Buying a 5 String Bass Sight Unseen

[Overgeared]

So i'm looking to get a 5-string as there are some songs I am needing to play that go below E. I'd rather play the correct note than an octave above on my 4-string. The problem is with the demise of PMT there are no instrument shops in my city, with the exception of 1 that usually only has 2nd hand gear in and can be very hit and miss in terms of what basses they have at any one time. I have found a nice looking Cort C5 Deluxe on Reverb that is within my price range so was wondering what people's opinions on buying a bass sight unseen from the 'net? It seems to be from a music shop in another city so I'm a little bit more reassured than if it was a private seller.

Alos, how does a Cort compare to a 4-string Squier Jazz or Precision in terms of neck feel (I have one of each)?

Thanks

[itu]

When you get the bass, check the setup and do string set tests to find the right combination for you. If the bass feels good in your hands, the right strings can do miracles (playability & sound). 

[HeadlessBassist]

Firstly, remember that Reverb prices are always 'jacked up' significantly from what the seller actually gets.

 

I'd say the Cort A5 series are always a better bet than the Squier, which mainly have a very cheap preamp in them. There are some passive ones, but you don't see them come up very often.

 

The CORTs are always really nice and consistent basses. If you get the Bartolini preamp and pickups you're getting a good all-round bass. Some of them even have MarkBass preamps.

 

I'll PM you another option as a buyer, too.

 

Buying sight unseen is always going to be a gamble. But I sympathize with you on the demise of most of the big music shops these days.

 

 

[Len_derby]

As @HeadlessBassist alludes to above, it depends on your own attitude to risk. I have bought basses unseen, but only from this forum and from people who have good feedback. 
In your position I think I’d put a Wanted add on Basschat and stipulate that you need to be able to collect/take delivery or meet-up.

Good luck.

[BigRedX]

In the last 35 years I bought a total of 3 basses that I tried before parting with my cash. The fact that I don't own any of them now, but do own 3 basses that I bought on-line either direct from the manufacturer or off eBay without being able to play them first should say something. IME it is impossible to make a proper decision about the suitability of an instrument until you have put it to its intended use. If you play in a band that means at least one rehearsal and ideally one gig.

[Sambrook]

The amount of online info available now means buying sight unseen is a reasonable option, I feel. Research, research, research!

[dub_junkie]

I love my C5 Deluxe. I got the candy blue one after watching Dood's review on it. fwiw I've always liked Cort basses and have ordered a number unseen (mainly GB75,90F and 95s) and always been happy with them. I set up to my own taste and I'm happy to do that. 

The neck on the C5 Deluxe is fairly modern in profile and flattens out on the back of the neck the further you go up.

Re the candy blue (if thats the finish youre looking at) no picture or video ever has caught this finish properly. There is what appears to me to be a slight green element to it that's never picked up and the colour is way,way nicer in person.

[BigRedX]

1 hour ago, Sambrook said:

The amount of online info available now means buying sight unseen is a reasonable option, I feel. Research, research, research!

 

Depends what you are buying. I just buy instruments I like the look of. If they don't work out from a playing and sound PoV then I sell them on. IME not amount of reviews will tell me what I'm going to think when the bass is actually in my hands.

[Mrbigstuff]

3 hours ago, HeadlessBassist said:

The CORTs are always really nice and consistent basses. If you get the Bartolini preamp and pickups you're getting a good all-round bass. Some of them even have MarkBass preamps.

Are they consistent? Is that a new thing because they have had the opposite reputation in the past.

[Huge Hands]

My only experience in this is that my first 5 string was a new Cort C5 about 21 years ago and although it was a great sounding bass, I found the string spacing to be too tight for me compared to the 4 string Jazz I had before.  I think that is the Cort in my Avatar on the left.

 

My sausage fingers kept tripping up over the strings so I have ended up always trying to get 5 strings with widest spacing over the years which isn't easy at the budget end of the scale - I note it is not even mentioned on a lot of online listings..

 

I also remember that after about a year of ownership a ground wire to one of the pots fell off and it kept cutting out, so I had to get my soldering iron out.  It was fine after that but did concern me with their QC - although he later ones may be better.

 

It is the only bass I have ever sold on (due to the spacing), but I sold it to a mate and he seemed very happy with it.

 

 

[Norris]

1 hour ago, BigRedX said:

 

Depends what you are buying. I just buy instruments I like the look of. If they don't work out from a playing and sound PoV then I sell them on. IME not amount of reviews will tell me what I'm going to think when the bass is actually in my hands.

This 100%

 

There are very few physical guitar shops left. If you live near one, you're lucky. The alternative is just taking a punt and moving it on if it doesn't suit. As long as it hasn't cost a huge amount of money it's no great loss or disappointment. Cort make nice, budget guitars.