New or used bass guitar?

[Paul Taylor]

I'm in the market for a bass guitar to learn, and being a left-hander,
the choice are somewhat limited...

Yesterday, I happened to be passing a local second hand store, and
spotted a lefty bass in the display case. It's a Warwick Rockbass
Corvette Special Edition which is basically sound, but has seen
better days with various dents, scuffs, scratches and chips,
particularly on the neck. One of the knobs (no grub screw) has
come apart and its cap needs to be reattached to the insert on
the potentiometer spindle, otherwise it just spins without turning
the pot. There are also several "rubber burns" on the neck where
it has been left sitting in a stand; these might be able to be sanded
back without damaging the wood. The flamed top is okay, but lacks
the "wow" factor; the natural wood finish is still nicer than a
boring paint job IMO. It's also has a hard case (in the storeroom
- details unknown.)

For the same price, I can get a new Washburn XB-120 in transparent
blue, or an Ibanez GSR-100L in black. Neither are exceptional
basses - but they do come with warranties and support. (I'd go
for the Washburn.)

Should I take a chance with the 2nd hand Warwick, or get a bland
- but safe - Washburn?

Thanks,

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Paul Taylor Veni, vidi, tici -
birder@ozemail.com.au I came, I saw, I ticked.

[Ballroom Dancer]

"Paul Taylor" <birder@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message
news:46386443$0$17225$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
> I'm in the market for a bass guitar to learn, and being a left-hander,
> the choice are somewhat limited...
>
> Yesterday, I happened to be passing a local second hand store, and
> spotted a lefty bass in the display case. It's a Warwick Rockbass
> Corvette Special Edition which is basically sound, but has seen
> better days with various dents, scuffs, scratches and chips,
> particularly on the neck. One of the knobs (no grub screw) has
> come apart and its cap needs to be reattached to the insert on
> the potentiometer spindle, otherwise it just spins without turning
> the pot. There are also several "rubber burns" on the neck where
> it has been left sitting in a stand; these might be able to be sanded back
> without damaging the wood. The flamed top is okay, but lacks
> the "wow" factor; the natural wood finish is still nicer than a
> boring paint job IMO. It's also has a hard case (in the storeroom
> - details unknown.)
>
> For the same price, I can get a new Washburn XB-120 in transparent
> blue, or an Ibanez GSR-100L in black. Neither are exceptional
> basses - but they do come with warranties and support. (I'd go
> for the Washburn.)
>
> Should I take a chance with the 2nd hand Warwick, or get a bland
> - but safe - Washburn?
>
> Thanks,
>
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
> Paul Taylor Veni, vidi, tici -
> birder@ozemail.com.au I came, I saw, I ticked.


Just because you are left-handed does not necessarily mean that you should
limit yourself to a "lefty" bass. I am left-handed; when I first started
learning bass (living in a small town), I didn't even know that there were
reversed basses. Some folk use a regular bass, and reverse the strings.
Others (including me) just learned to play with a standard bass in the
standard stringing. I have so far not seen any real drawback.

I do know that there are many more "bargains" available in right-handed
basses. My long time bass (bought used in 1985) is a 1982 Gibson RD Artist 4
string - very heavy, built in Moog electronics, and the deepest sounding
bass I have ever played. They later became much more popular when bassists
from some of the leading rock groups (including Nirvana) used them. I also
have an Epiphone Les Paul 5-string (made only for one year, and I don't
think that they ever made a left-hand version).


Jim

[Stig Brun]

"Ballroom Dancer"

> Just because you are left-handed does not necessarily mean that you should
> limit yourself to a "lefty" bass.

I agree, unless you have begun playing guitar on af lefty..?

Per

[Paul Taylor]

Stig Brun wrote:
> "Ballroom Dancer"
>
>> Just because you are left-handed does not necessarily mean that you should
>> limit yourself to a "lefty" bass.
>
> I agree, unless you have begun playing guitar on af lefty..?

Yes, I also have a lefty guitar.

--

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Paul Taylor Veni, vidi, tici -
birder@ozemail.com.au I came, I saw, I ticked.

[Skip Elliott Bowman]

"Paul Taylor" <birder@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message
news:46386443$0$17225$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...

<snip>

> Should I take a chance with the 2nd hand Warwick, or get a bland
> - but safe - Washburn?

Which one feels more comfortable in your hands? That's the one you should
buy.

[BW]

Skip Elliott Bowman wrote:
> "Paul Taylor" <birder@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message
> news:46386443$0$17225$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
>
> <snip>
>
>> Should I take a chance with the 2nd hand Warwick, or get a bland
>> - but safe - Washburn?
>
> Which one feels more comfortable in your hands? That's the one you should
> buy.
>
>
What feels best in your hand is indeed key. Additionally, Warwick tone
is a bit distinctive, I suggest you listen to one plugged in before
committing.

Brian

[tim]

"BW" <coastalrocker@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:463D48F8.20700@yahoo.com...
> Skip Elliott Bowman wrote:
>> "Paul Taylor" <birder@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message
>> news:46386443$0$17225$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
>>
>> <snip>
>>
>>> Should I take a chance with the 2nd hand Warwick, or get a bland
>>> - but safe - Washburn?
>>
>> Which one feels more comfortable in your hands? That's the one you
>> should buy.
> What feels best in your hand is indeed key. Additionally, Warwick tone is
> a bit distinctive, I suggest you listen to one plugged in before
> committing.
>
> Brian

Warwicks sound great in the hands of most people, in my hands they sound
like mud. Brian is right, try before you buy. I envy the tone, but I cannot
make them sound good.