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Nash basses, worth it?

sifi76

sifi76

Mar 14, 2007
447
174
New Zealand
#1
Hi all, I'm looking at getting a good quality passive j bass, and was looking at maybe a nash jb as I've heard some good things (plus some of those relic jobs look pretty tasty) but I figured I'd get some advice. Any nash owners out there (j or p) that want to throw in their observations good or bad, I'm interested in particular with people's experience with the Lollar pup models. Oh and if you know any other great passive j options, well other than fender, though I have been looking at the possibility of a 64 j or the clayton Jazz, oh and that goes for lakland too (even though I have a soft spot for jo's) Fire away folks :)
 
#3
A friend of mine was ever so kind and lent me his Nash Jazz bass for a couple of months. It played amazingly well and sounded great. It also had the Lollar pickups. When I returned it to my friend he indicated that he was probably going to sell it. I was surprised that he would sell a bass that plays so well. But when I thought about how long he had lent it to me (as well as some other friends), I could tell he wasn't in love with it. Now, if this particular Nash had been another color (wasn't a fan of Dakota red) AND a little less pricey? I would have bought that bass.

What I did instead? I had tried out a Fender Road worn Jazz before and it played pretty well. A Road worn Jazz in 3TSB became available via the classifieds here on TB and at a price that I could afford. I pulled the trigger on that bass. And you know what? I put a set of Lollars in that instrument and had it set up well. I think the end result was easily comparable to the Nash I had borrowed and was a bit more economical.

Used Nash basses pop up from time to time in the classifieds. Those will generally go for around $1200 - $1400. New prices through dealers tend to be around $1700 - $1800. For what you get I personally think that might be a little steep.
 
#8
reviving this thread seeking insight into the quality of Nash basses. I am looking hard at some Nash 63 P basses here on TB and elsewhere.
I have no hands on experience. Most of the experience with Nash basses here on TB seems pretty positive.
OTOH, a Nash (as well as Bluseman Vintage) are really just professionally assembled (and relic'd) parts basses - so the price kind of makes me hesitate.
There was also a link to a teardown of a Nash guitar that was not at all positive as it relates to build quality and attention to detail.

so, anyone here have anything other than positive experiences with Nash basses ?
 
#9
pfschim said:
reviving this thread seeking insight into the quality of Nash basses. I am looking hard at some Nash 63 P basses here on TB and elsewhere.
I have no hands on experience. Most of the experience with Nash basses here on TB seems pretty positive.
OTOH, a Nash (as well as Bluseman Vintage) are really just professionally assembled (and relic'd) parts basses - so the price kind of makes me hesitate.
There was also a link to a teardown of a Nash guitar that was not at all positive as it relates to build quality and attention to detail.

so, anyone here have anything other than positive experiences with Nash basses ?
Click to expand...
I've played a couple, briefly, in shops, and they were great. But I'm with you on the parts bass aspect. You could basically build the same thing for a fair amount less out of warmoth parts, and having them finished by somebody like MJT. I'm doing a P like that, and I think if I do the wiring and have a pro do the final set up, it will be about 1100 bucks (and I've built other warmoths before and been very happy). I'd say, with a fret job from a good luthier, playability should be on par with the Nash.
 
#10
I have been reading about them for years and hadn't played one till a week ago. At first glance the 52-3' as style Precision heavy relic was a bit over the top but I quickly forgot about that because it played like a 50 yr old bass. I owned a real 57' for 40 yrs so I know what I'm talking about. The neck was slimmer than the real thing but felt like an old friend. The tone through a vintage amp was fantastic, Lollar PU I think, it just had a vintage vibe that wouldn't quit. I couldn't get over how great it was. Oh and light, I doubt if this bass was more than 8lbs but it sounded like a heavyweight in the tone department.
They have moved up my list of basses I'd really like to have one of, they weren't on the list before I played it.
In regards to building a parts bass and having it be as good as a Nash, I don't think so and I've built about a half dozen parts basses. If you can, you should go into business. These things a very close to the real deal and definitely better than my RoadWorn P. I like their heavy relics better than the light version. Now I wouldn't pay retail, why would you, you don't have to worry about dents. Haha
 
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#11
pfschim said:
reviving this thread seeking insight into the quality of Nash basses. I am looking hard at some Nash 63 P basses here on TB and elsewhere.
I have no hands on experience. Most of the experience with Nash basses here on TB seems pretty positive.
OTOH, a Nash (as well as Bluseman Vintage) are really just professionally assembled (and relic'd) parts basses - so the price kind of makes me hesitate.
There was also a link to a teardown of a Nash guitar that was not at all positive as it relates to build quality and attention to detail.

so, anyone here have anything other than positive experiences with Nash basses ?
Click to expand...
This thread could use a good demo. Check it out. Features two P basses from Nashguitars.
 
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#12
cool demo, but honestly I heard the strings rather than the basses and the cat doing the demo had a very specific/personal style of playing.
After reading comments here on TB, checking out the Nash site for "their story", reading the Premier Guitar article and listening to the GHS demo,
I am not clearer on the quality question. Someone also shot me a youtube of Ed Friedland demo'ing several P's and P style basses like a G&L. Funny thing there was that, while they all sounded good (of course, it was Ed Friedland), they also all kind of sound the same kind of good - very consistent sound.

FWIW, my main player is a Lull M4V (yes I am a Jazz guy), so I am very comfortable with what goes into a hand crafted bass like a Lull (or Coppola or Sadowsky).
I do not have a ton of experience with parts basses (either assembling them or playing them), but something about it kind of makes me pause, not quite sure why.
thats why I am asking you all here on TB.

I'm kind of starting to think that pertty much any P bass in decent shape (as far as solid neck, good intonation and electronics) will probably work for me.
 
#13
A couple of basses I've built that I used all high end parts on, were not cheap. I think the Jazz I built and one of the P basses ran between $800-1000 after all was said and done. This was with active set up, vintage tort, high end pickups, etc. so you can easily spend over a grand and that's if you do most everything yourself. Most of mine aren't just Squier parts.
If you aren't in a hurry you can find a lot of donar parts on the cheap. Which I've also done. I've built a couple for well under $500. It's a little more of a crapshoot with the cheap parts. So keeping that in perspective, a used Nash at somewhere between $800-1200-1300 doesn't seem like it's a whole lot more. Plus you generally get to try one out. And while it's a tired phrase, it's true they really do feel like an old broken in vintage axe. Ymmv
 
#15
The Mesa store in Hollywood had Nash for a while. I'm not into the relic thing, but they sounded nice. Those Lollar pickups sound like what people think vintage basses should sound like, but never do. I wouldn't rule out $2k for one. I'm just not in the market for that style of instrument.
 
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