Too picky about wood to buy a Squier, but willing to roll the dice on something cheaper? I don't get this.
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Yes, an AliExpress question.
- Thread starter isher1992
- Start date
Yes, lots of people do.
I am very fond of my Harley Bentons, check out the I own a Harley Benton club for info.
A lot of the instrument descriptions feature some garbled translation issues. The terms "Brazil Wood" (mahogany?) and "Bow Wood" (basswood?) come up a lot. It's obvious that some sellers simply copy the same random descriptions from other sites, regardless of what's being sold. I've also seen actual verifiably genuine photos of real Ric, Gibson, and Fender instruments poached from the internet, being used as images of what's for sale. If I can check the photo provenance using google image search in 5 minutes, Aliexpress can too, but doesn't bother. There is nobody minding the store to filter out scam artists, any comforting BS to the contrary on their site is just that, BS.
If you're really trying to keep the price down as low as possible (cheaper than a used Squier anyway) the Harley Benton would be a pretty good choice. At least with them you have the potential for recourse if there's any sort of issue.
Rondo have let their 4 string lineup dwindle down to next to nothing. It's a shame, I guess they just weren't selling enough.
All my 11 instruments were made in Asia - Japan, China, Indonesia, Taiwan, Korea.
The boldface very strongly resembles what might be found in Gibson sales catalogs from 100 years ago.
File:Gibson 1903 catalog.pdf - Wikimedia Commons
We buy lots of stuff from AE and have ventured to have a few custom basses made.
After 4+ years we have never had a problem with purchases ( everything from motorbike helmets to electronics) and reasonable shipping times
Here's our best advice on basses
1) if it's not off the shelf and you do not speak Mandarin - + it's a 3-5 month process and 50% chance of disappointment
2) ready to ship ask for a skype chat and demo - this will reduce your sellers by 80% (works even better for these Japanese Ebay "resellers" who are physically no closer to the instrument to us living in a foreign country)
3) if you are in it for the adventure ... great, it is a bit of good fun!! ..BUT if you want to buy something to play then this is equation = all of the above + time of delivery + import duty & customs charges + mods once you get it + the chance that it actually sounds like anything similar to what you want to replicate and finally + the resale value ... it usually adds up to = ZIP!!
Bit like going to a casino really .....only bet what you can afford to lose
After 4+ years we have never had a problem with purchases ( everything from motorbike helmets to electronics) and reasonable shipping times
Here's our best advice on basses
1) if it's not off the shelf and you do not speak Mandarin - + it's a 3-5 month process and 50% chance of disappointment
2) ready to ship ask for a skype chat and demo - this will reduce your sellers by 80% (works even better for these Japanese Ebay "resellers" who are physically no closer to the instrument to us living in a foreign country)
3) if you are in it for the adventure ... great, it is a bit of good fun!! ..BUT if you want to buy something to play then this is equation = all of the above + time of delivery + import duty & customs charges + mods once you get it + the chance that it actually sounds like anything similar to what you want to replicate and finally + the resale value ... it usually adds up to = ZIP!!
Bit like going to a casino really .....only bet what you can afford to lose
I don't agree with that....sometimes its just simple intrigue........Intrigue is what made SXes and Sires successful amongst our (bass) community and the pioneers of that intrigue is how our community finds out about the SXes and Sires that are out there..........With intrigue, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose
You pioneers keep on doing the digging on Aliexpress. It is a worthy ideal. But, the capitalist society I live in has already found some heavy hitters that I vest my interest in. They are winning the game right now.
If you all find that rare gem after spending and spending, let the people know because that builder will naturally rise to the spotlight through their quality in all aspects of bass manufacturing.
if you read my previous post, i stopped digging after a few hits of fool's gold......"pioneers of intrigue" and "informed buyer" can be mutually exclusive concepts (especially that I find the best information for myself concerning bass gear comes from myself and my own first-person hands-on explorations; not from what i read in magazines, on websites, in videos, or messageboards like TB
)The best information I've discovered over the past 24 years is to just buy a Fender and call it a day. I guess I'm just an unoriginal sheep.if you read my previous post, i stopped digging after a few hits of fool's gold......"pioneers of intrigue" and "informed buyer" can be mutually exclusive concepts (especially that I find the best information for myself concerning bass gear comes from myself and my own first-person hands-on explorations; not from what i read in magazines, on websites, in videos, or messageboards like TB
Then don't buy from Ali Express
you just made my point in bold: you discovered for yourself............and what does 'originality' have to do with the conversation?
btw, i own an American Fender Jazz Deluxe, an '04 Fender Highyway One Jazz, and a Sire V7...of my three Js, I much prefer the Sire over the Fenders...but that works for me so I'm glad your formula works for you
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My single ordering experience didn't go that well, I thought it would be a cheap way of getting a custom body. I made it simple(ish) because communication was a challenge - rear routed P body with no hardware.
The neck pocket was too small, the pickup routes were messy and very slightly lopsided, and the wood seemed to be of dubious origins. The finishing was nice though! I contacted the seller, who told me I was wrong because "we use a CNC machine". $100 shipped, and a lesson learned
The neck pocket was too small, the pickup routes were messy and very slightly lopsided, and the wood seemed to be of dubious origins. The finishing was nice though! I contacted the seller, who told me I was wrong because "we use a CNC machine". $100 shipped, and a lesson learned
I wouldnt do it. Its too hit or miss. Especially when you can get inexpensive asian made basses from American or EU shops like Sweetwater or Thomann. At least with these companies, if you buy an Asian made Squier or SterlingByMusicMan bass, you can send it back if it has problems.
The same cant be said for Ali Express.
The Harley Benton PB 50 bass I got from Thomann was very good for the money, and its basically the type of bass you are looking for. And its a nice little backup for me after I upgraded the pots and wiring.
The same cant be said for Ali Express.
The Harley Benton PB 50 bass I got from Thomann was very good for the money, and its basically the type of bass you are looking for. And its a nice little backup for me after I upgraded the pots and wiring.
But SX was sold by an American company with good customer support. Kurt at Rondo has always been good to me, and if his stock didnt dry up, Id still buy from him.
When it comes to something like instruments...Western buyers should stick to Western countries if they want any hope of post purchase support.
Pine for the CV'50s and Alder for the CVC Tele Custom guitars. All Classic Vibe Basses have a Basswood body.
This kind of bass is made of parts easily found anywhere.
Just get whatever part you like whenever you stumble on it online and eventually you will have an instrument you like.
Counting money is a terrible way to choose an instrument.
Just get whatever part you like whenever you stumble on it online and eventually you will have an instrument you like.
Counting money is a terrible way to choose an instrument.
It's a gamble.
If you can afford to be disappointed... go for it. Some sellers can actually provide parts/whole instruments customised to your specs for very little extra. But you can never be sure how good the result will be.
If you cannot afford to be disappointed and waste money... then go elsewhere.
