Underrated guitar companies???

[hintz]

THIS. There's a local player who has quite the collection. I picked up one of his vintage Eagles. My jaw dropped. How the action was so low with no buzz and the neck .... it was unlike anything I'd ever held. I didn't get to play it plugged in, but that neck... unforgettable.

I see you are in Louisiana, I know a guy out there who might be the same guy you know! Is his stage name "Brock" by chance?? He has a crazy collection if its the same person and he's an occasional member here who I got the pickups for my Eagle from....

As far as my 76' Eagle, shes getting a refinish from Neal Moser(it was rough)it'll be this classic blue/green "tropic" burst when she's finished! Yeah, the action is crazy low and the intonation is dead on from top to bottom. Can't say that about most of the big name builders

 

[kodiakblair]

@J Wilson
on
A couple of clarifications. The original Tune Guitar Tech in Japan bought parts from WSC, a Korean company. When Tune were busy building the Levinson Blades they contracted WSC to do more,finally WSC were handling the whole Tune build package.

When Tune Guitar Tech went bust, WSC continued building Tunes and own the brand name. Some folks in Japan started trading as Tune Guitar Maniac using the old Tune templates,buying the pickups/preamps from WSC.

Tune Guitar Maniac are pretty free and easy when it comes to brand names,Phoenix is another name they use. Since they've no connection to Westone/Phoenix I find their claim to be the original Tune company hard to take seriously

L to R

Tune Maniac (Japan assembled from Korean parts), Original Tune Maniac from Japan, Korean Tune TW-4.

 

[Tom Bomb]

Deviser

 

[Dabndug]

Chandler. I have a 555 which is my favourite guitar ever. Their Royale 12-string bass was an eyebrow-raiser. They make pickguards only now.

 

[basscapes]

Electrical Guitar Company in Pensacola FL.

They are carrying on the Travis Bean tradition with seriously good, hand made aluminum instruments (and here's a shout out to King Buzzo, as well as Steve Albini and Rob Weston for using them for so long!)!

 

[Skillet]

I see you are in Louisiana, I know a guy out there who might be the same guy you know! Is his stage name "Brock" by chance?? He has a crazy collection if its the same person and he's an occasional member here who I got the pickups for my Eagle from....

As far as my 76' Eagle, shes getting a refinish from Neal Moser(it was rough)it'll be this classic blue/green "tropic" burst when she's finished! Yeah, the action is crazy low and the intonation is dead on from top to bottom. Can't say that about most of the big name buildersView attachment 3244037

Yes, Brock is the man. Nice guy and loves his Richs. He shared this link to a book project covering BC Rich history. The B.C. Rich Legacy
Best of luck with the refi. That'll be gorgeous.

 

[B-Mac]

A white whale I've never yet harpooned but one day I'd like a pair of TUNE basses, the original Bass Maniac in a five (to my mind, the original inspiration for the Ibanez Soundgears, the very first ones look a lot like these, and still one of the smallest long-scale basses out there):

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] (click on the NTB-4 tab for the BM)

. . . . . and the TUNE WoodBass, their take on a fretless (or fretted piezo-bridge only semi-acoustic) with electronics done on a contract basis by Alembic:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] (click on the WB tab for the WB)

I've never quite heard the specifics, but evidently the original TUNE company sells only in Japan, and the designs under license are made in Korea by Samick for the rest of the world. In any event these are a different take on bass with some ingenious design work: The original TUNE's in the 80's had the pickups, electronics, and all hardware save the keys built in-house. One of these days . . . . . . like a lot of Japanese guitars on this side of the Pacific, their distribution is pretty iffy, but to me they are amazing and under-rated axes.

Lots o'Tune info here.

Official TUNE Club

Also some explanation between Japan Tune and Korean Tune.
Distribution is through VSN guitars in Canada. There is no distribution in the US
https://www.tuneguitars.com/dealers

@VSN_Guitars should be able to provide more info

 

[lbbc]

Ibanez... I have the short-scale hollowbody AGBV200ATCL and it plays like a dream

 

[B-Mac]

Dillion.

Definitely!
Love my DB 534-004

 

[TomB]

Definitely!
Love my DB 534-004

View attachment 3244118 View attachment 3244119

Can you say how that neck humbucker compares with Gibson's EB2 original?

 

[Nick Danger]

Fender and Gibson can keep their basses. My lefty Schecter Baron-H Vintage is the perfect bass for me.

 

[B-Mac]

Can you say how that neck humbucker compares with Gibson's EB2 original?

I never played an original EB-2 so I can’t say. I also own a Gibson SG and an Eastwood EB-1 so I can at least make a comparison to them.

It is very comparable and muddy. However this particular Dillion also has a push pull pot on the tone control for the neck pickup that is a coil split and when engaged it gets rid of the mud and provides more definition without sacrificing low end

This is 34” scale.

 

[Nedmundo]

I gotta add G&L too. Always surprises me you don't see more pros using their instruments - the build and quality of them is as good as MANY more "boutique" brands.

Definitely. Three of my four basses are G&L USA, and they're fantastic. In the past year, I've seen two touring bands in Philly with bassists playing G&L, which was great, but I'm also surprised I don't see more.

As for other unknown/under-appreciated brands:

ESP (including LTD): Always great quality for the price IMO, for both basses and guitars. Even the $200 stuff is good. Bonus points for offering multi-scale basses.
Sandberg: More unknown than under-rated, but excellent basses.
Landing: Finally tried a few this year, and they're outstanding.
DiPinto: Galaxies and Belvederes are largely unknown, but great. I believe only Galaxies are in production, but in small numbers.

 

[Needenaneden]

Godin makes really great guitars in USA and CA. I've never played their basses[/QUOTE

I played several Godins and currently own one.

They make a really nice bass.

I play a Godin Passion RG-4 bass. Incredible bass at an affordable price.

 

[48thStreetCustom]

Eastwood/Airline

 

[40Hz]

I play a Godin Passion RG-4 bass. Incredible bass at an affordable price.

I have one of their fretless LR Baggs Acostibasses. Forerunner of the current A4 model. Spruce top, ebony fingerboard, sweet woody sound, and a dream to play. And it’s from Canada! Can’t ask for more than that.

 

[Lesfunk]

Hintz, that’s gonna be one tropical bird of prey!

 

[B-Mac]

I've heard good things about Bacchus, but don't know much about them.
Same with Brice.
Same with Dean Zelinsky Mule bass with Z Glide neck.

 

[B-Mac]

Here's one brand I'd like to identify for a fellow TB-er

 

[GretschWretch]

Can you say how that neck humbucker compares with Gibson's EB2 original?

I have Dillions like B-Macs, only without the push-pull, and I have owned or played Gibson-product basses with the chrome humbucker. My take is that the Dillions pretty much hit the golden mean: they have the signature 'bucker sound but without the woof and overdrive, in their place putting some P-bass punch. If you don't mind the weight, these Dillions are *very* much high value received for the dollar.