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NASH GUITARS? Thoughts?

Gbass75

Gbass75

May 20, 2009
1,343
948
Berkeley, California
#1
Hey there, everyone!

So... I would love to hear from any of y'all who happen to own a bass produced by Nash Guitars; out of Olympia, Washington.

Could you share your thoughts and opinions about your experience with the business, and the quality of the instruments?

Thanks so much!

(...and, apologies... I didn't do a search before posting; so, forgive me if there are 1000 threads already in existence. o_O)
 
#2
General consensus is that they are parts basses, largely parts from a variety of mfgs. Their forte' seems to be the finesse-ing of assembly, and the finishing/relicing (which can be hit-or-miss.)

I know several people with them who are more than pleased, pleased to the point of exuberance, but I also know that a little google-fu will find many dissatisfied customers bitching about poorly done relic work, poor mfg. follow through, rough assembly, and overall quality.

Apparently, ymmv.

Sorry, all I got.
 
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#3
wraub said:
General consensus is that they are parts basses, largely parts from a variety of mfgs. Their forte' seems to be the finesse-ing of assembly, and the finishing/relicing (which can be hit-or-miss.)

I know several people with them who are more than pleased, pleased to the point of exuberance, but I also know that a little google-fu will find many dissatisfied customers bitching about poorly done relic work, poor mfg. follow through, rough assembly, and overall quality.

Apparently, ymmv.

Sorry, all I got.
Click to expand...
I have heard the same thing.
The two I have played were nice but had nothing on the Fender custom shop relics I've played.
The thing that bothered me the most was that the necks weren't the right profile for what the bass was suppose to be. A pre CBS P bass should not have a late model All Parts P neck shape, 1 9/16 nut and 10 deg radius.
YMMV
 
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#4
I've heard good things about Nash but can't justify the price tag for a "parts" brand.

I am currently building a parts jazz bass and I was largely influenced by what Nash puts into his basses. BUT now I get to customize it to my exact specification, not skimp on any quality/detail and save about $600 when all is said and done.

Now if I went to sell my bass, which I never play to do, it wouldn't have the same resale value as a Nash because of the logo on the head but the quality will be the same if not greater.
 
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#6
A good friend was kind enough to lend me his Nash JB-62 for a few weeks. Honestly? It may be a "parts bass", but it was one of the best playing Jazz basses I've ever laid my hands on. It had fantastic tone. I would get one, but it's just slightly out of my price range.

Bill Nash knows EXACTLY what he's doing. He builds fantastic playing instruments.
 
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#7
I had a custom 65 JB made for me. Fit and finish was poor. I had work done to it to get it into shape and in the end sold it off. IMHO, not worth the money. You can find them used for between $1000 - $1300...If you are set on a Nash I would go used, otherwise I'd look elsewhere.
 
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#13
Played one Nash and wasn't impressed. Looked and sounded like a really beat up P bass to me. And with a price tag of $2000 for the one I played, I could think of a few other basses I'd rather buy with that kind of money.
 
#14
I have a Nash Jazz, with Lollar p/ups and it's an amazing instrument. I'll never part with it. I've had a number of others try it (far better players than I shall ever be), folks who have old Fenders and every one of them loved it. The tone is killer and the Nash bonus is that it just feels right, like an old instrument that's been broken in and played over many years
Next up, I shall get Nash Precision - no reservations
 
#15
Like any bass, each bass should be judged on it's own merits. I owned two Nash basses. One P-Bass which I thought was just OK.
And a Jazz bass that was much better. Feel, tone, playability. was just better all around compared to the P-Bass. The Jazz did have Lollar pickups. The P-Bass did not.
If your looking for a relic style Bass. Bluesman Vintage to me destroyed the Nash on every level. JMO.
 
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#17
I don't own one of their basses, but I have multiple guitarist friends who own them and swear that they are the best Fender-style guitars that they have ever picked up. I'm also acquainted with a fellow who owns one of their Jazz basses, and he has been very pleased with his; it sounds just like a Jazz bass should, and he says it plays wonderfully. Personally, I think they're overpriced, especially with the sometimes-cheesy looking relic work. If I were looking to purchase that type of instrument, I would get a body from MJT Finishes, a Fender neck with the profile I want, and my choice of pickups and hardware.
 
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#19
Have a PB63 got 6 months ago

Best Bass I own (including Boo Musicman and many P Basses) and only one gets out to electric gigs

Yup, it's an all parts assembly... Couldn't care less. No idea why it plays so easy and sounds great, just does

Band, wife, friends say never sounded so good... Ever

Don't love every one I've played, but this was THE ONE
 
#20
I have a Nash PB63 (Lollar pickups) as well and it's a fantastic instrument. It captures the vintage feel like no other instrument.
I was on the hunt for a vintage bass and could not find anything I liked. The instruments I tried were average and price tags were very high.
The Nash I have feels and plays like a vintage instrument and it does not have the idiosyncrasies of many vintage basses.

I continue to be disappointed to find so many posts on Talkbass which are based on hearsay and second hand experience.
If you are interested in a Nash, trust people who own them rather than people who have played one in a store for a few minutes or who have read about them.
What is a bass parts bass anyway? Fenders are parts bass too. I have visited their factory; they happen to make most of the parts but having all the parts made under one roof or having an instrument assembled from parts made by other manufacturers does not make no big difference as far as I am concerned.

Nash produces in one year what Fender US makes in one day, so attention to details is high. They have focused on making relic'ed instruments for many years and they got really good at it. I own 3 Fenders as well but the Nash has its own vibe. I highly recommend them for their feel and tone rather than their looks. They look good but tone and feel is where the magic is as far as I am concerned.
 
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