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We played a gig right down from Berkeley with Pressure in the late 70’s!
My wife has a mark on her rear. I knew about it before I bought her. Nuff said.
Blems don't bug if it's saving me $$$View attachment 3826569 Have you ever bought an instrument at deep discount because it had a flaw that you either didn't care about or was easily fixed? I bought a Player Precision off Sam Ash that had been returned. Within seconds, I understood what the previous owner's beef was... Horrible buzzing on the A string. The nut was cut incorrectly. I did a fix with super glue and baking soda which worked but ultimately just replaced the nut with a TUSQ. So, for $12 it became a perfectly playable bass. The other two pictured are a finish flaw (Telecaster Deluxe) and a dent (Performer Jazz), both of which are on the rear or bottom of the instruments. For a big markdown in price, I have absolutely no problem with that. Two questions... Is a rear blemish a deal-breaker for you?... and have you ever felt like you scored on an instrument purchase because of some defect that didn't bother you? Pictures encouraged but not necessary.
I’ve had a good history of that kind of stuff. Any “blem” basses I’ve bought turned out to be very minor stuff in locations that I really didn’t care about. For example sweetwater sold me a Sterling by musicman Ray 34 for like $250 off because of a tiny little bubble in the finish on the back of the body. Even if I had bought the bass at full price i wouldn’t even have bothered complaining about it.View attachment 3826569 Have you ever bought an instrument at deep discount because it had a flaw that you either didn't care about or was easily fixed? I bought a Player Precision off Sam Ash that had been returned. Within seconds, I understood what the previous owner's beef was... Horrible buzzing on the A string. The nut was cut incorrectly. I did a fix with super glue and baking soda which worked but ultimately just replaced the nut with a TUSQ. So, for $12 it became a perfectly playable bass. The other two pictured are a finish flaw (Telecaster Deluxe) and a dent (Performer Jazz), both of which are on the rear or bottom of the instruments. For a big markdown in price, I have absolutely no problem with that. Two questions... Is a rear blemish a deal-breaker for you?... and have you ever felt like you scored on an instrument purchase because of some defect that didn't bother you? Pictures encouraged but not necessary.
If I'm buying an used instrument I don't care about little flaws, dents and sign of use (not abuse). If I'm buying a new instrument at a shop, I'm very picky. I wouldn't buy an instrument with a defect, not even if discounted.
I got a blemished Deluxe Jazz bass a few years back at a discount of almost 30% off the street price. The blemish was a bad pot. I could have had the pot replaced under warranty, but with gas and travel time, it was easier, faster and just as cheap to fix it myself. So for the price of a +/-$10 pot(with shipping), and 10 minutes of my time, I saved a few hundred dollars.
Pretty sure nobody makes basseslike this on purpose.
Aussie dollars in '94 won't mean anything, even if I could remember. But was less than half the price of anything comparable. Luthier didn't fess up when I asked him why, tho.
Aussie dollars in '94 won't mean anything, even if I could remember. But was less than half the price of anything comparable. Luthier didn't fess up when I asked him why, tho.
devnulljp
Supporting Member
I bought a stringray5 for a song because it had some wear in the finish.
This is my main bass. Do you think I really care about a few dings?
This is my main bass. Do you think I really care about a few dings?
I’m to precious with mine used or new,. I love a good bargain always looking for that special bass that is under the sellers radar. Don’t notice many of these anymore. People are now hip to the market and what they are actually selling
View attachment 3826569 Have you ever bought an instrument at deep discount because it had a flaw that you either didn't care about or was easily fixed? I bought a Player Precision off Sam Ash that had been returned. Within seconds, I understood what the previous owner's beef was... Horrible buzzing on the A string. The nut was cut incorrectly. I did a fix with super glue and baking soda which worked but ultimately just replaced the nut with a TUSQ. So, for $12 it became a perfectly playable bass. The other two pictured are a finish flaw (Telecaster Deluxe) and a dent (Performer Jazz), both of which are on the rear or bottom of the instruments. For a big markdown in price, I have absolutely no problem with that. Two questions... Is a rear blemish a deal-breaker for you?... and have you ever felt like you scored on an instrument purchase because of some defect that didn't bother you? Pictures encouraged but not necessary.
I once had a very good discount (£150 off, plus a Gibson hard case, on a £650 guitar) because there was a wood blemish on the back and didn't look pretty and you could actually feel it (oil finished back). I took the money and ran.
Got this Stingray EX (Japan) for a killer price because it had wear all over it (scratches, really) and the seller thought it couldn't get low action without buzzing. All it really took was adding relief to truss rod (it was really cranked), lowering the saddles a bit and voila - buzz free low action (1.5 mm at 12th fret). Now it's my favorite Stingray ever and it's pretty light weight too (under 9 lbs).
I love honest wear anyways, it gives instruments character. Rock and roll baby.
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,059
- 38,415
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
The Bassman Ten amp is great, the speakers are not up to the task. I really love the amp it will do old school Motown thump or grind away nicely.
Even when new the speakers didn't perform well, a combination of the open back design of the cabinet and speakers that are under rated for the job.
So the amp is up to a small venue gig the speakers are not. I use it for practice and hopefully I would like to get it in the studio.
Here's a clip I did with the amp demoing my modded Jackson Kellybird.
I can't begin to tell you how many guitars I've bought for less than half the street price that were basically unplayed and just had some minor imperfection. I bought a brand new, in HS case, Ovation Custom Elite ($1199MSRP) that had huge buzz and needed a neck reset from a major retailer for $120 bucks. Didn't need a neck reset, the shims under the saddle were missing(no idea how that escaped factory QC). I added the right shims, did a full setup and done. That was a once in a lifetime deal, but sweet deals are out there and easy to find if you just look. BTW, I love the license plate pickguard on the the OPs Dean EABC. Route 66 vibe on that one!
I have bought basses for their sound and playability. Blems don't bother me unless they interfere with the way the bass functions.
I think you read it differently to how it was intended.
I think he was saying he once bought a Stingray 5 with some wear. Then he said: THIS is my main bass (the one in the photo) so you can see how important a few dings aren't to me.
