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Best Build Quality in your opinion
- Thread starter GeorgeBassPlay
- Start date
Daion. Every instrument in their bass line was meant to compete head-on with the competition's next higher line of basses. And they pulled it off, with absolute consistency of quality.
Both my Pedulla and Fodera are of the highest quality I’ve ever seen.
Alembic. The attention to detail is staggering, everything is well thought out and perfectly executed. You pay for that though.
Mass produced basses though... quality is really quite good across the board these days. Some very nice basses from Schecter, Epiphone, etc.
Mass produced basses though... quality is really quite good across the board these days. Some very nice basses from Schecter, Epiphone, etc.
My Alembic is perfect as perfect can be, and it’s not even one of the Top-of-the-line Series basses.
Also, my US G&l is very well put together.
Truth is, it’s not that hard to build quality instruments these days. And frankly, it’s not that hard to take a bass that is less than perfect and, in a few hours of work from a good tech, make it so.
Um, didn’t someone mix up a voltage spec on a solenoid and almost blow the whole thing up??? I guess that was technically, the Service Module and not the lander. But an Ef’up is still an Ef’up.
Don't know about "the best" but my spector euro 4lx is pretty much perfect. My 2nd is my 2010 MID Ric. I have a part's P bass that plays like a dream too. I think nowadays that perfection is a matter of preference...
Good Luck!
No the Lunar Module performed flawlessly, even to the point of rescuing the crew of Apollo 13. I don't think Luthiers were involved though...Um, didn’t someone mix up a voltage spec on a solenoid and almost blow the whole thing up??? I guess that was technically, the Service Module and not the lander. But an Ef’up is still an Ef’up.
My favorite is Warwick followed by PRS then G&L. The build quality is amazing on all 3 of these. I personally love my Rickenbacker 4003, but am swayed by the complaints from others not to include it based on an n of 1. I've really only played (guitar and bass) Fender, G&L, Warwick, Ibanez, Schecter, PRS, and Rickenbacker. I know there are a lot of great companies I will never play a bass from.
One other point is I definitely notice a difference between made in Asia and made at the home factory. Some are less. For example, Schecter is pretty much identical. I really respect that they make the artist instruments in the Asian factories. Instead of them making the artist instrument in America, and then making all the schmuck instruments in Asia.
Ibanez has good Indonesian quality, but there are a wide range of instruments and the bottom of their line is noticeably worse. Similar effect with Squier--their top of the line is a good instrument, but the cheapest instrument is noticeably worse.
I have a G&L USA bass and a G&L China telecaster and the finish is far better on the bass (little mistakes on the fret, wood filling, and the neck pocket)--it still plays well and blind folded you would probably struggle to find the issues. The most stand out in my shed is the difference between the Rockbass line and either the GPS or Master Warwicks. Most of the difference between GPS and Masterbuilt seems to just be in the materials (wood, electronics, and metals). Like the bridge on a GPS costs 50€ and a brass custom bridge is 350€. The nut goes from 20€ to 100€. Rockbass has improved over time, but I still feel like I'm playing a cartoon version of the real thing.
One other point is I definitely notice a difference between made in Asia and made at the home factory. Some are less. For example, Schecter is pretty much identical. I really respect that they make the artist instruments in the Asian factories. Instead of them making the artist instrument in America, and then making all the schmuck instruments in Asia.
Ibanez has good Indonesian quality, but there are a wide range of instruments and the bottom of their line is noticeably worse. Similar effect with Squier--their top of the line is a good instrument, but the cheapest instrument is noticeably worse.
I have a G&L USA bass and a G&L China telecaster and the finish is far better on the bass (little mistakes on the fret, wood filling, and the neck pocket)--it still plays well and blind folded you would probably struggle to find the issues. The most stand out in my shed is the difference between the Rockbass line and either the GPS or Master Warwicks. Most of the difference between GPS and Masterbuilt seems to just be in the materials (wood, electronics, and metals). Like the bridge on a GPS costs 50€ and a brass custom bridge is 350€. The nut goes from 20€ to 100€. Rockbass has improved over time, but I still feel like I'm playing a cartoon version of the real thing.
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In my opinion it's not Ric's build quality would be the problem, it's their design choices that are questionable.
I have to mention Valenti here, because I feel it is well-deserved. I have a Valenti (and a Canadian Dingwall, and a USA Lakland, etc...) and the Valenti is as solid as anything and gets as much playing time as anything. Valenti was one of those brands I had seen over the years on TB, but had never tried myself. I got one in a trade, and it definitely did not disappoint. I would not hesitate one bit to order one myself someday.
Also... I'm not out here to bash Ric at all (I actually really like the sound/looks/appeal of a 4001 or 4003 and have 'droold' over many)... but I recently bought a brand new 2018 Midnight Blue Ric, and the QC was absolutely atrocious on that bass. Trust me, I was pretty disappointed, I really wanted to like that bass, but I couldn't overlook that stuff. I returned it. Sounds like there are plenty of lucky folks out there who have solid Rics, but I guess I wasn't one of them. For the price tag, that stuff was not okay at all, IMHO.
Also... I'm not out here to bash Ric at all (I actually really like the sound/looks/appeal of a 4001 or 4003 and have 'droold' over many)... but I recently bought a brand new 2018 Midnight Blue Ric, and the QC was absolutely atrocious on that bass. Trust me, I was pretty disappointed, I really wanted to like that bass, but I couldn't overlook that stuff. I returned it. Sounds like there are plenty of lucky folks out there who have solid Rics, but I guess I wasn't one of them. For the price tag, that stuff was not okay at all, IMHO.
Zon.
Zon.
Let's get it on!
Zon.
Let's get it on!
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I own 3 custom Carvin/Kiesel basses, super impressed with them especially at the price, almost never go out of tune, very solid. I could say the same about my Mayones Comodous and my MTD Kingston AG 6. On a side note I purchased a Fender P Bass for almost $2K and took it back a few days later ... it was so bad even a local luthier could not set it up and get the tonality and harmonics right. This was my only experience with Fender and I will never buy another. JMHO
I’ve owned 5 made in Germany Warwicks. All of them were impeccably built.
In my early playing days I'd owned a G&L 2000, later a MIM Squire jazz, both of which I liked a lot. Then I went to my local shop and they had a Ken Smith, which I hadn't heard before. I simply couldn't believe both how amazing it sounded, and how effortlessly it played with super-low action. Every Smith I've tried since has had the same quality and playability, though tone can vary somewhat. Consistently top-shelf construction. I've had (and will continue to have) other basses since, but then I plug in my Smith and shake my head, clarity comes through like a blanket has been lifted off of the amp.
Only complaint is the soft (oil/varnish) finish on lower-end models, which apparently adds to the tone but also makes it more vulnerable to player wear. That's not a "construction flaw", just a characteristic. The higher-end gloss lacquer is much more durable, but slightly less warm in tone.
Only complaint is the soft (oil/varnish) finish on lower-end models, which apparently adds to the tone but also makes it more vulnerable to player wear. That's not a "construction flaw", just a characteristic. The higher-end gloss lacquer is much more durable, but slightly less warm in tone.
Not much experience with super expensive basses, but for bottom of the barrel basses, Peavey takes the cake. The Millennium basses were great, the T20/40 were solid, the Grind basses were great, Furys were also great for the money.
Mid price I'll probably give it to Ibanez. Like $300-500 range. I don't love or play Ibanez, but every one I pick up looks and plays great. I just don't like the way they sound.
Higher than that (< $1000), probably G&L Tribute.
EBMM and G&L USA are pretty equal above that, IMO.
Mid price I'll probably give it to Ibanez. Like $300-500 range. I don't love or play Ibanez, but every one I pick up looks and plays great. I just don't like the way they sound.
Higher than that (< $1000), probably G&L Tribute.
EBMM and G&L USA are pretty equal above that, IMO.
