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Need Some Feedback

D

Devin468

Nov 22, 2008
16
0
#1
Hi, I am in need of a new bass, after having consulted Craigslist, the review section of this website, and my budget I found myself with very few options.

A Fender Standard Jazz bass MiM for $200
However, I hear most fender jazz basses have poorly constructed bridges and other quality control problems

Fender 70's Jazz Copy (Kent?) No brand name for $275
Also, more issues with quality control. Plywood bodies, horrible pickups ect. All around hit or miss.

Peavy Millennium 5 string quilt bass for $225
Haven't heard too many bad things really, just the drive to get the bass would be about 100 miles.

Ibanez ATK300 for $250
Haven't heard any bad reviews

So after considering my options I was going to go with the Ibanez ATK300, however I have literally never heard any poor reviews which I find hard to believe. So can someone tell me why? Is this the bass of my low-budget-dreams? Considering my other options would you choose any other previously mentioned bass over the Ibanez ATK300? Any further reviews, personal experiences and advice would be much appreciated. Thank You.

Also, I play kind of indie/experimental/jazzy rock stuff with a funky twist, and nearly worship Jaco Pastorius.
 
#3
Hmm, thats odd. Almost all the complaints I have heard with the Standard Jazz Basses MIM, especially on the reviews section of this website have been about the bridge and QC. :[ Now I am really confused, seems I have more research to do. Thanks for the response your opinion is much appreciated.
 
#4
KiwiGroove said:
Fenders generally have fairly decent QC, & I've never encountered any bridge troubles.
Click to expand...

Agree, I find Fender to be very dependable but, having said that; the final decision is your's. I would play the insturment first. What feels right to me may not to you. Head to your local music store and try some models, make your decision, and look for these on Craigs list.

On a side note, and not wanting to start a thread war. Speaking with a local music store manager a while back. They do not carry any Peavy do to the high rate of inconsistency of their lower end modles. Once again, not my statement.
 
#5
Yeah, I did exactly what you described. I went to Guitar Center, and tried out some MIM Fender Jazz Basses, then hit up Craigslist, then I started to read reviews about poor bridges, electronics, pick ups ect. and now I feel I am back at ground zero.

What you said about Peavy is very interesting didn't even notice really.
Thanks for your input.
 
#6
On a price/quality grid, the Peavey might actually be the best value here, provided you can get along with a fiver. The ATK is good too, if an upfront, aggressive tone is your thing, and if it happens to be one of the older, US-made ones it's a steal. MIM Fenders can vary, but are generally quite OK, and being Fenders are easy to modify hardware-wise, and to unload. I think you can leave the no-name copy out, unless you get to inspect it and it turns out to be an Ibanez or a Greco, say.
 
#7
The thing about the Peavy is, if I don't like it when I play it I will be pissed because I drove like 3 hours outside of town haha. The ATK, how old would you say it would have to be to be a US made one, and how do these differ from non-US made ones? The no-name copy how would I know if it is an Ibanez or Greco, and I also hear the Tiako (or something like that) are also good copies.
Also, on a side note, how can you tell what kind of wood something is made out of? and is there an objective way of testing if something is made of plywood?
Thanks for the post.
 
#8
The US ATKs were built from 1994. They have a different, 'tension free' neck construction, patented by luthier Dave Bunker. See here.

On a Jazz copy, you could take off the control plate. If the body is plywood you'll see the lams. Also, if it's a sunburst finish with a large proportion of black over the contour on the back, it's probably plywood.
 
#9
EH, the link you gave me directed me to UFO research...haha

Also, I looked at the picture the guy with the Jazz Copy gave me and it is just as you said, mostly black around the contours.
Thank you for your help.
 
#11
Well, not much else left for me to ask really. So as far as quality is concerned the only difference between the Non-US and US made ATK's is the tension free neck construction? Other than that would you say $250 is a fair price for a new/er ATK?
 
#14
Vincent P said:
On a side note, and not wanting to start a thread war. Speaking with a local music store manager a while back. They do not carry any Peavy do to the high rate of inconsistency of their lower end modles. Once again, not my statement.
Click to expand...

Interesting comment regarding Peavey. The only comments I've ever heard of this nature regarding Peavey is about the BXP (I think those are the initials HAH I don't pay attention to the non US Peaveys enough there) line. Being none US made I have read where sometimes the quality control on them is not that good.

That being said and even though I am a Peavey fanatic, Id go for the Jazz listed first on your list of basses. If there is a bridge problem by chance with it, a badass II could fix that IMO. And though basses really should never be purchased with the sole intent of future resale, Fenders do have a higher resale value then my beloved Peaveys....

Now if the Peavey on this list us a US made one then the price is a steal IMO and possibly worth the drive. But ultimately this is all something you are going to have to decide for yourself.
 
#16
StarscreamG1 said:
That being said and even though I am a Peavey fanatic, Id go for the Jazz listed first on your list of basses. If there is a bridge problem by chance with it, a badass II could fix that IMO. And though basses really should never be purchased with the sole intent of future resale, Fenders do have a higher resale value then my beloved Peaveys....
Click to expand...

How much would it cost for the Bad Ass Bass Bridge and installation? I think the bridges themselves are 70ish dollars.
 
#17
I think they are around 70ish and as far as I know its a simple replacement that you could do yourself. But also keep in mind that there may be nothing at all wrong with the bridge on the Jazz you are looking at. I own one Fender and it happens to be an MIM, a '95 P special and there is nothing at all wrong with anything on it. Its one killer bass IMO!!!!
 
#18
StarscreamG1 said:
I think they are around 70ish and as far as I know its a simple replacement that you could do yourself. But also keep in mind that there may be nothing at all wrong with the bridge on the Jazz you are looking at. I own one Fender and it happens to be an MIM, a '95 P special and there is nothing at all wrong with anything on it. Its one killer bass IMO!!!!
Click to expand...

From everything I have read, the greatest complaint with the Badass Bass Bridges is they have to be professionally installed, something to do with drilling angles ect. and that if you attempt to install it yourself you could end up with more problems. Also, I heard the older models of the MiM were a lot better produced than the newer ones and that most of the complaints of the MiM's are the post 1998 (i think), and mostly come from models purchased online.
 
#19
This is only my personal opinion, but the whole bridge thing with Fender basses is way overblown. MIM Fenders do have iffy QC though...same as US Fenders. Doesn't mean that there aren't good ones too. Just check out the usual stuff before you buy it and you'll be fine. It would be more of a concern if you'd be buying the bass sight unseen.

That said, the ATKs kill. They play great (IMO) and sound like a Stingray and very aggressive P bass' love child. Out of the choices you mentioned (assuming the Peavey isn't a US model) I get it in a heartbeat. Korean, Japanese, US...doesn't matter. For $250, the one you're considering is probably Korean made. Those aren't as good as the US ones, but they're still excellent. $250 is also a fair price for it if its in good condition.
 
#20
From what he told me about the bass its only problems are cosmetic, some light scratches from use (he is its second owner) and a small chip in the finish on the lower portion of the bass. He said everything else, pickups, neck, bridge are fine and since he has owned it (couple years) that he has only had to replace the batteries once.

You also mentioned "check out the usual stuff before you buy", what would that include? This would be the first time I purchase a bass.
 

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