Should it stay or should it go?

[FenderOli]

Regarding my '57 Precision from 1982 there is also some wear at the third - fifth fret, but its worn through nitro and not as much dark discoloration like yours...
About the same at my '79 StingRay (I think poly).

(My 1998 American Standard poly satin finish looks like new).

 

[bholder]

It's been used. Some people would call that a natural relic, patina, etc. I would take it as a mark that it is a great instrument that someone have wanted to play a lot. I wouldn't bother as long as it is only cosmetic. On the other hand, I would have been worried about a 2002 bass without a scratch or mark on it.

Doesn't look like normal usage wear to me, more like abusage. I'd return it.

 

[Microbass]

Looks like the finish has been taken off, played with dirty hands, and then resprayed? My '76 Grabber neck is well worn under the treble side of the neck but much more evenly and not as dirty as that. I've never seen a factory finish that bad on a fingerboard even on the worst Squires I've tried.

As long as it's not water damage (which I guess is a whole new can of worms), and it's a player, seek some money back from GC? Certainly it wouldn't be that hard to sand it down yourself, clean that up best your can if it bothers you than much and then respray or oil it up for a nice MM style feel!

 

[two fingers]

Sand that neck finish off and oil it. It'll feel like buttah and get rid of the stains at the same time.

Edit to correct thumb tyops.

 

[navijaz]

Ew. Send it back.

That bass is in "poor", not "good" condition.

Since you asked here, you already know that.

 

[Wfrance3]

Some shiny apples need to remain along the roadside. Cool color tho...

 

[TrustRod]

Looks nasty to me but I bet someone who likes relics will dig it. If you like the rest of the bass and you can spare the cash you could buy a nice neck you like to play and then put a high price on the old one and wait for it to sell. With a bit of patience you could even end up a few bucks ahead.

I think that would look great with a rosewood board as I'm a fan of the '60's look.

 

[Mammoth_Bass]

Thanks everyone. As many of you had pointed out, if I took the time to post this I probably want to return it deep down. So that’s what I’ll do. I paid $650 shipped for this and feel that was high considering the condition.

I wil now have a $500 gift card for GC to use but I’m sure I’ll find something eventually.

A tip for you all... there is an app called Raise where you can buy discounted gift cards. When I see something I like on GC used I always buy a discounted gift card first. I paid $470 for the $500 card (covers the shipping fee). I also use it for Dunkin’ Donuts etc.... check it out and thanks again!

 

[Thumb n Fingers]

If you're on the fence at all about it, especially with it having been listed as "good" condition, I'd say a third option is to call GC and wheel and deal. Explain to them the condition was falsely advertised as "good", it's not and needs some work, and negotiate a partial refund and use that to get someone to restore it to your liking... that, or you're going to return it. Or negotiate a hardshell case or something else useful to you. While GC tends to make me want to pull my hair out, they are, at least corporately, dedicated to trying to make their customers happy. It's at the local level that they struggle with this philosophy.

PS: Love that color.

 

[lowendblues]

I'd play the hell out of it. Candy Tangerine is cool.

 

[bordinco90]

Personally.... I would send it back. The neck is in pretty bad condition.

 

[Kmrumedy]

Nothing a good luthier couldn't fix up in a jiffy. I'd keep it but would ask GC for some kind of refund and put the funds towards the luthier bill.

 

[JoeWPgh]

I would clean it thoroughly with naptha, and maybe try to buff it out, before making a decision. If you can get it from 'gross' to 'well played', and if it feels and sounds good, keep it.

 

[MotorCityMinion]

That's about the worst fret polishing and cleaning I've ever seen. And seeing how it has actual road wear on it, it's gotta be worth a bundle to one of the many guys buying new relic'ed basses.

 

[Mammoth_Bass]

That's about the worst fret polishing and cleaning I've ever seen. And seeing how it has actual road wear on it, it's gotta be worth a bundle to one of the many guys buying new relic'ed basses.

Pictures are pre fret polishing but after I tried cleaning the neck

 

[buldog5151bass]

Did you want a reliced tangerine bass? If not, I would return. IMO there is no excuse for an instrument to look like that (body included), unless you are regularly touring. I have basses that I have gigged for decades that look nothing like that.

 

[Duder]

Unless you really love the color so much that you would buy another neck for it, just return it. That neck is nasty.

 

[bolophonic]

I would give it a thorough cleaning and rock it.

 

[Mammoth_Bass]

I would give it a thorough cleaning and rock it.

What would you suggest I use?

 

[stingray78]

I would try to clean up the frets, other than that the neck doesn't bother me one bit. The neck finish on my pre-EB Stingray is worn like that from years of playing. It could use new frets and I am hesitant to get it done because I don't want the neck refinished. It's called Mojo