BASS GUITARS

The electric bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers (either by plucking, slapping, popping, or tapping) or using a pick. The bass is similar in appearance and construction to an electric guitar, but with a larger body, a longer neck and scale length, and usually four strings tuned to the same pitches as those of the double bass, or one octave lower in pitch than the four lower strings of a guitar (E, A, D, and G). Since the 1950s, the electric bass guitar has largely replaced the double bass in popular music. The bass guitar provides the low-pitched bassline(s) and bass runs in many different styles of music ranging from rock and metal to blues and jazz. It is also used as a soloing instrument in jazz, fusion, Latin, funk, and rock styles.
A wide variety of different options are available for the body, neck, pickups, and other features of the bass. Instruments handmade by highly skilled luthiers are becoming increasingly available. Bass bodies are typically made of wood although other materials such as graphite (for example, some of the Steinberger designs) have also been used. While a wide variety of woods are suitable for use in the body, neck, and fretboard of the bass guitar – the most common type of wood used for the body is alder, for the neck is maple, and for the fretboard is rosewood. Other commonly used woods include mahogany, maple, ash, and poplar for bodies, mahogany for necks, and ebony for fretboards.
While most basses have solid bodies, they can also include hollow chambers to increase the resonance or reduce the weight of the instrument. Some basses are built with entirely hollow bodies, which changes the tone and resonance of the instrument. Acoustic bass guitars are typically equipped with piezoelectric or magnetic pickups and amplified.

Fender Jazz Bass Deluxe Review:

Features : 10 As covered in previous reviews, this is a MIM jazz bass with active pickups. I bought it used, but in as-new condition. It is black, toroise shell pickguard, standard vintage tuners, standard bridge, active pups with single large pole pieces and has a slim C neck. THe satin finish on the neck and thin RW fretboard make it feel more- guitar like than bass-like. The finish is pristine, the fit awesome, and the sound....lets say very much a fender jazz and then some. It came with the original gigbag, tools, book etc. Like I said - as-new. Active Pups are 9V and the hardware/electronics are MIA. The active Bass/Treble/Mid cut and boost make it a very flexible instrument.
Sound : 10 I play blues and rock, and the sound works well. I can get a twangy clewar Seinfeld snap and a thumpy bass like sound and many in between. I use a QSC PLX 1602 head and Tech21 pre-amp and an Ampeg SVT 410HLF. No noise, great tones and sounds good flexibiliity. I also use a BBE Sonic Stomp maximizer unit. Someone else mentioned that you won't get P Bass tones out of this. I agree, but everythign you get is really good. You have LOTS of flexibility with this bass.
Action, Fit, & Finish : 10 I can't answer the original set up questions. I will say again it was As-New and perfect. Ya gotta love the neck! Reliability/Durability : 10 Fender Jazz Bass .Add straplocks - nothing else to add.
Overall Rating : 10 I have been bassing for 3 years (almost) and guiitar for 7 (almost) I love this thing, am not disapointed in any way, I have SX copies that are very different in feel. If my rating was about them I would say that the SX basses are more substantial in feel, but that the Fender has more finesse and tone shaping flexibility. I will add straplocks and likely a heavier tailpiece (BA II or similar)but it plays just fine. THis is a well done instrument.


Washburn XB-400 Review:

Features : 9 Active, light wood finish, humbuckers, 24 frets (which I LOVE), etc. You read the others reviews, you get the idea. Features are standard. Not sure what year, as I bought it used.
Sound : 9 I play hard rock, but I delve into classic rock, funk, blues, and hiphop too. The sound is full and round. Not that dark, but has thunderous low end.
Action, Fit, & Finish : 10 Good action, especially after the one and only time I had it set during the 10 years I've owned it. The cut is good and the pickups are near perfect.
Reliability/Durability : 9 I've had it for 10 years, and never needed fixing ever. Only had it set once during that time. The only thing is that once, the battery wires came loose - an easy fix, and right now one of the tone adjustments is a little loose and has a spot that fizzles, but not too bad considering I bought it used and these happened on the 9th year of my ownership.
Overall Rating : 10 It's the bass I learned on. I play it on 79 Peavy Centurion with a 4x10 Hartke. I use bass overdrive, bass chorus, and flanger. Works well with those. It's my freaking baby. I'll never ever get rid of this even if I end up getting a Ricchenbacher or a Warwick.