Beware when buying basses on-line from pawn shops!

Basspolizei

Basspolizei

Pseudo bass player/collector
Jun 23, 2004
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Disclosures
Buy basses and lots of guns before it's too late! You have been warned.
#1
I just purchased my second on-line bass in 15 years from a pawn shop. Mistake! Both were electronically challenged and needed much work. These resellers don't know squat about basses especially high end basses. Luckily after hours of work I now have my new/old 2001 Warwick Corvette Proline playable and it sounds as good as my Thumb purchased new. So just expect to go through some headaches and if lucky like me you will come out on top with a heavy hitter like I did although the bass is beat to hell. Plays and sounds like Heaven after installing new parts and multiple adjustments. I still say buyer beware. Buy from Talk bass or somewhere more reputable than an Ebay pawn shop seller.
 
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#5
It's always "buyer beware" in this world, but "online" and "pawn shop" both increase the risks, especially when put together. I've been quite lucky, though, have had only a couple of bad musical instrument experiences online out of dozens (if not hundreds by now).
 
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#6
bholder said:
It's always "buyer beware" in this world, but "online" and "pawn shop" both increase the risks, especially when put together. I've been quite lucky, though, have had only a couple of bad musical instrument experiences online out of dozens (if not hundreds by now).
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Me too. The two I mentioned. I have also struck gold from individuals so the sky is not falling but we much watch where we step because the ground may be.
 
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#8
mmbongo said:
Yeah I would never buy anything from an online pawn shop, I'm no sucker. Besides, as soon as my check from the Prince of Nigeria clears I'll be able to buy any brand new bass I want.
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Your correct. Hope mine gets here soon too. I could use some funds to get me out of wife trouble for getting on Ebay again and buying the beater......
 
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#9
I've bought a few instruments from pawn shops. But they have to be in person transactions. I expect to have to replace the electronics with a pawn shop purchase. But I've gotten some great deals. My latest was a Carvin LB70. It needed a new preamp but the price was right. It's a great bass.
 
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#10
PunkKitty said:
I've bought a few instruments from pawn shops. But they have to be in person transactions. I expect to have to replace the electronics with a pawn shop purchase. But I've gotten some great deals. My latest was a Carvin LB70. It needed a new preamp but the price was right. It's a great bass.
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That's awesome and I am in agreement - in person is a great idea.. On-line, not so much
 
#11
Gorn Captain said:
Two bad experiences in fifteen years. The horror.
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Ah our good Gorn Captain!

Always supportive. Always understanding. :p:laugh:

image.jpeg
 
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#12
40Hz said:
Ah our good Gorn Captain!

Always supportive. Always understanding. :p:laugh:

View attachment 902223
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Captain I must say you are much like math. I can do it but I surely don't understand a bit of it! I think your the bass player character on Monty Python that never was? Maybe.....
 
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#16
Basspolizei said:
I just purchased my second on-line bass in 15 years from a pawn shop. Mistake! Both were electronically challenged and needed much work. These resellers don't know squat about basses especially high end basses. Luckily after hours of work I now have my new/old 2001 Warwick Corvette Proline playable and it sounds as good as my Thumb purchased new. So just expect to go through some headaches and if lucky like me you will come out on top with a heavy hitter like I did although the bass is beat to hell. Plays and sounds like Heaven after installing new parts and multiple adjustments. I still say buyer beware. Buy from Talk bass or somewhere more reputable than an Ebay pawn shop seller.
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I bought my very first bass from a pawn shop. I took it down from the wall, played it through an amp, and bought it for $275 in 1998. It's a Yamaha BBN5. It now has 18 volt bartolini electronics and is still my main bass.

Online, I only do Rondomusic and CL.
 
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#17
Robroy said:
Online, I only do Rondomusic and CL.
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Try here. I just did my first purchase at TB recently, and it was a really good experience.

For online I'll do eBay with some reluctance. Otherwise it's Sweetwater and zZounds for me. Nothing but positive experiences with those guys.

I don't ever do CL or GC.
 
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#18
honeyiscool said:
You're lucky if the only thing broken is the electronics. Which I don't even consider broken since I probably would have rewired or replaced the pickups/preamp at some point anyway.

If the truss rod and the fingerboard is good, you're in business!
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Yep then I am in business. After a good scrubbing, fine waxing ( a Warwick thing) and then new brass Justanut III and then some Black Beauty strings and tuning this axe is ready for battle.
 
#19
Robroy said:
I bought my very first bass from a pawn shop. I took it down from the wall, played it through an amp, and bought it for $275 in 1998. It's a Yamaha BBN5. It now has 18 volt bartolini electronics and is still my main bass.

Online, I only do Rondomusic and CL.
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That's an awesome story.. There are treasures out there to be found; and I hope I find some more. Thanks for sharing and giving me hope.
 
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#20
40Hz said:
Try here. I just did my first purchase at TB recently, and it was a really good experience.

For online I'll do eBay with some reluctance. Otherwise it's Sweetwater and zZounds for me. Nothing but positive experiences with those guys.

I don't ever do CL or GC.
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Yes Sir' Joe at Sweetwater is the absolute best at his craft!!!!
 
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