Bass Guitars

Advantages: Solid workmanship, useable tones, very versatile.
Disadvantages: Shoddy electronics

...batteries. The bass sounds clear and clean either through an amp; or a direct box (mine's a Boss) straight into a mixer. I do hope that Ibanez can come up with a GSR205 that has just a Master Volume, Blend Control and Master Tone. That would make it just great. ... Read review

Advantages: build quality, price, tone
Disadvantages: bass string buzz, cheap knobs

...J Pickups. 4-String Bass. Yamaha are known for solidly built guitars products for the price and the Yamaha RBX170 Bass Guitar is no different. Feels well made. Lovely warm tone that sounds better than low-end squiers and is a class above Encore basses. Is the perfect option for beginners. Only negatives i can think of are that there is higher than average buzz when playing the bass string and the knobs seem rather cheap. As with all basses, its ... Read review

Advantages: Looks and sounds great
Disadvantages: needs a little tinkering to get just right

I bought the Epiphone Thunderbird from Merchant City Music online, having never played it, for aroung £230, purely because it looked great. A fairly conceted reason for buying a guitar I know but I have to say I am very happy with it. I did some research before buying it and was aware of the "neck dive" problem before purchasing it. On receiving the bass (the very next day from placing order) I quickly rectified the problem by fixing a strap button ...
...entertaining your rock star fantasies) important to you then the Epiphone Thunderbird delivers a good all-round guitar that looks great. If you specialise in a specific style of bass playing then there are other guitars out there that would suit you better, though maybe not in this price range. ... Read review

Advantages: *
Disadvantages: *

...- even better. The Washburn XB120 has twin pickups, two tone controls and a volume control, with a connection for the plug at the bottom of the bass. The neck is a lot thinner than my old bass too, which took a little getting used to but is actually much easier to move your fretting hand up and down. It is also a lot lighter, therefore easier to throw shapes to as you pretend that you really are Geezer Butler and you're laying down the groove to ...
...better E5150 with its distorted sliding tones). Ahem. But what about the sound, I hear you say, the most important of all? The gorgeous deep tones that run from the lower E and A strings compare really well with the sharper sweeter higher notes on the D string and ring out wonderfully on the G, as I found out the other night putting down the theme tune to Coronation Street ha ha. The tone is rich deep and throbbing, and even my wife has complemented ... Read review

Advantages: great look and feel. very playable.
Disadvantages: stock pickups could be better.

...play as is any Japanese Fender bass i have played - i much prefer these than the US for some reason. The only thing I was slightly dissapointed with was the quality of sound from the stock pickups. Not nearly powerful enough although there was a broad tonal range. After investing in some new pickups i'm getting the sound and look that i want at a reasonable price. ... Read review