PB-50 SB Vintage Series : Looks and sounds the part

I've not had a bass since Jean Jacques Burnel and Bruce Foxton were in their pomp, then, everyone had a p bass or copy. Then, in the 80's Japanese basses were the rage, Ibaneze and Aria. My last bass was an Aria SB900. £400 in 1981. It was made in the matsumoku plant in japan, and was a precision (no pun intended) instrument the match of any Fender or Rickenbacker.

Fast forward a few, ahem years and I'm getting the bass bug again, so I decided to find a cheap, fun bass to mess around with. That's where the PB50 comes in.

It arrived in Scotland five days later, well packed in a double box.

On opening I find one very nice looking bass, there's even a cheap lead, plectrums and stickers. First impressions were very promising, solid, well finished and a nice weight.

Plugging in and I was even more impressed. This is the Roswell pickup and I haven't heard the wilkinson version to compare but I'll tell you what, it definitely sounds like a p bass, it growls with the treble up, and thumps when wound back. The tone actually works really well, gradual and smooth. The neck is chunky and very well finished, silky smooth with nice bevelling at the edges. I manage to get the action down to 2.5mm at the 17th fret with no buzz - That's good.

I removed the pickguard and found sawdust and small pits and indents where the screws have been tightened onto the wood. The bridge and tuners are ok but this bass could take an upgrade on both. I Think the pickup is excellent, loud and clear. I have read that the wood grain is a print, if it is its very good and they've went to the trouble of making it look like several sections joined together - I think it's a real grain, but don't really care.

To summarise, this is a great bass. Impressive build and even better sound. I would say its better than my squier strat se, but not in the same league as my classic vibe tele at nearly four times the price and is a real fender in everything but name.

A true bargain.