I just ordered a Glarry....

[Gervais Cote]

There are other models showing up on Amazon now, different brands, all Chinese-made, some headless, some Premium level SR clones, with active EQ, for around $400. Where will it all end?

Were we all fools paying a couple thousand $ for our basses? I hope not. Or is this just a precursor to hostile takeover of the bass industry? Just kidding, don't ban me.

An American Fender that’s 40+ years old is still sturdy and playable but I wouldn’t bet on a Glarry. THAT'S the difference.

 

[Wez Yo Bice]

34" scale length per spec sheet. So what's a standard p-bass scale length? This is definitely bigger than a U-bass.
Dumped my $60 GeeLarry out on the bench. Reviewed the specs per theses videos. Didn't have to touch anything. Plus, the fret ends were finished. Changed to 40-60-80-100 strings. Had to tweak the truss rod 1/8 turn. Back in the day, I could've paid for this in one night's use. And I play like crap.

 

[BassicJazzy]

34" scale length per spec sheet. So what's a standard p-bass scale length? This is definitely bigger than a U-bass.

34"

 

[godofthunder59]

I'd guess the workers making these instruments get paid peanuts. As for the $2k+ basses, I visited a US high-end builder's shop on numerous occasions and it sure didn't look like anyone was getting rich. If anything, I came away thinking it's a low-margin business.

Being a independent builder is definitely a low margin business.

 

[TheDuff]

These are some decent basses.

Years ago a player couldn’t find a decent inexpensive bass easily. The big iconic companies had a grip on players.

These days a guitar factory can be set up overseas easily.

Food standards don’t have to be worried about. A lot of other government regulations are unnecessary for a guitar factory. And when the government finances the business it is even easier. Like in communist countries where the government is part business owner.

Workers in general can perform the duties. Skilled laborers are no longer needed largely. Unskilled workers can be trained on the job. Cnc machines etc., assure quality control and maintain close standards while doing an exacting automated job.

All of these things on the global scale result in cheap but good guitars being available to us.

Noncommunist Asian countries are also very adept at producing good inexpensive guitars.

So, there is both an opportunity for them and for us.

 

[BassicJazzy]

These are some decent basses.

Years ago a player couldn’t find a decent inexpensive bass easily. The big iconic companies had a grip on players.

These days a guitar factory can be set up overseas easily.

Food standards don’t have to be worried about. A lot of other government regulations are unnecessary for a guitar factory. And when the government finances the business it is even easier. Like in communist countries where the government is part business owner.

Workers in general can perform the duties. Skilled laborers are no longer needed largely. Unskilled workers can be trained on the job. Cnc machines etc., assure quality control and maintain close standards while doing an exacting automated job.

All of these things on the global scale result in cheap but good guitars being available to us.

Noncommunist Asian countries are also very adept at producing good inexpensive guitars.

So, there is both an opportunity for them and for us.

Or it could just be that they are dumping cheap basses here, in an effort to put the established quality builders out of business. Knowing of course that the wood used in these basses isn't up to the same standard, and the basses may not last. This will open the door for the invasion of their army of drummers and too-loud guitar players, and we won't have a bass capable of withstanding their onslaught?

 

[TheDuff]

Or it could just be that they are dumping cheap basses here, in an effort to put the established quality builders out of business. Knowing of course that the wood used in these basses isn't up to the same standard, and the basses may not last. This will open the door for the invasion of their army of drummers and too-loud guitar players, and we won't have a bass capable of withstanding their onslaught?

Interesting and hopeful but doubtful.

 

[Major Seven]

Thanks, good info! I see quite a few complaints re-neck dive. I can handle that mod, if needed.

I put gotoh gb350 tuners on mine. 35 gm each. Fixed the neck dive. The bass cost me $64 so now I had $149 in it. (before strings)
Not crazy about the burlywood, it looks "toyish".

Hope you like FAT necks. I grew to really like it, even prefer it now. Its the same fat neck no matter which model Glarry you get.
It is very usable without any further changes. I stopped there.

 

[manbass]

Mod a Glarry? Absolutely.

 

[96tbird]

Stick on, cool, thanks.


Absolutely, you can't get a used Squier neck for under $100. If the neck looks good (no twists, straight grain), I'll be happy. Anything else can be fixed.

Do the Glarry necks fit on Fender bodies?

 

[lark_z]

Do the Glarry necks fit on Fender bodies?

Good question. I'll take it off and measure it and report what I find.

 

[covermego]

Good job on that re-cover. Very professional. How did you trim it so precisely? The TBr who used the plastic film cover said a Dremel was the best way to do that.

I was pleasantly surprised at how well this vinyl trimmed using an exacto knife with a NEW blade. No snags and I just slowly guided it around the perimeter. Even the little areas that had a slight overhang cleaned up quite well and effortlessly. No snags of the vinyl at all. I have gigged this Jag bass 3 times now and am amazed at how well it is holding up. OTOH, this stuff is designed for wrapping your vehicle, so it has to be tough. WIN.
I had originally planned on using a heat gun and wrapping it, but I really wanted to show off the 3-ply on the sides. As for the metal control plate, I will be replacing that with a plastic one that I will bevel, like the pickguard. I know I have a template around here somewhere, from previous pickguard fabricating.
Now, I need to keep selling off all my stuff that's been sitting here for the last several years, to fund my continuing experiments.

 

[96tbird]

Glarry pfff what the H is a Glarry?

Thing is with these Chinese brand names is they’re really horrific. Even offensive to the English speaking sensibilities. Those guys could just hire me as a consultant to pick names that would work in the real world. Big picture I wouldnt cost them much. Im not greedy, and it would be an easy kib to reject most suggestions by them and wait for or come ip with a winner. Such easy work. Glarry. Pffff.

I’m also available for user manual editing

 

[covermego]

Good question. I'll take it off and measure it and report what I find.

Regarding the neck fit, Yes-N-No ! The heel usually fits a Fender or Squier neck, but the contour of the corners is a bit sharp in the neck pocket - not enough to look that bad, though.
Our dear, departed friend and fellow TB'er, @JRA , utilized Glarry bass bodies for his fretless basses, which always looked sooooo cool. He enjoyed their light weight and it looked like he didn't skimp on the neck, hardware or electronics. I sure miss that dude.

 

[Steve Dallman]

I bought a Glarry 5 a few years ago. Lots of mods over the first year. The two things that made it very playable and feel great were lighter tuners and rolling the fretboard edges. The body on mine was so light, the neck dive was terrible.

 

[lark_z]

Well, about one day later......

$93 - bass
$75 - GZR pickups and harness (thanks TB classified)
$36 - Fender 9050L strings
$13 - Matte black car vinyl for the pickguard
$10 - Elliptical strap pins.
$10 - Spring/foam pickup 'beds'
========
$237

All the 'significant other' heard was $90, ha ha.

This is gonna be a blast.

 

[lark_z]

I have a can of the good spray conductive stuff, probably 3/4 of the can. I hope the spout isn't plugged.

I'm curious if there's any shielding at all.

 

[BassicJazzy]

I have a can of the good spray conductive stuff, probably 3/4 of the can. I hope the spout isn't plugged.

I'm curious if there's any shielding at all.

For $93 I'm surprised there's any wiring in there at all. If you open it up and it's stuffed with newspaper even that wouldn't surprise me.

 

[mikeswals]

The models seem goofy....
If I order the Jazz with the amp, it has a PJ pickup config.
But if I dont want the amp and only order the Jazz, its a JJ pickup config?

Also if you're ordering a P, that one with the block inlays and white finish actually looks really sharp!

 

[Major Seven]

The models seem goofy....
If I order the Jazz with the amp, it has a PJ pickup config.
But if I dont want the amp and only order the Jazz, its a JJ pickup config?

Also if you're ordering a P, that one with the block inlays and white finish actually looks really sharp!

I have one with the block inlays. They are painted on and look really cheap in person. Crazy light though. I put a neck with
dots on it.
No matter which one you get, the neck is the same profile. FAT. You get a "jazz" bass with a P neck.