Black Coffee Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 With the modern era of CNC machining and better cheaper electronics, are there any basses which are absolute garbage. My first bass was an 'Axe' brand four string which I enthusiastically bought form an ad in Kerrang magazine after saving paper round money for about five months. Never in tune as the bridge pulled away from body when the strings were tightened for tuning. Weighed a ton, you could drive a truck under the strings at the fifth fret, horrible instrument. I actually put black insulating tape over the name on the headstock in case someone recognised it from a distance i was so embarrassed by it. But it made me caress and cherish my next bass, a Charvel/Jackson pointy headstock frosted white beauty. So, almost thirty years after my axe experience are there any that we should totally avoid? I'm tempted to try the squire range as I've not recently read anything bad about them, is this the case ? Any other brands to avoid like Katie price on a night out ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
throwoff Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 The only one's I would avoid are those starter sets under names like Rockford and so on you see on eBay for 70 quid, with an amp. TBH that is more because I wouldn't trust the amp. I think we are very lucky today, my dad still has his first 6 stringer from the 70's when he began playing, and it is completely and utterly unplayable, and it cost him the thick end of a weeks salary. Now we can pick up fantastic quality from the far east for around the 150 quid mark. My first bass, a Washburn XB120 was about 200 quid, with a 20W Fender amp, tuner, strap and cable. It was then, and remains a lovely instrument. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thump Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 I tried one from a brand called Redwood , and it was pretty bad even for £130 brand new. The Squier Vintage Modern series are well worth a look in my opinion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 [quote name='Black Coffee' timestamp='1426839521' post='2722431'] My first bass was an 'Axe' brand four string which I enthusiastically bought form an ad in Kerrang magazine after saving paper round money for about five months. Never in tune as the bridge pulled away from body when the strings were tightened for tuning. Weighed a ton, you could drive a truck under the strings at the fifth fret, horrible instrument. I actually put black insulating tape over the name on the headstock in case someone recognised it from a distance i was so embarrassed by it. [/quote] I remember lusting after those Axe basses... I would have been about six at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Coffee Posted March 20, 2015 Author Share Posted March 20, 2015 [quote name='Cosmo Valdemar' timestamp='1426846432' post='2722545'] I remember lusting after those Axe basses... I would have been about six at the time. [/quote] I was about fifteen, and I'd have been better continuing to lust after it until I got my Charvel/Jackson. Then I would have avoided the shocking experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Coffee Posted March 20, 2015 Author Share Posted March 20, 2015 [quote name='Thump' timestamp='1426845972' post='2722538'] I tried one from a brand called Redwood , and it was pretty bad even for £130 brand new. The Squier Vintage Modern series are well worth a look in my opinion [/quote] I tried a redwood in a shop locally and it was shabby and nasty. Woodwork was rough to say the least. The squire vintage modern series always seem to attract positive comments and as I'm in a vein of playing cheaper basses through an expensive amp currently I might be tempted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miles'tone Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 (edited) Yup, Squier Vm. Good as gold all day long. I have one, a P five string, and it's my only electric bass now. Love it. This comes after owning many grand-plus basses over the years. I'm happy. Edited March 20, 2015 by miles'tone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisheth Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 To be honest, I think at the moment a lot of the starter kit has got so much better from when I started playing guitar. I'd avoid Encore though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andytre Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 my friends was given a Rhino88 bass as he wanted to try out bass instead of guitar for a bit, he gave it to me to lower the action that was at least a centimeter plus at the 12 frett, on putting the allen key in the truss rod to adjust it the whole thing slid around 2 inches deeper down the neck, so id say there pretty rubbish! think they sell for around £130 brand new harley benton basses and guitars have surprised me everytime, my 5 string P is a joy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 I bought a Jack & Danny J bass last summer, predominantly as it was surf green! I was very (pleasantly) surprised at the general standard of components, fit and finish - and yet it only cost £119 brand new! I have gigged with it and would happily do so again. It has one of the nicest J necks I've played (allowing for the slightly rough/sharp fret ends). When I compare it to the rubbish I played back in the late seventies and early eighties I shudder at what we put up with! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattmit Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 These days there really seems to be no need to own a crap bass and no real need to spend over 450 for a great quality bass eg. a USA SUB, Japanese Fender, I have a mind blowingly nice sterling sb14 with a nordstrand pickup that I bought for 395 and it could serve me forever if need be. Having said that I bought 7 basses since, a couple more expensive ones... but I didn't 'need' them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donnyboy Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 [quote name='Black Coffee' timestamp='1426839521' post='2722431'] Any other brands to avoid like Katie price on a night out ? [/quote] Rickenbacker- obviously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 [quote name='Conan' timestamp='1426861324' post='2722844'] I bought a Jack & Danny J bass last summer, predominantly as it was surf green! I was very (pleasantly) surprised at the general standard of components, fit and finish - and yet it only cost £119 brand new! I have gigged with it and would happily do so again. It has one of the nicest J necks I've played (allowing for the slightly rough/sharp fret ends). When I compare it to the rubbish I played back in the late seventies and early eighties I shudder at what we put up with! [/quote] I got a cheap backup a few years back from ebay. I think it was a Wesley or summat like that. It was well put together and didnt sound too bad after I set it up. Its quiet difficult to get a cheap and nasty unplayable bass in this day and age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Coffee Posted March 22, 2015 Author Share Posted March 22, 2015 [quote name='Donnyboy' timestamp='1427019508' post='2724660'] Rickenbacker- obviously. [/quote] Unfortunately, an expensive lesson learned already with that brand. Owned three, one had a shabby loose vibrating truss rod, one had a dodgy bridge pickup and one was ok. Two out of three ain't good when it's broken basses at £1500 a pop. Less said the better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 (edited) Ricken... [quote name='Donnyboy' timestamp='1427019508' post='2724660'] Rickenbacker- obviously. [/quote] Damn too slow... Edited March 22, 2015 by CamdenRob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 The most "garbage" bass I ever owned was high end, hand made and very expensive. It quickly developed a terminal neck back bow that would have rivaled Robin Hood's weapon of choice. I shall refrain from naming it....I am over it now. Honestly. I am. I mean it. Honestly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stubass Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 I think that there is a slight misconception that because they are nearly all made using cnc machines, the quality is more consistent. In order to have consistent quality, you need a good QC operation to keep the programmers and operators on their toes. As a supervisor in a cnc machine shop, I can confirm that shoddy workmanship is more common than you'd think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Coffee Posted March 23, 2015 Author Share Posted March 23, 2015 Could there be complacency even in the US workshops then just as easy as the further afield sites ? Surely it's your reputation your dicing with when you take your eye off the ball. Leo's crew have a bit of a rep of play it before you buy it but I suppose you could say that about any brand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuNkShUi Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 [quote name='stubass' timestamp='1427052857' post='2725173'] I think that there is a slight misconception that because they are nearly all made using cnc machines, the quality is more consistent. In order to have consistent quality, you need a good QC operation to keep the programmers and operators on their toes. As a supervisor in a cnc machine shop, I can confirm that shoddy workmanship is more common than you'd think. [/quote] Im not a supervisor, in a cnc workshop, but as a technician/engineer who uses a toolroom on site to make parts we need, i can confirm that some parts come back to us so far out of spec we would have been better served scratching the part out with iron files ourselves. I dont understand how they can be so bad when a machine completed the vast majority of the work, but it definitely happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alittlebitrobot Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 [quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1427050564' post='2725117'] The most "garbage" bass I ever owned was high end, hand made and very expensive. It quickly developed a terminal neck back bow that would have rivaled Robin Hood's weapon of choice. I shall refrain from naming it....I am over it now. Honestly. I am. I mean it. Honestly. [/quote] hint? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 [quote name='alittlebitrobot' timestamp='1427221164' post='2727518'] hint? [/quote] Well, I am over it now. Honest. However I could indulge in a game of hangman if you like; 6 letters _ _ _ _ _ _ [size=4]Have a bash [/size] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alittlebitrobot Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 [quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1427221578' post='2727524'] Well, I am over it now. Honest. However I could indulge in a game of hangman if you like; 6 letters _ _ _ _ _ _ [size=4]Have a bash [/size] [/quote] I'm going to go for [b]J [/b]because I suspect it's a UK luthier if you're in Scotland and, because I can't think of any others with 6 letters, I reckon it could be Jaydee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted March 24, 2015 Share Posted March 24, 2015 [quote name='alittlebitrobot' timestamp='1427222484' post='2727540'] I'm going to go for [b]J [/b]because I suspect it's a UK luthier if you're in Scotland and, because I can't think of any others with 6 letters, I reckon it could be Jaydee. [/quote] You said it not me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Coffee Posted March 25, 2015 Author Share Posted March 25, 2015 [quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1427222696' post='2727544'] You said it not me [/quote] I was thinking fender... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost_Bass Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 [quote name='Black Coffee' timestamp='1427271898' post='2728011'] I was thinking fender... [/quote] I immediatly thought Warwick but then i saw it had 7 letters... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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