Used instrument expectations

[deadautomatic]

I just recieved a used bass in the mail today. Everything appears to be in sound condition except for the nut. The nut was cracked in half and glued back on and the slots look like a child was having fun with a safty knife. The bass was described as comming straight from the factory after a new setup. Should I be upset and request for a refund for what it will cost me to have someone do it right so that it is playable or should I just let it go and take the loss myself for not asking specific questions regarding the "setup"?

[bottlerocket]

Yes...he lied. If he said it was "straight from the factory after a new set up," that's a blatant lie. He should have told you.

But, ALWAYS ask before you buy...and, if possible, play it thoroughly.

This hardly constitutes as a learning experience. If it was just some dude asking you to buy a bass and you said yes without reading or asking, that's different. You read and/or talked to this guy who gave you false information or withheld information.

-Gav

[bbbbass]

It all depends on the conditions of the sale. I'm guessing you got it of eBay?? Read the terms you have agreed to, and if the seller is still wrong, you can legally have the seller repay the cash you paid.

I wouldn't, however, never look into used gear again. If at all possible, stick to used items you can find locally, so you can avoid such problems in the future.

[bottlerocket]

^ This man speaks truth. I'd say play it before you buy it, no matter what. I'm hesitant to use eBay for anything, really.

-Gav

[Radiobass81]

It's just the nut.

[deadautomatic]

No it was actually purchased off of another forum. The guy had a good reputation for his past sales/trades.

[deadautomatic]

it's not a playable now though Radiobass

[Radiobass81]

$5 will make it as good as new.

All I'm saying is, it's not something to get crazy about/

[bottlerocket]

...so buy a new nut for it now and then tell the guy. If he won't cover it, try to fight about it (if possible, threaten to get the law on your side :p). If not...it's only a nut and it's under $20 to fix (and that's an expensive nut).

EDIT: Beaten by Jorge...but my Sox are still beating your Yanks. :)

-Gav

[deadautomatic]

I'm not getting crazy. I'm also not going to be the one to install the new nut. I'm not about to wastse $5 because I was to cheap to have someone who knows what they're doing do it for me. I've never cut a nut before nor do I know anyone who can guide me through it. What if I mess it up the first time? Then it's only a $10 nut. That could keep going on and on if for some reason I can't get it right. From looking at this nut, apperantly it's one of those things that's easier said than done.

[Radiobass81]

Buy one pre-slotted. Problem solved.

Really, it's just a nut. You glue it, you're done.

[deadautomatic]

Where do I buy that? Won't it need to be customized to a specific hight since not all frets are the same height?

edit: Not to be read as uneven frets on one particular bass. I was refering to the fact that there are different sizes of frets that come on various basses.

[Radiobass81]

That's what the bridge's saddles are for. Adjusting "action".

[deadautomatic]

yes but that doesn't adjust the strings when they are rattling on the first fret like they are now or if the string is a mile in the air if the slots aren't deep enough. Since you seem to be the pro at it why don't you give me some pointers eh?

[Radiobass81]

If they rattle on the first fret? Yes, they do help.

And when have you ever seen a nut where it's slots aren't deep enough? Unless you want to play BEAD or something.

And I'm not acting like a pro. I will, however, say you are COMPLETELY exagerrating this whole thing.

[BassVirtuoso]

Wow 10-3, Damon is about to cry.

[deadautomatic]

no I'm not. I only asked a question. You are the one that is making a big deal about this. I haven't once complained or said the guy was a jerk. If anything I did the oppistie by saying that he had good feedback from prior sales/trades. I only wanted to know what other people would do in this situation or what they felt was fair. I understand how you feel about it though.

No adjusting the saddles would only make the strings higher at the bridge and incredible uncomfortable to play... if that were to even get rid of the buzzing. The nut is practiacally down to the fretboard. I can fit two business cards under the bottom of the slots. I can also almost fit the E string in the D string's slot. It's very ugly.

I didn't say you were acting like a pro. I did assume you had some experience in doing this though since you are so persistant that it's as easy as glueing and pressing it down.

[Radiobass81]

Saying he had good feedback has nothing to do with YOUR opinion.

If you are telling me that you are adjusting the action WITHOUT the nut, then what you say is true. If the nut was there, it would help.

You DID mention the pro comment, but then you later edited it out.

And putting the nut in is not a problem. It's replacing them that is sometimes a bother (mainly because of taking the old one out).

[deadautomatic]

I never expressed an opinion. Please show me where!

I never edited any of my posts other than the one where I ADDED a further clarification of what I meant about the frets being different heights.

I believe this is the pro comment you were refering to though
"Since you seem to be the pro at it why don't you give me some pointers eh?"

[willibassist]

Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!

[deadautomatic]

I wasn't trying to fight with him. When someone keeps saying the same thing over and over with little to no knowledge of what they are talking about it is hard to take their advice seriously. I take that back. He may have some knowledge about it but even after I asked he wasn't willing to share any of it. Honestly though, if it is really that easy and there is a slim chance that I could mess it up, I would like some tips or suggestions on how I should go about cutting a nut.

[Jimbobntnr]

I would have to imagine that the seller knows exactly what he did, and is biting his nails waiting for you to say something about this. I would start with an email/P.M. and then take it straight to the board that you bought it from. With pictures.

[Shuffle It All]

yeh, as teh guy above, threaten to go to the police, keep any records of him saying its in great condition, oyu never know, it may be a misundertstanding, personally, i would get rid if the bass, send it back to him.

[Radiobass81]

I wasn't trying to fight with him. When someone keeps saying the same thing over and over with little to no knowledge of what they are talking about it is hard to take their advice seriously. I take that back. He may have some knowledge about it but even after I asked he wasn't willing to share any of it. Honestly though, if it is really that easy and there is a slim chance that I could mess it up, I would like some tips or suggestions on how I should go about cutting a nut.
:rolleyes:

http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/bass_nutsfender.htm

http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/bass_nutsgraphtech.htm

http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/bass_nutsaft.htm

Get any pre-slotted one. Like I said before, you DON'T have to cut it, just get it in the right string-spacing.

I'm done with this thread. I actually tried to help, but I get insulted. Dandy.

[bottlerocket]

I love you, Jorge.

-Gav

[PaulSimonon]

Cost of a new nut: $2

Cost of filing by a setup man: 5$

Losing all respect on an internet forum: Priceless

[deadautomatic]

lol @ Paul. And @ Radio. Did he notice he made the test bold and then the very next sentence I tool it back? Maybe he just stopped reading it at that point. Anyways thanks for the websites Radio I do appreciate that.

Yet another kicker!
I don't have the bass with me currently, it's at a friends house, but I found an interesting envelope at the bottom of the box cleverly placed inside of a bunch of bubble wrap and plastic. So clever that I didn't even notice it untill I finished popping all of the bubbles. The note reads "neck is unplayable even with truss rod and bridge adjustment. Reciept enclosed." The reciept and envelope both had different persons name than the one selling it to me. Which would mean that this person had to have know about it and has now pawned it off on me. B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L. Like I said though I don't have it with me so I'm not sure if it was only because of the nut or if it has other problems beyond it that I didn't even catch upon my initial inspection. Why do bad things happen to honest people? I have always been completely honest are as truthful as I can be given a limited knowledge with whatever I was dealing with at the time. I mean FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCKKKK!!!!

Sorry for the public venting :(

[deemo]

take it to a store, have them check it out. they will tell you whether or not it's unplayable and will tell you what needs to be done. if it costs alot, get a refund; if it's not too expensive, pay for it, and tell the seller to reimburse you because he sold you what he described as a perfectly fine bass.

[darrell]

lol @ Paul. And @ Radio. Did he notice he made the test bold and then the very next sentence I tool it back? Maybe he just stopped reading it at that point. Anyways thanks for the websites Radio I do appreciate that.

...

Sorry for the public venting :(

I'm assuming you meant "text bold" and "took it back." If so, why wouldn't you just delete it before you posted it. It is very easy to express what you have to say without saying the wrong thing. Before you post, just make sure it's the way you want it to read. Even if you said the wrong thing after you posted, you can still edit it out. But an "I take it back" doesn't really cut it.

You're an asshole. Wait... I take that back. You're just a newbie who isn't hearing what he wants to hear and has to make an argument about it. Do what Jorge said -- buy a preslotted nut. Either do that or get your lawyers to settle it. :rolleyes:

[The Forgotten Bassist]

Cost of a new nut: $2

Cost of filing by a setup man: 5$

Losing all respect on an internet forum: Priceless

:lol:

I still think the seller should pay for it as he seems to have been misleading at the start.

[pitchfork]

It's a nut, it isn't worth your time arguing, ask him nicely and if he won't cough up the $10 then never mind you can go one day without beer or driving.

[Radiobass81]

Why do bad things happen to honest people? I have always been completely honest are as truthful as I can be given a limited knowledge with whatever I was dealing with at the time.

Oh, don't be so modest...

[Naveed Afzal]

$5 for a new nut, then having to pay someone to put it on...

then the wait... it'll solve the problem alot sooner, but your still coming out your pocket, the nut wont b 5 bucks, so you'll be puttin in 20-30 bucks with the labor.

[Shuffle It All]

i dont understand people, this guys bought something dodgy, that shouldnt be, i wouldnt mind paying for a fix on a second hand thing, if i knew, but this guy has been conned, so he shoudnt have to pay for anything

[SixnStones]

pwn3d

[Scooch]

I think the seller should pay for it, but it's not worth your time to get the money from him.

[deadautomatic]

Just to give an update for anyone who was interested. I've decided to turn this bass into a project. I'm going to take it down to a local shop and have them assess any problems that there may be and then I'm going to try and take care of them myself. It wasn't that expensive of a bass that I wouldn't mind messing up on it a little if I can gain a lot of experience and knowledge out of doing some mods and repairs to it.

It will be defretted, I will be changing the pickups, adding an active preamp and I'm thinking about putting a very thin exotic laminate top on it just to spruce it up a bit visually.

Darrell: Sorry if I write how I would speak, minus the bad typos, and it's not politically correct enough for you. I didn't want to hear anything specific other than opinions on whether or not I should bite the bullet or if they thought the seller should be held responsible. I believe I said that before. Oh guess what, the poll results tell me that most people here, who voted, think I should have asked for some kind refund for the work. Also from what I've been reading in other places my original thoughts about it not being as simple as buying a preslotted nut and gluing it in were right. To do it right I would still need to make the slot deeper or wider depending on my string gauge selection, desired action and overall setup and also if I am going to have it optimized for a certain range of tuning. I don't think I have any files that small so I'd need to purchase those too.

To Radio that doesn't have anything at all to do with modesty. I know who I am and I know I couldn't feel right about sticking someone with less than they were expecting without feeling guilty. How is that an arrogant comment? I thought you said you were done with this thread? Welcome back

[Mr. Pickle]

ur so good @ forums.

[Guinpen]

I don't see why everyone's being so hard on the threadstarter. He questoned radio's knowledge, pwned him when he only replied with links that went against what he said. He was completely lied to by the seller, and didn't want to pay for somebody else's dishonesty.

Regardless of whether you keep it and stick with it as a project bass, I would still bitch out the seller and get as much out of him if you can. Track down his house and punch him in the face.

[FunkMetalBass]

I bought a pre-slotted graphite nut from guitar center for $1.50. They aren't expensive. (the plastic ones are only $.50 or so) Take some glue and you're done.

Besides, do you think there's a chance the repair man did it and didn't tell the seller? Sh*t like that has happened before.

[Aerodyne]

You have 666 posts = zomg satan!

j/k :thumb:

Edit: @Guinpen, who, it would appear, has been banned for bearing the mark of teh beast. I'm feeling really delirious, it's too early.

[deadautomatic]

lol @ Mr. Pickle and Guipen. I don't know if I need to go that far Guinpen.

Since deciding to make a project out of this I'd feel like a jerk if I asked for money to replace something I would have needed to replace anyways with what I'm going to do to it. What I have learned from this is that I really need to play it first before I buy it and ask every single last question that sounds completely stupid and shouldn't have to be asked before I purchase just in case.

[FunkMetalBass]

Deadautomatic, any way you could post a pic? I'd like to see what you're talking about.

[deadautomatic]

That's a good point Funk about not telling seller about the poor work except I can't imagine the seller wouldn't notice how bad it was. What did you replace the nut on? I've been reading that many of the Fender bass players are able to replace their nuts with little to no adjustment but I haven't found to many other brands that have had the same luck. It seems to me that they may manufacture the preslotted nuts to work with fender products better than they do other bands. That's just speculation though.

I lost my memory card for my camera but I know it's around somewhere. If I find it I'll post some pics

[FunkMetalBass]

^It was a Squier P-Bass.

Well, there is always the possibility. I didn't notice that a friend chipped my bass near the bridge because I wasn't looking for it. Besides, after a nice set-up, he could have just thrown it into the box for shipping.

I can't imagine somebody with such a good feedback rating to be a douche like that.

[deadautomatic]

Yeah I know what you mean. For the sake of his credibility I'm willing to let it go, give him the benifit of the doubt and just chalk it up to something like that. It's a non-issue now anyways. To be honest I really wish I didn't recieve like that though.

[FunkMetalBass]

^Well, bring it to his attention. If it turns out to be the repairer's fault, he can bring it up with him. I'm sure he doesn't want to lose clientele as much as you don't want crappy products.

[Criss Frantic]

TS, you got suckered. It's good that you're turning it into a project bass instead of bitching about it, but this whole kerfuffle just proves the value the old adage, "Try before you buy".

[Radiobass81]

Also from what I've been reading in other places my original thoughts about it not being as simple as buying a preslotted nut and gluing it in were right. To do it right I would still need to make the slot deeper or wider depending on my string gauge selection, desired action and overall setup and also if I am going to have it optimized for a certain range of tuning. I don't think I have any files that small so I'd need to purchase those too.
That would happen with ANY nut.

I know quite a lot of people who even cracked (stock) nuts because of their thick low string. Same with the rest.

And I never said you shouldn't ask for your money back, I just wanted to get accross the fact that if it was only the nut, it's not something hard to replace.

[Radiobass81]

He questoned radio's knowledge, pwned him when he only replied with links that went against what he said.
When did I ever say nut blanks didn't exist?

I specifically said "buy one pre-slotted", and even said that you'd only get problems if you were going to do some bizarre tunings.

I really don't see how the links went against with anything of what I said.

[Guinpen]

When did I ever say nut blanks didn't exist?

I specifically said "buy one pre-slotted", and even said that you'd only get problems if you were going to do some bizarre tunings.

I really don't see how the links went against with anything of what I said.

the fact that necks/frets vary from bass to bass, so obviously one nut doesn't fit all, even if it's the right width, which is what he was worried about. and he obviously does have to take it into consideration! don't be a sore pwned-er :p

[Radiobass81]

the fact that necks/frets vary from bass to bass, so obviously one nut doesn't fit all, even if it's the right width, which is what he was worried about. and he obviously does have to take it into consideration! don't be a sore pwned-er :p
Which is why I posted various links to nuts on different standard.

I don't even believe much in "pwning", I just wanted to make clear where exactly did I contradict myself, which, by the way, you didn't mention.

:(

[Guinpen]

Which is why I posted various links to nuts on different standard.

I don't even believe much in "pwning", I just wanted to make clear where exactly did I contradict myself, which, by the way, you didn't mention.

:(

I did mention it! Read my last reply again

[deadautomatic]

the nut is cracked on the other, high, side of the D string Radio

[darrell]

There was no pwning going on. LAWL.

[Radiobass81]

I did mention it! Read my last reply again
I did. I STILL don't see how I contradicted myself.

[Guinpen]

I did. I STILL don't see how I contradicted myself.

the links did! in effect you were channeling the demonic spirit of the information presented in the links, which went against your 'one size fits all' declaration

[Radiobass81]

the links did! in effect you were channeling the demonic spirit of the information presented in the links, which went against your 'one size fits all' declaration
When did I EVER say EVERY nut would be appropiate?

[Guinpen]

When did I EVER say ANY nut would be appropiate?

ooh, defensive. earlier in the thread. you spoke against him needing to further address the nut in terms of the slot height and width

[Radiobass81]

ooh, defensive. earlier in the thread. you spoke against him needing to further address the nut in terms of the slot height and width
I never spoke of width. I didn't even touch the subject, as I couldn't assume how many strings he had, and all.

[Guinpen]

I never spoke of width. I didn't even touch the subject, as I couldn't assume how many strings he had, and all.

not having to cut/file anything would cover both depth and width

[Radiobass81]

Well, if he DOES gets the right nut, he doesn't have to cut/file.

[deadautomatic]

:rolleyes: this thread is no longer going anywhere. I could posts more quotes of things said and contradictions but what's the point? I've already done real research and now know what I need to do. MODS please lock this one away.