Finally played a lefty SR4 (Rant about store displayed basses)

[b-unit]

I had a much needed day out with my guitar playing buddy yesterday and we headed into the big city to mess with gear. So we strolled into the big Long & Mcquade store and my eyes were met with a gorgeous row of EBMM basses on the wall.

And right in the middle was a left handed black cherry burst SR4!

I have only ever played two lefty EBMM's. One was an nataural finnish SR5 iwth maple board and the other was the one I ordered and now own. (Trans Orange SR5). So I have never actually got to play a lefty SR4. My excitement was barely containable!

So I pick up this brand new instrument and noted right away that it was covered in finger smears and the black pickguard was completely scratched. The pickguard looked like someone had been scraping a guitar pick across the pickguard for a long time. The pickguard plastic covering was long gone as well. There were no obvious scratches or chips in the paint, but it amazed me how grungy and well, used, this new instrument seemed to be.

The worst thing was the action was a mess. The G string action was dramatically lower than the other strings and the rest of the string action was crazy high. The strings felt used and dead and I could not figure out for the life of me why someone had messed with the setup.

Regardless, it was a tone monster! Tons of punch and funky goodness. The body felt considerably lighter than my SR5 and the feel of the neck was of course different being a 4 string.

I really liked the bass and am gassing like crazy for a fretless version but it irritate's me to no end how s#@t kicked these basses get in the store before their sold. This bass was selling for full price and no discount was likely to be offered even though the bass had clearly been played.

That nataural finnish lefty SR5 I had played years earlier was from the same store and it had actually been rented out several times and was still selling for the full new price. The maple board had gotten quite dirty and the bass had dings all over it. With completey dead strings, the store was asking (edited for price) and refused to discount the bass despite the obvious wear and tear.

The SR4 I tried yesterday really just needed new stings, setup and a good wipedown but I was amazed that instruments of this calibre and price are displayed in such a non enticing fashion.

I bought my SR5 from the same store and it was brought in from another location in another city. My bass had clearly not been played as it was set up perfectly with nice fresh strings and no fingerprints or signs of it having been played could be seen.

I know its not a huge deal but if I'm gonna spend a significant amount of money of a brand new instrument, I expect it to be in new condition. Otherwise the price should reflect the condition the bass is in.

End Rant!

 

[SLUGGO]

When it comes down to the actual time to lay down some cash, you can usually get a deal. But the supply and demand thing does rule in all cases. Unfortunately, this is a necessary evil to get the guitars played, and eventually sold, to the masses. If you really want something pristine, abuse the store demos, and order what you want from the dealer of your choice. You will usually be the first and only to touch your new bass since leaving SLO.

Hope you find what you are looking for!!

 

[Kristopher]

It's always disappointing to pickup a MM in a store and see it hasn't gotten the proper attention, like maybe a simple trussrod adjustment or a little shining up. Sometimes I feel like applying to work at the store part time just so each instrument can get taken care of properly and get a fair judgment by the people who come in to try them out.

 

[b-unit]

I guess my only real point in this thread was to register my disappointment at how such a nice bass was not being represented the way it should be. As mentioned the same store sold me a pristine SR5 and I was very happy with the transaction.

I guess there is a point where as a retailer, you have to decide if your basses are going to sit behind glass or be available to pick up and play. Must be hard for the smaller dealers to risk damage to their inventory and still sell product.

 

[tkarter]

Some lefthanded guy probably brought his own allen wrench into the store.

That sure wasn't an EB setup.

tk

 

[midopa]

... Sometimes I feel like applying to work at the store part time just so each instrument can get taken care of properly and get a fair judgment by the people who come in to try them out.

+1! I'm thinking about doing the very thing for one of the Guitar Centers around here for the summer.