synthaside Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 (edited) Hi folks I'm borrowing a bass from a colleague at work with a view to buying it, I've fancied one of these for a while , i was quite excited to try it . IT'S FILTHY ... when I say filthy I don't mean damage , i'm sure it will clean up fine . I mean it feels unclean, and smells a bit , the gig bag reek's of damp. I'm not sure I can play it in this state, I don't think I'm particularly clean or precious over my instruments, they get a rub down when they are bit dusty ... and I think I've oiled a fretboard once .... Is it acceptable to clean it ? ..... especially if I don't get on with it? I think it needs a serious strip down .... the bridge looks rank and the strings feel greasy . Opinions please folks Edited January 18, 2017 by synthaside Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stylon Pilson Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 I'd be inclined to pop it back in the bag, take it back to your colleague, and say thank you but no sale. S.P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
synthaside Posted January 18, 2017 Author Share Posted January 18, 2017 Problem is , these aren't "that" common no means rare , but i've never laid my hands on a CIJ non export Aerodyne J and he has priced it reasonably . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markstuk Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 [quote name='synthaside' timestamp='1484755178' post='3218144'] Problem is , these aren't "that" common no means rare , but i've never laid my hands on a CIJ non export Aerodyne J and he has priced it reasonably . [/quote] Ask him if you can clean it and knock the price of a new noname gigbag off the price.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 You could give it a superficial clean, or even loosen the strings,wipe the fingerboard and see how it plays. If you decide to buy make an offer based on its condition. You should at least then be able to get an impression of its sound and feel before making an offer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
synthaside Posted January 18, 2017 Author Share Posted January 18, 2017 I've emailed the guy he's said he's happy for me to do whatever to it, I think a superficial clean up i'll take some snaps when i get it home so you can see for yourselves. I might fall in love when i plug it in but right now colour me less than impressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stylon Pilson Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 My concern would be that the dirtiness suggests that it hasn't been very well looked after. But see how you get on. Also, wash your hands after touching it. S.P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowregisterhead Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 (edited) Take it back into work dressed in one of these. He'll take the hint. Seriously though, I went to try a very rare US luthier-made bass a few months ago, and it was similarly clarted. I passed on it not because it was dirty, but because it said something to me about how the owner had been treating it. I'm always amazed when somemone presents something for sale that needs a clean, even a bit of a dust down. It speaks volumes about their attitude to their gear. And life. And personal hygiene. Edited January 18, 2017 by lowregisterhead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 If it was a car that need oil changes and brake fluid etc how the previous owner cared for it would bother me but it's two bits of wood, a bbot bridge and some passive pickups at the end of the day, as long as all the bits are undamaged I'd just enjoy the makeover tbh, I'd always fit new strings and set it all up to my liking anyway. Otoh if I was selling one I'd clean it all up before taking pictures to achieve the best price and bit put anyone off, same would apply to a car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grahambythesea Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 Given the gig bag smells damp, it sounds like he may have stored in the loft/garage/basement, so I'd be checking for neck warp and veneer or binding lifting. How can people disrespect what is a quality and originally quite expensive instrument ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 Is it a decent price? if so, hold your nose and give it a polish. Some people aren't as anal about basses as most of the BC populace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bay Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 Price is the key. If it's grubby but cheap then it's worth taking a chance. If it's top money then it should be immaculate. Like the car anaology above, a missing service might not put you off but you want to pay the same as one with a full book of stamps perhaps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost_Bass Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 You can use it's current conditon to lower the price a bit more. Look at it for signs of wood splitting warping and rust on the metalic pieces. If all looks good plug it and see if you like the sound. See if all pots turn well without noise (if they have noise it's another issue to negotiate the price down further more and easy to fix with some contact spray). You might have a good bargain on your hands for the effort of cleaning it up and putting new strings. I wouldn't bother to clean it myself before striking the deal as long as i could pick it up and give it a go without getting dirt on my clothes. You can wear gloves or wash your hands afterwards. If the owner want's it cleaned and setup he should do it himself or pay for that job, if he want's to sell a dirty bass than he has to be prepared to discount the price of bringing it back to it's full glory. I clean all my gear before selling it, it helps a fast sale at a fair price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
synthaside Posted January 18, 2017 Author Share Posted January 18, 2017 So an update .... i'm almost certainly returning the thing to him, plugged in it cuts in and out sporadically feeds back and crackles something awful, the pots are noisy the bridge is gunked up and would need soaking in meths for a week. i've stopped playing the bass because the smell of it is making me taste dampness. He wants £400 for it its a 2002 aerodyne Jazz (nonexport) surface jack model .... i think that's slightly under priced but not enough to warrant It , ive sent him an email but im not back at work till Monday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skybone Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 Pots can be cleaned (Servisol is your friend here), but it sounds like you will need to spend a fair amount of time just doing maintenance on it to get it into a usable state. Offer £250-£300, if he accepts, buy it, clean it up, set it up, and sell it on. If he wants more, tell him you're not interested because of the condition and the time you'd have to spend on it to get it into a playable condition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downdown Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 [quote name='synthaside' timestamp='1484754813' post='3218135'] Hi folks I'm borrowing a bass from a colleague at work with a view to buying it .... Is it acceptable to clean it ? ...... Opinions please folks [/quote] Of course it's not acceptable to clean it, or do anything else to it, without the owners permission. There's no point asking us, the only person worth asking is the owner. Quite simply, [u]it's not your bass[/u] and until it is the only person worth asking about anything is the owner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 [quote name='Downdown' timestamp='1484776696' post='3218435'] There's no point asking us, the only person worth asking is the owner. [/quote] Absolutely, it matters not one whit what we think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 Would anyone really object to you cleaning it? I guess if you handed in back clean he could be offended at you thinking it needed cleaning. But if so, wouldn't he be offended if you asked? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downdown Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 There's simply no point trying to guess what the OWNER of the bass might or might not think. It's pointless conjecture. It's THEIR bass so you should ask THEM before doing anything with it - touching it, playing it, cleaning it, changing the strings, anything. If they insist on being offended because you ask them something then that's their problem, not yours, but at least you won't have altered their property without their permission. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markstuk Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 [quote name='Downdown' timestamp='1484846362' post='3219063'] There's simply no point trying to guess what the OWNER of the bass might or might not think. It's pointless conjecture. It's THEIR bass so you should ask THEM before doing anything with it - touching it, playing it, cleaning it, changing the strings, anything. If they insist on being offended because you ask them something then that's their problem, not yours, but at least you won't have altered their property without their permission. [/quote] The owner has consented to the OP cleaning the bass.. post #9 I think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downdown Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 No problem then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josie Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 [quote name='synthaside' timestamp='1484768427' post='3218323'] He wants £400 for it its a 2002 aerodyne Jazz (nonexport) surface jack model .... i think that's slightly under priced but not enough to warrant It [/quote] My 1992 Aerodyne cost £500, with a few scratches but functionally perfect, so that sounds over-priced for the condition. Could you get a luthier to quote for fixing it and offer him £400 minus the quote? It's unlikely anyone else will appreciate what it is and offer him any more than that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FatFingers Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 Have you had a look at Ishibashi's U box. I got a mint non-export Aerodyne earlier this year for a little over £350. Mind you, postage and duty took it to £550 all in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.gif.9ad672bb8b84505709f76b39c8c256ec.gif)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.