Chinese knock-off basses

[klejst]

Usually they are not worth it if you're one who is looking for a higher end or even medium level bass however for what they are and if you're looking for a lower end bass then they are alright I suppose. Never been a fan of knock offs myself...and I'm not a gear snob!

 

[GretschWretch]

I've got a Dillion Dagger and it is an EXCELLENT guitar. Quality of everything is superb. However trying to figure where it came from isn't so easy. Guitar has a big "Made for Dillion USA" sticker on it giving the impression it's a USA instrument. That is NOT true. But there is NO "made in" marking anywhere on it. It's all a bit scammy if you ask me. HOWEVER. I got it at a local store and quality for the price was such that I could not leave the store without it. An internet search reveals they are made in Korea. I would recommend a Dillion or an Eastwood over Chinese clones any day.

View attachment 2979594
This is not mine, but mine looks just like this.

There also is a, quite unrelated, Dillion Canada. Which may account for the sticker.

 

[TonyP-]

It also a matter of the materials. Hardware metal tends to be cr@p, as are the pickup magnets.

It would be fun to hot rod one with exactly what you are talking about pre-pickups-bridge-good fret job.

 

[GretschWretch]

Well, I am dubious when this is a description of the item for sale...

"For music lovers, cheap bass guitars for sale is another very important instrument. The sound of thunderbird bass guitar is relatively low, and more solemn, which can bring a different feeling. The double bass guitar is suitable for blue and jazz music, also, you can learn to sing a song with the double neck bass guitar for your beloved girl, which can show your love so perfectly. The wholesale pink bass guitar in our shop are of highest quality and low price, come on and buy a new bass guitar body!"

This looks like Google Translate on a bad day, and it's not the worst (or most laugh aloud funny) I have seen. The only part of the description I pay attention to is the weight. 3200g = 7.2 pounds. For me, these basses are the Mod Squad.

 

[Peteyboy]

I bought it brand new from XYZ Guitars out of Brookline, Massachusetts on Reverb. They are an Official Dillion Dealer. They had it listed for $539 and free shipping with a Dillion padded gig bag. I wanted a Hard Shell Case which they didn't have and Dillion does not make. So after some whining by me that I only buy if I can get a HSC they came down in price and I got it for $465. Later I was able to locate a no name hard shell case from a place in Canada. The case for the Epihone JC bass fits this perfect.
@GretschWretch has two of these and he'll also tell you how great these are.

Thank you B-Mac. That's a beautiful bass you've got there. I don't care if it's Chinese, Korean, or Martian. I would be proud to whip that out at a gig.

 

[GretschWretch]

I've always loved EB-2s and regretted Gibson never made a long-scale. These are that bass. My pair are both used in like-new condition, I suspect sold because both had some neck back-bow when they reached me, suggesting the original owners were ignorant of neck adjustment. The only real complaint I have against them, which may be a deal-breaker just like it can be on the Gretsch G6072 reissue, is the weight: 9.5 pounds or thereabout. And they are and hang like long basses. Appearances notwithstanding, the pickups have a little less of the mud-bucker woof and a little more of the P-bass punch.

If only Dillion had dispensed with the wretched center block. Compared to these, in terms of bang for the buck Gibson cannot even compete.

 

[Diamond_Dave]

I don't see a reason to buy a "Chibson" when there are perfectly good, often excellent, non-counterfeit Chinese-made Epiphones and Squiers and others. If we can't respect the environment or human rights, we as artists should at least respect intellectual property.

 

[GretschWretch]

I don't see a reason to buy a "Chibson" when there are perfectly good, often excellent, non-counterfeit Chinese-made Epiphones and Squiers and others. If we can't respect the environment or human rights, we as artists should at least respect intellectual property.

Epiphones and Squiers are not EB-2 copies. And the Rivoli is not long-scale.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Just save your money and buy a Lakland or a Fender Custom Shop. Don't buy the chinese counterfeit crap!!!

 

[Diamond_Dave]

Epiphones and Squiers are not EB-2 copies. And the Rivoli is not long-scale.

I wasn't referring to your post. Just commenting on the original post.

 

[Boom762]

This Chinese knock-off site stole a photo of me, my bass, and an article I wrote on the bass. Link Removed

 

[B-Mac]

I don't see a reason to buy a "Chibson" when there are perfectly good, often excellent, non-counterfeit Chinese-made Epiphones and Squiers and others. If we can't respect the environment or human rights, we as artists should at least respect intellectual property.

I agree and Dillion is not a Chibson...they are a legitimate guitar company based in the USA that outsources to Asia.
I'd never get something from a counterfeit company (Alibaba or Peerless, etc.) unless it was some type of custom that I ordered with my specs that wasn't a copy of anything.

 

[bobdabilder]

The morality po-po is out in full force. Youtube has some great demos of both sides of the coin.

 

[GretschWretch]

I wasn't referring to your post. Just commenting on the original post.

Okay; thanks for clarifying. I over-reacted and behaved badly. Apologies tendered.

 

[Diamond_Dave]

I agree and Dillion is not a Chibson...they are a legitimate guitar company based in the USA that outsources to Asia.
I'd never get something from a counterfeit company (Alibaba or Peerless, etc.) unless it was some type of custom that I ordered with my specs that wasn't a copy of anything.

I agree 100 percent. Outsourcing manufacturing is one thing, while counterfeiting is another animal altogether. The Chinese make GREAT guitars for lots of American companies. And some Chinese companies (and American individuals) make very convincing counterfeits to the untrained eye!

 

[Diamond_Dave]

Okay; thanks for clarifying. I over-reacted and behaved badly. Apologies tendered.

Thanks but no worries. My post was right below yours, so it's an easy assumption to make.

 

[ScrewDevil]

But in the end, you're making some rich people richer by giving them your money. Doesn't matter where they're from.

 

[Outbush]

I've had periods when money was pretty tight so I reckon budget instruments really have their place. That said, in my opinion quality instruments make you a better musician.

 

[Bassist Jay]

Everything I have ever played from China was garbage. This is also my biggest frustration with a majority of acoustic basses. Most seem to be made from there. Even some higher end ones like the Alien acoustic bass, Breedloves and a few others.

 

[Maxdusty]

I ordered a "custom" 5 string bass based roughly on a stingray design. They sent me an exact clone. But like a clone that had been copied too many times on a photocopier...
It is an utter piece of trash. Unplayable. Electronics not wired correctly. Looks good from 15 feet away, up close it is a travesty. Hardware is like that metallic candy you sometimes see on "fancy" cakes.
It's not good enough to be a wall clock.
I leave it in a window so that it gets direct sun every day as a personal protest to the "luthier".
I would avoid these types of clones.
There are some fine instruments to be had, but quality control and accountability are severely lacking in the knock-off market, so it's a dangerous situation for a buyer.

Probably would have gotten a far better and more "authentic" Ray bass by getting a Sterling Ray 5 SUB series, the SUB series are now made in China - as an EBMM company, Sterling can make a dead ringer for a US made Ray without infringing any copyrights or being a counterfeit.

I have nothing against instruments being made in China at all, some are very well made but there is no control over quality, so you'll get some truly crappy pieces of wood too. That being said, I DO have something against the manufacture of illegal counterfeit instruments though.