Do you purchase your basses online?

[nilebodgers]

In recent years I just buy online without trying - but that is for (relatively) cheap s/h basses under £500.

If I was going to spend a larger sum I'd want to try it. I don't mind doing a bit of fettling on cheaper instruments, but I'd want to see exactly what the condition and playability is of a more expensive bass.

Edited May 26, 2020 by nilebodgers

[Trav]

I've not bought (yet!) but I'll likely buy online without the shop visit.   I'm not looking at a big budget (I'd love to have a big budget!) but given it'll be for my own entertainment, I'm happy to take that chance.   And if I don't like what I get, I'll resell it and try something else...

 

[Doctor J]

1 hour ago, ClassicVibes said:

Build quality isn't important then?

Very important. I’ve seen enough outrageously priced Fenders with shonky neck alignment to always study the pictures very carefully. So much about an instrument can be seen if you actually look for it. Pay attention to the details in the pictures, the hardware used to build it and the reputation of the builder. There’s not that much you can do, after that. You either get on with it or you don’t. You’ll never know, however, unless you try 🙂 

[ClassicVibes]

2 hours ago, Doctor J said:

Very important. I’ve seen enough outrageously priced Fenders with shonky neck alignment to always study the pictures very carefully. So much about an instrument can be seen if you actually look for it. Pay attention to the details in the pictures, the hardware used to build it and the reputation of the builder. There’s not that much you can do, after that. You either get on with it or you don’t. You’ll never know, however, unless you try 🙂 

But you cannot do that if buying online. It might also be a stock photo and not the actual instrument you are buying. 

[Doctor J]

If you think you’re looking at a stock photo, or the photo is too small, or the photo is lo-res, or the seller doesn’t give you the information and the details you need you simply do not buy from them 🙂

[ubit]

I have bought two basses from sellers on here and both have been fantastic basses and exactly as described.I have also bought basses online after doing lots of research. Again, all have been great. I have been given two as presents, which I was never going to moan about. I have built three.  I have not bought a bass from a store since I was very much younger.

[BigRedX]

12 hours ago, ClassicVibes said:

Build quality isn't important then?

IME these days you have to try really hard to find a guitar or bass with substandard build quality.

Form my PoV the basses and guitars I buy are generally fall into £1k+ when new price range so build quality is a given.

[ClassicVibes]

1 minute ago, BigRedX said:

IME these days you have to try really hard to find a guitar or bass with substandard build quality.

Form my PoV the basses and guitars I buy are generally fall into £1k+ when new price range so build quality is a given.

I just bought a Music Man which I sent back because I wasn't impressed with the build quality. Nothing is a given. 

[ubit]

3 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

IME these days you have to try really hard to find a guitar or bass with substandard build quality.

Indeed. A few years ago I decided that I wanted to get a 5 string to see how I got on with it. I didn't want to spend too much as I had plenty of gigging basses to choose from. I bought a Squire and it is just a great guitar. It's active and has an awesome sound and build quality. I just love it although it does weigh a ton.

Here it is although mine is Olympic white with no pickgaurd

https://www.astrings.co.uk/squier-contemporary-5-string-active-jazz-bass-hh-v.html

[BigRedX]

1 hour ago, ClassicVibes said:

I just bought a Music Man which I sent back because I wasn't impressed with the build quality. Nothing is a given. 

And you were able to send it back.

As I said in a previous post trying for a few days at home is going to give you a far better idea of whether or not a bass is going to suit you, then any amount of hours trying it in a shop.

Besides its a mass-produced factory-built instrument, you have expect some variations in build quality.

[Bigguy2017]

I generally buy second hand instruments, for the better value. This can be 'blind' online, or after a hands-on examination.

I bought my first MM Stingray new in 1980 in (Buzz Music Hereford after they couldn't deliver my ordered black Precision).

I have bought new 'blind' off the web (2019 MIM telecaster) which was a great deal.

Gibsons need to be examined before purchase as there are many potential problems.

Quality of new kit, even the cheaper stuff is much improved from when I first started playing... back then most affordable basses were crap.

 

[ubit]

1 minute ago, Bigguy2017 said:

Quality of new kit, even the cheaper stuff is much improved from when I first started playing... back then most affordable basses were crap.

I bought an Epiphone Thunderbird from EBay a few years back. Id always fancied a T Bird and this seemed the way to do it. I hated it. It was under powered and didn't give me the Gibson growl at all. I punted it later. I think my GAS for a T Bird will only be assuaged by the real deal.

[ClassicVibes]

2 hours ago, BigRedX said:

Form my PoV the basses and guitars I buy are generally fall into £1k+ when new price range so build quality is a given.

 

32 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

Besides its a mass-produced factory-built instrument, you have expect some variations in build quality.

 

[jacko]

14 hours ago, MacDaddy said:

My Shuker's are custom made, so obviously no chance of playing them first!

Ditto 2 of my Alembics. The first one I bought at a shop in Birmingham but every other instrument I have has been bought online . 

[BigRedX]

3 hours ago, ClassicVibes said:

Sorry but I would never pay over £1k for a mass-produced factory-built bass. New or second hand.

[PaulWarning]

the quality of inexpensive instruments has gone through the roof because of the advent of CNC lathes, program the lathe and away you go, takes the pesky human element out of it, so you're fairly safe buying second hand unless someone has 'reliced' it.

[Stub Mandrel]

I've never bought without trying first. Only exception is a s/h bass bought from @stewblack but he let me have a plonk through a little portable amp (we were in a layby!) before taking my dosh.

I don't mind paying a bit more to keep music shops in existence.

That said I have bought accessories online, usually because I can't find them in a shop.

[Stub Mandrel]

23 minutes ago, PaulWarning said:

the quality of inexpensive instruments has gone through the roof because of the advent of CNC lathes, program the lathe and away you go, takes the pesky human element out of it, so you're fairly safe buying second hand unless someone has 'reliced' it.

I think you mean CNC routers 🙂

(Machinery pedant)

[Bobthedog]

On 26/05/2020 at 22:00, Bobthedog said:

Always try them out and buy from a shop - so far. I am down to three bass guitars  but have tried many over the last few years. Set up and strings can be easily changed - neck shape, balance, playability / feel and connection are to me too important to risk online purchasing. Basically I am too lazy to want bother with a return. Far too much hassle. Physical looks are very different to any pictures too.

There have been many real disappointments following a tryout and which stick in my mind including Spector NS5; Ken Smith 5 (cannot remember the model) - both of those just did not work for me in terms of playability - I had decided on  the Spector before I went into BD, but walked out with my Roscoe Century. As soon as I picked it up, it just felt right. The Sandberg California TT5 Masterpiece felt very light and cheap and the Mayones Jabba 5 Hadrien Feraud felt like it was a toy lump. I would love the MTD in matt blue that is for sale on here, but am not going to even consider it due to the chance of it not being right for me. The bass is a tool, but as a hobby player, I just want to enjoy playing it and want to look forward to picking the guitar up.

Going forward, when I do have a custom made, it will be online, albeit it will be based on a combination of all I have played and made note of that is what I want. 

All subjective, but my choice.

Looks like I lied to you all. Just ordered a bass online. This lockdown GAS is playing havoc with my reasoning. 

[Dov65]

Always try in a shop then online for cheapest price, caught out once with a Skyline DJ4 weighed over 11lbs good bass mind. 

[chris_b]

I've bought several of my best basses on eBay, but I collected in person so did get to play them before I handed over the cash.

I've also bought basses and amps unseen from Bassdirect and Basschat. I'm pretty careful with my choices and who I do business with. I have a very slow turnover of gear and so far (fingers crossed) I haven't been stung.

[GuyR]

1 hour ago, Dov65 said:

Always try in a shop then online for cheapest price, 

If I have tried something in a shop and I like it enough to buy it, I will buy it there. I am happy to pay for the service I have received in trying the instrument in person. I always haggle and I always get some discount.

If we continue to treat shops as a showroom for the Internet, our specialist retailers will continue to diminish in number, our high streets will continue to fill with charity shops and we will continue to pay higher taxes to compensate for the loss of jobs and business rates, while Jeff Bezos gets ever richer......

Sorry, I have gone on a bit of a rant there, definitely not a pop at you Dov65😀, It applies to most forms of retail.

 

[Dov65]

1 hour ago, GuyR said:

If I have tried something in a shop and I like it enough to buy it, I will buy it there. I am happy to pay for the service I have received in trying the instrument in person. I always haggle and I always get some discount.

If we continue to treat shops as a showroom for the Internet, our specialist retailers will continue to diminish in number, our high streets will continue to fill with charity shops and we will continue to pay higher taxes to compensate for the loss of jobs and business rates, while Jeff Bezos gets ever richer......

Sorry, I have gone on a bit of a rant there, definitely not a pop at you Dov65😀, It applies to most forms of retail.

 

No worries bud, i understand what your saying. Nearest big shop to me is Guitar Guitar Edinburgh for trying anything out. My local is independently ran nothing fancy you could call it a basic shop but always use them for consumables, setups and a good blether...👍

[Marvin]

The last bass I bought from a shop was 11 years ago, when I got back into playing again. Since then I've bought online unseen. Some have come from Basschatters the others from online stores.

The only concern when buying unseen is if there's something wrong with the bass you're buying. However, as I've bought from here and online shops that reduces the risk a lot IMO.

Trying a bass in a shop tells me very little to be honest. You get to try it maybe for an hour or so. One bass I bought, for the first week I thought it was the best bass I'd ever played. After that initial week it all went downhill. I'd had the bass for a month and hated everything about it.

My current squeezes are a Jazz bass from Thomman and a Precision bass, second hand, from RichTone Music. I love them both

[Silvia Bluejay]

Being left-handed, and preferring to buy new rather than second hand, necessarily means buying online unseen. Having started playing in my early 40s means I was old enough to have a reasonable idea of what I liked from the start - no Fenders, no big bodies, no muddy crappy P-style pickup, thin neck, modern sound, 34 inch scale, minimal string spacing.

Every bass I bought myself (as opposed to generous presents from @Happy Jack) has been from Thomann, with only one exception (PMT). I've had to send back a couple of defective instruments, which Thomann replaced quickly and with no quibble.

The only bricks-and-mortar shop I can think of, which almost every time I visit has a lefty bass I might be interested in buying, is Wunjo's.