I rolled the dice! GC And Stingray content...

#21
bassstrangler said:
That picture is the best they can do?
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Just another thing to add to my list of the issues with Guitar Center.

This is the store that makes it hard for mom and pop shops to stay in business, and you nailed it. That's the best they can do. Or at least, that's the least they can do to get by.

On topic though, that's a great price. Stingrays rule. Just not my cup of tea.
 
#23
I tried my best to mimic some GC used bass pics.
20180228_233227.jpg
20180228_233134.jpg

That may be too generous.
 
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#24
Judge Nickels said:
I spotted a used Stingray on GC used for $699 in black w/ maple fingerboard. I've been wanting a Stingray since I sold my first one 10 years ago and black/maple is my preferred combo.

The picture is so bad I can't even tell exactly which model/era EBMM Stingray it is. It is listed as condition good: "This product is completely functional and shows some signs of use. It may have surface scratches and/or dings and dents." There is zero extra info on the listing.

I'm having it shipped to my local GC so I can return it on the spot if it turns out to be busted or terrible in some way.

The listing stills shows it as available even though I just bought it, so I wouldn't even be surprised to not actually receive it. We'll see. For that price I had to give it a go.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Er...ay-4-String-Electric-Bass-Guitar-113817041.gc

I'll keep this tread updated as the saga unfolds. Wish me luck!
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looks killer man, what a heck of a steal too! congratulations! i just grabbed a used one off there on monday also, excited to get her next week (coming out of portland, maine)... can't wait to see her once she's in your hands.
 
#30
SteveCS said:
Call me a cynic but even from that appalling picture I say fake, possibly refinished SUB Ray4 neck on Ray34CA body...
Long tuner posts?
String tree position?
Square neck heel?
Hope I'm wrong...
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The heel does look too square, it's true. And the string tree position is different from mine (but that could vary between eras perhaps?)
Can't tell the logo properly... but doesn't it look like a pre-EB logo? That would be quite a low price for a preEB Stingray.
Hopefully it is the real deal, and the OP got a good deal. If it's a fake... GC will take it back, so no biggie.

Fingers crossed!
 
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#33
I have ordered lots of used gear from GC - both basses and amps. My main bass is a CS Fender Jazz I scored that way for $1650 - it has been my #1 bass for about 4 years now. You got a great price, but it looks like a "we want to move this" price, not a "this thing is junk" price. I think you'll be good.

The only one for me that didn't pan out was a MIA Fender jazz bass. It was one of the longhorn basses, Jade green with rosewood board. Got it for $329 and I knew it would need new pickups and a wiring harness. For that money I figured it could fix anything on it short of a broken truss rod. Guess what. Broken truss rod it was with a massive forward bow in the neck. I returned it on the spot just because that kind of surgery is above my ability.

Congrats on the Stingray, I hope you thoroughly enjoy it
 
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#35
bhoff5150 said:
The only one for me that didn't pan out was a MIA Fender jazz bass. It was one of the longhorn basses, Jade green with rosewood board. Got it for $329 and I knew it would need new pickups and a wiring harness. For that money I figured it could fix anything on it short of a broken truss rod. Guess what. Broken truss rod it was with a massive forward bow in the neck. I returned it on the spot just because that kind of surgery is above my ability.
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How did you determine "on the spot" that the truss rod was broken? Did you have an allen wrench with you?
 
#37
Judge Nickels said:
I think my $20 shipping fee will be nonrefundable, so I do have some skin in the game!
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If you have a good argument that the item description isn’t accurate, they’ll refund shipping. Worked for me.

selowitch said:
How did you determine "on the spot" that the truss rod was broken? Did you have an allen wrench with you?
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I do when I buy in store.
 
#38
Judge Nickels said:
That is good intel. Have you ever decided against keeping an item after inspecting it at your home store?
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I have, and most of the time they will ask me to take store credit. What I find is you can haggle quite a bit at delivery if claims are, ahem, exaggerated in terms of condition. At a minimum you could get back the shipping cost. Be fair with them, don’t try to steal it, but really, they want to get rid of this stuff.

Years ago I bought a Nemesis 210 combo for $225 listed in good condition. When it arrived the tweeter was malfunctioning, the rat fur had significant pilling, and the grill had some surface rust. I told them I would think about for a day or two.

I took it home, disconected the tweeter improving the sound, and after looking over the grill, it just needed a a little elbow grease and some WD 30 and it cleaned up nicely. With some trimming of the fur with a pair of scissors, it was suitable. \Went back the next day and told them I was going to return it, explained all of the things that were wrong with it, and that I would not have bought it except for the that is was listed as in good condition. I made them an offer of $100, which is what something like that would have gone for in the condition in was in, and they took it.

That was a year and a half ago. Last month, I took it back and they bought it for $150.
 
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#39
Judge Nickels said:
I spotted a used Stingray on GC used for $699 in black w/ maple fingerboard. I've been wanting a Stingray since I sold my first one 10 years ago and black/maple is my preferred combo.

The picture is so bad I can't even tell exactly which model/era EBMM Stingray it is. It is listed as condition good: "This product is completely functional and shows some signs of use. It may have surface scratches and/or dings and dents." There is zero extra info on the listing.

I'm having it shipped to my local GC so I can return it on the spot if it turns out to be busted or terrible in some way.

The listing stills shows it as available even though I just bought it, so I wouldn't even be surprised to not actually receive it. We'll see. For that price I had to give it a go.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Er...ay-4-String-Electric-Bass-Guitar-113817041.gc

I'll keep this tread updated as the saga unfolds. Wish me luck!
Click to expand...

I hope you got a steal, but I fear in all likelihood it’s something you’re going to return. Either because it’s in bad condition or it’s not a real Stingray.

There were some models in the mid 80s that had gold lettering on the headstock, but with those models the truss rod access was at the headstock, not the heel.

If you look in the Stingray section here, you can clearly see the truss rod access under the string tree for the 85-88 models. That access isn’t GC bass. So I’m calling a fake neck, or at least a fake headstock logo.

Also, according to the page I linked, EB used theee different bridges in the mid 80s, and they all had mutes.

Lastly, price. GC will usually give someone max 50% of what they will sell for. There’s no way someone took $350 for a real Stringray.

Sorry man. I hate to be a pessimist, but I think you’re gonna end up returning it. I hope I’m wrong.
 
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