Would you buy a bass without trying it out due to it impossible to try?

[onda'bass]

I have done this more than not, so yea I'm ok with sight unseen...and a good return policy LOL

 

[chris_b]

. . . . . . . . my question to you TB'ers is, would you ever buy a bass without trying?

I bought my Lakland 55-94D without trying it. One of the best basses I've owned. Also bought a Mike Lull M5V Jazz and a Lakland 55-01 without seeing them first. Good basses.

IMO as long as you do your homework, understand the bass you are buying, are very careful, talk to and trust the seller I don't see there is a problem with buying sight unseen. I don't do GAS. So I don't buy anything on a whim or a chance. I know what I'm buying. I gradually upgrade my basses with better or more appropriate ones. If you are particularly picky about your basses you are likely to be disappointed. I'm only picky about stuff that can be easily verified, ie string spacing at bridge and weight. Bearing those in mind, if the bass sounds good enough then I'll deal with everything else.

I've also sold several basses to people who haven't tried them. I photograph every blemish and put together an accurate ad and (so far, fingers crossed) the buyers have never had an issue.

 

[OptimalOptimus]

Since I play lefty ... I never played a bass before buying it.

I always been able to make it works for me.

 

[downunder]

I’ve done it a lot. I’ve gotten some great deals, and I’ve gotten burned bad. It’s a gamble. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. If you can’t afford to lose, don’t do it.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

Got G.A.S (it physically hurts lol) but a trouble for me is not so much getting over it, but the fact if I wanted to try a bass out, it is impossible. Why? It's a headless, so that already narrows it down, 2) It's a Strandberg bass, so not only would it be uncommon, but to be able to try it out would mean you'd have to find someone or some store selling it (which would not be possible since Strandberg does not have a physical store you can just walk into, ask for their $2k bass, and try it out)

But my question to you TB'ers is, would you ever buy a bass without trying? Would you look into it heavily, research everything about it, perhaps even see if their are any artists related to the genre you play who use it, and have that be your decision? Does G.A.S plague you, if so how did you psych-yourself out of it?

Investigate the return policy. If it's a good one, no risk at all.

 

[soundsupport1]

It is obviously always better to try before you buy, but when that option is off the table, the two things to be most worried about are 1) store return policy and 2) brand reputation.
Would I buy a no-name chinese knockoff from amazon? no.

Did I buy a Lakland from Session Musik, one of the largest retailers in Germany, with a 6-month returns policy? Yes. Why? Couldn't try before I bought it, but I could still buy in confidence.

Peace,
SoundSupport

 

[Kipp Harrington]

I've bought quite a few low end basses without trying them. Some were good, some were duds. I sold the duds and moved on without much lost.

I was a bit anxious about ordering my custom Maruszczyk. They are made in Europe and there were certainly none anywhere close to me to try. But they would make exactly what I was looking for, a combination that was not available on any off the shelf bass. I read a lot of positive things about them on TB and thoroughly research all of the options. It turned out very well and I'll probably order another sooner or later.

It very much depends on how picky you are about feel and tone. Buying without trying is not for everyone.

I just recently stumbled across these basses on YouTube. It was a guy demonstrating pickups using these basses. They appear to be excellent instruments and I really liked what I saw from this company. If I ever decide to order a bass in the future, this company is definitely on my list.

 

[baileyboy]

...would you ever buy a bass without trying? Would you look into it heavily, research everything about it... ?

I have tried out and bought many basses over the years and, if at all possible, would recommend doing just that. Ironically, the two basses I own were bought online, without trying them out. My '74 Precision was bought on ebay from Cowtown Guitars several years ago. I asked for lots of pics and had lots of questions, which they promptly answered. Best bass I've ever played and owned.

My second was a brand new Geddy Lee Jazz . It was a Black Friday purchase, so got a reduced priced. The reason I bought it is because it weighed less than 9 lbs., so thought if I didn't like it I could easily get my money back. It's a great bass, and even though I prefer the Precision, I've decided to keep it as a backup for gigging.

In short, do your homework before purchasing.

 

[JMarkD]

I have done it. It depends on the bass, the return policy and the reputation of the seller. The two basses I purchased sight unseen were both purchased from a large retail outfit and were both Modulus composite necked basses. I was reasonably sure there would be no issues with them, and there weren't.

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

The only bass I still own, a Fender 63 AV, I bought online without playing one. It is amazing

 

[maxschrek]

All the time.

 

[brianrost]

I have bought a number of basses without trying. Once mail ordering became easier due to the internet, most of my purchases were done online. Most of these were used, too, so it's a double whammy. I never got a bass that wasn't as advertised. There was only one I actually returned, that was a Zeta EUB.

It helps if you've spent hours in music stores trying out instruments (and amps, too) so you have a rough idea what you would be getting. I even played a Carl Thompson hanging in a store back in 1981. The loss of indie stores due to GC really ruined my ability to do that. It severely reduced the pool of used instruments available from stores.

 

[Mo cowbell]

I took a chance on a MIJ Steve Harris from Music Go Round in another state. I am happy I did. I talked to them on the phone before I bought and they sounded cool.

 

[mmbongo]

My choice is more so

what kind of kiesel? Finish/woods? 4-5 strings? I must know because I found out about them and they are a beuaty

I got a 5 string Osiris, rather basic. Upgraded to an ash body and chose trans red color. Maple fretboard with red dot inlays. I did splurge on the neck, as I think it's the most important thing...got the 5 piece mahogany neck with maple stripes. The neck is awesome and I love the contrast of the maple board, then mahogany, then the maple stripes, then more mahogany. I also upgraded to EVO Gold fret wire.

But yeah it's pretty basic and was like $1600. I was just completely shocked at how much I love it! I knew it would be nice, but I was impressed on top of that

Here's a couple of pics:

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

@Killed_by_Death said it. Yes, if the return policy is reasonable.
I have purchased 5 basses online. Three I kept, one of which became my #1 and 2 I returned. The two I returned were as advertized, but were not what I hoped they would be.

 

[FrenchBassQC]

I have many times
Duke

Same here...

 

[Scarysharkface]

But my question to you TB'ers is, would you ever buy a bass without trying? Would you look into it heavily, research everything about it, perhaps even see if their are any artists related to the genre you play who use it, and have that be your decision? Does G.A.S plague you, if so how did you psych-yourself out of it?

I had my Alembic built for me in '81 and it didn't exist until after I'd paid for it. My Lakland fretless came from The Bass Emporium in Austin (RIP) and I had to take their word for it that it was awesome (it is). My Ibanez 846SC was ordered from Sweetwater before I'd ever played one. The UPS guy usually only brings nice things if you've done your homework.

John

 

[PWRL]

For me it would depend on the instrument, the make, the price, return policies, etc, as well as my location. Where I am right now, I'd have to buy before I try, anyway.

 

[dBChad]

My TL6 was bought online from several states away without being able to try one due there not being many of those around. It was a great experience and quickly became my number 1.

I also picked up a Millennium 5 body and neck off of eBay without trying, but understood that this would be a project. After sourcing tuning machines, a bridge, pickups, and electronics, that bass turned into a great 5 stringer for flat wounds.

Buying sight unseen isn't always a good experience, but it can pay off.

 

[wmhill]

Many times. But, they are instruments that I have done my research on and have a very good reputation, and good reviews (I take reviews with several grains of salt though). Used is a little tougher as you have to try and figure out what condition it really is in. When you start talking about the companies that have QC issues (Fender, Ric in particular) -not a chance.