Question Support for used Instruments, Rules?

[Stephen]

Hi all, this is mostly aimed at BP and crew, so here we go:

I have been trying to get my hands on a Bongo 4 for a couple of months now and the situation at just about any dealer here in Germany is as if these basses don't exist.

I tried, hard, I really did. Some time ago BP even helped me get in touch with the distributor. I have visited most dealers within a day of traveling and called pretty much every dealer listed on the distributors website. It is next to impossible to try out or even find different PU combos, and if one does hunt down a living Bongo, it comes in one of three different shades of black.

Dark finishes on a Bongo are just not for me, and I'm sorry to say the remaining lighter finishes (silver, blue and red) don't do much for me either. I had high hopes for the winter NAMM, but no luck there either.

So, for the time being, I might try my luck on the used market (which doesn't really exist here in Germany, either) ... and the question here is: if I buy an used instrument from any other country, maybe even overseas, can I still use the local distributor if anything (that a luthier can't fix) goes wrong? Or would I have to sort things directly with CS in the USA?

Cheers

 

[djaxup]

You have a pm.

 

[oli@bass]

Having faced similar troubles, I concur with the OP.

 

[Stingray 4 Nut]

Here in Brazil is the same. You can only find Stingrays H and in Sunburst, black or Natural in the stores. I bought all my basses in my trips to USA or used by mail. There is no other way here to buy the LEs or Bongos or Big Als. And the prices are VERY high. I am not complaining. It is what it is. I am in country that most people don´t have the money to buy a fancy instrument, so the importer can not stock those. Also, the import taxes are 60-80% here. My hope is that one day Music Man give permition for the USA stores to export the higher prices instruments (like Dargies or the all Rosewood or the Classics on BPL). I know they can export the LEs (more tha 2 years old, correct if I am wrong). I don´t know about the support here, because my EBMMs never broke!

 

[Big Poppa]

I cant really help you twith used stuff. I can make you whatever you want as long as its a listed color on the chart

 

[Stephen]

I cant really help you twith used stuff. I can make you whatever you want as long as its a listed color on the chart

I understand this, as long as it concerns full warranty, no problem here.

Sorry if haven't been clear about this: I'm not asking for full warranty on a used or self imported instrument, but (rather bluntly) if I will end up with a dead and officially non-serviceable instrument in case something important like the preamp or PU happens to die?

And what I want would be a Bongo HS (modern and exciting as it is) in an equally modern and exiting coat of paint. By the time I went through trying the most important models of EBMM basses, Stingray 4 and 5, a Bongo HS 4 and a Sterling 4 HS, and was able to decide which one I wanted first, the 2009 line of finishes already got axed and what's left for the Bongo just doesn't fit me.

I still haven't had my paws on a Big Al though ... anyway, as of now my list reads like this: Bongo 4 HS fretted, Stingray 4 fretless, curious about the Reflex and the Big Al.

Cheers

 

[mynan]

Since I've joined this forum, almost every case that involved an out-of-warranty bass with broken electronic parts was solved by the owner shipping the broken parts to the factory and getting exact replacements. I don't know what cost was involved, but in almost every situation the owner was thrilled with the outcome. YMMV.

 

[bovinehost]

I'm not asking for full warranty on a used or self imported instrument, but (rather bluntly) if I will end up with a dead and officially non-serviceable instrument in case something important like the preamp or PU happens to die?

I'd say Brian was right on this. You would no doubt incur some cost if, say, your preamp was fried and you have to replace it, but it would be fixable.

...and what I want would be a Bongo HS (modern and exciting as it is) in an equally modern and exciting coat of paint.

Keep an eye on the For Sale thread. I've seen a lot of basses - good basses, and some in exciting finishes - for sale up there lately. VERY nice Olive Gold Bongo HH in there right now, actually........

Jack

 

[Stephen]

Thanks, Jack and Bryan!

I realize I'm a bit jumped up on this topic, for a number of reasons ... so I'll just let it settle a bit.

And I take it, being over in europe an' all, that I would be able to do the "send it to the factory for replacements parts" with the distributor over here, yes?

Cheers

 

[oli@bass]

Stephen, as I understood it here in Switzerland, it's just not possible to get warranty work done (i.e. for free), but they most probably will service the instrument. I mean, there's more old-out-of-warranty-bought-anywhere-in-the-world instruments around than new ones, so it would not make sense to service instruments under warranty only. And if you take it to a bass shop, they will do the work and order the original parts from the distributor anyway.

Maybe I'm more relaxed about this issue since I found a luthier I really trust, so I'm not in the need to rely on the EBMM service network only. And a fact is that for all my other instruments there is no service network available either...

And now I hope to not have PO'd anyone again.

 

[strummer]

Maybe I'm more relaxed about this issue since I found a luthier I really trust, so I'm not in the need to rely on the EBMM service network only. And a fact is that for all my other instruments there is no service network available either...

And now I hope to not have PO'd anyone again.

I'm relaxed because an EBMM bass is next to bomb proof, and should anything happen (like a pickup going bust) you can always get help from the distributor exchanging it for a new one, altgough of course you'll have to pay if it's out of warranty.

 

[spencer]

I have honestly never seen a bass fail.. Its pretty simple..

 

[oddjob]

Oh, I have seen them fail... but always because of my stupidity

 

[Stephen]

Stephen, as I understood it here in Switzerland, it's just not possible to get warranty work done (i.e. for free), but they most probably will service the instrument. I mean, there's more old-out-of-warranty-bought-anywhere-in-the-world instruments around than new ones, so it would not make sense to service instruments under warranty only. And if you take it to a bass shop, they will do the work and order the original parts from the distributor anyway.

Maybe I'm more relaxed about this issue since I found a luthier I really trust, so I'm not in the need to rely on the EBMM service network only. And a fact is that for all my other instruments there is no service network available either...

And now I hope to not have PO'd anyone again.

Thanks Oli, actually this is the only way that makes sense. Probably it's just me, but I somehow became confused after enough threads about importers and distributors and how strictly or sometimes even zealous some of those discussions were handled here. Oh, well.

A good luthier is of course relaxing, as long as you don't need proprietary bits and pieces.

Cheers

 

[DTG]

I had simple issues fixed for me by the guys in cs.i would not worry about stuff like this untill it happens.

 

[oli@bass]

i would not worry about stuff like this untill it happens.

That's what the UBS employees said as well...

 

[DTG]

sorry dont know ubs,i dont worry about this sort of "what if stuff"

i couldnt get a bongo in Ireland so i bought one from Europe second hand and took a chance.i had never even seen one before let alone play one and i diddnt think about the "what if".most things can be fixed and there is always a solution.

if you want a bass just buy it.EBMM customer service really are top class and some parts you should be able to get from a supplier.

also in saying that i did order my 25th in Ireland at a stupid price but there is comfort in knowing i did it the right way too.

but its your money and i dont mean to tell you how to spend it.

Dave

 

[oli@bass]

sorry dont know ubs

ahem... major Swiss bank, famous player in the financial crisis arena.

i dont worry about this sort of "what if stuff"

Me neither. I bought a large number of basses used, and overseas, and never had any problem.

also in saying that i did order my 25th in Ireland at a stupid price but there is comfort in knowing i did it the right way too.

+1

In retrospect, I probably should rather have tried to get the BFR 25th 4HH from TPB, which was the one I really wanted... then I'd still have the money to buy the 5 string version as well from a forumite...

 

[DTG]

+1

In retrospect, I probably should rather have tried to get the BFR 25th 4HH from TPB, which was the one I really wanted... then I'd still have the money to buy the 5 string version as well from a forumite...

ah but where is the fun in that