I went out to buy a new Fender J and ended up with a Tribute SB-2. For less money I got a much better sound and more flexibility. This thing plays like it is already broken in! There are times I have to remind myself that it is not an active bass the sound is so strong. I had been toying with the idea of buying a custom sometime in the near future and I think I will end up getting a US G&L custom. If they can have an import made with this quality I can only imagine what their domestics are like.