NBD! Aliexpress Uke Bass... Ordering a bass from China.

Started by moonshinegtrs, August 16, 2018, 07:06:02 PM

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moonshinegtrs

August 16, 2018, 07:06:02 PM
This is the second instrument that I have ordered from Aliexpress. Right off... Understand that (IMHO) any order from Aliexpress or similar sites is a gamble, but doing a little research and asking a lot of questions can improve your odds.

I have been looking at this little Uke Bass for over a year. It was also on ebay for awhile but I haven't seen it there lately.

https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/New-brand-34-Ukulele-acoustic-bass-with-EQ-with-gig-bag/1837209_32767787281.html?ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_4_10152_10151_10065_10344_10130_10068_10324_10547_10342_10325_10546_10343_10340_10548_10341_10545_10696_10084_10083_10618_10307_10869_10868_10059_100031_10103_10624_10623_10622_10621_10620,searchweb201603_1,ppcSwitch_5&algo_expid=2d9af272-c992-432a-8536-a116399ba5c6-30&algo_pvid=2d9af272-c992-432a-8536-a116399ba5c6&transAbTest=ae803_1&priceBeautifyAB=0

One reason I was hesitating was the price, $325 is a lot (to me); I have owned two of Rondo's Hadean Uke Basses ($130-$170 USD)... I still own one (which will be going up for sale soon).  I also have a Hadean solid body Uke bass.

The difference in the two styles of acoustic ukulele basses is very apparent; The more expensive Aliex. bass has 14 frets clear of the body ans a cutaway. I was hoping it would be 24" scale but it ended up being the more standard 22" scale, which I am fine with. The neck is moved forward in the body and likewise the bridge is more "centered" on the (really nice looking) solid spruce top which makes the bass slightly longer; I think the smaller body/longer neck combination looks really nice. As mentioned, a solid spruce top and the back and sides are beautiful flamed quartersawn lacewood. The body is fully bound and it is arched... making the body fairly thin (I love it!).

I will get more into details of the actual instrument later (short story; beautiful, with a couple of set up issues... I am more than satisfied) but for now here are pics of how the packaging of a Chinese bass looks (they are well packed).




It came with a pretty nice gig bag...



Finally... Here it is!



I'm really digging the body shape (front to back).


I'll post more soon.



Moonshine   

Pilgrim

#1
August 17, 2018, 10:57:58 AM
If nothing else, that is one really good-looking instrument.
"A computer lets you make more mistakes faster than any other invention with the possible exceptions of handguns and tequila."

moonshinegtrs

#2
August 17, 2018, 07:12:30 PM
Quote from: Pilgrim on August 17, 2018, 10:57:58 AM
If nothing else, that is one really good-looking instrument.

At $325. (USD) it is fairly expensive, which puts it in Kala territory...  But to be honest, the build quality (arched back/sides) is above Kala... Not putting down Kala at all. It is made of nice woods and the build quality is good.


Moonshine           

Grog

#3
August 28, 2018, 07:43:55 AM
There's no such thing as gravity, the earth just sucks!!

moonshinegtrs

#4
August 30, 2018, 06:29:09 PM
Quote from: Grog on August 28, 2018, 07:43:55 AM
It will be interesting to see what you think of it after you've had time to try it out. I've been eyeballing a double neck guitar & bass with the bass on the bottom. These keep popping up.

https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/custom-shop-sunburst-Headless-guitar-Double-Neck-4-string-bass-6-string-Electric-Guitar/4202029_32879883092.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.88.10fd30absu57Fv&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_5_10065_10068_10130_10547_10546_10059_10548_315_10545_10696_100031_10084_531_10083_10103_10618_10307,searchweb201603_16,ppcSwitch_7&algo_expid=0e2e47fd-9a01-4287-99c5-37cee8f2b5c2-14&algo_pvid=0e2e47fd-9a01-4287-99c5-37cee8f2b5c2&priceBeautifyAB=0

It's not a ton of money & I don't know if I want to spend a lot not knowing how much it would be used...................

I've spent some time with it now...

While it is a really nice bass it did have a couple of issues; first the slots in the bone nut were too shallow, especially the E string slot which was also too narrow (the string kept popping out of the slot). In the end I removed the nut and put a 1/16" mahogany shim under it. This allowed me to cut the slots to the proper depths.

The other problem was the fretwork; I had to tap and glue several frets and then I did a proper level and crown...

After the repair work I set up the bass (I swapped the stock strings for a set of Kala Pahoehoe strings)... It totally rocked! To be honest, fro $325.00 it should of Rocked out of the box... But what the hey... It is a really cool little bass.

I am happy that I pulled the trigger.



Moonshine       

Dave W

#5
August 31, 2018, 12:15:19 AM
That leaves a lot to be desired at any price. You're more than qualified to fix the issues, but most buyers would need to take it to a tech, and too often they don't even realize that they need to. Badly setup instruments are one of the big reasons people stop playing. They don't know better.

moonshinegtrs

#6
August 31, 2018, 06:38:05 PM
Quote from: Dave W on August 31, 2018, 12:15:19 AM
That leaves a lot to be desired at any price. You're more than qualified to fix the issues, but most buyers would need to take it to a tech, and too often they don't even realize that they need to. Badly setup instruments are one of the big reasons people stop playing. They don't know better.

That's an excellent point. You are correct.

I brought up the problems but they did not respond... which is indicative of who we are dealing with.


Moonshine           
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