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ALDEN - anyone know anything about them?

E

Espidog

May 19, 2006
580
9
UK
#1
While trawling UK ebay recently I came across some ads from Cranes Music Store in Cardiff, South Wales. He's selling a range of very afforable "vintage copy" guitars and basses under the make ALDEN. Go take a look at a typical ad:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ALDEN-PALLADIUM-BASS-VINTAGE-SUNBURST-HOFNER-STYLE-NEW_W0QQitemZ7415497903QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

They also do a Hofner violin type. As you'll see, their ads don't say where the guitars are manufactured, but claim that they are designed by a guy called Alan David Entwistle. Well, I can't find any mention of him or the Alden brand anywhere else on the web. Cranes seems to be the only outlet for them.

I'm wondering if this is just a front for the usual far-eastern imports, or whether these guitars might be worth looking into. Has anyone got any knowledge of this brand? Maybe you live in South Wales and have actually tried one - if so, what do you think?
 
#6
Scarla O said:
I wonder if any Cardiff-based bassists read this forum? It would be really interesting to know how these guitars sound.
Click to expand...

Small world, eh? I live in Swansea (under an hour on the train from Cardiff)... And I visit Cranes every couple of months. I've seen that bass in person, and it looked wonderfully finished, but I didn't get a chance to try it out last time I went up to Cardiff.

It was listed about twice that price in the shop tho :hmm:
 
#7
Alan Entwistle's an electronics engineer/pickup designer & has been around for a little while. He co-designed the Hohner Revelation custom range in the early 90s, along with Trevor Wilkinson & other UK "scene" luminaries.

Here's a piece about the Revelations & Entwistle's involvement written by former XTC guitarist Dave Gregory:

http://www.guitargonauts.com/pick-27.html

I have a Revelation & it's an excellent guitar - I don't know anything at all about the Aldens (apart from what I've seen on Ebay) but if they're anything like the quality of the Hohners he was involved with, then I'd definitely take an interest.


Jon.
 
#8
Here's some info....

Alden guitars are made in China...Same company/Factory that made Jay Turser.
Specs are all pretty much the same as the Turser line...Actually the Logo on the Headstock is/was for Turser.

The Alden pickups are pretty bad (or at aleast the ones one the Turser models were). Very low output.

As for Wood....It's anyones quess. I think I would call it particle board.
- Frets are pretty bad, uneven and thats if you can actually get a straight enough neck.
- Many necks are Warped.
- Finishes are ok...but nothing to rave about. Very thin, Scratch easy.

Entwistle does make the pu's, but I believe they are the lowest/cheapest quality he makes.

Do yourself a favor and invest in something better.

Rob
 
#9
dragonbass said:
Here's some info....

Alden guitars are made in China...Same company/Factory that made Jay Turser.
Specs are all pretty much the same as the Turser line...Actually the Logo on the Headstock is/was for Turser.

The Alden pickups are pretty bad (or at aleast the ones one the Turser models were). Very low output.

As for Wood....It's anyones quess. I think I would call it Partical board.
- Frets are pretty bad, uneven and thats if you can actually get a straight enough neck.
- Many necks are Warped.
- Finishes are ok...but nothing to rave about. Very thin, Scratch easy.

Entwistle does make the pu's, but I believe they are the lowest/cheapest quality he makes.

Do yourself a favor and invest in something better.

Rob
Click to expand...

Thanks, Rob - exactly what I needed to know. The world is flooded with this stuff nowadays. Sometimes hard to see the wood (or particle board) from the trees!
 
#10
Techmonkey said:
Small world, eh? I live in Swansea (under an hour on the train from Cardiff)... And I visit Cranes every couple of months. I've seen that bass in person, and it looked wonderfully finished, but I didn't get a chance to try it out last time I went up to Cardiff.It was listed about twice that price in the shop tho :hmm:
Click to expand...

Thanks for your (and everyone else's) reply. If you get the opportunity to give it a go next time you visit the shop, please let us know what you thought of it.
 
#11
dragonbass said:
Here's some info....

Alden guitars are made in China...Same company/Factory that made Jay Turser.
Specs are all pretty much the same as the Turser line...Actually the Logo on the Headstock is/was for Turser.

The Alden pickups are pretty bad (or at aleast the ones one the Turser models were). Very low output.

As for Wood....It's anyones quess. I think I would call it particle board.
- Frets are pretty bad, uneven and thats if you can actually get a straight enough neck.
- Many necks are Warped.
- Finishes are ok...but nothing to rave about. Very thin, Scratch easy.

Entwistle does make the pu's, but I believe they are the lowest/cheapest quality he makes.

Do yourself a favor and invest in something better.

Rob
Click to expand...

Particle board doesn't have grain. This is another Made in China bias is it?
 
#12
ive got an alden tv cruiser bass,it had the eb3 pickup setup,on a teli body,the back pu has been changed for a music man pu..the neck is good the action is good,and its made out of maple....and guess what it was given to me....a result
 
#13
I have a 5 string Alden “musicman” bass Rip off I bought when I was 15 years old in 2008, from cranes in Cardiff. I loved it, moved to uni, Mistreated it, saved for a £1750 Musicman stingray5 with double humbuckers and never looked back. Until today, I decided to get it fixed and set up to be sold. After playing t at home I decided to use for my gig tonight, and I tell you that was a better bass than my £1750 musicman. I can’t speak for all Alden basses or guitars but mine is a gem that I will not sell anymore
 
#15
And since this is on matters Alden, on whim I bought their 'Beatbacker Bass' (probably from Cranes) years ago. It was the worst POS that I ever had in my hands. Badly built, badly finished and sounded like everything below 500Hz was missing. Didn't have it longer than an hour in my hands. Back it went!

Bbacker.jpg
 
#17
The only Alden's I've seen were Zamaitis guitar knock-offs that were very well done, and almost impossible to get. They made both shell tops, and metal tops.
Their website has been under construction for at least 3 years.
 

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