Help! Tips for buying a "pre-loved" MM bass?

[firecrasher]

Hi, I've been looking for a Sterling on the online pre-owned market and wanted to ask for tips. It will be my first MM and I'm excited in advance! Are there any things that I should look for or be wary of (rusty pole pieces, maple necks in dire need of cleaning etc)? I already got ripped off on a Blue Dawn by a jerk on eBay.

 

[T-bone]

Welcome to the forum firecrasher!

Sorry to hear you were ripped off. Especially with your first EBMM bass.

One sure way to keep that from happening again is to check the "for sale" thread up above. I think musicman nut has a gorgeous Sterling for sale. You certainly won't get ripped off by another forum member. Plus, there's usually some fun history with these instruments.

Good luck and we all look forward to some pics.

tbone

 

[Holdsg]

Rusty pole pieces are easily remedied, as are dirty maple boards for that matter. Hang around here long enough and all these questions (and more you probably haven't even thought of yet) are regularly answered.

 

[tiffles]

oh I'm so sorry you got ripped off, you're a woman after my own heart!! I'm on the prowl for a blue dawn rosewood sterling too!! they are SO SO beautiful!!! there is a nice candy red sterling in the for sale thread... gorgeous! you have alot of options if you are in america

 

[nurnay]

One sure way to keep that from happening again is to check the "for sale" thread up above. I think musicman nut has a gorgeous Sterling for sale. You certainly won't get ripped off by another forum member. Plus, there's usually some fun history with these instruments.

Very true! I've purchased 3 EBMM basses through this forum, and every one has been exactly as advertised (perfect!).

 

[firecrasher]

Thx guys (or girls)! Tiffles - I'm on the lookout for BD/Maple so perhaps we should form a Sterling hunting team

As a side note - if a seller ever refuses to complete a sale on eBay and relists the item for more, make sure that you get the seller to send you a cancellation request and then DENY IT and give negative feedback. The seller will get stuck with 10% in eBay fees. It's apparently becoming more common for sellers to do this... I just saw it happen with a SLO Special last week. Awful.

 

[Davecg2]

Sorry you got burned. I got my baby, Pearl on Ebay. I made sure i researched the seller. Don't buy from someone with no history or bad reviews and make sure they take returns for at least 30 days. One thing that is VERY important is to double check your shipping addresses.

When I got mine I didn't realize there was a typo in the address. After waiting what seemed like the longest 2 weeks since the dawn of time I realized the day before the tracking said it would be delivered, that I had entered the wrong address. I was only off by like 1 digit (left it out). But imagine the anxiety when you've waited for years to buy your dream bass, found the perfect one, got a good deal on it, then realized it may be shipped to the wrong address. I was very pissed at myself to say the least. Fortunately, I called the post office, explained the situation and everything worked out fine. But there was a short 10 min period where I was worried it'd get lost in limbo or at least take 3 times as long to get to me.

 

[firecrasher]

She's lovely! Photos don't quite do Pearl Blue justice. I'm glad she arrived safely. I get all of my packages held at a local shipping office to quell any anxiety!

I've bought a couple of guitars from eBay with nary an issue. Hopefully my last experience was just with a bad apple. The Sterling sold at $820 and he relisted it at $1600 and sent me a message saying that it was broken. The right Sterling will be mine when its time... I'm sure of it

BTW... maybe this is the place to mention that the Classic Sterling is the nicest 4 stringed item I have ever laid hands on!

 

[Davecg2]

She's lovely! Photos don't quite do Pearl Blue justice. I'm glad she arrived safely. I get all of my packages held at a local shipping office to quell any anxiety!

I've bought a couple of guitars from eBay with nary an issue. Hopefully my last experience was just with a bad apple. The Sterling sold at $820 and he relisted it at $1600 and sent me a message saying that it was broken. The right Sterling will be mine when its time... I'm sure of it

BTW... maybe this is the place to mention that the Classic Sterling is the nicest 4 stringed item I have ever laid hands on!

So did you get your money back? If so it sounds like you dodged a bullet if it was broke.

 

[firecrasher]

So did you get your money back? If so it sounds like you dodged a bullet if it was broke.

Thankfully my money hadn't gotten tangled up in that morass by the time I figured out what was going on. I doubt it was broken... but I'm wary of eBay for the time being. Classifieds, CL, and Guitar Center used gear may be the way to go. And I can always drool over photos at Bass Central!

 

[Davecg2]

And I can always drool over photos at Bass Central!

I'm obviously biased, but you can drool over photos at BrowseMyGear too .

 

[Musicman Nut]

Hi, I've been looking for a Sterling on the online pre-owned market and wanted to ask for tips. It will be my first MM and I'm excited in advance! Are there any things that I should look for or be wary of (rusty pole pieces, maple necks in dire need of cleaning etc)? I already got ripped off on a Blue Dawn by a jerk on eBay.

I have a Brand New Candy Apple Red one with Matching Head Stock for sale here on the Form on Basses For Sale, just letting you know. Its dead Mint.

 

[tiffles]

Thx guys (or girls)! Tiffles - I'm on the lookout for BD/Maple so perhaps we should form a Sterling hunting team

Oh yes!!! I live too far away though! All the sterlings I've seen in Aust are pretty, but well, just not a blue dawn!! Bass central has a new 2007 LTD sterling up for sale, but not as cheap as if you can find one of the original run. That Candy Apple Red is a good one to grab in the interim Musicman Nut is such a great guy to buy from, it's like buying new!!


....Musicman Nut, why can't you live in Australia???

 

[koogie2k]

Of course check the for sale section here on this site. Also, ask for the serial number and have it checked. There are fakes out there, so, be sure to check up on them.

Good to see you Tiffles.