Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
$1000+ for Indonesian basses?
- Thread starter bigdaddybass12
- Start date
I just got a sub-$300 Harley Benton single cut multi-scale bass made in China that I thought my example was great.
Quality high above the $300 mark. Neck and fretwork tops. The frets were level and the fret ends, all were nicely rounded sausage ends. Turner were fine, pick-ups fine. The parts they choise to use on this budget model were good servicable parts. Not on an Dingwall or Alembic level but gig-worthy, at least for me
The preamp was probably the weakest part, which it was actually fine just a little pedestrian, that’s all.
Quality high above the $300 mark. Neck and fretwork tops. The frets were level and the fret ends, all were nicely rounded sausage ends. Turner were fine, pick-ups fine. The parts they choise to use on this budget model were good servicable parts. Not on an Dingwall or Alembic level but gig-worthy, at least for me
The preamp was probably the weakest part, which it was actually fine just a little pedestrian, that’s all.
Oh I am not so sure about that. a US made Fender in Europe is still a US made Fender, and a Chinese or Indonesian Squier is still a Chinese or Indonesian Squier.
You are right about that. They bring a premium for the brand, especially MIA over MIM.
But we all call it ”America quality” which is a slang for inferior quality.
Example I’m into old muscle cars. While I (and many others here) love old American cars we’re all aware of the fact that they’re pretty bad quality. As well as the new American cars.
”American restoration” is a botch job like painting over windshield wipers etc.
What I’m trying to say is maybe not all that prominent in guitars/basses as in other areas but it does exist.
Hope you understand and I’m not taking a dump on America, I’m American myself (in Sweden) and own a lot of American cars, pinball machines etc.
I'm still really happy with my Bromo fretless acoustic, made in Indonesia.
Nice wood and quality workmanship for ~$400.
Tough to find fault.
Nice wood and quality workmanship for ~$400.
Tough to find fault.
$1K for a Lakland, it must be used.
1980
It is shocking how nice Japanese made instruments are these days.
1990
It is shocking how nice Korean made instruments are these days.
2000
It is shocking how nice Chinese made instruments are these days.
2020
It is shocking how nice Indonesian made instruments are these days.
2030
It is shocking how nice American made instruments are these days.
Brandon Shea
Commercial User
I own several Indonesian made instruments and have played many others, and the vast majority seem really solid. The main complaint I see online is that the tuners need to be replaced, especially on a lot of the Sterling and Sire basses. If the factories over there start putting Hipshot Ultralites on everything, the American manufacturers will be in trouble.
Personally I haven't bothered replacing tuners on any of mine, although I'm considering it on my Sire V7 since the neck dives more than my other instruments. It's not bad when I'm actually playing though, and the tuning stability is fantastic, so who knows when/if I'll get around to that project.
Personally I haven't bothered replacing tuners on any of mine, although I'm considering it on my Sire V7 since the neck dives more than my other instruments. It's not bad when I'm actually playing though, and the tuning stability is fantastic, so who knows when/if I'll get around to that project.
Been playing my Indo squier tele almost exclusively since 2012. It is by far the best bass I have ever played. Amazing quality. Plus it has the, "squier trigger", which, quite enjoyably, causes gear snobs of all stripes to squirm. I don't think you can go wrong with an indo that feels right in your hands.
There are Great and not so Great quality basses regardless of where they are made.
More than likely “pilfered” in Chicago…Fender USA for me then !
Oh, wait, is it "plecked in Chicago" Indo bass ?!
I think the people that claim Indo instruments are firewood are full of male cow dung.
The only gripe with a $1000 Indo bass I had (Ibanez in my case) was that the woods were obviously quite young. The maple dented very easily. I quickly found blemishes in the bass after a few weeks that did not show on any other bass I own.
European and US basses usually use woods that have been stored for much longer.
I'd wager money that a proper US made bass works way better to keep you warm on a cold night.
The only gripe with a $1000 Indo bass I had (Ibanez in my case) was that the woods were obviously quite young. The maple dented very easily. I quickly found blemishes in the bass after a few weeks that did not show on any other bass I own.
European and US basses usually use woods that have been stored for much longer.
I'd wager money that a proper US made bass works way better to keep you warm on a cold night.
Many years ago there are same question on Fender Mexico bass too........
Front & center in my avatar is a G&L Jazz Tribute made in Indonesia. I`ve found it to become my main player over my MiA P & PJ.
The only issue that I can see is that resale is significantly lower than US-made, in event I ever decided to get rid of my Indonesian-made SR or Sire. I have premium hardware on the SR so no issue with that, and the electronics are very good, though I rarely use the pre-amp. There is nothing cheap about the Sire tuners but they are not lightweight as some would desire, but I don't find neck dive to be an issue, the bass is well balanced for me. Quality of build on both of these basses is very high. I did see inferior quality on my early 90's Japan-built BassCollection 301, where the pre-amp detached from the body due to the low-density woods used. Screws literally came loose. Plus the P/J pickups weren't properly phased, so didn't sound good on blend. Still, that was a $1,000 bass at the time? I donated it to charity.
Indonesian made Epiphone Vintage Pro Thunderbird:
Amazing used under 600.00 USD including case. (800.00 new without case)
Neck through. Stellar fit and finish. PERFECT frets. INSANELY good 760 pro bucker pickups.
Shortcomings:
CRAPPY nut (replaced with Brass)
Loose tolerance bridge posts / inserts.
Pots: no different from any other commodity instrument, quality Alpha pots. Just Linear taper and high 60% tolerance which made all three pots more like on/off switches
— I’m PICKY about potentiometers!
Nothing else
Fantastic.
Amazing used under 600.00 USD including case. (800.00 new without case)
Neck through. Stellar fit and finish. PERFECT frets. INSANELY good 760 pro bucker pickups.
Shortcomings:
CRAPPY nut (replaced with Brass)
Loose tolerance bridge posts / inserts.
Pots: no different from any other commodity instrument, quality Alpha pots. Just Linear taper and high 60% tolerance which made all three pots more like on/off switches
— I’m PICKY about potentiometers!
Nothing else
Fantastic.
9 of my 15 basses were made in Indonesia. Very happy with all of them. Damn good quality for the price paid. Wish Indonesian basses were around in the 80's and 90's.
When I was 'new 5 string' shopping a little over a year ago, I was really surprised/impressed with the quality of the ~$1K Indonesian basses I played in stores. Some really nice instruments. I ended up with a MIK Reverend, which is also insanely good for the $$, but would have no problem justifying bass in that price range made in Indonesia.
If you feel Indonesia is a backwater incapable of completely competent manufacturing processes, you clearly haven’t spent much time there. Jakarta is a global alpha city with something like 30 million people and a totally diverse and modern economy.
I'd love to see data on profit margins on US gear versus stuff from Indonesia, etc. I've got good American made gear and good foreign gear, but when you are seeing Indonesia/Mexico guitars busting through $1K and even Epiphone China stuff breaking super higher, it would be cool to see why, especially when so much of this is automated now and labor costs in foreign lands are definitely cheaper.
