Is a cheap Jazz Bass worth it?

[The B Keeper]

I've got the active and passive version of this and for this price I'm almost tempted to get it for myself

Used Peavey Millennium AC BXP Antique Amber Electric Bass Guitar Antique Amber | Guitar Center https://share.google/les4vIjJOBOKkBt7s

 

[rok51]

Thanks for your perspective on this. These Glarry are so cheap that’s crazy!

I do all my own setups and got some tools to level frets and all, maybe I could order one from Amazon and set it up properly if it isn’t. I could return it if it’s a turd.

That was my point. They are cheap enough that they don’t involve any real risk. On my fretless all I had to do was loosen the truss rod by 1/4 turn…that was it. I put shielding tape in the Jazz to silence the hum…it’s gone now. Otherwise I didn’t even change the strings. I did put a used set of TI Jazz Flats on the fretless and it sounds great!
In no way am I trying to come off as a shill for Glarry basses, but after having gone through the SX period (I got three of those for my brother), and reading the Glarry/Burning Fire thread here on Talkbass, I had the feeling that there was something to these instruments and morbid curiosity got the best of me!

Kim

 

[rok51]

That IVY strat looks amazing!

It truly is! Playability and sound is amazing. Other friends have played it and have started collecting their own. Their SG copy is especially nice. I never would have believed that the quality is what it is if I hadn’t experienced it myself.

Kim

 

[chris_b]

So is a cheap Jazz bass worth it?

I occasionally play my $200 Cort GB35JJ jazz bass and while it's a good player. . . . the tone doesn't cut it.

It's not a bad sound but it's not as good as my other basses and that bugs me. I added a Sadowsky preamp and that made the difference. I'm 95% of the way there. I wouldn't own this bass if it wasn't for the preamp.

 

[Marihino]

Someone I know was toying with the idea of getting a bass.
I told them to get Squier P or J, because that fit the bill.
They told me that Thomann sells a HB Jazz at €169. I told them it's impossible to make a working bass for that kind of money.
They stayed firm and ordered it.
I grudgingly packed my setup tools, a tuner and and a pack of strings and headed over, once it arrived.

The bass I was handed had a decent setup, good intonation and playable strings. The fretwork was good, the neck felt solid and the paint job was immaculate. Honestly, there would have been nothing to complain about had the price tag said €400.
I could have gigged that bass right out of the box.

I'm not up to scratch on the quality of current super cheap basses, but this HB blew me away.
I mean, you could get one of those and drop in a set of Aguilar pickups for the price of a Squier Classic Vibe. Or leave it as is and spend the rest of the money on pedals. Or lessons.

I've had a somewhat similar experience last year - except someone I know wanted to return to playing bass after decades, and it was me who recommended the HB mv4jb, even though I only ever played a few of the absolutely cheapest Bentons (which were just fine btw).
I was fairly confident in the bass being decent, but when it arrived I was still surprised by how nice it was. Very good fretwork, good sounding pickups, great build quality etc. It was even set up really well from the box. I didn't like the thick glossy finish on the body (it was the "natural" version) and the fact that there was absolutely no shielding around the electronics, and of course the pots etc were the cheapest possible. I don't see those things as drawbacks, as I couldn't expect anything else for the price. And then that is offset by the roasted neck, good tuners, truss rod wheel - all those things better than on, say, a Squier that's twice the price.
Not sure if I'd get one if I was in Americas - over here in Europe it's a no brainer and I'm getting one for myself too - I'm trying to be patient enough to see what colours will be for the BassTheWorld version. Or maybe I'll just get the standard mv4jb sooner, if I can make my mind up about the colour.

 

[bassicmike]

One caveat regarding my recommendation of a VM J bass.

The bass in the picture is h-e-a-v-y. This may change your thinking.

Other VM owners, what's your experience?