JB-75MN NA Vintage Series : Great value for money, but has merit beyond being cheap!

I bought this thinking that I would have to do a bit of fretwork and replace some hardware and electronics, but I can't see that being an issue for a while yet!

The bass looks great, with the finish being easily comparable to £500 basses and even the wood selection for the body looks well thought out. The neck is pretty chunky, but in a traditional style, rather than feeling cheap and the satin finish on the neck was a real bonus (I usually sand down lacquer on necks, but this isn't needed!).

The set up out the box was great, just needed tuning up. The intonation is nearly spot on, but I'll sort it once I need to change the strings - which are d'addario ones by the way, nice touch.

The electronics are all sound and wired up well (usually a gripe of mine!). I have played it through a PA and bass head and the range of tone is what you would expect from a mid range fender model. The pickups are wilkinson, so have a great tone, but I probably will spend a little more on a decent set, but I'll see how they sound during a gig first.

The hardware looks like it should stand the test of time, but it is a bit early to tell yet - but again, for the price, it is fantastic.

All in all, great looks, build quality and hardware. I wish I had this model when I stsarted out playing bass as I'm sure my playing would have improved much quicker. I don't want to put it down!