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Would you buy a bass blind?

#41
I would mention that to a large extent we always buy instruments "blind," because lots of stuff doesn't reveal itself until we have the instruments a while. I can think of one bass I bought that seemed fine when I got it, but spent the next few weeks revealing more and more obscure problems. And I know gear. :hmm:
 
#42
You know...I never did it before I bought my Parker "online". I was banking on the Parker rep and the dealer's rep for totally upholding the satisfaction guarantee.

Needless to say the bass came set up perfect, sounds and plays amazing so it never went back! If the dealer your doing business with will allow a FULL refund if you don't dig it then go for it...if he won't then you have some research and thinking to do.

Hope that helps...

Eric.
 
#44
Yeah, just look up some reviews on the product before you make the purchase. Obviously, HarmonyCentral is a good one... And, if you don't like it at all, you can usually send it back to the manufacturer yourself for a refund........ Mind you, you'll have to pay shipping. I'd say the risk is worth the reward if you like the bass and the deal is good....
 
#45
topper said:
....Usually I do it when a deal comes by that's too good to pass up and I'm reasonably confident I could get my money back in a re-sale.
Click to expand...

Very good point.

Bongolation said:
I would mention that to a large extent we always buy instruments "blind," because lots of stuff doesn't reveal itself until we have the instruments a while. I can think of one bass I bought that seemed fine when I got it, but spent the next few weeks revealing more and more obscure problems. And I know gear. :hmm:
Click to expand...

So's this.
 
#50
Most of the 80+ high end basses (probably 60 or 70) were bought sight unseen. Trying several Foderas, Dingwalls, Ritters, Ken Lawrence's before finding the one that fits it can only happen in Heaven. And in Talkbass some times ;) think of Tom Bowlus
 
#51
Living in the south of Italy, where there isn't much stuff to be seen / tried out, and where prices are unbelievably high (strange, as I'm living in a less developed part of the country...), I have been forced to buy nearly everything without trying it first.

I have bought:

- a Markbass Little Mark amp
- an Ashdown ABM414T cab
- my Peavey T-40
- the Rockman Stereo Chorus
- the Hartke VXL Bass Attack preamp
- an EHX Small Stone USA pedal
- a Behringer MIC200 tube mic preamp
- a copy of the Sansamp GT-2

all without ever having even heard them in action. I have been lucky, since I am quite satisfied with my tone. The only thing I sold has been the Small Stone (didn't work for me).

But most of the things have been cheap/medium priced stuff. I'd suggest you to buy without trying only if:

- you can return it
- it's 2nd hand

in both cases you can try it without losing money (or not much anyway).
The second possibility is probably better, it gives you the chance to try it in the band, to have the time to decide if you like it or not without being limited to 2 weeks (or what the return limit is there in the US).
 
#52
Buying "blind" does not have to mean buying "uninformed". I had never heard of Hanewinckel when I bought my first one sight unseen. Owned it for 5 years and bought a second one. Right now I have a Devon J bass. Had not heard of them either before this one became available.

In both cases I did some pretty extensive research and found TBers who owned similar instruments that I could communicate with via pm before I pulled the trigger.

I was VERY satisfied in both cases.

Peace,

James
 
#53
It depends. Personally I ordered a Stingray 5 HH all the way from Canada (I'm norwegian), but did of course not have a chance to play it first (as no dealers in Norway has one, not even possible to buy it online here). VERY happy with the bass!
 
#57
dean owens said:
nope... not an ABG. i would never buy an acoustic without being able to play it first.
Click to expand...

+1

An electric bass is one thing. With an ABG you are always making a compromise. Even with really expensive ones, you are always making a compromise somewhere - acoustic volume, size, string tension, pickup quality, etc. etc. etc.

I know I can buy a Fender sight unseen and have a general idea of what I am getting. That isn't the same with an ABG. You need to get your hands on it and see if you can live with the compromises in design of that particular instrument.
 

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