Best Build Quality in your opinion

[thedukeofno]

We'll never know who, but some builder out there spends the highest amount on QA/QC. It would be interesting to see how the various manufacturers rank in terms of dollars spent on quality per bass.

 

[bongostealth]

My picks would be Ken Smith, Modulus, G. Gould, Warwick (German-made), and Warmoth. Yes, Warmoth. I am in love with my Warmoth Gecko 6. Everything about it makes me say "Yes! Yes! Yes!" every time I pick it up!

 

[thedukeofno]

The obsession with quality is a bit of a moot point as far as I am concerned. The way a bass plays has more to do with the quality of the setup than the instrument itself. Even instrument with questionable quality can sound and play great. There was an article in Bass Gear Mag reviewing vintages basses and the author confessed that some of the vintage basses were terrible from a quality stand point of view but played well and sounded good.

Quality is also what moves you; you can have a perfect build with perfect wood (if there is such thing) and if it's not your cup of tea then what's the point?

Last thought, most current basses quality will exceed the average musician's ability to play them.

All that being said, Fodera, Lull, G&L all seem to be above current instruments. People love to bash Fender here but most of their current instruments are absolutely fine quality wise as far as I am concerned.

The fender quality issues I've seen are largely related to set up and are corrected relatively easily... high nuts, fret ends not properly dressed, etc. Though I did once have a jazz neck pickup inexplicably die after owning the bass about 6 years, but that gave me a good excuse to put Seymour Duncans in.

 

[DigitalMan]

Good catch DM!!!! You just discovered what I like to do with my basses when no one is looking

Don't we all?

 

[Joebone]

I've Owned Sadowsky (Japan and USA) USA Lakland, MTD, Pedulla, and - very briefly - a mid-level Fodera. I also have a Carl Pedigo 34" 5-string which is marvelous. The Fodera was underwhelming, despite the ballyhoo. the MTD (both US and Czech), Sadowsky (US and Japan) and Lakland USA product has been uniformly well-executed, and you get what you pay for. The Pedigo is a sweetheart. But here's a sleeper...I've lately been using an Xotic XB-2, which is incredibly well made, and very well-conceived - I'm increasingly using it, and thinking it may be my best bass ever, especially for less than $2k used. An astoundingly clear B-string, great fretwork, resonant body wood and a gorgeous slab of black ebony for the board. Body shape is a bit weird, but I'm getting used to it, and it provides great access to the upper frets. And the three-band preamp is excellent, as well as the coil tap alternatives for each pickup. Truly a great bass - I understand Hiro Miura made these himself when he still ran Xotic, and the craftsmanship and attention to detail suggest a high degree of personal investment in the final product.

 

[Gyver]

Have owned a Ken Smith Burner (the Japanese model from the 90s), several American Fenders, a Japanese Fender, a Gibson Thunderbird and a MusicMan Sterling Classic. All were well-built, but if I had to pick one I would go with the MusicMan for overall build quality, followed by the Thunderbird.

 

[Enzo88]

Well, believe it or not Fender pro series is a hit in every way. Lightweight, resonant and that neck is rock solid for sure. The one that i bought at least is all of that. Ofc it can't compare with a master built bass, but those belong to a greater price tag after all.

 

[wyleeboxer]

My personal favorite builds from a production quality standpoint have been my MIJ old Yamaha BB3000s and new BB2024x and for a straight Fender Jazz comparisons or any other jazz manufacturer for that matter I would go for my all time favorite bass I've had for 20 years a Schecter California custom jazz. This bass is so well made from the neck to the body, super precise tolerances and beautiful choice of woods. My only issue is I screwed up and routed a MM pup in the bridge position years ago, tone is pretty aggressive now with Lace Sensor Man O war pups. But just picked up an all original mid 90s Schecter Jazz from eBay on a steal, delivery in 4 days

 

[Nino Valenti]

I don't know if this still the case but does Valenti still use USAGC parts? Should we be giving them some credit too? While we are at it, Warmoth also has a great reputation for high build quality.

Except for a couple of builds, I have not used USAGC since bass 116 which was built in mid 2011.

USAGC and Warmoth make EXCELLENT parts but they don't build complete basses. I've seen some poorly assembled basses using these parts

 

[bassbenj]

I have a lot of well-built basses but I have to go with my G&Ls for the best.
And the proof to me was when I bought three G&L "reject" necks from their
store for a song. When I got them I looked them over closely and the "defects"
were so minor as to be almost invisible. I mean just a microscopic ding or a
rout that was off by a couple mm. Most makers would have just shoved them
down the line figuring the varnish would cover it. This is the kind of QC you really
want to see when you buy an instrument.

Build quality is not why you buy a fender. OF course that is not talking about custom
shop basses which I neither own nor have played.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

The Fender Elites are very well made.
MusicMan does a great job also .
Never heard much complaining about Lakland quality.

 

[James Collins]

The fender quality issues I've seen are largely related to set up and are corrected relatively easily... high nuts, fret ends not properly dressed, etc. Though I did once have a jazz neck pickup inexplicably die after owning the bass about 6 years, but that gave me a good excuse to put Seymour Duncans in.

I think fret end dressings and leveling is part of the build quality. The nut to some degree if it was unusable in its sold state.

 

[thedukeofno]

I think fret end dressings and leveling is part of the build quality. The nut to some degree if it was unusable in its sold state.

Sure these are part of build quality, but they're also easily corrected. My point was in respone (support) to a comment made about folks knocking on Fender. Fender mass produce a bass of reasonable quality, particularly the USA made. I wouldn't let a bad nut prevent me from buying a bass when it can easily be replaced for $50 or less if you can do it yourself.

 

[MD Stingray]

I've owned almost anything from Squier to Fodera.

For me...the TRB neck through series of Yamaha are best built overall.

Status graphite's and Ellio Martina's bolt-on a good second.

Rick's are at the bottom of my list, next to Sire and a lot of Fenders.

 

[James Collins]

Sure these are part of build quality, but they're also easily corrected. My point was in respone (support) to a comment made about folks knocking on Fender. Fender mass produce a bass of reasonable quality, particularly the USA made. I wouldn't let a bad nut prevent me from buying a bass when it can easily be replaced for $50 or less if you can do it yourself.

I might still get it depending on the initial cost--might even use it to try to get a discount. Granted I've bought used basses more expensive than a Fender knowing I was going to replace the nut. I've also replaced perfectly good parts with new parts. I probably would keep the bass if I already had it when I noticed the nut was filled too low or the fret ends were sharp. I would also think the build quality was subpar.

 

[Fenwick]

I'm a big Fender guy, but nothing tops the build-quality of my German made Warwick Streamer LX4.

 

[Nephilymbass]

Been playing for a long time…have had Squiers (3), Fenders American and Mex (4), Nash (1), Ricks (4), Gibson (1) and a couple of assorted Basses long ago and far away.

For me the Ricks have been the built built Basses I've had.

Hoping to try Sadowsky some day .. but haven't owned one yet.

I am interested in hearing from the men and women of Bassdom.. what brand of Bass has the best build quality in your opinion ? I am talking about fit and finish, how they resonate / feel in your hands, how they stay in tune, and how they sound to you.

Thank you - Happy weekend.

I'd say the Dingwall production models and the MIA musicians are the best for fit and finish and how they resonate and stay in tune out of the basses I've had. But I own one Dingwall and have only played one other one, Ive owned three Mia Musicmans. A lot of brands are hit and miss on these things. Like I've seen people swear by Fenders fit and finish but I've also seen fenders with terrible neck pocket gaps. I've had two SR5 and one resonated much better than the other. I've had a bunch of warwicks but I gotta say they do use some pretty cheap tuners and output jacks for such expensive basses.

 

[thedukeofno]

I might still get it depending on the initial cost--might even use it to try to get a discount. Granted I've bought used basses more expensive than a Fender knowing I was going to replace the nut. I've also replaced perfectly good parts with new parts. I probably would keep the bass if I already had it when I noticed the nut was filled too low or the fret ends were sharp. I would also think the build quality was subpar.

Fair enough. I wouldn't think it subpar. In my opinion Fender quality is arguably "par" by definition of being the #1 bass retailer. And I've rarely encountered a new Fender that didn't require nut work. If you change string gauge from stock as I do, you're already looking at a nut tweak.

 

[Smoothmove]

My Roscoe

 

[darkinners]

Most higher end bass I have/had/tried have really good built quality.
The best built I have are Fodera and Warwick Custom Shop. I rarely see people talk about Warwick build quality but it's amazing. I actually give Warwick Custom Shop slight edge to Fodera in terms of build quality.

The other basses that I tried have the same build quality calibre are
Sadowsky, Mayones, Suhr, MTD.

Almost there: Ernie ball(really really close to the top tier), Sandberg, Fbass