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Should I send it back? Opinions, please!
- Thread starter Kipp Harrington
- Start date
Yes. It’s from a string that somewhere along the way gouged the finger board. If the strings were loose, like when it was shipped, it wouldn’t to much to cause that result. A fatal flaw? Only you can decide that.
But as a present from your wife, I would have to think on it really hard before sending back.
Well, just spoke with my wife. I guess I'm keeping the bass! Lol. I told her the issue and she was fine with me returning it. One catch... she bought it a few months ago... lol. I'm pretty sure GC doesn't have a 120 day return policy. So... 2 good things come of this:
1) I don't have to make a trip to GC
2) I'm stuck with a bass I love
I subscribe to the saying, "things happen for a reason". Hence, I am at peace with the outcome.
Many, many thanks to all who offered advice and insight. One of the many reasons I cherish TB.
Now, time to start woodshedding!
1) I don't have to make a trip to GC
2) I'm stuck with a bass I love
I subscribe to the saying, "things happen for a reason". Hence, I am at peace with the outcome.
Many, many thanks to all who offered advice and insight. One of the many reasons I cherish TB.
Now, time to start woodshedding!
... All depends how much it bothers you. ... They won't fix it, they'll throw it away and send you a new one. ... These are machine made instruments and that damage was done by the machine that made it. ... I play vintage instruments with more damage than that to them and some of it I caused. ...
I got a couple of marks much like this on my new bass's fingerboard (also maple), but mine seem much less severe, I can only see them at a certain angle, and I can't feel them at all, so I am cool with it.. If I could feel them, I would consider returning.
Nah, its in the wood, under the urethane. Its a tool mark, not a string mark. It happened before the frets were installed. Urethane is applied after frets on maple. Plus the string would have had to be going across the board and be very large.
I do a lot of woodworking, so 2 things I am pretty sure of - it was not caused by a string but some type of rotary tool (maybe used to grind the frets or something like that) and given it’s location it will not get worse/disintegrate over time. It will impact its resale value as it will be a fingerboard with damage. But as a gift you’d be unlikely to sell it. Wood doesn’t do that by itself. I would ask your wife what she thinks. Edit - just saw that you did! Play it with confidence and love, it’ll be fine.
You might still contact them. Sometimes retailers extend return policies for Christmas. But i think you are fine either way. As time passes you will notice it less and less.Well, just spoke with my wife. I guess I'm keeping the bass! Lol. I told her the issue and she was fine with me returning it. One catch... she bought it a few months ago... lol. I'm pretty sure GC doesn't have a 120 day return policy. So... 2 good things come of this:
1) I don't have to make a trip to GC
2) I'm stuck with a bass I love
I subscribe to the saying, "things happen for a reason". Hence, I am at peace with the outcome.
Many, many thanks to all who offered advice and insight. One of the many reasons I cherish TB.
Now, time to start woodshedding!
The only bass i returned new with had a real scratch and I didn't think $1,000 was enough of a discount.
If all else is good, keep it. If you’re like many of us you will add your own dings and what-nots to it in the future anyway.
All I can say is I had a Rick 4001 that slipped as I was changing strings (GHS Bass Boomer) fell, hit something hard, I think it may have been a mic stand and ended with a gouge very similar.
But as you say, it could have been a tool mark, but what ever tool is was, it’s a really odd tool that I’m not familiar with.
Discreetly change the bass. Tell the wife? Never tell the wife! You have to live with the guilt on your own. Oops, wrong thread
Yikes! Yeah, I can deal with the imperfection. Now that I know it won't get any worse.
What would I personally do? Well I’m super practical. None of that would bother me from a playing perspective, so I’d keep it. You like the bass. Who knows if you’d like a replacement as much? Squiers aren’t exactly the pinnacle of consistency.
I’d keep it because I’m practical that way, but I’d still want some compensation because, it’s the principle. They owe you something. I’d document the damage, and ask for a discount/partial refund. Then I’d take that money, and take my wife out for lunch or dinner someplace she likes.
I’d keep it because I’m practical that way, but I’d still want some compensation because, it’s the principle. They owe you something. I’d document the damage, and ask for a discount/partial refund. Then I’d take that money, and take my wife out for lunch or dinner someplace she likes.
I’ve got a mind like a steel trap. Every once in a while, something escapes!
If you like the sound and playability of it, count your blessings. There’s no guarantee of that if you swap it out. However, you should investigate getting a price adjustment, because at the very least you probably would not have bought it had you seen it beforehand. Moreover, the seller will have this problem again with someone else if you decide to trade it in for a different piece. A price adjustment is the easiest solution for both sides.
