buying first bass online (maybe)

[nat whilk II]

I'm not a bass player, but I'm buying a bass for my son. He wants an Ibanez SRX500. After looking around GC, the internet, etc., it looks like a pretty good bass.

 

We're thinking of bidding on one we found on eBay, but the seller says "either the saddle or the neck needs adjusting to get the strings off the frets". Does this sound like possible big trouble? Or just a lazy guy whose bass is out of adjustment and either won't or doesn't know how to adjust it.

 

Or could it be a bowed neck? Does that happen much to basses?

 

Do basses like the SRX500 have steel rods in the neck (like some acoustic guitars)?

 

Any advice appreciated.

 

nat whilk ii

[bassplayer7770]

Do you happen to have a link to the eBay auction? How much feedback does the seller have? Do they normally sell musical instruments?

[bassplayer7770]

It's item number 7365424005. Instrument Exchange is basically Guitar Center on eBay if I remember correctly. Why wouldn't they be able to do those adjustments before they try to sell? They ought to know what they're doing...

[bassplayer7770]

What's the most you're willing to spend? What type of music does your son want to play? Are you open to other suggestions?

[nicolinadepapa]

Ok, you are not a bass player, buying a bass for your son.

Go a reputable bass store and get a bass with warranty svc. or better yet, ask to your son's music Teacher.

[Thumper]

I'd pass on that particular instrument. If the adjustment is easy, the vendor should have done it already. Sounds like a pig in a poke.

 

+1 for asking your son's teacher about his recommendations.

[Craig Vecchione]

Take a pass. If it's hosed, you have no recourse whatsoever since the problem was already mentioned.

 

 

Are there any stores at all near you? Any music store should have a decent selection of basses good for a beginner. They should also be able and willing to set up the instrument so you don't have problems. Ibanez is a very commonly found brand, so you might even find this same or similar bass.

[jackcheez]

If you have decided on a certain bass, go out and play (have your son play) as many of those as you can. Even basses priced in the thousands can vary a bunch. Find the sweet one and buy it.

[nat whilk II]

Thanks for the tips.

 

As is typical, my son is stuck on the particular color (tri-fade burst) for the SRX500 and we haven't been able to find one at any retail outlet yet. GC has the bass in stock in the "wrong" color, so he's been able to play around on the model.

 

Yeah, the auction on eBay looks like a GC deal, but it might be just a used market posting via the GC website....kinda hard to tell.

 

GC told us they'd special order just the bass we want direct from Ibanez for over $650, which is a rip. Retail is around $450 - $475 and used is around $250 - $350 from what I've seen.

 

As far as the kind of music my son plays - well, he's in that no-man's land between church youth group worship music (which is his only outlet to play live) and what he likes to listen to which is indie and/or emo stuff like Flaming Lips, Sigur Ros, Death Cab, etc. He also likes some sorta-proggy stuff like Tortoise and Primus, but I don't think he wants to play outright prog...but he's only 16 so he only vaguely knows what he wants anyway

 

nat whilk ii

[LanEvo]

 

Originally posted by nat whilk II We're thinking of bidding on one we found on eBay, but the seller says "either the saddle or the neck needs adjusting to get the strings off the frets". Does this sound like possible big trouble? Or just a lazy guy whose bass is out of adjustment and either won't or doesn't know how to adjust it.

This bass is being sold through Guitar Center. Even though they're famous for having poorly set-up basses in their stores, they DO usually have some people around who can do a basic set-up.

 

The fact that they say the bridge and/or neck needs to be adjusted to keep the strings from buzzing would lead me to believe that the neck is warped badly. If it was just a matter of a truss-rod adjustment and fiddling with the bridge saddle heights, they would have done it...not posted about it in the item description.

 

I would definitely pass.

 

Emre