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Most consistently well-crafted and problem-free basses?
- Thread starter el_Bajo_Verde
- Start date
- Sep 4, 2010
- 3,304
- 2,730
- Disclosures
- Endorsing: Martin Keith Guitars
If you seriously look for proven, decades long consistentcy I'd say any proper P-bass, a Music Man or G&L. On the far eastern side I'll join the Yamaha chorus.
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I've owned well crafted basses from quite a few manufacturers, including;
Fender
Rickenbacker
Schecter Custom Shop
EBMM
B.C. Rich
NEO
Dean
Gibson
Hamer
Jackson Custom Shop
Steinberger
Spector
As far as consistency is concerned, IMHO Steinberger (USA), Spector (USA and Czech) and Schecter Custom Shop (USA) basses have left the most positive impressions.
Fender
Rickenbacker
Schecter Custom Shop
EBMM
B.C. Rich
NEO
Dean
Gibson
Hamer
Jackson Custom Shop
Steinberger
Spector
As far as consistency is concerned, IMHO Steinberger (USA), Spector (USA and Czech) and Schecter Custom Shop (USA) basses have left the most positive impressions.
Topic of debate? I had picture proof of every issue and they refuted everything with "you didn't ask PJ".
How exactly would a 16 year old have the funds, let alone the idea, to have the neck torn open, a poopy truss rod put in and a professional refinish? Anyone who could have pulled off that finish job would not have been such a twit by gluing the truss rod in. I trust my local luthier. He's arguably the best on the island and has always been honest with every customer that walks through his doors. Disbelieve all you want...but this was a poor QC job on Spector's part, through & through.
The only reason I even noticed something was wrong was when I put a heavier set of strings on than I normally do & couldn't turn the truss rod. With a standard 40-125 set, the relief was perfect. It was only when I went to a 50-130 that the extra tension required some adjustment and the problem showed itself.
Oh, I'll also mention that the fingerboard developed a ramp at the end as well that would have required planing to fix. Bad QC can happen with any company, including the almighty Spector.
As an aside, your defiant attitude towards this, and the ignorance shown by the other club members when I had the issue is exactly why I will never buy another Spector. I love their basses but I will not ever again own one because of how rude the community can be when someone presents information that contradicts their rose-glass view of the Spector world.
I've owned more Fenders than you can shake a stick at. Including a 1960 Precision and a 1962 Jazz (sold both).
I kept only four: a completely original 1964 Precision that is truly a "holy-grail" level bass, a 1965 that is pretty awesome (I had three 1965s and sold two of them), a 1978 that's the first bass I ever I bought new (that's the reason I kept it, nostalgia, bla, bla, bla... still a pretty good bass), and I still have a fairly-recent American Special that I think is a dang good example of when Fender "gets it right:.
I had a 1968 Precision (sold) and a buttload of others, all sold. IMO with Fender, 10% are fantastic, 80% are pretty good, and 10% are dogs, in any era.
I have one 1992 Ric 4003 that I think is pretty special. I've played a lot of Rics that I think are dogs. IME they have one of the lowest levels of consistency in the world of popular basses.
Ibanez, I have two sixers and like them. The 1806e still has a scratchy pot. No biggie, just roll it back and forth a half-dozen times when you get started. Fixed.
Best most-perfect every-time for a non-boutique factory-production bass? ... EBMM and G&L.
IMHO
Have Fun, Be Safe.
I kept only four: a completely original 1964 Precision that is truly a "holy-grail" level bass, a 1965 that is pretty awesome (I had three 1965s and sold two of them), a 1978 that's the first bass I ever I bought new (that's the reason I kept it, nostalgia, bla, bla, bla... still a pretty good bass), and I still have a fairly-recent American Special that I think is a dang good example of when Fender "gets it right:.
I had a 1968 Precision (sold) and a buttload of others, all sold. IMO with Fender, 10% are fantastic, 80% are pretty good, and 10% are dogs, in any era.
I have one 1992 Ric 4003 that I think is pretty special. I've played a lot of Rics that I think are dogs. IME they have one of the lowest levels of consistency in the world of popular basses.
Ibanez, I have two sixers and like them. The 1806e still has a scratchy pot. No biggie, just roll it back and forth a half-dozen times when you get started. Fixed.
Best most-perfect every-time for a non-boutique factory-production bass? ... EBMM and G&L.
IMHO
Have Fun, Be Safe.
Man, any decent passive P or J type bass SHOULD be problem free, unless it is inherently "troubled" somehow--and you'd likely know it straight away upon trying to set it up. OR, if it's been really abused somehow. I once let a guy in an opening band borrow my bass at a gig because his Pbass died halfway into their first song--I was surprised I mean how often does THAT happen? Turns out he poured a whole beer all over it, into the controls, pickup, etc. etc. at a gig the night before . . .(ahhhh, my punk days….)
Anyhow, if you get a good PASSIVE P or J, and it can be setup properly outta the gate, and the electronics are tidy and in order, etc. then there's next to nothing that can really go wrong.
Anyhow, if you get a good PASSIVE P or J, and it can be setup properly outta the gate, and the electronics are tidy and in order, etc. then there's next to nothing that can really go wrong.
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Ernie Ball Music Man. I have two and they are exquisite out of the box. Boutique level quality for a reasonable price.
Ibanez if you are spending under $1000. Ridiculously durable.
I own a TR50 (super cheapie model) that a guy tried to break onstage and FAILED! He was embarrassed after the 5th swing and threw it down and walked away. Bought it for $30 out of respect for the thing. Came home, plugged it in- It played great with a large chip in the body finish!
I have had good luck with Fender MIA P-bass, although it is hard to justify their asking price.
I own a TR50 (super cheapie model) that a guy tried to break onstage and FAILED! He was embarrassed after the 5th swing and threw it down and walked away. Bought it for $30 out of respect for the thing. Came home, plugged it in- It played great with a large chip in the body finish!
I have had good luck with Fender MIA P-bass, although it is hard to justify their asking price.
Not a Gibson. 
I love them, I own them, I enjoy playing them. They can even sound great with the right gear.
YOU WILL fix them often. QC is all over the place brand new.
Just a solid heads up.
I love them, I own them, I enjoy playing them. They can even sound great with the right gear.
YOU WILL fix them often. QC is all over the place brand new.
Just a solid heads up.
Not a Gibson.
I love them, I own them, I enjoy playing them. They can even sound great with the right gear.
YOU WILL fix them often. QC is all over the place brand new.
Just a solid heads up.
Gotta disagree. They are no different than Fender. Some great, some good, some not so good, some awful. A good Gibson is as solid as anything else. My Money Bass is my bass that has needed the least maitenence out of any bass I've ever had, and I've had a lot.
+1. Yes, I agree. They are sort of american and built in a factory, but they have QC that is impeccable. And some solutions that is not readily detected but you have to put on magnifying glass to detect their tidbits in construction, design, and longevity. Though one big thing: Music Man basses sure ain't for all. I am with you on the Rics though...
I'd vote for Warwick (the German-made ones only). Their workmanship is excellent and they offer an array of models with a plethora of options for customizing. I've never seen, heard or played a new one that wasn't fantastic.
I also think G & L could be a contender - their stuff is solid and consistent.
I also think G & L could be a contender - their stuff is solid and consistent.
Again it makes more sense that a 16 year old messed up the bass while it was in his possession, or your tech made a mistake, than this getting past their QC.
You really seem to want to discount those two factors. If you had a second opinion or had bought it new you'd have a much stronger case.
No. But I own 5 and have a 6th on the way. I've interacted with the people that work there and they're all legitimately caring nice people that stand by their product. They don't even give their endorsers free basses....
This specific incident is a very odd one and again the owner of this bass bought it second hand, from a teenager, and insists the problem is from the factory.
Should mention as well. Despite this bass having been out of warranty I swear they sent the owner a new truss rod....
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Are you ignoring the FACTS and just focusing on speculation!? Do you have any idea how much it would cost to get a pristine neck open, glue the truss rod, seal it back up and refinish it? Do you think this is something a 16 year old could afford, or perform themselves??? My tech is a well respected and trusted LUTHIER. A mistake of this magnitude is not something he would make. Get your head out of PJ's butt, man!
If you want, give Richard Leighton at Arbutus Music in Nanaimo a call. Ask him a bit about himself. Ask him how many guitars he's built, let alone the immaculate repairs he's done for DECADES. THEN, when you're satisfied with his skills, ask him exactly what he thinks happened to my bass. He'll tell you outright that it was a QC issue, hands down. No possibility that this job could have been done by anyone other than the factory or another VERY skilled luthier...and for a luthier to be able to glue down a truss rod (which is a no-no) but get a perfect finish on a neck after reassembling it is ridiculously unheard.
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