Pea Turgh Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 Damn. Sorry to hear about that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu_g Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 I feel your pain,I bought a fernandes revival bass from a reverb seller in italy. I think it is a 1981 model and it arrived looking in really good shape but It also had neck issues,similar to the ones you described and the truss rod was tight I ended up using the washer trick and that got it straighter and to complete I clamped the neck straight and manage to get some more movement on the truss rod and now its got a nice low action and plays great was a learning curve but I really wanted to keep the bass as the neck is really nice and comfortable for me hope yours turns out to be ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XoSo Posted November 28, 2017 Author Share Posted November 28, 2017 I'll see what the tech says tomorrow, hopefully it won't be as bad as I'm fearing. I've got seven days to return it but I'll have to spring the £50 return postage which seems a bit off to me if they've sold me something unfit for purpose. I really hope it can be sorted as it's a beautiful bass. To rub salt in the wound though I had a mooch around the bass room at guitar guitar whilst I was waiting for the tech and they've got a Flea bass hanging on the wall! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBunny Posted November 29, 2017 Share Posted November 29, 2017 The neck will no doubt have moved due to slackening the strings and probably temperature changes. After tuning it could take at least overnight to settle back down. If it's come from Spain there is a hell of difference in humidity and it may take a while to sort itself out. Pal of mine had a similar problem with his Stingray. Hadn't been played for nearly a year and stored in a cold room. A quick tune up and leaving in a warmer room and 2 days later it was fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc S Posted November 29, 2017 Share Posted November 29, 2017 Hi XoSo, I'm really sorry to hear of your woes mate, I really am That's every instrument buyers nightmare. Of course, it may be that this is something that happened in transit? Who knows at this point. Also, it may be that your guitar tech can fix it..... hopefully this is the case it can be sorted Truss rods can be replaced - so hopefully it can be fixed.... I'd get a written / printed report from your tech / luthier, and I'd be emailing the people who sold it to you Best of luck with it mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XoSo Posted November 29, 2017 Author Share Posted November 29, 2017 Quick update. Having spoken to the guitar tech on the phone today I'm a bit more hopeful. He seems to think that a combination of things like the guitar being shipped with strings slackened off and change in climate will have caused most of the problems and that he can get it back in with a truss rod adjustment. He said there were several other 'little things' that needed doing to it but he didn't go into details and I didn't ask as I'd pulled into a lay by to talk to him when he called me whilst I was driving. He's quoted £75 all in. Bit steep I thought but then the guitar shop are going to take a chunk of that for their commission. I know I could get it set up a lot cheaper if a took it to a local retired guy I use but he takes ages and I'm impatient to get it back. I'm not going to quibble if he can set up perfectly as he promised. With luck it should be ready for me to collect tomorrow afternoon, so fingers crossed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikki_Sixx Posted November 29, 2017 Share Posted November 29, 2017 That’s brilliant news! I know I’m not the only one here that had crossed fingers for you. If it turns out to be a keeper you’ll have to let us live through you and post some ruddy good pictures! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bay Posted November 29, 2017 Share Posted November 29, 2017 Hmmmm, seems a bit suspect on the luthier. Anyone worth their salt would have been able to tell you that yesterday without the dramatics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XoSo Posted November 29, 2017 Author Share Posted November 29, 2017 To be fair he was a bit pushed yesterday. All he had time to do was tune it up and confirm the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted November 30, 2017 Share Posted November 30, 2017 Hope it goes well. Please keep us posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoneFurrow Posted November 30, 2017 Share Posted November 30, 2017 Seconded (or thirded?). Fingers crossed the bass can be set up as you need, and it turns out to be everything you hoped. Your experience seems to highlight the need to factor in a decent setup and, perhaps, new set of strings when buying from an unknown seller, almost regardless of where the bass lives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted November 30, 2017 Share Posted November 30, 2017 (edited) Oh heck...sorry to hear this. I don't tend to buy used unless I know the player or I have played the instrument. I would lodge a complaint with them immediately and ask for a partial refund. Whilst MIJ/CIJ Basses and guitars are great, the colour, finish, weight, neck, control and the amazing pickups would steer me towards the Flea Jazz. Edited November 30, 2017 by Musicman20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc S Posted November 30, 2017 Share Posted November 30, 2017 Hi again XoSo, Glad to hear the neck may be OK. Yes, slackening off strings then shipping the bass could have caused temporary problems But once the bass is set up, make sure the luthier has it for a couple of days - to make sure everything has settled down well - I understand your impatience! lol As others have said, once you've got it back and played it for a few hours, don't forget to post some piccies and some thoughts on the bass I really hope the neck is fine - I'm sure it will be.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XoSo Posted December 4, 2017 Author Share Posted December 4, 2017 Hi guys, just a quick update and apologies for not posting sooner but I've been working away in Sheffield for the last few days. Anyway, picked up the bass on Thursday and it's like a totally different guitar. Plays beautifully with really low action and absolutely no fret buzz. Still think £75 was pricey considering they didn't even change the strings but I'm a happy bunny that my beautiful bass is now OK. Only just got back home today so really haven't had much time to play it yet but I've a few days off now so will get some pics up soon. Just like to also say thank you to all the people who posted with advice/sympathy/well wishes - I'm new to basschat but this really is a great community. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burns-bass Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 I think £75 for a good set up is money well spent. Consider the cost of tools, overheads and expertise and it’s worth it. If it helps, I paid £600 for some double bass work today and a new pickup... (but I’d costed that into the purchase price). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted December 5, 2017 Share Posted December 5, 2017 My local guy charges £100 for a full set up. For that you get the works, action, intonation, truss rod, frets filed and levelled if it needs it. If you want the strings changed you have to provide him with the new set yourself and he'll adjust the set up for those strings. I've only ever used his services a couple of times, both times with new (to me) basses that I though could benefit from the full treatment. Both times I considered it money well spent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted December 5, 2017 Share Posted December 5, 2017 Jack's Instrument Services in Manchester do stuff for me. Normal set-up is £45 and full set up and fret dress is £75. http://www.jacksinstrumentservices.com/prices.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikki_Sixx Posted December 5, 2017 Share Posted December 5, 2017 4 hours ago, ead said: Jack's Instrument Services in Manchester do stuff for me. Normal set-up is £45 and full set up and fret dress is £75. Gordon at Single Coil in Leeds charges similar prices, he did stellar work on my Jazz when I got him to pop a new bridge on and give it a set-up. Worth every penny! https://singlecoil.co.uk/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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