I have the first version, 2014's. I think they sound great & have a very versatile sound. This is the first bass my wife had ever heard me play that she commented that it sounded like a piano. The body may not be solid mahogany, (swamp ash?) but the pickups & bridge really make the bass talk. I bought the 5 string first, it made me want the 4 string version. I rarely use the 5er, but at the price I'm not out much if it sits around more than the others. A lot of used 5er's have been for sale for a long time, the four bangers seem to sell a lot quicker. As mentioned before, the 2017's come with a gig bag, the older version had a rectangular hard-shell case.