Sawtooth Americana Heritage, What am I Missing?

[Jeenyus Savant]

Hi Everybody! I recently decided to take up playing bass to help defeat my crippling video game addiction. I have a super tight budget and have been searching for a blockbuster deal the past few weeks and I finally found it.

There's a company selling the Sawtooth Americana Heritage spalted maple bass for $499 on ebay. These aren't used of refurbished either, brand new. Free shipping too.

The Americana has a full Fishman Fluence pickup system right down to the battery pack which if you bought the parts new would be roughly the cost of the bass, not to mention all the other premium hardware it has on it.

So, basically I'm wondering what's the catch. I can't find much info at all on Sawtooth, just the few threads they've been mentioned here. I already pulled the trigger on it but in my experience any time a deal is too good to be true it probably is.

What say you?

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Well, keep in mind it’s not a blockbuster deal – that’s the regular price for a new one. It’s also a no-name import brand so it’s not likely many people have tried one to give you a report. I’d personally worry about some neck dive with the bridge that high and the strap button that low.

 

[Jeenyus Savant]

Well, keep in mind it’s not a blockbuster deal – that’s the regular price for a new one. It’s also a no-name import brand so it’s not likely many people have tried one to give you a report. I’d personally worry about some neck dive with the bridge that high and the strap button that low.

How does the company make money? $500 for the bass, Ebay gets $50, It's being shipped from California so 1400 miles to where I live, that's gotta be $80 to $100 for shipping. There's no way there's a profit left for them

I have no doubt there will be lots of little issues with the bass but being as I've never had one I probably won't be able to recognize them for what they are. I've been looking for reviews on youtube and there's not much to go on but there was one review by a luthier and he was pretty impressed with one of the cheapo models, tuned and pre set up out of the box. Could always be a shill, you never know but he seemed authentic to me.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

How does the company make money? $500 for the bass, Ebay gets $50, It's being shipped from California so 1400 miles to where I live, that's gotta be $80 to $100 for shipping. There's no way there's a profit left for them

I have no doubt there will be lots of little issues with the bass but being as I've never had one I probably won't be able to recognize them for what they are. I've been looking for reviews on youtube and there's not much to go on but there was one review by a luthier and he was pretty impressed with one of the cheapo models, tuned and pre set up out of the box. Could always be a shill, you never know but he seemed authentic to me.

They wouldn’t be selling it if there wasn’t a profit for them Shipping can be a lot less than that for stores that have bulk discounts with shipping companies. There are instruments for far less than $500 on eBay that showcase that. Remember that companies that are assembling instruments aren’t paying the same price for parts that you would buying them from stores.

If you decide to get one, let people here know how you like it.

 

[Mustanger069]

I own the Americana bass, in natural finish.
Full disclosure, I also have the EP series which I swapped in SD QPs.

The Fishman pickups are amazing
The finish is top notch

My only issue is the neck profile, and how do I describe it accurately, it fatigues my fretting hand. If that makes sense.
A little too flat and the feeling is not comfortable, for me, after a short period of time.

Unfortunately that is my experience.
I'd like to love the bass, but the neck doesn't work for me.
But YMMV

But no issues other than my own person ones (applies to life and my bass playing!)

 

[Eddie Jones]

One of the best guitarists in the world, Michael Angelo Batio is endorsed by them. I don't know about their basses but their guitars are great and priced super low.

 

[B-Mac]

Hi Everybody! I recently decided to take up playing bass to help defeat my crippling video game addiction. I have a super tight budget and have been searching for a blockbuster deal the past few weeks and I finally found it.

There's a company selling the Sawtooth Americana Heritage spalted maple bass for $499 on ebay. These aren't used of refurbished either, brand new. Free shipping too.

The Americana has a full Fishman Fluence pickup system right down to the battery pack which if you bought the parts new would be roughly the cost of the bass, not to mention all the other premium hardware it has on it.

So, basically I'm wondering what's the catch. I can't find much info at all on Sawtooth, just the few threads they've been mentioned here. I already pulled the trigger on it but in my experience any time a deal is too good to be true it probably is.

What say you?

Rudy Sarzo and Michael Angelo Batio are endorsing them and are some how involved with the company. They are sold many different online locations.
I got my FSO Sawtooth on sale through Penney and t is a real surprise.

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Sawtooth Online Dealers

Check out these online Sawtooth Dealers!

www.sawtoothworld.com

The following vids are guitar oriented but still applies (just to give you an idea how they sell):



Bass





Look for their 50% off sales

Definitely better than Glarry. Not saying much I realize, but it's something.

GoDpsMusic Instrument Store, Thousand Oaks, CA they just had a 40% off sale until 7/4/24.

 

[B-Mac]

How does the company make money? $500 for the bass, Ebay gets $50, It's being shipped from California so 1400 miles to where I live, that's gotta be $80 to $100 for shipping. There's no way there's a profit left for them

I have no doubt there will be lots of little issues with the bass but being as I've never had one I probably won't be able to recognize them for what they are. I've been looking for reviews on youtube and there's not much to go on but there was one review by a luthier and he was pretty impressed with one of the cheapo models, tuned and pre set up out of the box. Could always be a shill, you never know but he seemed authentic to me.

Any news?