My fretted electric for 10+ years. I got a JJ used back then for like $850 or something, after trying a bunch of upper class basses, and just couldn't believe the bass for the money. I don't know why the discount for used Raptures is so high. (List was $2500 or something, so you would think used would be at least $1200). I concur with what others said. The notes really sing out, E & B strings are fantastic relative to most any other bass, and it is just incredibly easy to play, particularly as someone who was very new to 5-strings at the time. The fact that it's light and small is great, since I like the sound and the look, so it's simply easier to wear & carry. The pickups complement the acoustic sound well, and the 3-band preamp (I think mine might have been modded) is very powerful.
Workmanship maybe could be better if we're comparing to perfection The battery compartment is a little wobbly, the neck is very very slightly angled in the joint, and it's hard to dial out buzz in the uppermost frets while keeping the action low. None of that has ever mattered to me.
I find it works best with bright strings, like Ken Smith or DR.
I guess I should describe the tone rather than just say I like it. It is aggressive and basically like a jazz. One reason it's probably not super-popular is a lot of people are looking for something that is exactly like a jazz or like some platonic ideal of a jazz bass. This has its own flavor.
Workmanship maybe could be better if we're comparing to perfection The battery compartment is a little wobbly, the neck is very very slightly angled in the joint, and it's hard to dial out buzz in the uppermost frets while keeping the action low. None of that has ever mattered to me.
I find it works best with bright strings, like Ken Smith or DR.
I guess I should describe the tone rather than just say I like it. It is aggressive and basically like a jazz. One reason it's probably not super-popular is a lot of people are looking for something that is exactly like a jazz or like some platonic ideal of a jazz bass. This has its own flavor.
