Bass Collection SB301

Bass collection are a cheap brand of "exclusive looking" bass of absolutely stunning mediocrity.

I haven't seen any for years, which I consider a plus.

Spend your money on a good bass...even Ibanez are better.

 

Yeah, i tend to agree with the bloke above.

Ive played a few in my time, an old friend used to collect them. Frankly they were rubbish.

Anyway if it helps you used to be able to get a brand new one from Cambridge Music in the UK for just over £300 (british pounds) - but i dont think they stock them anymore.

 

Hey Andy,

This is "okant" from FenderForum. It's been a while since we've last talked. Are you still in Ankara?

I have two Bass Collections; SB461 and SB325 fretless (my first two basses; now I know better). The brand was not meant to be cheap, it's made in Japan and "for the price" it had one of the best constructions I've ever seen on a bass (visually). Once they were very popular in Europe, alas they didn't succeed and closed the business; however they are still building under Godlyke brand which sells for around $2000 apiece according to their website (www.godlyke.com). 4-string models have fast and comfy necks, always with an over-pronounced/annoying dead-spot @ 7th fret on G. The sound leaves much to be desired. They sound -while crystal clear- thinner than -say- a Fender; the "closer-to-bridge" pickup placement and weak-output pickups may be the cause. To compensate the weak-ouput, you can dramatically boost bass/treble at the expense of muddied sound.

To conclude, I would say that they'd make a great beginner bass because of the comfy neck & light-weight. Every once in a while I see one at ebay for $100 buy-it-now (which is cheaper than the sum of its parts, talking about Gotoh hardware); but $315 seems too steep even in my country. BTW, SB301 should have an alder body/rosewood fingerboard/black hardware.

Last comment: Would I buy one again? NO!

 

Entering Nostalgia mode

Before my Warwick (my beautiful baby!!) I owned a honey SB325 many moons ago.

I loved the colour of it so I bought it - I had been playing for a few years and needed a step up instrument to progress with. It suited my needs then quite well.

As I grew I came to realise the electronics were crap so in went an EMG circuit.

A little later I found the improvements that can be made with pickups. A replacement set of gorgeous Kent Armstrong's went in.

The bass grew with me until I outgrew it which is where I found my Warwick nirvana (sorry bit big-headed there ). In the meantime I had around 5 years of happy Bass Collection life.

I wouldn't want another now but at the time - but at the time it was right for me.

 

Yes, I'm still here. Good to see you, Okan....the FenderForum is a thing of the past for me, as for many others, because of the....


well, let bygones be bgones.

I agree with your assessment. They were built, I think, to sound impressive in the showroom. But when you got them on stage, they disappeared.

There are better starter basses around. Like the cheaper Yamahas. Squier. Well, like almost anything, really.

I am slightly annoyed no one picked up my trolling jibe about Ibanez...

 

I had an SB310 for a while ..... actually, my wife found it at a garage sale and paid $25.00 for it in nearly pristine condition with the HSC

I never could get used to it, the body was very small for me and the neck was way too thin. Didn't sound bad, as I remember. I had it for sale in the classifieds here for a bit, but there was zero interest. I ended up giving it to my son when he moved to Portland OR (he's a percussionist and wanted to learn bass, as well). He's still got it .... wouldn't be surprised if it ended up coming back to me at some point ...

For me, I think there are better ways to spend your cash ...

 

SX guitars makes the Bass Collection brand now as well.

http://www.rondomusic.net/sb301.html

they're pretty cheap. 150 bucks.