Should it stay or should it go?

[40Hz]

While it's ok to take reasonable chances in the used market ("Those who snooze lose.") you also need to play the long game and sometimes wait for the right one to come along.

I recently missed out on something I've been gassing for for close to 20 years. And by only a matter of a few minutes. But so it goes. I waited this long, I can wait a little longer and see if I can catch the next one. If I did otherwise I'd be broke and up to my ears in a room full of "almost - but not quite" basses.

One thing for sure. If you're going "hmmm…" right after you get something, you're not going to feel any better about it a day, a week, or a year later. If you're the kind of person who knows what you want, hang onto your winners - and cull your losers pronto. Everybody makes a purchasing mistake sooner or later if they're buying used gear. And tomorrow is always another day.

tl:dr - If it were me I'd definitely return it.

 

[AcridSaint]

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.

This is the answer I came to give you. GC will deal with you on the price and give you a partial refund in cases where something is mislisted. This is one of those cases.

 

[scootron]

If the question is whether you can find an early 2000s American Jazz in better condition for that price, the answer is "yes". Finding another one in this color might be harder.

As for the condition of this bass, by "Blue Book" standards it appears to be substantially better than "good", somewhere between "very good" and "very good+". Especially if you can do the work yourself, a viable option would be to spruce it up a bit to your standards and then hold on to it until you find a nicer one in the color you like. You should be able to get your money back from an American made bass then.

I'd rock it, but my basses have run from pristine beauties to raggedy 70s knockoffs. If you just aren't happy playing your new purchase, a return is probably the best option.

 

[Liam Wald]

Yeah, that's pretty funkin' nasty... I'd say good-bye.

 

[somebrains]

If you got it cheap enough then find someone local that can take off the finish and apply a stock oil finish on it like a Stingray.

Maybe have them lightly shape it to your hand.

Then customize the pickups and or preamp down the road.

There, your rare color #1 bass is setup for you.

 

[tpaul]

Aww, that's just mojo.

 

[crossthestyx]

I've spent the last year and a half upgrading all my gear + dumping all my old stuff. In that time I've ordered 3 used instruments from GC in "Excellent" or "Good" "Condition" because of the savings. None have come in even close to those "conditions." And one, had it been mine, I probably would have thrown it in the dumpster. GC doesn't even bother to clean them. So, after spending a bunch of money on new strings, cleaning gross greasy finger jiz off fingerboards, and dealing with the headache of taking them down to the local store to get my money back. I decided that if I was going to do this, it needed to be done right. Been going with ALL "New", and I couldn't be happier. If you find something used you like in the store, and can spend some playing on it there, ie. wringing it out. And you like what you're actually physically playing on, then great! Other than that, ordering used gear at GC is like a crap shoot. Take it back. No amount of polish is going to make that beater sound better, play better, or look better. Put your new gear on the ole credit card, or some kinda payment plan. You'll thank me! LOL

 

[mantaraya]

I would keep it until I found another Candy Tangerine in better condition that played and sounded equal if not better.

The color is too rare .

Try to go or call GC and tell them to work price. Sometimes they do. I would have return it if it was other bass. But as up said, that color is very rare and hard to come by. If they can reimburse you lets say $100 you can invest that to fix, enhance etc etc the necks condition. Any luthier can do wonders in that neck for $100. Have not done it but i guess that would be my opinion. If color is not that important return it. But that color...

 

[beaglesandbass]

Looks gross, no offense. I would take it back to GC and demand they do a partial refund. That probably won't happen so your options are to return it, live with it, or get a different neck.

If you like the color enough and it sounds good, I would find a used Jazz neck or get a new one custom built for you from Warmoth. They're not exactly rare.

 

[Ukulelegeek]

Patina like this is from the reaction of the oils on the hands and the metal. Patina, in large enough amounts, is toxic. It needs to be cleaned off periodically. It might need to be re-fretted, and if I did that, I'd use a new neck. Whoever had this used it well, (or not so well) I'd ask for at least some of my money back.

 

[electracoyote]

I love this color. And if the bass plays and sounds great, you can bet the neck has something to do with that. A replacement neck would represent a big gamble to me.

It's used, played, crusty, and gunky. I'd clean it up best I could and play it. If you're not sure how or lack the proper tools, I think an experienced tech could clean up those frets better. As for the stains in the wood, that's mojo. I have a few basses like that.

Beautiful color, great bass.

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

Yep.

 

[bdplaid]

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.

This.
The GC near me is actually nice to me and will wheel and deal. The stores want local business to justify their existence vs the online megolith.
I agree it's not "good." The players in your GC will probably agree too.
If it plays well, and especially doesn't have that mess fender calls a neck but we call a "dead spot," I'd rock it.
I've never seen that color, so it might as well be called "hen's teeth," due to rarity.

Good luck, keep us posted!

 

[tubedude]

You could clean it up and defunkify it, TSP or oxalic acid to lighten up the black spots on the maple. I'd replace the neck with a rosewood or ebony board, as that's my preference, but a dark board will make that tangerine pop.

 

[Mammoth_Bass]

You could clean it up and defunkify it, TSP or oxalic acid to lighten up the black spots on the maple. I'd replace the neck with a rosewood or ebony board, as that's my preference, but a dark board will make that tangerine pop.

I usually prefer maple but I was thinking that..... who has a rosewood neck they’re willing to part with??

 

[mikewalker]

That's on the low side of "good" - but I have seen worse "good"s than that.

Remember, you still have "fair" (where the neck AND the body has huge dents but it's still playable) and then POOR... where it's a virtually unplayable wall-hanger!

"Good" does not equate to VERY GOOD, VERY GOOD+, EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT+, NEAR-MINT, or MINT...

 

[tjh]

Mammoth, I will PM you with more specifics, I know Candy Tangerine sounds much cooler, but unless it has been refinished, your bass is Chrome Red.. Candy Tangerine was never a color offered as a stock color on American Series basses from that year ... not sure if that plays a part in your keeping it or not though, but you should have no problem finding more come up at some point, they should have been offered in that color probably up through '06 for sure, maybe even longer (without looking it up)

 

[jeff62]

Geez what a bunch of pansies in this thread. Rock the thing! That’s normal wear for a bass that’s been played hard and played well. You should see one of mine that’s been worn through.

Or I can call you all a whaaaa-bulance?

 

[Mammoth_Bass]

But it is metal enough???

 

[bobalu]

 

[A-Step-Towards]

Mammoth, I will PM you with more specifics, I know Candy Tangerine sounds much cooler, but unless it has been refinished, your bass is Chrome Red.. Candy Tangerine was never a color offered as a stock color on American Series basses from that year ... not sure if that plays a part in your keeping it or not though, but you should have no problem finding more come up at some point, they should have been offered in that color probably up through '06 for sure, maybe even longer (without looking it up)

I dont think I have ever seen a Standard in Candy Tangerine. I had a Deluxe P bass in this finish, sold this in 2010 and never saw another.