Best Chinese LAMINATED bass ?

Gary Lynch · #1 03-14-2009, 08:40 AM

A question for all you laminated bass players. I have owned three Kay's over the years and now getting to notice SOME of the Chinese basses. A couple of the builders have tried to build a reputation of a constantly well built product. I have talked to a few bass luthiers and they too say the product for the price of some of these builders is a great value and have some nice deep tone coming out of them.

My questions is; so far, what do you think is the best built and sounding Chinese laminated bass on the market?

Thanks

drurb · #2 03-14-2009, 08:44 AM

Are you only interested in Chinese laminates?

Steve Swan · #3 03-14-2009, 09:17 AM

Shen's 3 laminate models get my vote. Contact John Sprague at CSC Products for the address of your most local dealer for a test drive.

Gary Lynch · #4 03-14-2009, 09:18 AM

The price is what interests me. Once a person gets over the cult status of Kay and other USA built old clunkers, and takes into considering what is now available, new. I am trying to find out if in fact, China is or will be the new Chezkoslavakia and Germany for laminated basses? I am speaking of the best built over there at this time.

drurb · #5 03-14-2009, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Lynch

The price is what interests me. Once a person gets over the cult status of Kay and other USA built old clunkers, and takes into considering what is now available, new. I am trying to find out if in fact, China is or will be the new Chezkoslavakia and Germany for laminated basses? I am speaking of the best built over there at this time.

I don't think that the best laminate basses now available are built in China. Just my opinion.

reedo35 · #6 03-14-2009, 07:13 PM

Heh- I agree,The best laminates are still built in the USA. In the northeastern corner to be more specific. But his (the OP's) stated interest was price over quality.

drurb · #7 03-14-2009, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reedo35

Heh- I agree,The best laminates are still built in the USA. In the northeastern corner to be more specific. But his (the OP's) stated interest was price over quality.

Even so, I still think your statement holds where price/quality is concerned as well.

Brandon Tuomiko · #8 03-14-2009, 07:33 PM

Is christopher a chinese brand? I thought the lamy I played from them was not too bad. But a bit pricy. $1400 I think.

Keyser Soze · #9 03-14-2009, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drurb

I don't think that the best laminate basses now available are built in China. Just my opinion.

Please review for us the Chinese laminates you're familiar with and enumerate the breadth and depth of your experiences with them.

Thanks.

mikhay77 · #10 03-14-2009, 07:40 PM

Strange,I own a really old kay sg style bass and its neither american or chinese but made in japan,which I was under the impression thats where they where all made,any history guys?

Keyser Soze · #11 03-14-2009, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reedo35

Heh- I agree,The best laminates are still built in the USA. In the northeastern corner to be more specific. But his (the OP's) stated interest was price over quality.

I thought the New Standards were built in Germany, finished in the US. No?

drurb · #12 03-14-2009, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keyser Soze

Please review for us the Chinese laminates you're familiar with and enumerate the breadth and depth of your experiences with them.

Thanks.

Sure, Rick. I've played Shens, Chrissies, and a number of others. I've played a number of examples of each at shops in various places. I can't "enumerate" because, frankly, I've lost count. I've also played a fair number of laminates imported from European shops and others made in the USA. My experience includes recent models so my experiences are relevant to the OP's question. With all that, the best of what I've played did not come from China. Now, I hope you'll ask the same question of anyone else who posts an opinion here. So, which Chinese laminates are you familiar with? Which USA-made laminates are you familiar with? Which European laminates are you familiar with? Please try to enumerate them and convey the breadth and depth of your experience the best you can. From where, in your opinion, do you think the best laminates come?

Thanks.

drurb · #13 03-14-2009, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keyser Soze

I thought the New Standards were built in Germany, finished in the US. No?

Nope-- they're built in the USA. The Uptons are also laminates that are built in the northeast corner.

Brandon Tuomiko · #14 03-14-2009, 10:36 PM

What did you think of the Christopher basses?

arnoldschnitzer · #15 03-15-2009, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drurb

Nope-- they're built in the USA.

Sorry, DRURB. The New Standard label reads "Assembled, Finished and Set-up in the USA from components made in Germany".

drurb · #16 03-15-2009, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arnoldschnitzer

Sorry, DRURB. The New Standard label reads "Assembled, Finished and Set-up in the USA from components made in Germany".

Thank you. I knew that. Keyser said he thought that they were "built in Germany, finished in the US." I noted that "they're built in the USA." Seems you do actually build them here rather than just finish a German-built bass. No?

**Damon Rondeau** · #17 03-15-2009, 08:37 AM

The label seems pretty unequivocal to me.

arnoldschnitzer · #18 03-15-2009, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drurb

Thank you. I knew that. Keyser said he thought that they were "built in Germany, finished in the US." I noted that "they're built in the USA." Seems you do actually build them here rather than just finish a German-built bass. No?

No. We install the necks and fingerboards here, finish and set them up. These are essentially German-made basses to which the finishing touches are done here.

drurb · #19 03-15-2009, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damon Rondeau

The label seems pretty unequivocal to me.

Hardly unequivocal. "Assembled" could mean that the parts are German and that they are "built" here. Now that Arnold was kind enough to elaborate, it's clear that what he does falls in between finishing completed basses and building them from the components.

Thanks for the details, Arnold.

**Damon Rondeau** · #20 03-15-2009, 10:46 AM

Yeah, that was the wrong word, chosen quickly, so I guess it wouldn't work in a legalistic, nit-picking sense...