American made basses

[progrmr]

In the next month or two I will be buying a high quality fairly high priced bass (~$1500).

Whatever I buy I want it to be American made. I've gravitated towards fenders during my first year and half of playing, so the American P/Jazz standards are first on my list for consideration.

I want to make sure when I buy this bass, it's the last bass I buy for a long time so I don't want to go into the purchase with blinders on.

What other brands/models are made in the good ole USA?

 

[grrrr!!!!]

Do you mean that if you find an incredible bass 'made in UK' that you prefer, you'll choose the Fender 'made in USA' anyway?

 

[Dan B]

Ernie Ball Music Man
Spector (used)
G&L
Rickenbacker (used)
Peavey (Cirrus model)

There are plenty of brands. Look around; who knows, the bass you might like most might be a German made Warwick.

 

[J-Building]

In the next month or two I will be buying a high quality fairly high priced bass (~$1500).

Whatever I buy I want it to be American made. I've gravitated towards fenders during my first year and half of playing, so the American P/Jazz standards are first on my list for consideration.

I want to make sure when I buy this bass, it's the last bass I buy for a long time so I don't want to go into the purchase with blinders on.

What other brands/models are made in the good ole USA?

Rickenbacker. But you really should do more research into the quality of other brands. There's a lot of love for Fender, but almost the same amount of hate. You could always go custom or even Warmoth if you're willing to put it together. Warmoth makes top-of-the-line parts that really beat out Fender in every way.

 

[progrmr]

Do you mean that if you find an incredible bass 'made in UK' that you prefer, you'll choose the Fender 'made in USA' anyway?

Actually that's a good question - I've always associated the the highest quality basses with being made in America...but I suppose that's a bit conceited and without merit.

Anyway I'm not saying I'll choose a fender for sure, but I guess I'd like to go "anything NOT made in China, Korea, Mexico, or Inonesia". Every bass I've owned over the last year and half (~10 basses) have come from one of these countries - time to step it up a notch as I'm tired of dealing with inconsistencies these basses come with. I just want one sweet bass that is complete and polished.

 

[Richard Lindsey]

Well, you know what they say about assuming....

Anyway, here are a few more American makers:

http://www.valentibasses.com/index.html

http://www.carvin.com

http://www.dolanguitars.com/index.htm

There are tons more boutique makers, of course, but many if not most of them tend to come in above that figure you mentioned.

 

[SlingBass4]

There's really quite a few major manufacturers out there - such as: Music Man, G&L, Carvin, Peavey, US Masters, Gibson, Fender (etc.) that can be had in the $1500 ballpark, and then there's: Zon, Hamer, Lakland, Tobias, (etc.) that be had for slightly more. Not to mention smaller builders of world class quality basses such as: Sadowsky, Alembic, Roscoe, Fodera, to name just a few (no slight to those NOT mentioned). Used prices may be reasonable, and found to be an incredible value. Perform you due diligence - it will be well worth it

 

[trunkshope6]

get a musicman imo the cream of the crop, then consider g and l then fender.

 

[trunkshope6]

o and buy useed

 

[A-Step-Towards]

get a musicman imo the cream of the crop, then consider g and l then fender.

pretty much what i would say , i think MM hasa little more attention to detail then fender, but hey i play a CV squier

 

[michael_atw]

Lakland. They look like Fenders, if that's a look you're looking for. Not to mention they fall under your price range used.

 

[RoboChrist]

wishbass

 

[roger winkler]

I WOULD GO WITH G&L.....I HAVE A FENDER USA P-BASS AND THE QUALITY IS AWESOME. BUT MY G&L SB-2 KICKS IT ASS ALL OVER THE PLAYGROUND!!!..

 

[chiplexic]

I second Lakland. I've seen US Laklands go for as low as $1600 used. One thing I wouldn't do is buy a Fender new. For close to the same money as a new Fender you could get a heck of a nice US made Lakland or Custom Shop Fender.

 

[Dan B]

I WOULD GO WITH G&L.....I HAVE A FENDER USA P-BASS AND THE QUALITY IS AWESOME. BUT MY G&L SB-2 KICKS IT ASS ALL OVER THE PLAYGROUND!!!..

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Just kidding.

He has a point though. I've heard nothing but praise for G&Ls; if I were you I'd get an L2K/L2K5.

 

[air_leech]

Lakland Skyline range models are made in Indonesia (and are set up in the USA), they retail for roughly the same prices as the Standard MIA Fenders and are considered by many to be much more consistent and of better quality.

 

[Dan B]

Oh yeah, don't forget the Brubaker Brute. Fantastic instruments for not much at all.

They aren't made in the USA but from what I have heard they are great instruments.

 

[RTL]

Used Roscoe Century Standard.
- Handmade 100% in-house - No outsourcing of any kind!
- US Bartolini pickups and preamp
- US Hipshot hardware
- Solid Swamp Ash body
Etc, etc, etc..

Sure, your electronic options are limited, and you don't get the maple/purpleheart/maple neck, but I can't think of any better value for the money. You can even get 'em with fancy tops now!

 

[BC8705]

I suggest a used USA Fender Jazz bass made from 2003-2007 that has an S-1 switch (my weapon of choice) or a G&L JB model (not the JB-2) since it looks just like a Fender but plays/sounds so great in my opinion.

 

[vespasian1]

I would definately give Carvin serious look, as they are 'Factory Direct', meaning there is no distributor and retailer in the profit chain.

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If not, get a PBass.