With the exception of a few sharp fret ends and the pickups being really noisy when soloed (which is the only reasons I could only give it 4 stars for Tone/Sound and Build Quality) whenever your skin is not in contact with any metal parts (making a ground route for the bridge ground wire), this instrument is practically flawless.
Despite the mentioned couple of sharp fret ends it feels amazing in my hands to play, and despite the pickups being really noisy they otherwise sound genuinely great.
I can spot no finish flaws at all, and I can get the action as low as I prefer it, and could quite probably go even lower if I wanted, without any fret buzz whatsoever, meaning practically perfectly leveled frets, which is amazing for an instrument in this price class.
Absolutely amazing instrument, period, regardless of the price.
You should expect to do a proper setup though before use, as you really should with any new guitar or bass regardless of price class.
Also the stock strings feel a little rough and the gauge of the low E string just being .084 making it way too floppy (though I realize that is identical to the D'Addario string set for this type of instrument (Fender Bass VI)).
The gauge rest of the strings seems to actually work really well with this instrument and it's scale length, but I would use at least a gauge .090 string for the low E, properly even a gauge .095 string.
Ernie Ball makes a set of strings for this type of instrument that I think works much better than the D'Addario set, which you can find on this page under Other Guitar String Sets, the "Ernie Ball 2837 Slinky Baritone" (gauge .090 to .020) set.
But really, getting a brand new set of strings should be expected on by far most new guitar and basses anyway, regardless of price.
Cons:
- Couple of sharp fret ends (though nothing that really ruins the playability)
- Really noisy pickups (when soloed and not touching any metal parts)
- Will need a proper setup (though that should really be expected with any new guitar or bass, regardless of price)
- Will need a new set of strings (though that should really be expected with any new guitar or bass, regardless of price)
Pros:
- Just about everything else, though I can highlight a few things:
- Plays and feels amazing in the hands (despite a few sharp fret ends)
- Pickups sound genuinely great (despite being really noisy)
- Practically perfectly leveled frets (which means you can get the action really low and comfortable without any fret buzz whatsoever)
- Looks beautifully (I can't spot any flaws in the finish whatsoever)
- Amazing fun instrument to play, and also really versatile
- Great modding platform (though it isn't really need, except perhaps for adding some shielding and filing the few sharp fret ends down properly)
