Bass Direct

[Reggaebass]

17 minutes ago, Beedster said:

There will always be unhappy customers. I try to be a good forum member when I deal with people, but I've had several negative responses following a sale, the best being the guy who bought a stunning Yamaha BB2024x a few years back. It was immaculate, but he kicked of a pretty massive fuss about it being in his words 'totally unplayable'. This was odd, as firstly it was a high-end Yamaha, so unplayable doesn't compute, and secondly I'd spent a lot of time setting it up; I play light and with rounds have very low action, something the beautifully engineered Yammie neck allowed me to do. But when his problem became clear - fret buzz due to the action being too low for his playing style - and I suggested that he simply raise the action, over and above calling me several names and accusing me of deception, he replied along the lines "When I buy a bass I don't expect to have to set it up, I'm returning it as faulty". I took it back, and reported him as 'difficult' to the mods 🤔

 

We all have different expectations, while there are always good days and bad days for businesses, I'm not sure that all the feedback in this thread relates to poor service and/or instruments on the part of the shop, or to the at times excessive expectations of used instruments on the part of the buyer 👍

If you sent me a bass with a low action I’d be over the moon, even if they wanted it higher all they needed to do is raise it a touch, sounds to me like they just wanted an excuse to return it 

[ezbass]

45 minutes ago, Beedster said:

there are 40-50 year old Fenders with space in the pocket for a small horse, and does it affect tone or stability? No. 

I had one of those. Played and sounded brilliant. There is bound to be some shrinkage over the decades, resulting in gaps.

[Martyn R]

25 minutes ago, Reggaebass said:

If you sent me a bass with a low action I’d be over the moon, even if they wanted it higher all they needed to do is raise it a touch, sounds to me like they just wanted an excuse to return it 

"If you sent me a bass with a low action I’d be over the moon" 

Me too, talk about living the dream...

[bigthumb]

I've bought a good number of basses and amps from BD over the years. When I lived in the Midlands I'd love to drive down there for a visit where Mark was always very welcoming and I would probably leave with a bigger credit card bill than I came in with. 

But a couple of times the description of the items sold has been a bit inaccurate regarding the condition. A cab described as in 'A1' condition was very much not. I needed the cab so I cleaned it up the best I could and it served me well. Another occasion a Markbass combo had the yellow Neo driver replaced with a ceramic Celestion one and not stated in the description. I did address this with them and the issue was resolved and again, it served me well. 

Overall I've been very happy with the service and I continue to buy from there.

[martthebass]

Another belated recognition of good service.

Middle of last year I bought a new Sandberg Lionel from BD. On first inspection it looked fine but later I checked the hang tag and noticed it stated there was some lacquer peel on the edge of the ebony fretboard. I contacted BD and it was collected and I said I’d be happy with a pro refin on the affected areas. Job was done but I requested pics before returning back to me. I wasn’t happy with the refin but BD were happy to send me an alternative Lionel around the same price point. I wouldn’t expect that from one of the big dealers.

This made me happy to part with cash on a new DarkRay with them a couple of months after that - good after sales service does pay off.

[Linus27]

I've bought a few basses and amps from Bass Direct and to date, everything has gone very well. I also buy all my strings from them as their prices have always been the most competitive and delivery has been very quick.

 

Interestingly, I've just dropped them an email asking a few questions about a certain bass so we'll see how they respond but I'm not expecting any dramas based on previous excellent service.

Edited March 7 by Linus27

[patrikmarky]

Always had great trade in prices from them ..bought a lot over the years only ever had one issue…i say the best out there 🤟

[Bass Direct]

4 hours ago, patrikmarky said:

Always had great trade in prices from them ..bought a lot over the years only ever had one issue…i say the best out there 🤟

Thank you Patrik, really appreciate that   We are trying our best to learn and improve all the time

[attackbass]

Haven't bought anything from bass direct in a while but needed a couple of cables for a festival this weekend so ordered Tuesday lunchtime, got tracking and dispatch updates quickly and the parcel was delivered today at lunchtime. Even got a free sticker and a pen that my partner was sarcastically over the moon about... she once bought me something from them and she gets the weekly email newsletters 😂

 

But yeah, best service yet from them!

 

Not too convinced about the monster cable so far but I'll give a go, if I get a summer out of it I will be happy!

 

 

[martthebass]

9 minutes ago, attackbass said:

Haven't bought anything from bass direct in a while but needed a couple of cables for a festival this weekend so ordered Tuesday lunchtime, got tracking and dispatch updates quickly and the parcel was delivered today at lunchtime. Even got a free sticker and a pen that my partner was sarcastically over the moon about... she once bought me something from them and she gets the weekly email newsletters 😂

 

But yeah, best service yet from them!

 

Not too convinced about the monster cable so far but I'll give a go, if I get a summer out of it I will be happy!

 

 

So I spend £4k plus on basses over a few months and I don’t even get a sticker. That’s it, they’re dead to me now…..

[attackbass]

Haha! I think it's a sticker... it is I just checked 

[cetera]

1 hour ago, attackbass said:

 😂

Not too convinced about the monster cable so far but I'll give a go, if I get a summer out of it I will be happy!

 

Steer clear of using a Spector with monster cables. They have a habit of ruining the input socket.

[ezbass]

1 minute ago, cetera said:

 

Steer clear of using a Spector with monster cables. They have a habit of ruining the input socket.

Mine had a habit of becoming unscrewed until it finally self destructed, whilst plugged in to something. Managed to remove the tip and pin, but it was not for fixing. TBH I didn’t think it was any better than other leads in terms of tone, a little different, but not better. My favourite leads still remain George L’s, although Mojo cables are good too (I have both).

[attackbass]

Yeah I read about this, seems they use standard size jacks now, some guy on the other forum measured them with another cable..  it doesn't seem any tighter fitting than my mxr.

 

I'll probably stick with using the MXR lead I have and use the monster between the pedalboard and amp

[Bass Direct]

15 hours ago, martthebass said:

So I spend £4k plus on basses over a few months and I don’t even get a sticker. That’s it, they’re dead to me now…..

SO sorry, this is something we have started doing really recently, so next time you order you will find some 'goodies'  

[Bass Direct]

15 hours ago, attackbass said:

Haven't bought anything from bass direct in a while but needed a couple of cables for a festival this weekend so ordered Tuesday lunchtime, got tracking and dispatch updates quickly and the parcel was delivered today at lunchtime. Even got a free sticker and a pen that my partner was sarcastically over the moon about... she once bought me something from them and she gets the weekly email newsletters 😂

 

But yeah, best service yet from them!

 

Not too convinced about the monster cable so far but I'll give a go, if I get a summer out of it I will be happy!

 

 

Awesome stuff, I hope you enjoy the items

[okusman]

Does anyone else think this thread has run its course. Trial by social media is hardly fair, whomever you are.

Email ‘em and let them sort out your grievance…or not.

Sometimes I perceive that I am dealt with well, sometimes not. It’s hardly scientific.
Ultimately the judge and jury is whether enough people spend their money in the shop.

[Beedster]

44 minutes ago, okusman said:

Does anyone else think this thread has run its course. Trial by social media is hardly fair, whomever you are.

Email ‘em and let them sort out your grievance…or not.

Sometimes I perceive that I am dealt with well, sometimes not. It’s hardly scientific.
Ultimately the judge and jury is whether enough people spend their money in the shop.

 

Perhaps I'm reading a different thread to you but I get the sense that the vast majority of members here think very highly of Bass Direct. I'm sure if Mark or his colleagues were unhappy that this thread was running they'd have got in touch with the forum owners? 

[chris_b]

I first met Mark when buying my Bergantino cabs, when the Bass Direct showroom was his rehearsal studio in a barn on a farm.

 

I feel another visit coming on.

 

[Sean]

26 minutes ago, chris_b said:

I first met Mark when buying my Bergantino cabs, when the Bass Direct showroom was his rehearsal studio in a barn on a farm.

 

Me too...

[tauzero]

3 hours ago, chris_b said:

I first met Mark when buying my Bergantino cabs, when the Bass Direct showroom was his rehearsal studio in a barn on a farm.

 

I feel another visit coming on.

 

I first met him when I was rehearsing in his rehearsal studio somewhere in the middle of a field with a dead Scirocco parked outside.

[Sean]

3 minutes ago, tauzero said:

 

I first met him when I was rehearsing in his rehearsal studio somewhere in the middle of a field with a dead Scirocco parked outside.

Yes, I remember that Scirocco, my best friend from school had one very similar!

[Supernaut]

I never expect a bass to have a perfect set-up out of the box, regardless of value. 
 

The only time I would expect that is purchased directly from a luthier. 

[Bass Direct]

Cheers again guys for the kind words, we really appreciate all of you

 

Hope to see some of you in the shop or some shows soon!

[Minininjarob]

BD sorted out a problem with some strap locks I bought online so well they are my first call for bass stuff I can’t get locally. Just got a new bridge for my P bass and it arrived really fast. I got the pen and sticker which I was more happy with than I want to admit. I’ve had to hide the pen from my wife who commented on how nice it was…..
More than happy to drive 2 hours to them to get good service. 

 

Edited Friday at 15:38 by Minininjarob