a world where people buy instruments based on weight down to the ounce, individual pieces of swappable hardware, current strings so why not gig status?

 

Road worn? No thanks.

 

I stay on the lookout for hangar queens. I just did a deal a few weeks back, a straight-up trade of my 2016 Fiesta Red P for a completely unblemished, barely touched Teal Green 2000 American Deluxe. I found zero evidence of wear anywhere. This gentleman was a buyer, not much of a player.

This was a deal... now my #1 gigging four-string.

 

Most of the time I think the seller is just trying to let you know it’s in great condition and hasn’t had the chance to be abused. Yes an instrument is going to get nicks and scratches on it sooner or later but I want to be the one to do it. I know it was in great shape when I got it and it looks like it does now because I am the one that made it look like it does now whether it was from normal use or abuse. If I bond with a bass I’m not gonna sell it no matter what but I like it to look nice if new or slightly used. Now if I’m buying vintage of course it won’t look new and you know that going in. Just have to make sure the frets and truss rod are good and you can set it up and have good intonation and it’s not too much of a rag thang.