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Question regarding Reseller legitimacy

penskyc

penskyc

Oct 20, 2024
19
18
Boynton Beach, Fl
#1
HI All,

I have been eyeing a new guitar from a reverb seller who is local to me. He also has a website and seems to be a business entity and not an individual. He has over 8 MIJ/CIJ 3 tone sunburst 62 reissue Jazz Basses from 1990-2010 and a couple handful of other Fender Jazz Bass reissues all very similar. I find this a bit suspect and am leaning towards these being counterfeit, so I really have no reason to believe so other than having 8 of the same guitars is a bit strange. Prices all seem to be on par with other sellers and are not a bargain by any means.

Does anyone have any thoughts? am I overthinking this?!?

I'd consider sharing the URL in a DM if anyone would be interested in checking it out.

thanks!
 
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#2
There's a guy local to me who buys every tobacco sunburst Gibson Les Paul he can find. He's easily got 8 and probably more. Sometimes collectors just get busy. I only know about him because he saw mine at a show we both played. He had three at the show, and told me his story and then offered me increasing cash until I told him it was going to go to my son when I die.

That said, they certainly could be counterfeit, buyer beware. :smug:
 
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#3
Beej said:
There's a guy local to me who buys every tobacco sunburst Gibson Les Paul he can find. He's easily got 8 and probably more. Sometimes collectors just get busy. I only know about him because he saw mine at a show we both played. He had three at the show, and told me his story and then offered me increasing cash until I told him it was going to go to my son when I die.

That said, they certainly could be counterfeit, buyer beware. :smug:
Click to expand...
If this was an individual selling out of his private collection, I don't think I would hesitate, but it is a for profit business, has over 180 guitars/basses on Reverb and has even been tagged by them in the past. Lots of similar models, lots of made in Japan's, just seems a bit strange
 
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#4
There are quite a few sellers on Talkbass who have and move a lot of basses on Reverb as well. Having/moving a lot of basses isn’t suspicious by itself. If they have a lot of feedback and have been at it a while, any shady activity would probably surface there. If there’s minimal feedback, you can take a chance and hope Reverb or PayPal has your back if something goes wrong. If they’re local to you, can you go see it in person and try before you buy?

(There’s also a chance they are a member here.)
 
#6
mcnach said:
So it's a business. It sells basses. It has several of the same model.

What am I missing? Where's the red flag?
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I'm probably over thinking it. My thoughts are that is much easier to counterfeit one specific model/color/style then vastly different ones. Seems like my suspicions are most likely just that.

That being said, I have the opportunity to purchase a 2013 American P-Bass instead, which I know is real, so I may just for that instead.
 
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#8
penskyc said:
HI All,

I have been eyeing a new guitar from a reverb seller who is local to me. He also has a website and seems to be a business entity and not an individual. He has over 8 MIJ/CIJ 3 tone sunburst 62 reissue Jazz Basses from 1990-2010 and a couple handful of other Fender Jazz Bass reissues all very similar. I find this a bit suspect and am leaning towards these being counterfeit, so I really have no reason to believe so other than having 8 of the same guitars is a bit strange. Prices all seem to be on par with other sellers and are not a bargain by any means.

Does anyone have any thoughts? am I overthinking this?!?

I'd consider sharing the URL in a DM if anyone would be interested in checking it out.

thanks!
Click to expand...
My stock answer about these questions is if you are here because that little voice in your head is telling something might not be right. Listen to it! Move on. There are other basses for sale 24-7 365 days a year. No need for this one.
 
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#9
penskyc said:
HI All,

I have been eyeing a new guitar from a reverb seller who is local to me. He also has a website and seems to be a business entity and not an individual. He has over 8 MIJ/CIJ 3 tone sunburst 62 reissue Jazz Basses from 1990-2010 and a couple handful of other Fender Jazz Bass reissues all very similar. I find this a bit suspect and am leaning towards these being counterfeit, so I really have no reason to believe so other than having 8 of the same guitars is a bit strange. Prices all seem to be on par with other sellers and are not a bargain by any means.

Does anyone have any thoughts? am I overthinking this?!?

I'd consider sharing the URL in a DM if anyone would be interested in checking it out.

thanks!
Click to expand...
have you talked to the seller? found out if they have a store you can visit, whether they have an ad somewhere buying classic basses and guitars, stuff like that?

are you overthinking it? i'd say not, but no one but the seller and the seller's previous customers can tell you much. does the seller have lots of positive feedback on reverb? i just ordered some pickups from a seller with over 10,000 feedbacks, very close to all of them positive plus an actual visitable store, which helped allay my concerns.
 
#10
I don't find that suspicious if the person has legit good feedback, I think people "specialize" either because they love (and bought too many of) a brand/line/model or maybe they think they can corner the market?

Like I've seen sellers on Reverb who focus on Fender MIM ash FSR models, or modded 4 string high-end MIJ J-basses. I've never bought anything from them but didn't think they were sus just for having a thing.
 
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#11
With the quantity of basses available online, is it worth taking any risk?
I assume that you've vetted this seller as much as you can. If having done that, I was left with suspicions, I'd give it a miss.
 
#14
pcake said:
have you talked to the seller? found out if they have a store you can visit, whether they have an ad somewhere buying classic basses and guitars, stuff like that?

are you overthinking it? i'd say not, but no one but the seller and the seller's previous customers can tell you much. does the seller have lots of positive feedback on reverb? i just ordered some pickups from a seller with over 10,000 feedbacks, very close to all of them positive plus an actual visitable store, which helped allay my concerns.
Click to expand...
I spoke to him on the phone, said I can text him and can set up an Appt to try all the instruments out and decide which I like best etc etc. Low 1000s positive reviews, and under 1% negative lifetime.

I am thinking my paranoia is just taking over. I'm considring not even worrying about it and picking up a 2013 American Pbass that is less than any of these.
 
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#15
If the guy is local and you can set up an appointment to try all and select the pick of the bunch, he has 1000+ good feedback reviews, then he hasn't done all of this to scam you. A P bass is very different than a J bass, so it really comes down to what you want. If you saw an American P bass for a great deal, there is a good chance it's already gone. They sell well and hold their value better than most basses.
 
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#16
MultiScaleMale said:
If the guy is local and you can set up an appointment to try all and select the pick of the bunch, he has 1000+ good feedback reviews, then he hasn't done all of this to scam you. A P bass is very different than a J bass, so it really comes down to what you want. If you saw an American P bass for a great deal, there is a good chance it's already gone. They sell well and hold their value better than most basses.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your insight. I already own both a P and J bass, so I'm not seeking a specific tonal characteristic. I'm mainly looking for an instrument that I can feel more proud of. The P bass isn't a public listing for sale. It's from a local bass player I've previously purchased from who personally mentioned having some basses I might be interested in. Based on your response, I am leaning towards the P anyway.

thanks!
 
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#17
Personally every used bass I buy I purchase from guitar center. They offer inexpensive shipping, if you don’t like it you take it back. I have taken back 2. Another was not as described, I kept it for a while and traded in at GC. They gave me what I paid for it. Past 2 have been better than described. Sold 1 that I wish I had kept! My last keeper is a USA made EBMM SUB. Came with hard case & 3 pickguards.
 

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