Good Idea - Bad Idea?

[groucho]

I just put in an order with this guy for one of these, only mine will be a four string for both necks (fretless and fretted)
as I am not much for five string. It could be a "pig in a poke"
but I have had really good luck with other budget Chinese basses I have purchased. Anybody ever actually played one of this guys instruments?http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160398372120&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I want this for a live gig bass, and got the notion after getting tired of my band mates breaking my balls over "how long it takes" to switch basses! (Answer is not long but try and tell them)

 

[Spinal Tapper]

Well...I've always learned: You get what you pay for...

And considering this bass is a double neck (which should automatically make it cost more) AND under $400...I'd say you're at a 95% chance of wasting your money completely.

I'd stay away.

 

[bongomania]

I want this for a live gig bass, and got the notion after getting tired of my band mates breaking my balls over "how long it takes" to switch basses! (Answer is not long but try and tell them)

Really? It takes like 30 seconds to switch basses, unless you have your rig set up so that you have to adjust all kinds of levels and EQ each time you switch--and if that's the case, then your money would be better spent on a Bassbone or similar device meant for that purpose.

 

[groucho]

"get what you pay for" is such a trite hack thing to say...The marketplace is replete with examples of getting a lot for your money, and with examples of getting a set of
"the emperors new clothes". CNC millwork and Asian wages changed the game for
a lot of things including guitars/basses. People tend to forget those old Fenders
were "working" instruments built for cost effectiveness and are often still preferrred
to "fine furniture" basses that cost many grand by those who can afford to play anything they want. And I stress - people should play what ever they want - but
not kid themselves if they think they sound better just because it cost more.

I have 11 basses - some Chinese stuff, vintage Fenders, a Rick, and others
across the board in cost. The one thing I think you get(hopefully) by paying more
is consistency. But you can get something real nice real cheap if all the parts
came together that day in Korea!

 

[Spinal Tapper]

Trite hack thing to say?

Dude...

No doubt you can find great deals. I've bought tons of used basses and amps - almost all used for great prices, otherwise I wouldn't have bought what I bought in the past.

I've played SX basses too, and on top of their superior Customer Service thanks to Kurt at Rondo who has accepted MANY returns and does it with great patience, some great playing guitars/basses come off of Rondo's website. No doubt.

I hope you find that kind of customer support for this bass...

I think the bass you posted, looks to me like you have a really good chance of picking up a piece of junk IMO, of course. And a heavy one at that.

That's $500 bro. Maybe you have that kind of money to throw around, and that's fine. You do own 11 other basses - what's one more double-neck from a brandless company with zero repuation?

You asked on a public forum if it was a good idea / bad idea for the justification of not having to switch basses live onstage?? I vote bad idea. Waste of money, not to mention very gimmicky and tacky to the eyes...

Prove me wrong though - post pics of yourself wearing it onstage with your band and some audio files of how great it sounds when you get it.

If I were you, I'd tell my band to suck it up and let me change basses between songs - should take about 5 seconds to do this if you have a mute button and an extra guitar stand on stage...maybe you could rehearse this at band practice if it really takes you that long.

good luck