For the $$ you put out hand's down Ibanez
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Best Build Quality in your opinion
- Thread starter GeorgeBassPlay
- Start date
Money dependent, a higher end Ibanez is good.
The best-built 'off the rack' basses I ever owned were 80's BB Yamahas.
The best, period (and believe me there's lots of well-built axes to be had), is Alembic. Nobody sweats the details like they do.
My basses were both tinted: Well, they shoot 5 or 6 coats of clear, wet/hand sanded between each layer, then tint, then 3 or 4 more coats of clear over that. To say the finish is glassy is an understatement. But why tint over clear and not the wood first? Well, they feel like the bass will easily last long enough you might change your mind and want a clear finish or another color, and doing it that way, the wood is never stained and a refin is much easier. Then the pots are mil-spec in a lot of cases. They only use stainless steel pickup screws as they're not magnetic and won't muddle the magnetics of the pickups. They only use metal screws into threaded inserts (except for the tailpiece and the cinch screw on each tuning key). And on and on and on. The Series single coil system with the hum canceller will never be equaled, and who else has the founder of the company, an ex-Ampex engineer, run your axe thru a Farraday cage to fine-tune the hum rejection?
It's not cheap. They're not for everyone. But they're like a German Steinway or a Selmer Paris horn, it's the best of the best. And, BTW, they're the nicest people on Earth, they could not have been more helpful or patient with my noob questions.
The best, period (and believe me there's lots of well-built axes to be had), is Alembic. Nobody sweats the details like they do.
My basses were both tinted: Well, they shoot 5 or 6 coats of clear, wet/hand sanded between each layer, then tint, then 3 or 4 more coats of clear over that. To say the finish is glassy is an understatement. But why tint over clear and not the wood first? Well, they feel like the bass will easily last long enough you might change your mind and want a clear finish or another color, and doing it that way, the wood is never stained and a refin is much easier. Then the pots are mil-spec in a lot of cases. They only use stainless steel pickup screws as they're not magnetic and won't muddle the magnetics of the pickups. They only use metal screws into threaded inserts (except for the tailpiece and the cinch screw on each tuning key). And on and on and on. The Series single coil system with the hum canceller will never be equaled, and who else has the founder of the company, an ex-Ampex engineer, run your axe thru a Farraday cage to fine-tune the hum rejection?
It's not cheap. They're not for everyone. But they're like a German Steinway or a Selmer Paris horn, it's the best of the best. And, BTW, they're the nicest people on Earth, they could not have been more helpful or patient with my noob questions.
Without getting into high end instruments, I'll vote for, G&L, Music Man, and Fender Japan. (I have not played a Music Man outside of the pre-Ernie Ball years, though; I don't know what their quality is like any more.) All of my examples of each are basically mechanically perfect in terms of general craftsmanship (even if the Japanese Fenders are lacking in the areas of hardware and electronics).
My Japanese Epi SG was pretty much perfect too. It's better built than *any* Gibson electric of *any* era that I have ever played (and that's a ton).
My Japanese Epi SG was pretty much perfect too. It's better built than *any* Gibson electric of *any* era that I have ever played (and that's a ton).
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They’re not really “common man” priced anymore.
Fender is the best by far. very consistent. great QC. excellent value. especially the new PJ mustang.
also, i believe in chemtrails. and the u.s. navy has a facility under the arctic ice that controls the weather. and 9/11 was an inside job. and the stories about UFO abductions are all true. and trump weighs 238#.
also, i believe in chemtrails. and the u.s. navy has a facility under the arctic ice that controls the weather. and 9/11 was an inside job. and the stories about UFO abductions are all true. and trump weighs 238#.
Many companies build very high quality basses.
For me a few at the top are:
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Humanbase Human Base Instruments
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These combine highest quality with interesting approaches, designs and value for money.
Mid priced Ibanez and Yamaha’s. Both have been doing it real well for a long time.
Below $1000 = Schecter, Ibanez
$1000 - $1500 = Fender, EBMM & G&L
$1500 - $2000 = Spector Euro
$2000 - $3000 = Warwick, Sadowsky, Lakland
$3000 -$6000 = USA Spector
$6000 - $10,000 = Fodera
$10,000 & up = Alembic
$1000 - $1500 = Fender, EBMM & G&L
$1500 - $2000 = Spector Euro
$2000 - $3000 = Warwick, Sadowsky, Lakland
$3000 -$6000 = USA Spector
$6000 - $10,000 = Fodera
$10,000 & up = Alembic
- Oct 18, 2012
- 6,683
- 5,538
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Fender, Spector, Ampeg, Curt Mangan, Nordstrand Pickups, Korg , Conquest Sound
I've had great luck with Fender, Alembic and Spector. There is a builder in Connecticut, Jon Maghini who builds basses under the brand M Basses. Some of the nicest basses I have seen.
For production basses, IMO the best build quality award goes to G&L and Music Man. And I’d award them an additional ribbon for doing it so consistently. They just make really fine instruments.
In some ways we live in very lucky times. At all price points we can find quality instruments. Reading through the posts it's easy to see that there is no shortage of quality companies to choose from. I think it's hard to say who has the best build quality because even that is subjective.
I am surprised by how high the quality of Chinese Classic Vibe Squiers and Fenders are. Do I have any pretense that their components compare to with Alembics, no; but their fit and finish is comparable to guitars costing thousands more. My Classic Vibe James Johnston Jazz is a beautiful bass constructed to high standards with low tolerances.
So I guess I think this is a moot point. Most basses today are built ridiculously well, and are all we need plus some. We just need to pick the ones we like the best.
I am surprised by how high the quality of Chinese Classic Vibe Squiers and Fenders are. Do I have any pretense that their components compare to with Alembics, no; but their fit and finish is comparable to guitars costing thousands more. My Classic Vibe James Johnston Jazz is a beautiful bass constructed to high standards with low tolerances.
So I guess I think this is a moot point. Most basses today are built ridiculously well, and are all we need plus some. We just need to pick the ones we like the best.
Custom shop quality at reasonable prices + Pat Wilkins Basses. Check out his Road-Tested series.
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Based on what I have actually owned...Pedulla is #1, NS Design is #2.
there are so many now-a-days. hard to say. my fender american deluxe jazz was built really well, the preamp was just terrible. my musicman big Al was built fantastic, played great and sounded great, as well as my bongo 6. for budget stuff, the LTD vintage-204 i owned was built very well. solid all around. the usa peavey versions are built good too.
i don't think there are many newer, reputable brands that are built poorly. squier, sterling, sub, schecter, LTD, epiphone, ibanez are all very well made basses at a great price point.
i don't think there are many newer, reputable brands that are built poorly. squier, sterling, sub, schecter, LTD, epiphone, ibanez are all very well made basses at a great price point.
