NBD: Non-Warmoth...

[Wyliee]

I just received one of these:
http://www.rondomusic.com/ursa2mn63ts.html

No need to take pictures.  It looks just like their website.  Warmoth doesn't offer a 6 string JBass, so I picked this one up.  Surprisingly not bad at all.  There are a few high frets, but it was pretty playable right out of the packing material.

It doesn't sound bad, but I'm already planning on swapping the pickups out and adding a preamp.  It's totally giggable! :rock-on:

 

[DangerousR6]

Awesome... :headbang:

 

[Updown]

I just received one of these:

:dontknow: ... you should have bought a Warmoth  :icon_biggrin:  :laughing7:

 

[swarfrat]

Did you try asking real nice first? We might be able to find some connections for you.

 

[tubby.twins]

Nice!  And the price is low as well.

 

[Corey P.]

Cosmetically I prefer the Steve Bailey pickguard/layout for a 6-string Jazz Bass, but you can also buy a baker's dozen Rondos AND upgrade the electronics in a couple of them for the same $$$, so, y'know, good call.  ccasion14:

 

[AutoBat]

At first I was like "that's an ugly bass," then I was like "wow, that's a crazy low price." (but the neck is still ugly)

 

[mayfly]

At first I was like "that's an ugly bass," then I was like "wow, that's a crazy low price." (but the neck is still ugly)

Yep! I was thinking the same thing:  wow that's ugly!  Hmmm... It's pretty cheap. 

Tough to weigh the two sometimes.

 

[Cagey]

Yep! I was thinking the same thing:  wow that's ugly!  Hmmm... It's pretty cheap.  Tough to weigh the two sometimes.

I consider the use. For instance, I'd like a guitar set up for Nashville tuning. But, I don't want to build/dedicate a high-end instrument to that because I won't use it much, and it's an unusual application that doesn't cry out for any kind of emulation. It just needs to be nominally playable and not sound like shit.

I have a bass from Rondo for that reason. It's a pretty faithful Jazz Bass copy of surprising quality for the price. It's no Gecko, but I don't need it to be. I'm not a bass player. I can't appreciate the nuance a premium instrument would bring and I'm not going to play it much. It's just there for spurious use.

 

[DangerousR6]

He could always put a nice custom "w" neck on it..

 

[bagman67]

Yep! I was thinking the same thing:  wow that's ugly!  Hmmm... It's pretty cheap.  Tough to weigh the two sometimes.

I consider the use. For instance, I'd like a guitar set up for Nashville tuning. But, I don't want to build/dedicate a high-end instrument to that because I won't use it much, and it's an unusual application that doesn't cry out for any kind of emulation. It just needs to be nominally playable and not sound like shite.

I have a bass from Rondo for that reason. It's a pretty faithful Jazz Bass copy of surprising quality for the price. It's no Gecko, but I don't need it to be. I'm not a bass player. I can't appreciate the nuance a premium instrument would bring and I'm not going to play it much. It's just there for spurious use.

Hence my Squier Jaguar bass - cheapity cheap, and good enough for whatever I can manage to plink out on it.  I'd love to go all in on a swanky Gecko, but cannot remotely justify the cost for a essentially a few hours of bass-playing per year. Two benjamins for a bass, though - that works out okay.

 

[Cagey]

He could always put a nice custom "w" neck on it..

It's highly unlikely it would fit. Not sure why, but all those "Pacific rim" instruments are made by manufacturers who can't read blueprints. Fenders have had the same neck pockets for what, 60+ years? Yet, they still want to cut neck pockets too narrow or too wide and move the mounting screw holes around. They're fine if you like them the way they come - everything is accurate and tight. But, apparently adherence to any kind of standard is too tough for them to pull off.

 

[Cagey]

Hence my Squier Jaguar bass - cheapity cheap, and good enough for whatever I can manage to plink out on it.  I'd love to go all in on a swanky Gecko, but cannot remotely justify the cost for a essentially a few hours of bass-playing per year. Two benjamins for a bass, though - that works out okay.

Perzactly. Although, I'd still like a Gecko. That is one sharp-looking and well-designed instrument. But, I'll wait until one falls in my lap.

 

[SustainerPlayer]

I'd love to go all in on a swanky Gecko, but cannot remotely justify the cost for a essentially a few hours of bass-playing per year.

Oh mi. Didn't know I had to justify it. Damn rules. I'll have to fly under the radar with my next build I guess.  :icon_jokercolor:

It's highly unlikely it would fit. Not sure why, but all those "Pacific rim" instruments are made by manufacturers who can't read blueprints. Fenders have had the same neck pockets for what, 60+ years? Yet, they still want to cut neck pockets too narrow or too wide and move the mounting screw holes around. They're fine if you like them the way they come - everything is accurate and tight. But, apparently adherence to any kind of standard is too tough for them to pull off.

Btw. I think the USA lies somewhere along the "Pacific rim" or am I mistaken?  :toothy11:

 

[Cagey]

Btw. I think the USA lies somewhere along the "Pacific rim" or am I mistaken?  :toothy11:

Technically, yeah. But, only on the left coast, so... <grin>

Typically, when talking about manufacturing and the "Pacific Rim", we're referring to what we'd call "far eastern" countries such as Japan, Indonesia, Korea, Vietnam, etc. The left coast here isn't known for manufacturing much. They generally design the things the Pacific Rim countries manufacture.

 

[Wyliee]

You guys are on the right track.

I wanted to try a 34" 6 string bass and didn't want to drop a lot of cash on something fancy.  Pricing on this came in under the majority of the other import companies and had a better vintage look. (Except for the headstock.)  There are numerous threads over at TB where players are buying these and modding them.  I figured at worst case, I would have a body and neck I could use for a template to make something nicer and for less than what it would cost me to do here at the shop.

I have an Audere preamp on order to replace the stock (passive) electronics.  That may do the trick.  I've also thought about contacting Ken to see if he would re-wind the pickups for me.  The pickup routs don't match any other major market pickup manufacturer.

Once I clean up the frets a bit and install strap locks, I plan on putting this bass in regular rotation for a while.

 

[bagman67]

I'd love to go all in on a swanky Gecko, but cannot remotely justify the cost for a essentially a few hours of bass-playing per year.

Oh mi. Didn't know I had to justify it. Damn rules. I'll have to fly under the radar with my next build I guess.  :icon_jokercolor:

You're the only one you have to justify it to.  I couldn't justify it to myself, so I won't buy a Gecko.  YMMV, howev'.

 

[SustainerPlayer]

To justify is overrated.  :icon_biggrin:

 

[swarfrat]

Re justifying - even billionaires need a budget - theirs just has bigger numbers in it.

Think of it this way:
If I buy this guitar, is it occupying space / consuming cash that I could have used to buy something else I really wanted more. When we look at it in terms of 'buy guitars' vs 'buy tires', it sounds all nerdy and uptight. But it's also money that could be going to the [PRS/Gecko/Kitchen Marshall someone found in their great uncle's garage and has never been played/motorcycle...]

 

[SustainerPlayer]

It's all monsters and robots ...