Jay Turser JTB-2B Violin Beatle Bass

Same description as the previous ones. Finishing details are certainly decent. I'm glad it has fret markers on the edge of the finger board because the original Hofner didn't have them.

I discovered that Turser does not follow the Hofner wiring scheme and I had to modify that to get a variety of bass/treble tones.

To obtain the rhythm/solo attenuation, Turser just used a single 10 K Ohm resistor. There's a small cap on the bass pickup switch but it doesn't do the job of bleeding highs. The stock pots are 500 K Ohm linears which is fundamentally wrong for audio purposes.

To fix this I installed 250 K audio (log) taper pots and removed the 10 K resistor - replace it with a 0.1 uF capacitor. Now the rhythm/solo switch works like a 2 position tone control. One position is raw pickup tone, the other is rolled off bass tone. Removing the 10 K resistor also makes the pots work normally instead of sounding on/off.

If you find that the stock controls don't work for you, changing this one component (also remove the stock cap) can give you 'normal' tone selection results.

I like this bass and it's a good bargain. Most, not all, beatle basses are made in China so they are very much alike in their manufacturing.

now that I've got the tone thing dialed in, I'm happy. It now sounds as deep as my full scale Fender bass.

Surprisingly good for an inexpensive instrument. All the key pieces line up. Better tuners would be nice but you get what you pay for.

I use it for gigs and use Dunlop strap locks.

no contact with JT.

40 yrs experience
I like this enough that I leave the Fender bass at home. It's light and fun to play. The tone is there and that's what counts.

This is a directly replica of Macca???s bass though the front is slightly flatter than the original (or at least one in a Beatles band I saw last month). I had no idea the body was hollow and it gives quite a loud sound, certainly loud enough to play alongside the TV without disturbing any neighbours.

The bass gives a nice warm, pleasant sound though it lacks in sustain. You really do have to keep picking the strings rather than let a note ring out for ages. It is worth noting that Paul McCartney did use other basses as well from 1967 onwards. On a positive side, the controls vary very little so if you accidentally hit and switch or forget to turn a control up it still sounds okay.

It was very well finished throughout. Good hardware. Jay Turser have not cut any corners in making a much sought-after product affordable.

I have used it live but as mentioned above it does lack sustain. It is great for playing fast rock n roll (like the Beatles did in the Cavern and Hamburg). The bass is so light that you could actually play for hours on end! I certainly found it easy to sing and play with this bass.

No idea

Due to the light weight I found myself singing and harmonising more. Very few guitar teachers, books, DVDs and online instruction manuals actually encourage young kids to play AND sing at the same time. This is one of the reasons The Beatles and the other Merseybeat groups were so good. This bass just lends itself for this and for that reason I really like this bass. I have an active Ibanez bass which sounds better but with this one I contributed more as a band member. I sang more, bounced around on stage, and did not moan about an aching shoulder.

At just one hundred and eighty pounds I fulfilled a lifetimes wish of having a Beatle bass.

For anyone who likes tons of extra crap in a bass (preamp, active pickups, etc.) this is probably not the bass for you, but for people like myself who prefer to keep things simple, this instrument is unbeatable. Mine was bought new, and still has stock everything (except for the strings of course). This is a short scale bass, which for people like me who were guitarists first means it is a lot easier to play than some 36 inch monstrosity. Stock tuners are good quality, and the pickups smoke!

Being a hollow body and playing in a loud three piece, I was concerned that I may have sound issues with this bass. Fortunately, I was way wrong. You can get a great range of sounds by adjusting the switches, and in particular I've found it best to always keep "Bass" on, have the "Solo/Rhythm" set to "Rhythm", and get most of your tonal variances by turning the "Treble" on and off. In addition to being a great stage instrument, it is also really good for just sitting around playing, as it is louder unplugged than most basses. I prefer to use Rotosound medium or light gauge bass strings.

I have seen some models of this type where the finish was a bit sketchy, but mine was one of the ones that is absolutely beautiful. Just the look of this thing pretty much had me sold on it, and audiences react just at the sight of this thing. There were slight intonation issues when it was purchased, but adjusting the floating bridge fixed that. While I prefer a bridge that is fixed into the body, it is only a minor inconvenience.

I went from playing a Squire P-bass to this one, and I never looked back. While I've only had it six months and therefore can't really attest to how long lasting it will be, I can say that as a person who has built instruments, I see absolutely no construction flaws in this instrument. One must of course be delicate and bare in mind that it is a hollow body, but anyone with half a brain will know how to handle that.

Haven't needed repairs

You absolutely cannot beat this instrument for value or quality. An actual Hofner will easily run you into the thousands, and the differences in quality and sound are likely to be nill. This instrument is also far superior to other McCartney bass copies I've seen, such as the really shotty Epiphone Viola bass. While I'm normally a sworn Epiphone user, the Viola bass was not up to their usual quality. Anyone like me who reveres Paul McCartney as the alpha and omega of bassists would do well to obtain one of these.

I was talked into this bass by bassist Neil Walker. Its a 30 inch neck short scale. Humbucker pick-ups. A real close copy of a Hofner. It comes standard with round-wound strings. Its extremely light-weight, easy to handle, easy to carry. Ergonomically, this bass is fantastic! Tone controls are easy to use. I'm using a Hartke HA-2500 head and a VX-115 cabinet.

I loved the action but hated the sound. The solution was to switch strings. With the D'Adderio ECB-82 strings this machine really rocks!The bottom end is outrageous! Both pick-ups on full, give a woody up-right sound. Cut off the neck and kick up the bridge pick-up and you have more twang than any country player. But, I have to admit, Its not as mellow as a Hofner. But, it definately leaves any, Ibanez, Yamaha, or Fender to gather dust. Epiphone and Brownsville also make violin basses. But, they don't sound as good.

I actually like the action better than the Hofner. The strings feel tighter. Its easier for me to play quick passages. My vibratos come off clean and smooth. Fingerings are close, so you can move nimbley without much effort. The more I play it, the more I like it.

Let's be honest! Any spruce, hollow-body bass is delicate. You need to take care of it and baby it. Keep it in the case! I rely on it! I'm not using any of my other bases. If you want durability buy yourself an oak / walnut composite bass with a laminated neck. Expect it to cost $3,000.00 and weigh 60 Lbs.

The warranty is now expired, but I've had the bass for 4 years, I'm still using my second pair of strings, and I haven't had any problems with it.

I'm trying to find a left-handed version for two of my kids. And, I would most definitely get another if something happened to it. The only other bass that I would add to my collection would be a Hofner.

Very QUIET circuit...It uses the Pickup placement / on-off configuration to accomplish EQ..I Love this style of Eq..I have owned
Active EQ circuits on other basses that I did not like as well..It is a very 60's sounding EQ kinda like the old Decca and Tiesco guitars.

It has a sound that is at the same time very deep yet well defined and not muddy..It has a lively sound and chords can be played easily..
I originally played thru an Eden WT400 and Eden 4x10..but now play thru 70's Fender Bassman 100 head and 15" cab...This Bass played thru
a vintage tube amp is very 60's sounding, warm, well defined, a suggested combination if you can swing it

I like my action high. Compared to what I am used to, the action on this bass was low. I like the Skinny neck and I can play it fast, more like a guitar. The guitar looks beautiful and people constantly
ask if it is a Hofner, from a dstance it is impposible to tell..
It is however an inexpensive Chinese copy and there as imperfections
in the fit (binding is rough) and so on, but overall it plays noticeably better than other basses I have (Fender, ESP) which cost much more and have better reputations

I have gigged with it..I took out in sub-zero weather using only a
padded gig bag and I have had no problems with it..The neck stays
straight, the tuning is solid, the electronics remain quiet.

N/A

I have been playing for 37 years, both bass and guitar..I am currently
playing in 3 bands using this instrument exclusively..I play without
a backup..I play this thru a 70's Fender Bassman 100 head into a 15"
cabinet.. for a 60's - 70's sound..all classic styles rock, blues,
country..This bass gives me the classic sound I want and it looks
great on stage !! It plays extremely fast and I love the Eq setup.
I can EQ right from the guitar. If lost or stolen, I would get another, but would always play before I buy since it is inexpensively
made and Quality issues could always appear. Another option might be the Hofner Icon bass, which is essentially the same guitar (probably
nade in the same factory) with the Hofner Logo on it..and probably more readily available

My Jay Turser Beatle Bass is white with gold trim, never seen one prettier. This bass needed only a little string lowering and because it was a special short scale model you can really fly on it with fingers or a soft pick. Ther are a lot of different tones on this bass most of which I find too high and not appropriate for the type of music I play. No problem because you can set the controls on the bass and your amp and get a sound almost like my American made P-bass . I have had no problems with the build quality or electronics,why buy a Hofner when you get this for one fifth the price.

I really like the light weight, especially after playing a P-bass for a while. I don't care for the neck diveat all, but that's the only phycical problem. This bass can be made to emulate almost any bass tone, with enough adjustment on the guitar and amp. I don't use any effects just my Ampeg amp. Seems more at home on the stage than the studio where the p-bass sees most of the action. The Humbuckers are noticable louder than the pick-ups in my Fender and that can sometimes be a problem. The Jay Turser Beatle bass is a decent quality instrument and a nice change from nearly all those others.

The bass was well set up at the factory, only needing a slight string lowering. Pick-ups were perfectly adjusted, no flaws of any type on the entire bass.

The bass takes live gigs fine. There may be some problem with cheap bridge down the road, but it's fine now.Since mine is white the finish seems absolutely perfect and showing no signs of wear.Truss rod is fine and hasn't needed any adjustment yet. NO, I would never play a gig without a back up bass.

I believe the warranty is a joke and wouldn't even try usin it if something went wrong I'd take it upon myself to get it fixed.

I've been playing and recording for a few years, and own a fretless American Fender Precision Bass and a Sanatoga Jazz Bass,all played through my Ampeg Bass amp. I would definitely get another if something happened to this one. I love the weight, look and variety of tones. I hate the neck dive. I chose this one because I considered it the best for the money. I wish it had a free Corvette with every purchase. I bought mine over e-bay and although I was very lucky I don't recommend buying instruments without playing them first.

2004,Chinese, 4 strings(replaced stock rounds with D'dardio flatwound
made big difference),2 ordinary volume knobs, 2 switches (bass,treble
selectors), 2 chrome covered humbuckers (generic for bass or 6 string
guitar models), unfixed wood bridge (like Hofner);chrome tuners are
pretty good,no slippage. Natural "blonde" maple finish body and neck
very nice looking, bought it for vintage 60's McCartney bass look.
Nice light weight (but neck heavy) like a Hofner. Came with a black
faux "alligator skin" case that looks like a tradional violin case,
10' cord, and a cloth.NOTE: THIS IS SUPPOSEDLY A SHORT SCALE 30" BASS
BUT BECAUSE OF THE TAILPIECE, I NEEDED XTRA LONG SCALE STRINGS, I
THINK THEY WERE 36".

I LOVE that 60's deep, "oozing" bass tone (Beatles "Come Together")
and ultra rhythmic, pulsing motown riffing (Four Tops,Jay and the
Techniques). With the change to flatwound strings, this bass delivers
that sound I want; I use a Digitech pedal eq, and compression and it
takes to the pedals amp modeling beautifully getting sounds I only hear on old recordings usually (oddly, a dry unprocessed signal into
my recorders sounds sort of "second generation", muffled). I record
direct-in mostly. I have a Behringer amp and the bass sounds slightly
trebley through it; I rarely play live these days, I use this bass to
record my original songs on digital, and favorite oldies on my old 8
track Tascam tape deck. Sounds good with a soft pick.

I had read that the stock strings didn't sound good, and thats true,
so I switched to flatwound D'dardio .100 and the difference was quite
dramatic. I of course had to reset up, adjusting the bridge height
position and angle, and adjusting the pickup height to prevent rattle
and fret buzz; not much tweaking, and it sounded fine. The pickups,
knobs and hardware are stock and ordinary looking, but function just
fine; quiet, no line noise, no scratchiness. The classic Beatle bass
look was gorgeous to my eyes, the finish and workmanship looked great. Replace the tailpiece and knobs, and it would look like a
$2000 instrument.

I baby this, stored in its case in factory, plastic sheath. Looks
brand new. Nothing I will do to it will mess it up, but someone else
playing it hard, and less than meticulous in its care? Well, the
bridge is iffy, so intonation and action might need regular tweaking.
I wouldn't worry about the neck (not adjusted truss rod yet 2 years),
the frets and tuners seem very solid. The finish on my instrument is
just sweet, still looks brand new (but remember, I DO Baby it). I'll
say this: if you're into thrashmetal, this is all wrong for you in
every way, but if you do anything from country,blues, classic pop
rock, alternative it will sub for a $1500 Hofner 64 reissue nicely.

Supposedly, this had a limited lifetime warranty, but I have had no
need yet to find out. I DID NOT RECEIVE A WARRANTY CARD, even when
I contacted the ebay seller, but I keep this bass in like factory new condition, so personal care to me is what really matters.

I took up guitar in 1968. I have owned in order a '67 Harmony acoustic, '70 Crown acoustic 12, '69 Ventura "Gretsch Country Gent"
replica, '69 USA made smoke finish FENDER STRAT, '69 FENDER
CORONADO 12, '70 GIBSON SG Brown, '67 RICKENBACKER 330-12 FIREGLO (my
favorite), '90 LES PAUL CUSTOM BLACK BEAUTY, and a couple of OVATION
acoustic electric Balladeers. I had played a couple of whatsit
brand basses I bought just to jam and record (they were no name junk)
this was my first serious bass purchase, chosen for its classic 60's
style and surprisingly high quality appearance. I LOVE its classy,
natural, unadorned maple finish, which looks very professional, not
shoddy or knockoff. I don't like the cheapy looking tailpiece, which
I have seen on any number of imported guitars and basses. Maybe I'll
replace it someday; but then, I might want better pickups too, and
would customizing cost as much as this bass-maybe? If I had $2000 to
spend, I could have gotten a real Hofner, but would it be worth 8X
the cost of my Turser. NOT TO ME.

Well, the features are well known enough : 2 volumes, 2 pickup on/off switches, and a rhythm/solo switch that cuts the output by about 6 dB.

2 humbucking pickups. Bound neck, which is a bit rare in beatle-bass land.

I give it a 7 - it has all the features an instrument of this type requires, but is a little short by modern standards.

1st thing: take the stock strings & throw them away. They're junk. With some flats on it, it really sings.

Very quiet, good circuit, but the pots are a bit cheap. Replace them if you can (cheap to do.)

There are a few tones on offer here, from woody, full uprightish, to more nasal/midrangey. Not tremendously versatile, but the available tones are extremely good.

OK - here's what you need to know. I played three of them. The QC varies a bit on these. Play a couple, and pick the best one. The 1st one I picked up was fairly awful, mine was well made. I would not buy one mail order for this reason.

As for action : it needed some minor trussrod tweaks, but don't all off-the-shelf instruments? I like my action a bit tall.

Frets were perfectly made. Better than most stuff you see these days.

Live? I haven't used it, but I see no reason why not. Get a hardshell case though!

Finish: Beautiful & very, very well done. Better than most these days. There's a minor paint flaw on my instrument where the neck meets the body, approx 1/2" long. Otherwise perfect.

The hardware is adequate. I think the bridge could be improved. Tuners are OK, but I'll wait & see if they live on the long term.

Dependability: yes, I've had it for 2 years now, done a few dozen sessions with it. Very solid.

Backup: ALWAYS have a backup, no matter how good or bad your bass is!

Have not dealt w/them.

I have been playing for 23 years now. I own a lot of different basses from uprights to vintage to modern.

The only bits I'd change (apart from what's listed above) would be the neck dive. It could balance a bit better. This is not terribly serious.

I love the weight! Nice & light! IT is very comfortable to play.

If it were stolen/lost, I would absolutely buy it again. A thoroughly charming instrument & a bargain to boot. This bass is a star, cannot be beat @ this price!

Interesting approach to tone control on this bass: rather than having the typical volume and tone knobs, it just has 2 volume knobs; one for "bass" and one for "treble". You can also turn bass and treble one and off using the switch panel (I don't know what this does in terms of which pickups are used). There is also a switch between "solo" and "rhythm", which basically just makes the sound louder or quiter without using the volume knobs. The bridge is terrible, and the strings are unevenly spaced apart because of it. I'm interested to see what difference a better one (Allparts.com) will make. The factory bridge seems made out of wood from someone's old termite forest. I love the style of the headstock, though, beautiful aesthetically and just like a Hofner. And the neck is a set neck through the body, which is nice although I had to adjust the truss rod upon recieving my bass.

Sound is pretty good. It has a very bright sound, and some might describe it as "meaty". It has good treble when you turn up the treble colume, but maintains a deep bass response at the same time. The only thing that could be better is the lowest string, which doesn't seem to get great response from the pickups - probably because this bass has a shorter fingerboard than most and the strings are looser as a result. The lowest string has more of a "flappy" sound than I would like - kind of like playing a large steel cable rather than an instrument - but it's not so bad that I will stop playing the instrument. The strings also tend to rattle against the fretboard frequently; especially the lowest two. This makes for a loud rattling noise since the body is hollow! You will have to turn is way way up to eliminate the annoying sound. I don't know if better strings will help this. As I said above, the tone is very versatile since the bass and treble tones are controlled through the volume knobs. The special thing about this bass's sound is that it handles effects very well. With a good distortion it will actually sound a bit like a super-low electric guitar (in a good way), and it also takes to a wah pedal very well for those who are interested in that sort of thing. I really like playing hard rock on this bass because of how well it sounds when distorted. It is not noisy at all, and in fact is incredibly quiet at all levels. I would use it for studio, but only if I can put the amp far away from the bass to keep out that annoying rattle from the strings in the acoustic body!

The action is bittersweet for me. On the one hand, the fingerboard is shorter than a usual bass, and thus it is a lot easier to play fast and to switch between strings, but on the other hand the strings tend to rattle against the fretboard frequently. Putting some better strings on the thing may help that, but maybe it's just a permanent problem due to the shorter fingerboard and thus looser strings. I will always use this bass when I want to play fast or with a pick. The fit is okay. Like I said, the original bridge might as well be made of balsa wood for its quality, and a new one is in order. You may need to adjust the truss rod out of the box too. But other than that it seems straight. It's funny that the hollow body is lighter than the neck, so when you let go of the neck it swings down and points toward the ground. I guess you'd have to get a leather or padded strap to make more friction so it won't do that.

It seems like a fragile instrument. It has a hollow body and is very light weight. I like the light weight, but I always handle this very carefully, like I would a nice acoustic guitar. Also, the finish looks nice but is very fragile as well, and this bass scrathes very easily. Mine is the black and white model, and so scratches show up even easier. The electronics seem reliable and I have not had a problem yet. The volume knobs turn easily with no crackling and the tuning pegs hold up better than I expected with a Chinese bass.

Bought it from Maggio Music, a dealer in NY. Their customer service was great, and they were patient when UPS delivered the bass to the wrong apartment and they worked with me and stayed in contact. But I have no experience with Jay Turser customer support.

For the money, can't go wrong. This is a much greater bass than I thought it would be. I paid $190 for mine on Ebay, from a seller in NY called Maggio Music, and it seems that they sell a lot of these for around that price on Ebay. If it broke, I would probably move on to another maker, unless I couldn't find one as versatile as this one. The thing that attracted me to this one was the look. It looks great in black and white, and is a head-turner, but I liked the sound it made too and I appreciate the versatility.

This has been covered below and the specs are on the web. Subjectively, I quickly realized great tone possibilities even through bass>cable>amp. More with effects in the chain. I use this primarily in the studio and apply all sorts of effects with great success. A very very quiet bass (no hum). I remember when Japanese guitars in the 70's were sneered at. Over the last decades it has been Korean instruments. Now it is Chinese. The identical instrument with a "Made in the USA" sticker on it would be at least 5x the price to cover the labour costs not because of greater inherent value. China is becoming the world's workshop and the products are of increasingly high quality. This is a relative score... did I get more than I thought I would for the money.... Yes!

I wanted a nice round harmonic-rich tone and got it in spades. With a little EQ it gets nearly everything I need and through my pedal board I can go from pop to metal, country to soul. Again, a relative score.... does it sound better than I expected from an "inexpensive" bass - Yes! Does it stack up well against some of my more expensive instruments - Yes!

Excellent in every way. Action was great out of the box. Fit and finish smooth, tight, uniform, etc.

I would play this bass live - with strap locks. I always have a backup or two (ie a P-bass and something fretless). That issue is a bit of a dumb question. If this is what you can afford as your only bass and you have a live gig... guess what - you gig with it without a backup. You'll be fine if you don't plan on smacking it on the stage or shoving it through a grill.

I deal with local music shops with excellent independent customer support. No idea about JT's direct support.

Long time. Lots of instruments and gear. Lots to compare it to. This bass is versatile and becuase it has a very clean signal it responds to processing very well. While I was able to buy a nice no-name hardshell case I would have preferred a form-fitting "violin-bass" case for the aesthetic appeal. I understand JT no longer makes a case for this bass. True? I am planning on experimentaing with flat-wound and nylon wound strings for variety's sake. The tone out of the box is great. Several other musicians' responses have generally been along the lines of "wow great tone" "looks and feels well made" and "incredible value for the money". I agree.

With 53 reviews and counting, I think the features have been pretty well covered. It would be wrong to say that the bass has "tons of features", but it does have every single feature you would expect to find on a Hofner-inspired violin bass, so it gets a 10.

Yeah, it does sound great. Not for everyone, and probably not what most players would want for their only, or even primary instrument (which is why I can't imagine anyone spending upwards of $2,000 for a genuine Hofner.) Similar tone quality to my little vintage (1960ish, semi-hollow, single cutaway) Kay shortscale - actually I prefer the tone of the Kay (bigger and woodier) but the Turser is much easier get in tune and keep in tune, and the electronics on the Turser are super clean, where the Kay hums like mad.

Well, this is where the Turser falls down just a bit. The body, neck, electronics, and most of the hardware are pretty good, but the bridge is just a piece of crap - cheap, inferior wood poorly fabricated. But here's a tip: Allparts manufactures a very nice after-market Hofner bridge that is beautiful and well crafted. Look for one on ebay - they're out there (while you're at it, Allparts does a Hofner tailpiece that looks just like the genuine article - guaranteed to class up your Turser.)

Now here's something outstanding: my bass has a "natural" finish, very unique for a violin bass. It looks great, and it announces to the world right up front that this instrument is not trying to look like "Paul's bass." The natural Turser is a little hard to find and may cost a little extra, but try to get one if you don't wanna be a wannabe.

Seems well-built, except for that awful bridge - replace it immediately!

A great value for:

A backup bass
A change of pace bass
A small, lightweight "travel" bass
A pseudo-vintage bass
A really fun litlle bass

Just got my Jay Turser Beatle Bass. I'm impressed! I put this bass side by side with an actual 1967 Hofner owned by a friend of mine. He says he is retiring the 67 and getting a Jay Turser JTB-2B for the rigors of live performance.

Don't expect anything from this bass except for a warm vintage vibe. The electronics are passive. The scale is 30". And the neck is a set neck. Very Beatleleque!

Bought the Bass from Music 123, It showed up perfect! Most American instruments cannot touch the finish quality of this "cheap" copy. We in North America could learn a lesson or two from the Chinese!

So far, Bass is great. A really well built instrument.

This is where I worry, but... I think any time you buy an instrument over the net, you should be wary.

I would highly reccomend this bass. It is by far the best copy of a Hofner I have seen!

This made-in-China Hofner copy looks pretty good but fit and finish is shoddy and mine had trouble with the electronics, which the maker refused to help with. So much for their 'warranty'. Buy it in a store if you must, but don't trust with mail order, and especially, don't buy direct from Jay Turser online unless you don't care whether you have anyone to turn to.

Might sound better after I spend money to fix the electronics.

I was disappointed, but I guess that's what you get when you buy a copy sight-unseen.

I'm afraid it fell apart before I laid eyes on it.

They were friendly during the order process, but when mine arrived with a loud, buzzy pot and one pickup not working, they just stopped answering my emails. Caveat emptor.

I've been playing for about 10 years and I have a Fender Jazz Bass and a wooden Steinberger, plus a few copies. I use an Ampeg preamp, Carvin power amp, and I'm using Peavey cabs now.

I would buy another Hofner copy but I'll never buy Jay Turser again after their rotten customer service.

Except for the pickups, Volume and Tone knobs, and Tuners, it is an exact copy of the Hofner Beatle Bass. I just bought it new (Dec. 2005), I don't know what year it was made or where it was made. The finish is a beautiful vintage sunburst, the same as the Hofner.

I have been playing for 37 years. I started playing bass when I was 11 years old and bought a used Hofner club bass (which I still own). I always wanted the violin shaped Hofner (I played a few copies as a kid, but never owned one). I own 26 guitars (four of them bass guitars). I swithched to guitar when Led Zeppelin came out and have five CDs on the web, had some success with my first record in Europe in the 80s. Although when playing live with my band I play lead guitar, lead vocals, and keyboards; in the studio I do all the bass playing and some of the drumming. I am a tone freak and have an extensive guitar rig. When my band opened for John Entwhistle's band in the 80s, his guitar player remarked how great my home done rig was copared to the one he had built for him in LA. So, I'm just trying to get accross how important tone is to me. As far as style, my msic is a cross between the Beatles, The Who , first two albums of Led Zeppelin, Queen, ELO, Jeff Beck, Mahavishnu, Zappa, Alice Cooper, David Bowie, etc.
I own a Hofner. This bass blows me away. I am working on a new CD and I was going for a very vintage vibe on one of the cuts. I layed the rythmn guitar using an Epiphone Casino into a 64 Fender Deluxe and Vox AC30 models from my Vetta. The lead and crunch guitars was my Parker PM20 Les Paul style guitar with Virtual PAFs through a Hiwatt model. Then I layed down the Bass track with the Turser (with flat wound strings) through a 1967 Fender Bassman model from the Bass POD. Unbelievable!!! It was full, round, deep, and defined. I didn't have to EQ it. It just sat there in the mix and didn't step on anything. The guitars were clear, the drums were big and solid, and the bass was Punchy, round, and where the bass should be; and I could hear every note. I was shocked that a bass, a copy no less, this inexpensive, could sound this good. I was expecting to have to change the pickups, but I'm not touching it. I'm probably going to use it on most of the tracks on this CD, not just the vintage sounding track, because it sits so well in the mix. I can't recommend it enough. If you like that punchy, big bottom vintage bass sound, this is it (make sure you put flat wound strings on it). I know that Joe Osbourne and Carol Kaye used Fender basses through Ampeg Flip tops (and I have used this sound myself on a couple of tracks), but this cops that vintage vibe they had on the hits of the 60s (Grass Roots, Beach Boys, Aquarius, etc.)even though they played solid bodies and this is a hollow body. In case you haven't figured it out yet, I love this bass.

Usually when I buy a guitar, I change the pickups, adjust the truss rod, and the height of the pickups. I bought this from Ross Music and I didn't have to touch it (except for changing the strings). I know that some people have talked about changing the tuners to pearloid banjo tuners, to more closely resemble the Hofner. I was thinking of doing that, but I'm a bit wary now. I'm wondering if the mass of the tuners on the headstock adds to the sustain. I have no idea, but since I'm only using it in the studio, and I love the way it sounds as is, I'm probably going to leave alone.

Everything seems solid

No Idea

Most of the info asked for in this catagory was answered in "sound".
I love this bass. It feels great. Looks great. Sounds great. What else could you want? If you want vintage bass, this is it. If it were stolen (and I hope I never have to find out), I would definitely replace it. It would bum me out because guitars can sometimes be like snowflakes. Even though they are production models, they differ slightly. I feel like I got a gem with this one. A huge bang for the buck.

Nice brigde, tuning perfect, even with the highest notes... but I hate short-scalers! It maybe looks like a little-easy-to-brake toy... but if u're gentle... :)))

Sounds just like it should, fat, short-scale, and roundy! Forget about slapin' it, you could brake it :)

It's a less-then-300-bucks-guitar, what can you expect? After all, it's not that bad, I saw worse!

Well, I wouldn't use it without a backup... but I haven't got a problems with it (yet)!

I've been playin' for 12+ years, and I own few bass guitars (I never sold any)... yeah, 6 and counting... including this one! As I said, I don't like shortscalers, but (as I think that many of you do), I'm playing in The Beatles Tribute Band, and I gotta have "the bass"! Did I mention I'we played Hofner Violin Bass? Crap! For the price, I bought this JTB2B, and went in Egypt for a summer (and took my girlfriend):))) Defenitly not my favorite, but... if u (like it) need it... it's a good choice!

Fingerboard Rosewood
Machine Heads Die cast machines
Neck Joint Set
Neck Material Maple
Pickguard Pearl
Controls 2 Volume, 3 Slide switch
Pickups 2 Humbucking pickups

Extremely light weight, violin shaped "Beatle Bass". Got the fitted case separately.

I use this to play Christian Contemporary. It would work for oldies, gospel, classic rock. Not for metal or slapping. Currently using no amps, sometimes use a boss equalizer pedal to boost the sound. No excess noise at all. I put a set of Pyramid strings on it, (recommended by a Paul impersonator) to get the McCartney sound. It has slide switches, and controls for each pickup, so there is some noticable variety of sounds you can achieve. I use it primarily for live playing, and it works just fine. It mainly has a bright sound. The action is pretty high, but I am satisfied with it that way. Nice sustain.

As stated before, the action was high. I had to get it set-up prior to playing it. Had a bit of fret buzz. Some of the parts look VERY cheap, but this is an inexpensive guitar. The pickguard is very rough, and flaky. I have only played the bass a couple times, and one of the switches and pickups have gone out. (the guitar is being repaired as we speak) For poor electronics, I give this category a low rating.

This bass will withstand live playing. I have used it for a few live services. I am unsure how long this bass will hold up, as I mentioned that I am seeing some flaws in the electronics. The finish is beautiful, strap buttons are solid. I have only had one neck adjustment (in almost two years), when I first bought the guitar. USE A BACKUP!!!

I got this from Music123. They were GREAT, fast service. I will definately be using Music123 for future purchases.

This bass has gotten many bad reviews. By bad, I mean I think a lot of people have had the "new product rush", picked at it a few times, and posted a 5 star review. I was VERY happy with this guitar when I first bought it. Mainly because I didn't have any experience with anything else. I jumped online, and quickly gave it 5 stars. After two years, it's down to 3. You get what you pay for. Don't expect this to look, play, or feel like a $2000 guitar. It is nice for a $279 guitar. It's a great starter bass!!

I wish I would have played this guitar before I bought it. I was more in love with the look than the sound. I have never played a Hofner, so I can't compare the two. I chose this bass on looks alone, and the reviews that it got. I love the range of sounds, I love the look, and as soon as it's out of the shop, I'll continue to play through an equalizer. I love the fact that it's so lightweight and short scale.

If it were stolen, I would be disappointed. I even tried to sell the bass, then just couldn't part with it. I have always wanted a "Beatle Bass".

If you like the early Beatle sound, this is the bass for you! Just be aware of the hype, and remember you get what you pay for.

very confusing controls.mine is black with gold hardware semi hollow rosewood fretboard.

this is where this bass really stands from the crowd.Fans of low-end, this is the bass for you, great sound for blues, jazz or cuntry not a rock bass or a slap bass but just a good old round bassy sound of a bass.dont worry to much about the strings it comes with.sounds just find right out of the box.

mind bass came with high action.Just a little tweeking and the bass should be just fine.

for a semihollow bass this thing is built like a rock.if it does break i will sure by another in a heart beat.

i have been playing for about 20 years.I've played anything from gosphel to latin jazz,by the way the bass is perfect for latin music gives a nice upright bass sound.This is a very great value for the money.it has the perfect sound a truely bass,bass sound

Great bass! 2 Volume knobs and 3 slide switches make it as sweet as the original. At first I was skepticle, but I don't regret gettin' this sweet bass now.

Well, it's nice and boomy and "muddy" sounding, that the hollow body and nice pick-ups produce, like the original sounds of the Beatles music. HOWEVER, horrible stock strings that come with it but after a new set its ok... still a bit of buzzing though.

Not a flaw on it! Beautiful finish, and solid. Nice and light too. Great fit, just wish it was a 2 peice neck. Still adore the look though. I was afraid of ordering the left handed bass (as a lefty) and was terrified of it being an extremeley red tint, like the Rogue. However, the finish still looks as sweet as the original.

So far seems good. As a primarily 'young' musician, I've never played it in BIG gigs, however I have played live in small pubs, etc, and haven't had a bad thing happen yet. I'm not too worried about keeping a spare or second bass with me. This bass has an extremely solid body, for its hollow and lightweight fit. Treat it like your wife, and it'll never go bad.

Worked with stevesmusiccenter.com. Great! Fast shipping, great handling, made me wish I had done all spending with them!

I do not regret getting this. Waaay better than the rogue, and I truly believe this, is the absolute best Hofner copy there is. The brand Jay Turser is now up there with Gibson, Fender, and even Hofner. If it was stolen, or broken, I would replace in an instant!

2005 ( New Model ) Made in China ( With all the Rest...Hofner's got a Plant There Now...Heard about the Rumour of Hofner's Budget 500/1 ? )
22 Frets
Probably " Basswood " Body & Maple Neck.
Two Volume Knobs, Treble, Bass Rythym & Solo Selector Slide Switches.
Two Humbuckers.
Jay Turser " Hot Asian " Pickups, Twice the Pickup Output of a Hofner 500/1 & I have Owned Two Hofner's, they are Wimpy !
Passive Electronics.
Sunburst Finish.
Violin Bass Modeled after the Hofner 500/1 Beatle Bass and getting Bloody Closer !
Free-Floating Bridge similar to Hofner.
Die-Cast Chrome Sealed Tuning Machines...Very Functional albeit not the Prettiest !
30" or 31 " Scale ( actually takes a Medium-Scale Bass String. )The Neck is Comfortable yet Substantial.
Came with No Accessories.

Bought this to Primarily Handle Beatles, other British Invasion, and Blues,in a Project I am in. To My Surprise, I am Finding it much more Versatile & Capable of Handling a Wider Array of Music.
I will be Playing the Turser Beatle Bass through a Late 60's, or 1970, Ampeg V-6B 240 Watt RMS Tube Rig C/W 2x15" JBL's. I will know in a Few Days how that Sounds ( Oughta be Awesome ! ) I have Played it through My 1979 Traynor YBA-4 50 Watt Tube RMS 1x15" Altec Equipped Combo and it ROCKED ! I only had the Traynor on about Two ( In the Low Channel ! ) and I had no problem keeping up with a Loud Drummer & Loud Guitarist in a Power Trio Format.
It has a Very " Hofner-ish " Sound, but Fuller & Richer than a Hofner 500/1 ( and at a Quarter of the Cost ! ) Much More Versatile than a Hofner ( and I Speak from Experience ! )
I Love the Lightweight & Balance, Versatility & of Course, Cost.
The Elephant-Ear Tuners are somewhat Goofy, and I have Replaced them with Banjo Buttons, for a Modest improvement, I really don't care Either Way, cause it ain't a Real Hofner anyway !
The Nut Needs to be Lowered...No Sweat.

Factory Set-Up just Average, came with the Factory Crappy Roundwounds, Replaced with Rickenbacker Medium-Scale Flatwounds...What a Difference !
As Previously Mentioned, Nut Needs to be Be Filed Lower.
I Tweaked the P/U's...always Do on a New Bass.

Bass already has withstood Live Playing. Jay Turser has constantly Improved these Basses: they are Good Enough for Me, although I am only a Recreational Bass Player anymore, with the " Odd " Gig. I would say they are more Durable than a Hofner 500/1, and at 5.0 Lbs., a Half-Pound Heavier & Stronger ( Of Course, a Hoffie is still a Hoffie, and still the McCartney Bass ! )
Strap Buttons are Very Solid, although I immediately installed Strap-Locks, as I always do ( I Nearly Dropped a 1970 Gibson EB-3 because I didn't have Strap-Locks Installed ! ) I Installed the Forward Lock on the Neck Only made a Couple of Truss Rod Adjustments...No Problem !
Sure, I intend to Gig with it, but it won't see many Gigs !

Jay Turser & Innovations Music ( The Store ), were very helpful indeed !
The Warranty is One Full Year.

I have been Playing Bass since 1969. I also Own a Vintage 1977 Fender Musicmaster Bass ( My Main Bass ), a 1976 Yamaki 6-String Acoustic Guitar, a Hartke Kickback 10 120 Watt Bass Combo Amp, a Fender BXR25 Bass Practice Amp, a Rolls Mini-Mix 51 System ( For at Home Practice ), a Vintage 1979 Traynor YBA-4 50 Watt Tube 1x15" Altec Lansing Equipped Bass Combo Amp.
I have Owned a Jay Turser Beatle Bass before, and this is an Improvement, Much Closer to the Hofner in Size and Look. I Basically Bought this Bass for the Golden Oldies Project that I am in....We do about 50% Beatles ! My Fave Bass is still the 77' Fender Musicmaster, however.
One Last thing I'd like to share is that it seems Silly to Spend a Lot of Money putting Hofner Parts into these Basses. They usually Require Modifications and, Hence $$$$$$$, so if You want a Real Hofner..... Put the Dollars into a REAL One !
A Turser's a Turser a Turser.....they Look Different because they ARE DIFFERENT !
They LOOK & SOUND SIMILAR to a 500/1....but they AREN'T Hofner 500/1's !

That Said, for the Money, they CANNOT BE BEAT ! And I Previously Owned a 1970 Vintage Original Hofner 500/1 & a 1999 Vintage Reissue 1963 500/1.

I've had this bass for three years and submitted an earlier review. Wanted to follow up with another one.

Features? Well covered in other reviews.

I am amazed that some are shocked that the bridge "falls off" when you take the strings off.

1. the floating bridge is an authentic Hofner touch. It's SUPPOSED to do that!

2. when you change strings you souldn't take all the srings off at the same time anyway!

you get this bass BECAUSE it makes a certain sound. it's warm and thumpy. if you want bright sustain, or you want to slap or pretend you are Flea, spend less on an OLP Ernie Ball copy fercyrinoutloud!

and yes, for the love of all that's holy put flatwounds on it.

Ok, this is what I really wanted to get at.

if you want this bass to learn to play (a good choice) or just to muck around with, enjoy it out of the box.

If you want to gig with this bass I strongly urge you to spend a little extra money and have a guitar tech do the following (unless you can competently do it yourself)

1. set the intonation. with the floating bridge this is NOT easy. Not a Jay Turser issue, same goes with a genuine Hofner or any guitar with a floating bridge.

2. check the fretwork. mine needed a little tweaking (again an issue endemic with all cheap asian made copies.)

3. check and adjust the truss rod.

this made a HUGE difference in playability and sound.

i also took the advice of a previous reviewer and replaced the tuner pegs with banjo tuner pegs from stewmac.com. three bucks and from a short distance are identical to genuine hofner tuners (which go for $110!)

Giving it a 6 just because it is what it is.

played and gigged with this bass regulary for three years. it's held up well with normal maintenence.

Emailed Jay Turser once with a question and got an immediate reply. Other reviewers have mentioned a positive things.

"Jay Turser" is part of a large compay called Music Industries Corp that makes a range of low cost instruments and accessories. Not a fly by night operation.

Overall, I am VERY happy with the bass. Has held up well and with the tweaking I mentioned sounds very good.

I play in a cover band. We play mostly 60's garage band staples, beatles and some classic rock. This bass does most of that just fine, thank you.

If it was stolen? For five minutes I would dream about getting a real Hofner and then come to grips with reality and my budget and get a new one.

The one I just received is a newer style Chinese model. It is the same as the others listed below as far the number of frets, strings, tuners, electronic, etc. I can't really date what is going on with these at the moment because I have seen them with chrome surrounds instead of black ones, a little bit more of a red finish and also white pickguard as well as the cream colored ones. I guess there are some old and new stock floating around. Mine has the black surrounds and the cream colored trim so it looks a little more like the "real" one if you know what I mean.

Sound wise, well it is what I expected. Since I own an Epiphone, Rogue and two Hofners...well it sounds like what is supposed to. A hollow body vintage with no sustain that is right on. If you want a newer sound, like the rest of the other reviews state..buy something else. If the Liverpool tone is good to your ears, don't be afraid.

The set up was horrible. The unit was purchased from Instrument Pro.com. They didn't have them in stock and had this one drop shipped to me without anyone touching it. I believe that dealers are supposed to do the set-up for you per their agreement with Jay Turser. Well, this dealer sucked! I had to call Jay Turser myself to find out where my order was, because it had not even been processed. Thank God for Linda at Jay Turser...she is on the ball and once I spoke with her...it was at my doorstep in two days, while Instrument Pro.com was saying it was on back order.
I will say that the bass itself is a real improvement on the Rogue and Epiphone. I have noticed that the body is now smaller with a shorter neck and is more in line with the Hofner sizes. In fact, it fits in my Hofner case. When measured up against the other copies the bout is about one and a quarter inches narrower. It is getting so close to the "real" thing, it is scary. The Turser also is quite a bit lighter that the other copies. Then again..more like the Hofner and with the cheesie white pearloid trim now a beige shade...thumbs up. Oh, buy the way, the banjo buttons listed in the review below DO fit like a glove!

I can't tell you how it is going to hold up because it is new. It is very light weight but seems well made. Like with a Hofner, you need to watch yourself with this one, it is not a battle axe.

Instrument Pro.com really screwed me. They advertise they will beat any price. Don't get suckered. They told me they would match a price that I had found on line including the case. Well after show up two weeks late it arrived with no case. When I called them about it, the "Supervisor" told me that there must have been a misunderstanding and no case was discussed. Basically, he called me a liar. I then call Jay Turser direct. What great people they are. It was them who got my order straight for delivery and then when the case fiasco came about I called them to report that they had a terrible dealer representing them and they should know about it. Well guess what? Jay Turser is sending me my case at no charge to make up for a non-ethical dealer!

I have been playing for twenty years and have more guitars than I should. Playing in a trib band, well I have plenty of collectors as well as other toys.
I wish that I would have checked out the dealer better before I purchase this one. The whole experience with them really put a damper on my enthusiasm for this guitar.
If it were stolen, I probably wouldn't replace it because I already have so many other guitars, I am still asking myself why I bought this one. It is a sickness I guess.
I really like the new size of the body and neck and also the new color of the plastics. Put some knobs, tailpeice, bridge, bango knobs and flatwounds and you have yourself a pretty nice little player.
The butterfly tuners in my opinion is the only real sore spot on this guitar. Maybe someday the boys at Turser will read some of this stuff.

I have a Jay turser beatle bass that I did a bit of work on. First of all, the parts that come on this bass are junk. There is no two ways about it. I replaced all of the parts with real Hofner parts. The bridge and the Tailpiece required some modifications in order to fit the instrument properly. The bottom of bridge required reshaping so that it fit the contour of the body which is different from the Hofner. The tailpiece had to be shortened which took a bit of doing, but I got it in the end. The bass came out sounding and looking great. Unfortunately you can not just buy hofner parts and slap them on this bass and if anyone tells you otherwise, thier very very wrong! There is a reason why people go to school to learn how to build and repair instruments, it's not as easy as it looks.

The turser is as far as I can tell exactly the same as the rouge, galveston and bradley with only minor differences. They have the exact same scale lenghts, hardware and electronics. I believe they are all made in the same factory.

i just wanted to comment on some of the other reviewers statements in the hopes that I can correct and clarify them a little. First, the bridge is supposed to fall of the instrument when you take the strings off. The way to avoid that is to change one string at a time. Someone mentioned a nasty smell coming from the bridge. That would be because it's made out of bad quality rosewood that is still "gasing off". All wood has a smell, and all wood gases off. rosewood just happens to be more powerful smelling. Another thing that people seem to be a little confused about is replacing the bridge. you can't just put a Hofner bridge on it and slide it all the way up to the treble pickup so that it looks like the hofner. The distance from the nut to the bridge is critical if you want it to intonate properly. The rule of thumb for determining bridge placement is an easy one to apply. Measure the distance from the nut to the twelveth fret and double the number you come up with. That will be more or less the correct place to put the bridge.
And If your complaints are that the strings or bridge move around when you slam on it, DON'T DO THAT! It's not made for beating on. If you want to play crap heavy metal, this isn't the bass for you. Buy yourself an Ibanez or something, you'll be much better off, and so will beatle fans the world over.

this a good bass for the money, I give it an 8 (after the crap parts are replaced)

it sounds fine. I don't believe in replacing pickups with hope of improving the sound. Doing so does far less for the instrument than people realize. If you don't like the way it sounds, buy a different instrument. you can't get blood from a stone.

It feels and looks nice. But the finish is a bit thick and lumpy. It's obviously not a fine instrument finish.

The only break down I had with this bass was one of the pots went bad. But because the electronic assembaly is so easy to work on, replacing it was a breeze. This bass should hold up fine for you if you play it the way it was intended to be played. Leave the wah wah and distrotion pedals for the guitarists, just play the bass.

I have been playing for 25 years and have owned every guitar and bass you can mention.... no shit.

I think I this bass got stolen I might try one of the other manufacture versions of it. I really don't believe there is any difference from one to the next other than cosmetic ones.

I hated the big dumb looking tuners, but didn't want to go through all the hassel and expense of retro fitting hofner machines. And they are junk anyway. Even after doing the work, it still wouldn't hold tune any better. so I just replaced the buttons on the factory tuners with banjo button (which fit like a dream). You can get the same buttons I have at stewmac.com for a couple of bucks, Well worth it. out of all the mods I did on this bass, that one makes the most difference. It really looks good now.

It has everthing but a good set of strings. Get some flatwounds on it,then you're all set.

I use a Gallien Krueger 150 amp great rich warm sound. You can get the sound you want from this little bass. I played it on stage for 1 hour the next day after I got it.only had to touch up the tuneing

The factory set-up was ok Just need flatwounds on it. nice finish with no flaws. very nice

Treat it like you would treat your wife and it will last you a life time.I think you can count on this bass to hold up long as you do.

They are nice to talk with. can"t give a rateing at this time.

Been playing with a band for the last 12 years.if any thing happened to it I would buy another one. the neck is a little slim but plays easy.Ilove the sound, doun"t care for the pick ups or the pick gard looks cheap,but for the money what can I say.

Seeing as the features on this bass are the same as what's previously been posted I'm going to go into detail and explain why this review is the exception to the rest.

I play in a band called Beatallica (www.beatallica.org). That's right Beatles + Metallica. Basically we play Beatles songs done as if Hetfield and the boys re-tooled them back in the 80's. Our live shows are pretty active and I have quite a heavy handed style. In order to pay tribute to late Metallica bassist, Ciff Burton's style I also use a lot of distortion and a wah. All in all, the sound I'm going for doesn't even coming close to what this bass was intended for.

Even thought McCartney is the man I've never been a big fan of his tone. Sure it was perfect for the Beatles and I could never imagine those songs any differently but I usually prefer a very punchy, heavy sound. Of course, I'm not going to get that out of this bass with the current pickups. Lately I've been looking around for possible replacements, maybe even active if I can swing it. If anyone has any ideas PLEASE let me know.

I've never played an original Hofner so I don't know how it stacks up to that. From what I've been told by those who have, the Turser far excedes the original.

The band had previously purchased it before I joined so I don't know if anything was initially adjusted before my time with it. However, the finish was tip top (black, of course). That is until I put a scratch in it on my kitchen counter. I have adjusted the pickups here and there in an attempt to obtain my impossible but it hasn't really helped.

One of the things I don't like is that, compared to the rest of the bass, its VERY headstock heavy. It drives me nuts that everytime I go to take a drink of water on stage it makes a dive to the floor. Also, I've had a problem with the G sting popping off the bridge saddle (which, is also something I'd like to replace if I could). That's only when I go crazy with the string bending though. However, it does look pretty cool.

Like I've stated before, I basically beat the living hell out of this thing and to my suprise its taken it a lot better than I ever thought it would. Lets face it, it weighs about as much as a Lego! Unless I knock into something/someone it holds tune rather well. We've replaced the strap buttons with Dunlop strap locks (I prefer the Schallers). The gold finish on the hardware is starting to wear off. After one show I noticed that the bridge pickup had dropped into the bass! And, until I fixed it, the input jack would constantly come loose. Hell, add my scratch to it and its just getting broke in.

So far (other than the pickup deal), its held up live but I always have my Music Man Sting Ray waiting just in case.

Never delt with 'em. I've done my own repairs thus far.

So you can see why I wouldn't dig this bass as much as others do (if you're going for the actual Beatles deal you'd be best to look at the other reviews). It just wasn't meant for what I need it to do. However, it does look cool and fits the image of the band. Different pickups and possibly a better bridge would help me out a great deal.

However, playability is pretty sweet though. For as much as I bitch about this thing I'd probably buy one for myself. Seeing as its a semi hollow body its the perfect bass to have around the house. Its nice and small and you can still hear yourself play without pluggin in.

The other reviews list all the instrument's details thoroughly, so I will not repeat them! I will say that the first thing I did when I received my new bass was replace the cheesy looking (though no doubt completely functional) tailpiece with a genuine Hofner trapeze tailpiece that I won on eBay for $35. (You can also buy them at full price from North Coast Music and other online vendors.) I also immediately installed genuine Hofner flatwound bass strings (made in Germany, probably by Pyramid), which are made specially for 30? scale basses (like the Hofner 500/1 that the Turser is modelled after). The stock tailpiece on the Turser is about a 1/2? shorter than the the Hofner tailpiece, so I was concerned that the Hofner strings would be too short without the replacement.

I am primarily a guitar player, although I have played bass in bands in the past. I wanted a cheap bass to use on my home demos, and maybe occassionally gig with in the future. I have always loved the rich, deep sound of Hofner Beatle basses, and the reviews here and elsewhere for the Turser copies have been very positive. For the extremely low price, the Turser was an easy choice. The music I primarily play is ?50s and ?60s derived pop, so this is the sound for me, especially with the flatwound strings installed. (The cheap roundwound strings that were factory-installed sounded like crap and wouldn?t even stay in tune!) The bass has two real tonal variations: the deep, rich sound most associated with Paul McCartney, and a more trebly percussive tone that is similar to, say, John Entwhistle?s Danelectro on ?My Generation.? (The Hofner strings are fairly light gauge, which enhances the bass? percussive quality.) It all depends on how you set the tone switches. It has a nice thumpy tone, much like the hollow ?60s Eko Beatle bass I used to have.

The guitar was well setup right out of the box, with nice low action. I can?t comment on how well it was intonated, because within hours of receiving it I had removed the original strings and tailpiece and replaced them with Hofner parts. The bridge is floating - that is, it is not secured to the body - and that is how the intonation is adjusted. You just have to move it around until it?s intonated. Like many vintage hollowbody instruments, the wooden bridge is composed of a base with saddlepiece that sits on top of the base, with a pair of thumbscrews to raise and lower the action. Once I had replaced the strings and tailpiece, I found it very quick and easy to set the intonation and action. It took no time at all to get it sounding good and playing well. In order to maintain the low price point, Turser doesn?t use the best quality components, but it is generally a well-made instrument. The only flaw was a poorly secured nut - it popped right off the neck when I was re-stringing it. It only had a couple of beads of glue on it. No big deal - some quick-drying epoxy fixed it right away. Some people here have commented on the cheesy mother-of-toilet-seat pickguard and control panel. Yes, it?s on the flimsy side, but doesn?t really look that bad and should hold up if you?re careful. The finish is certainly attractive enough, and is nice and glossy. The wood grain is nothing to write home about, although the Rogue branded basses that Musician?s Friend sells (which are almost certainly made in the same factory in China) have some dramatic flame on the front and backs. (They also cost a bit more than the Tursers.) As far as its playability is concerned, I have nothing negative to say about this bass. The medium-short scale makes it easy for a guitarist like myself to comfortably transition to bass. The frets are well-filed with no sharp edges. The tuners are more than adequate, and hold the tuning just fine. I just wish they used more ?vintage? looking, smaller tuners on it, as the modern oversized machines look odd on a Beatle bass. I found no problems with the electronics, although they probably won?t hold up as well as the electronics on higher quality instruments. We?ll have to wait and see. The pickups sound fine. For a cheap bass, the guitar is more than solidly built, and looks very nice to boot.

If you?re an aggressive player, it probably isn?t the best instrument for you, but it?s at least as solidly constructed as I would imagine a Hofner is. It should hold up just fine under ?normal? use. Aside from the electronics - which the jury is still out on - I see no reason to be concerned about it falling apart. The finish is reasonably thick and evenly applied. It could easily be used as a gigging musician?s primary bass. Aside for the poorly glued nut, it seems to be a solid bass. One has to be careful not to bump the floating bridgeout of whack though!

I?ve been playing guitar since 1977, and have dabbled in bass over the years. I have previously owned a ?60s Eko violin bass (Eko is the Italian company that made many Vox branded instruments in the ?60s) and an ?80s Fender Japan P-bass, which I sold a few years ago when I was out of work. The Jay Turser Beatle Bass is a superb bargain if you can find a new one for under $250, which isn?t too hard to do on eBay. It is a great substitute for a genuine Hofner if the real deal is beyond your means, or if you just want something to learn or fool around on. They have managed to make a very nice looking and performing bass at an extremely low price. The nice thing is, if it got damaged or stolen, it wouldn?t be such a big deal to replace it (unlike a real Hofner). It certainly has exceeded my expectations for such a ?cheap? instrument, and I wouldn?t hesitate to consider purchasing other Jay Turser products.

2003 model made in China (and inspected by Mr. Lee).

21 frets / 4 strings / 2 pickups / 2 volumes and traditional "Beatle Bass" controls / 30.5" scale

Maple neck body panels with the traditional "Beatle Bass" finish.

Chinese tuners and hardware.

This is probably the best Hofner copy I've come across. I have played the genuine thing on a few occasions and this does a pretty good job - Minus the standard roundwounds that make this a bit more bright than desired... Now I'm shopping for the Pyramid short-scale flatwounds...

If it shipped with the flats, It might get a "10."

The quality was suprisingly good - I work for a manufacturer that builds custom shop models (we just don't make a short-scale any longer). There were two "ripples" in the finish in the back, along with a scratch-like dent. Sloppy fret edges weren't noticed until I felt for them (the binding gave a buffer). This appears to be made at the same factory where a few other Hofner copies are made due to the similar hardware and appointments. This is a better quality than those others though.

Though it will withstand a gig, I would always take my 5-string 34" scale neck through body instrument with me. This is a VIBE bass. Any expectations of anything more are insane. The Hofner was never a good bass (just a cheap knockoff of the Gibson "violin" shaped basses that Little Richard's bassist had - An inspiration for Paul McCartney, no doubt). This bass is a feel and a look, an inspiration, not a Carvin or a Ken Smith.

The main company is named Music Industries and they are incredibly nice. Their retailers could vary since they are distributed through many different outlets.

I have been playing for 24 years (now 37), been with two touring bands and have played with a million selling artist for a very short time. My bass playing is considered solid but not flashy (James Jamerson, etc...) and my tone is always complemented. I have never failed an audition for my bass playing (singing is another story). This bass has a VIBE that makes it worth a fortune to me. If stolen, I'd buy another one. I wish that I could re-write a lot of my stuff for the 4-strings but, as I have to make the live show sound like the record, my 5-string must remain in the set.

Follow-Up to Earlier Review. Now that I have had a Lot more Time to use this Bass Live, and in Rehearsal / Practice / Jamming situations, I thought I would add a Few Comments ( all of them positive.) I am a Former Hofner Owner ( Vintage Original & Reissue.) Due to Financial Constraints, I had to Sell them in Recent Years. Too bad, because they have gone up in Value & Price.
I am into Short-Scale Basses due to a Bad Left Wrist Injury suffered some seven years ago. I have mainly focused on Vintage Basses ( Three Hagstroms, a Gibson EB-3, a Fender MusicMaster, a Danelectro Shorthorn, Etc. )Recently, I got the Yen for a Hofner again, but after checking them out, realised they were out of My League Financially.
I need a Violin Bass Mainly for Beatle Tunes and 60's Stuff so it's a Niche Requirement. I Play a Lot of different Music so why Drop a Ton of Dough on a Hofner when I can get 90% of the Look, Feel, Playability, and Sound from a Jay Turser ? And at a Fraction of the Cost !

Fat, Warm, Resonant, Bottomy, Rich Tone....surprising for an Inexpensive Bass.

Body and Neck are " Basswood " I found out, Nicely Finished. I had to get the Nut cut down to help facilitate lower action.

Time will tell regarding the Hardware and Electronics lasting a Long Time.......they seem on the Cheaper Side versus the Body and Neck, which are very well constructed and finished.

Great...First Class.

N/A

This is a China-made 2003 JTB-2B, Sunburst and otherwise just as in other reviews.
My high rating might be slightly biased: I've always wanted a Violin bass, but a Hofner will be out of reach for quite some time I guess. This one does the trick though, and in the process even managed to impress my friends in the band I play with. So: I guess it's worth a good rating.

This is the fourth bass guitar I own & play. The other ones are an acoustic Motion B-05, an Epiphone T-bird none-reverse and something that turned out to be a shortscale Teisco of mid-sixties vintage. This one is, sound-wise, a very fine mix of what my other basses do: Motion warmth, Teisco depth, clarity of the Epi. I'm impressed with how well they've copied the Hofner/McCartney sound! I play all my instruments through a Peavey Combo 115 200 W./15" amp, and the only tweak I do is to turn the contour switch off. If I leave it on, it'll get muddy and overdoes it all. Not good when you want that McCartney sound! Otherwise great, but you might want to buy it for it's specific tone; I'm not going to say it's an all-rounder! Tip of the day: try playing some swampy blues on this bass, you won't be disappointed!

Gee, this is one fine playing bass! I've tested it at the dealer's, and the first thing that struck me was how easy this bass plays. It even better then my Teisco, and I thought that was an easy bass to play (which it is...) The neck feels a bit narrow, though, which took some getting used to. The action was considerably higher than on my solid-bodies, but at least it'll give you every tone right up the neck, unlike my Teisco. The strings are not to my taste: gauge and tone are nice, but the windings are too large, so you'll hear every slide along the neck. Time to get me some Rotosounds I guess... The finish is pretty impressive, but somehow exactly 1 dust particle managed to get caught in the fresh lacquer on the neck. How did it do that?? Anyway: it's not a problem, and no-one notices anyway. There are some other things I found funny though: the switchgear is clearly El-Cheapo, and time will have to tell how it'll hold up. Cosmetically, you really want to replace the two volume knobs, since they're too cheap to look at... and why is it that the text on the control panel is readable for the AUDIENCE, and not for the bass player (upside down!) This is in complete contradiction to what I've seen on Hofners! On factory set-up I'll give it a 7.

This bass will surely withstand live-playing. Why not?? Even something as "fragile" as an acoustic bass or guitar will stand the test of gigging, it just depends on how you handle it! But if I'm to be very honest, it feels a bit light and feeble when you're used to solid-body constructions. Just take some care, and get a case for it!
The finish & hardware don't worry me a bit though, they're pretty much the same as on my Epi. Chrome could have come from Detroit manufacturers: brilliant shine and seems inch-thick. I haven't had it long enough to really test what it will stand up to (in don't want to know either...), so I'm not going to rate this section.

It took about 3 months to get it delivered... but that wasn't helped by the port authorities who wouldn't clear the container for further handling (thanks guys!!:-( Really helpful!) Things like that sure make me hope I won't have to deal with factory service... The dealer has been great though, as they allways are. No problems there! Dealer: 8. Delivery: 4. I'll go for the middle.

I've been playing various sorts of music for 'round 3 1/2 years now, having started out on a vintage Teisco. My other instruments are mentioned elsewhere in this review. None of them can compare to this bass, though my bias is that I'm a great fan of the violin bass concept. So far my main instrument has been the Teisco, but I might reconsider right now... I love the way the Jay Turser sounds and looks, and you should have seen those faces when I first took it to a rehearsal!! Very promising for the effect in a live situation! I wonder what it'll do with a set of really serious strings on, but the factory ones sound better with age (they'll loose their metallic overtones), don't be too quick to change them! I'm giving it a 9, but remember: I've always wanted one, so I'm biased!!

~Beatle Bass~
Violin-shaped - (4 string)
Semi-acoustic
Maple set neck
Rosewood fingerboard
Pearl pick guard
2 gold plated humbucking Pick-ups
2 Volume controls
3 slide switch and gold die Cast machines (Bass/Treble/Solo-Rythm)
Color: Black

It is a 22-fret neck and was relatively smooth to play. It looked cool and I was just learning at the time and the lightweight body was a definite plus.

When I first got the bass, I had to return it because there was something causing every note to "twang" and vibrate against the frets. I don't know what it was, but Jay Turser said it was a factory defect so they sent another.

Down the neck it has a deep sound and when tweaked right with my amp (Crate BX-50) it sounded pretty good. Up high on the neck there was some vibrating on the 'E' string, however.

I like the deep, hollow sound that you could get with it design of the 'viola' shape it left the strings higher off the pickups, which for me allowed some easier finger plucking when I was first starting out.

It looks cool and I have been complimented on it a few times from people that have seen it on the stand or me playing it. It's lightweight semi-hollow body allows for ease of play and that low 'thumping' sound similar to that of, well you know, Sir Paul McCartney and his famous Hoffner (...But at 1/5 the price, I'm sure).

Everything seems put together well. I have no complaints in this department.

If I had a choice between this and a solid body, I would probably go with a solid body on stage because it gives more of the desired "rock 'n roll" sound, as compared to a "thump thump" sound for the music I play. If you want slow beats and blues runs, then it would work perfectly. It just doesn't withstand heavy runs as well as the Ibanez k5 that I have had played on stage or just jamming with others.

Oh yeah, it also seems to keep 'in tune' quite well. A 3 hour jam session and only needed a half-tuning. Pretty good.

Like I mentioned before, I had to return the first bass I received and they sent me another one out that same day. I appreciated that.

I've only been playing the bass for about a year now, but I know what sound I expect from a bass and this almost reaches it, but just falls short. I like the lightweight semi-hollow body. That makes standing there with it strapped a lot easier, definitely. It comes with a low 'thump' and can pick it up a bit when needed, but I would honestly say it falls short of regular solid body basses in its price range.

If you want to buy a 'Beatle Bass', this is the one for you. The price is definitely lower than a Hoffner and it gives out the same expected sound, in my opinion.

If it were lost or stolen I wouldn't get another one because I pretty much just used it as a start-out bass and although it is a great backup and practice bass (and definitely gets the compliments), I would rather spend a little more money and get something sweeter. (:

The only thing I will add is that for a Black and Pearl colored instrument, the gold pickups and hardware just don't look that good together. I would have rather saw silver hardware on it, but it is easily changed if you wish to upgrade, that's for sure.

Probably a 2002 Model. Made in China. In Mint Condition. I won't go into any other Details here as other Reviewers have that covered.
I am a Former Hofner Owner ( 1970 Vintage 500/1 & 1963 Vintage Re-Issue 500/1 ) so I feel qualified to do an accurate comparison and assessment.
Believe Me, this Bass " Stacks Up " Beautifully, to the Real Deal.
Plus, it Costs Peanuts in Comparison.
Hardshell Case probably better than the 500/1 case in My Opinion.

Just Played it out Live at an Outdoor Gig beside a Lake and it Sounds About 85% to 90% " On the Button " when compared to My Previous Hofners. I Played through a very large Late 60's Ampeg V-6B 240 Watt Tube-Head & 2x15" JBL Cab ( that sure brought out some Hofner Tone !)
We were Playing Mainly Sixties Classic Stuff but delved into Seventies ( Rocky Mountain Way ) and that was no Sweat.
The Bass is actually better-balanced and lighter weight than I thought, although not quite as light as a 500/1.

Pleasantly Surprised overall although I believe I will replace the Nut, as it is rather cheap and sits too high. The Action was too high for My liking so I lowered the " Adjustment Wheels ". I wanted to adjust the truss rod but someone had stripped the screws on the truss rod cover....I'll get the technician to do that.
Time will tell but for the Dough I think anybody would be hard pressed to find a Better Beatle Bass Copy.

Time will tell.

Good People to Deal With.

Playing Bass 34-35 Years. I Own a Restored 1970 Gibson EB-3, an All Original 1973 Hagstrom H 1 B, Hartke Kickback 10 120 Watt Bass Combo, Fender BXR25 25 Watt Bass Combo & Rolls Mini-Mix System.
If it were Stolen or Lost, I may get another.
I would like to say in Summation that this is as close as one will get to a Real Hofner Bass without going out and Shelling out the King's Ransom for The Real Deal.
If you are a Recreational Player,( such as I am now ), a Player with Small Hands, a Beginner , a Beatle-Nut who just wants that Vibe and Feel of a Beatle Bass.....go for it.

You will not be dissapointed !

Hofner copy. Made in 2002 I think from the sticker, in China. It has 22 frets, 4 strings, violin shaped Beatle bass, except this model is black all over including the neck) except for the white trim around the body edges. The white trim has 2 black lines instead of the Hofner 500/1 1. Controls are Volume, Tone, 3 switches (lower pickup, upper pickup, and "on/off" - go figure). 2 humbuckers pickups, flat/smooth. Body is slightly arched front and back. Neck is set, maple. Rosewood fingerboard. The metal parts are imitation gold-plated. Tuners are die cast, nut is plastic I think. Bridge sets loosely on top and is adjustable, like Hofner. The overall scale is 3/4. NOTHING comes with the bass, except for the limited lifetime warranty from Jay Turser, which I hope I never need. I give it a 7 because of course there are much better basses out there (Hofner 500/1).

I have been playing 60's and 70's stuff, as well as some modern rock, as well as blues. The soft warm (yet not overpowering)sound like a Hofner 500/1 is great for that, but you can adjust the sound of this bass quite a bit using the controls and where you pluck the strings.
The bass has plenty of volume, but tone is better adjusted by choosing the pickups.

Set up I would rate a 7.5 The strings were not lined up with the bridge (maybe shipping?). The action is actually lower than I thought it would be, but works. (If you are sloppy on the fingering you get "buz" from the roundwounds). Pickups are okay. There was a little rust on the bridge. The tuning pegs could be locking or tighter. The bass "feels" good playing sitting down and is light for standing up. Be very careful you get a wide strap because it is easy to have it fall off being small.

I have played on Hofner 500/1. The Hofner feels lighter (probably is), better made, and likely to break if mishandled at all. The JTB-2 feels very solid. The basic guitar itself seems very well put together. Feels like our Les Paul. The neck feels like a Gibson neck. The frets are smooth cut, the neck is "fast", and the action is low (kind of too low to slap, but that can be fixed). Oh, you can "slap" this one, which I would never do to a Hofner. The hardware, well, if you have the cash replace: (in order) strings, nut, bridge, tuners/machines, pickups. The pickguard seems thin and cheesy. The strap buttons, well, seem to be solid. The workmanship is good considering the cheap hardware. The body I would give a 10. As far as using it without a backup, the only bass I feel better about in that category is a Warwick.

Not had to deal with support.

I have been playing bass since 1969, guitar since 1971. We have in our house a Yamaha es335 1978 (which I will NEVER sell, btw), Epi Les Paul Special (also black), Hohner acoustic, Harmony p-bass, classical guitar. Amps include 2 crates w/celestion, Fender sidekick bass amp.
I would buy another one if lost or stolen. I am planning to replace the roundwound strings with flatwounds, the bridge which seems shodily made, and of course the nut. The roundwounds sound "buzzy" as the bass picks up any little sound. I like the fact that it's semi-acoustic so you can practice without an amp. My ratings here overall reflect anything and everything I have ever played bass-wise: Gibson, Fender, Hofner, Warwick, etc. I wish I would have been able to compare it to it's biggest competitors, the Eastwood Beatle bass and the Epiphone Viola bass. It sounds closer to a Hofner 500/1 than anything else I have heard, but not quite exactly like a 500/1. It plays very easy, though, like a good bass should. Great bass for the money and for blues/60's rock.

The Jay Turser Beatle Bass 2002 4 strings. This is, hands down THE best Hofner copy of all time. Just about the only differences are the Tail piece (that looks great but I have replaced with a hofner's) the tuners (chrome open-back but can be replaced) and the pickups (flat wouldnt want to replace them they sound better then the original hofners (lol) Full scale neck and.......... it came with a cord. (of which i threw out because everyone knows that you shouldnt use the factory cord!

I play in a beatles cover band and I bought this over any other beatle bass copy because 1: price is better then the epiphone or any other 2: it looks EXACTLY like the real hofner (the epiphone dosent) 3: sounds GREAT. I use it in a Vox T60 bass amp (like mcCartney's) and its wonderful. Rich full sounds. But i have been thinking about changing to flatwounds (like mcCartney) I use it in both the stage and studio. Lets face it, the hofner 5000/1 may sound great in the beatles records. but thats only because of the bass player. I would rae this better then any hofner in the sound area

The Action (out of box) was great for me to play and a GREAT change from a fender. It came with roundwound strings and they felt great. As hofners were, the neck is very testy, so when I came home from a vacation I found that it had reset it self. I just raised the tun-o-matic bridge and it sounded better then before. Also, This is by far the best looking Hofner copy the finish is AMAZING it looks like a hofner. That all i have to say about this.........10

Its reliable and has endured sooooo much. $ hour live performances every night. the finish still looks great after all this time. never has a strap button failed. VERY DEPENDABLE. if you dont play it for a while, the bridge might need to be adujusted, (might) but probably not. We have many times used this bass WITHOUT a backup.

it has a lifetime warranty, but I dont feel that i will have to use it ever. nor have i had to talk to the company. I would definetly buy from jay turser again

Ive been playing for a long time now and I started out on a fender bass. The fender was incredibly heavy and had AWFUL action compared to the jay turser. The NECK is heavier then the body on the this model. Just like the real hofner. I dont know what would happen if it were lost or stolen again, itd break my heart. I love this bass so. I would definitly buy it again.

My Jay Turser bass was made in 2002(I think) and to the untrained eye looks like a real Hofner bass.Tuning keys are chrome and closed back unlike the real open back Hofner with pearl tuning pegs. Other differences are minor to most people I think. The tail piece is different from the real thing too. But it looks cool. I had the factory set up with round wound stings and such.

It sounds good. I ran it through a vox t-25 and it is simular to my real hofner.It has a plucky sound to it.

Finish was great! This thing looks better than it plays. It is a nice looking bass. natural finish with a great shine on it's violin shaped body.

I played a wedding w/ it and it was OK. I would say it is more rugged than most think.

N/A

I sold it to a friend after getting another real Hofner. I have a rick bass too so no room for this right now. Otherwise I would have kept it. I loved the way it looked, it was light and easy to play, but not the real thing.

Features : See previous reviews. This a 'near dead on' copy of the famous hofner bass played by you know who. I was a bit sceptical at first but I am very enthousiastic now.

I play in a '60 sounding band and originally play Guitar, having switched to Bass a few years ago. I mainly play fretless and this is my first fretted bass since a long time. I changed the pots and did some re-wiring to make it a bit more versatile instrument. It now features a (one)volume and a tone control wich gives me a even broader range of sounds than the instrument came with. I play roundwound strings but sometimes I want that flatwound sound and the tone control does this for me. The pickups are very good with lots of low end and a massive output compared to my other basses. And what I like most about this bass is the feedback !(not the place in Utrecht whwre I bought the bass :-) If you find the right spot on stage you can just play a note and it will go on forever... Any note ! I used this effect live a couple of times and this bass didn't emberrass me by skweaking or so...

A good instrument...

As far as my model is concerned, it was pretty well set up. A bit of string rattle but that was soon fixed. The finish looks amazingly good. I wasn't as impressed with some of the electronics but I fixed that myself. With such a cheap bass you can expect that this low price must come from somewhere... If you get the bridge ajusted right you can intonate this instrument near perfect. The only thing that struck me as somewhat odd is that the Pearl plate containing the switches and pots was mounted upside-down.

I used this bass 'out of the box' on a gig and have been using it on ever gig since. I don't have to bring a backup because I feel fully confident about this bass. I take the frettles along for the soft songs. That's all....

The Dutch importer is considering to order the hardshell case. I would buy one on the spot. This bass easily fits in a spanish guitar rockbag and that's how I carry it around now.

I've been a playing musiscian for over twenty five years. I own and have owned a lot of musical instruments. This one is a 'stayer' and will be my no1 axe for years to come. This week will take it into the studio for recording. If you want to know more drop me an e-mail at vinace99@hotmail.com

Bought in 2003, not sure when it was made. It's definitely from China. It has a short scale, which feels comfortable, but strange when you're not used to it. Before I only played on my Yamaha BBN-III, which is quite heavier. It's got 2 volume knobs and 3 switches: treble on/off, bass on/off, rhythm/solo. It's kind of strange that the volume knobs on each side of the switches belong to the opposites (left knob -> right (bass) switch, right knob -> left (treble) switch). It's got two pick-ups that sound well, but I don't know any technical things about them. The body feels kind of light when compared to a solid-body bass. The finish looks well, but isn't quite perfect. In the shop I asked for a bass right out of the box, instead of the one in the shop. It was allright for them and I got one and of course played on it before buying it. It goes with a simple connection cable, which I didn't use so far, because I've got a better one already.

I'm not playing the bass for a very long time. I used to play keyboards in a band for many years. Then I turned to the electric guitar, only playing chords. But I've always liked the bass, so for about 2 years I'm studying it a little bit. My favourite music is rock/ pop, especially from the 70's (Queen, The Eagles and, of course, The Beatles) as well as country. This bass perfectly does the job for the Beatles things, but also country (walking bass lines) works fine. I'm using it with a Trace Elliot Combo. It has quite a high pitch, but I have to get used to the smaller size. I always end up playing near the bridge, while playing near the neck gives a much deaper sound. It has some rattles when playing on the first frets, but maybe I have to turn up the bridge to get the strings a little bit higher. I had a lot of trouble to tune it. That was already so with another bass in the shop. I could tune it very well, but when playing, for instance, the E on the 12th fret on the E-string and at the same time on the 14th fret on the D-string, it sounded a little out of tune. Mine has the same problem, but, after a while, it seems to get better.

I couldn't find any other problems, except as mentioned before. The bass was set-up fairly well. Tuning pegs, saddle, pickup selectors and pick-ups are all good. No misalignment etc. Allthough the one bass in the shop had a white plate that wasn't cut correctly, while mine didn't have this problem.

I own this bass too shortly for giving a good opninion on durability. I don't think I will use it a lot out of the home. Just for practising and, one of the reasons that I bought this bass, it will be mounted on my living room wall as a nice decoration. As a kind of hommage to the best band of all time: The Beatles (luckily, my wife likes the instrument too).

I always buy my instruments at the same shop: Feedback in Rotterdam (The Netherlands). I never had any complaints about them, but I have to admit I never had any real problems with any of my instruments (Fender Strat E-guitar, Ovation semi-acoustic guitar, Yamaha BBN-III bass, Yamaha DX-11 synth, Casio keyboard, Roland RD-500 piano).

I bought this bass after been looking in the shop-folder for a few years. I finally could convince my wife that it would show very nice on the wall. I read about the high prices you would have to pay for the Hofner bass. After that I read the reviews on the internet about the Jay Turner bass and I decided to go to the shop, played on it and finally bought one. What do I love about it? Mostly it's appearance, the light-weightedness and the nice tones that you can get from it. If it was stolen I really would buy another one.

mine is a 2002 model right handed with black finish and gold hardware, made in china,i think its probably a plywood body with maple neck and rosewoodfingerboard, tuners are grover styleknock off's that do the job and with a string change(roto's) will hold tune better than whatever the bass came with and gold plated as are the humbuckers, and i'm a little concerned about that post about the cheesy bridge. it was purchased on e bay from a dealer in aurora colorado who delivered very promptly with a hard shell case. as to the previous post about lefty's well they do make a lefty model now but as far as i know only in the sunburst finish which is very nice also, as 2 friends after playing mine went on e bay and bought the sunburst and the finish is high quality

believe it or not i think it actually sounds better than the original and running through my beatle catalog i can almost repro the sounds paul created and also get some solid body sound with some adjustment of controls, and still can get deep warm hoffy and blues sounds. i play it through a trace elliott gsx12sm with 2x10 combo and an additional 2x10 cab, a little tweek here and there on the eq and valve settings and i get some very interesting sounds for an inexpensive bass, and yes you dont have to be afraid to slap a little its a lot more versital than a hofner. for the money its a dream

from a distance this bass is a head turner. i've even had people ask if its a custom hofner because of the black finish,other than the color, pickups and slightly different tail piece it looks and plays like the macca's. it came perfectly set up and ready to play.(the dealer guarentee'd set up and came through. from other reviews about rattle and hum, i guess i got lucky as mine is perfect no bumps in the neck,no dead spots, its perfect. the finish looks like its almost a jap laquer its so deep and with no flaws. just a beautiful guitar for the money even if some of the hardware like the screws on the pickguard do look a bit cheesy but for the money i give it a 10 the only problem is a dead spot in the rythm solo switch. i have to fiddle a little to get it to work, could be a problem if gigging as if you dont hit the spot the bass goes dead but i might have the pots replaced with a better quality . from what i hear turser puts their heart into the finish and the leftovers in electronics that is to say it looks like a dream but the electronics are definitely chinese and do get that hum like a hofner i give it a 10 for finish, and fit and a question mark on the electronics. the action is incredible with the short scale and all. i have very long narrow fingers and can still really play this bass better than my others

i dont know about durability as i've only owned it for 2 months and dont play pro anymore, but its so easy and fun to play that i find myself hammering on it 3-4 hours a day. i have a feeling that the hardware will probably tarnish or wear off rather quickly and the finish looks like its hear to stay. strap buttons are solid and it seems like it would be dependable but i'd have a back up just in case if i were gigging

have had no contact as i havent had to use the limited lifetime warranty

i've been playing off and on for 38 years and yes bought my first bass after listening to pauls part on all my lovin. i also own a 1997 status graphite eclipse artist, a 79 peavey foundation that is like brand new and has never been played proffessionaly. i have the aformentioned trace elliott and a late 60's ampeg B15 THAT I BOUGHT NEW IN 69 its funny cause now that i think about it i havent touched any bass but the turser in 2 months. if you cant afford a hofner( or even if you can)and want a second bass to get that special 60's sound then i highly recommend the turser like macca said when elvis costello asked him to play on an album and only with the hofner,when he reached under the bed and dragged it out for the first time in years and strapped it on he realized how easy it was to play and how much better a bass player it made him. try the turser and have fun flying across that short scale. this bass comes with a strap button on the back of the neck and bottom of body so you dont need that special hofner style neck strap but get a good wide strap as this axe is light and will bounce of your shoulder if you're are an active player

Manufactured in China, Short scale -Great !-, Hollow Body, 2 "marvellous" bass pickups, PMCCartney looking like finish ;O), + optional (but necessary!) Hard shell case. (85$)

NB: Just one noticeable difference with original Hofner viola bass model, the JTB-2B dont have a FRET 0 !!!

One of the best Bass sound I've ever heard ! just like hofner original 500/1 bass ! Very "Boomy" & punchy warm sound, just like you can hear on every Beatles album.
Different "modes" pre-selections (solo, bass, more trebble...)
I've used it live at concerts, studio -for recording through professional material-, and... at Home ! PERFECT !

I love EVERYTHING on this Bass guitar !
I first planed to buy a German Hofner Beatle bass, but I read lot of good reviews on that JTB2B's Jay Turser bass (and all of their production -electric & accoustic guitars, basses-)

The Price is Less $$$ than a German Hoffie, but I can tell you I had
a BIG BIG pleasure the first time I played with it!
That's a great instrument.


If you want a Hofner 500/1 and don't have $$$, gotta get a Jay Turser JTB-2B !

Well, to be sincere, before i've ordered it, I thought "maybe for the price i've paid, the neck won't be comfortable, the finish will be bad...", and I was hopping to get a not bad one, although I read good reviews about this model on internet.

When I received it, in its optional Deluxe hard shell case...
Woaaaaaaaaaaaow !
I was absolutely surprised ! ;O)

First, the FINISH is SPLENDID !
High quality wood, robust harware, very beautiful finish, can tell no more but this ;O) ! just try to imagine a perfect one ! (I got it !)

The neck, action & pickups were very well set-up at the factory, and I didn't have to do something more!

The strings were OK but I've changed them and installed Flatwound Hofner strings (H11333BBeatleBass , same gauge as Paul McCartney !)

Played it live... PERFECT !
Hardware seems very robust, the finish is good enough to last till the son of the son of my son will die ;O)
The strap buttons are solid, etc... PERFECT !!!

NB: due to the Hollow Violin like body, this is a "fragile" instrument
comparing with a Fender or Ibanez solid body...
Just got to take care of it, this is and instrument, not a hammer ! ;O)

The company says it is under "LifeTime warranty"... (?)

I've ordered it on internet and in spite of the long distance (USA> Europe), the communication with the company was 100% OK !!!
-via e-mails-

http://www.jayturserguitars.com/

VERY SERIOUS and a good communication ;O)


(Didn't have to deal with Customer Support service, the instrument is 100% ok !)

If it were stolen, I would buy >> 2 << other ones again !
I hope this bass will not be discontinued by Jay Turser, this is really a good instrument.

Of course, the only other bass it can be compared with is a Hofner
Beatle Bass, and trust me, if you don't have $$$ for a Hofner, go for a JTB-2B ! you won't regret it !

Anything I wish it Had ???
A HOFNER logo on its head ;O) -true-
and a Fret 0 ! like original model, but this is ok even without it.

A great sensation playing with my bass, the response is incredible, the neck is very comfortable and wonderfully manufactered... etc...etc... ;O) -i'm in love!-

Jay Turser is a Trade Mark I now compare with "GIBSON"(Yes!) or "FENDER"

This is a fantastic value ! maybe not for $$$ instrument collectors, but for simple musicians we are, it is !

The featurs on this bass were just as advertised with a few exceptions. It is a cheap knock off of the Hofner, which is exactly what I was looking for. I needed it to play Beatles covers, but did not want to spend alot of money on the real Hofner.

I was less than impressed with the quality of this bass in some areas. It was next to impossible to intonate correctly. The bridge was not even glued to the body--when I took the strings off for the first time, the bridge fell right off! When I picked up the little wooden bridge piece, I noticed the wood smelled horrible--it smelled really nasty! Not sure if the smell was the stain they used or if it was just very cheap wood. Because of the way it is made, the suspended metal piece holding the strings below the bridge rattles alot when played. Also, the neck had a bump in it, but for what I paid, I didn't expect it to be perfectly straight so that did not bother me. Aside from those problems, it was just what I was looking for. However, those problems irritated me to the point that I did not play it--I recently sold it.

I really liked the short scale on this bass. It made it very easy to play. I did not like the rattling noise that came from the suspended metal piece below the bridge. I did not like that I could not properly intonate it. If I were to raise or lower the action, that would make the intonation even worse. I never gigged with this bass, but when it wasn't rattling (when I pressed on the metal piece to stop the rattling while hitting a note with my other hand), it sounded pretty good through my full stack.

The setup was horrible. It could not be properly intonated, and adjusting the action only made the intonation worse. I never bothered adjusting the pickups--they were just fine. The neck had a bump in it that caused some fret rattling when playing certain notes. The wooden bridge stunk and appeared to be made of low quality wood. The suspended metal part on the body rattled constantly while playing.

I never tried this bass live--I felt it would only embarass me with all of its rattles and poor intonation. There's no way the bridge would last given the way it was made--the part that should have been glued to the body was not, and the suspended metal piece rattled like it was ready to fall off. The finish on the bass itself seemed fine. The strap buttons were fine. I didn't have it long enough to know how often the neck would need adjusting, but I did have to adjust it upon arrival.

I never dealt with the company. Given the quality of the bass I purchased, I felt it would likely be useless to try. If they would let something like that go on the market, they probably wouldn't care. It had a warranty but I chose to just sell it. Since I did not try calling or writing them, I have no rating for this category.

I've been playing for a number of years and own 6 other basses, 3 of which are high-end custom basses. I gig several times a month and do most of my tech work myself. I wish I could have tried this bass out in the store before buying it, because I would not have made the mistake of buying it. I liked the way it looked--thats about the best compliment I can give it. If you plan on buying a cheap bass like this, do yourself a favor and try out the one you are buying--not just one like it--as the quality control on at least the one I bought was horrible!

This is a black beatle bass with gold hardware. you know the rest

With flat wound strings it sounds better than my Hofner . It came with round wounds and has a very unique sound. With the round wounds it can sound very close to a Rickenbacker depending on the tone settings. I am very impressed. Records very well with deep bottoms and strong mids.

The factory setup was very nice. I raised the strings a little to get rid of some of the buzz created by the round wounds. The bass is extremely comfortable to play just like the hofner. One thing you can do with this bass that can't be done on a hofner is slap. This bass is stunning to look at. I can't believe the quality for the price.

I feel less paranoid playing this bass than my hofner which always feels like it can turn into a pile of splinters.

Unless you really have to have the original I would recommend saving the extra $2,000 or more and pick up this gem. It sounds as good or better than the original at a fraction of the cost. I think I'm going to sell my Hofner and get 10 more of these.

10

Looks exactly like the original, I cannot complain. I got it from Maggio's Music, and the service was top notch. I got the customized case for the guitar and it works perfectly. The instrument is solid and definitely a looker.

I am a hip hop/jazz/funk bassist, but my roots are with the Beatles, R.E.M., U2, and the Police. I bought this as my second bass after I had a failed stint with an Ibanez. It sounds great, and I can practice without headphones or an amp because it is semi-acoustic. There is a little bit of a ring on the lower strings.

It is beautiful, I dont need to say anything. The guitar speaks for itself.

I have played live with it and got a great response. I would like to perhaps get a rickenbacker for my main bass for gigs, but this is definitely a capable instrument. I have used it on a gig without backup, but it makes me nervous, not because of the instrument, but because i am very accident prone

Maggio Music was quality, I have yet to have to deal with Turser directly. I believe the warranty is for 3 years.

I love it and would buy it again. This is one instrument that will never leave my collection

I just received this bass---probably a 2002 model--bought from Jammers and Jerry on ebay. Most questions have been answered, so I'll just fill in my ideas. I purchased a case too, which is a perfect companion piece.

The sound is better than I thought it would be. It does closely resemble the Hofner. There was slight string-vibration, but I have raised the action a little, and it is much better now---a little more tweaking, and it will be perfect. Other then that, it is fantastic.

Came set up beautifully---as mentioned, I adjusted the action a bit. Finish is extremely nice for such a budget guitar. There are some marks on the back, which look almost like scuffs. They are in the middle, and are seen when looking at an angle. It appears to be underneath the clearcoat. Perfect besides this, and even that is virtually unseen. I think Jay Turser has listened to some of the other comments---my pickguard is extremely smooth, and doesn't need any sanding at all. Pickups and pick gaurd came with protective plastic, which I pealed off right away, leaving the shiny chrome to stand out nicely. All screws were perfectly seated, as well. From a few of the other posts, I think they have worked on their quality- control a little. Frets all are tight and smooth. One thing I notice is the outside black-plastic rim of the pick-ups has slight plastic sticking out in some spots, along the wood of the body. Probably along the same lines as the rought pick gaurd in other posts. Will easily come off with a few minutes work---I just haven't had time, what with all the playing!!

As for the durability, I think it is heavier than most give it credit for. I was expecting it to be like a feather reading the other posts, but it does have a nice balance and weight to it. I have a Peavey T-40, which is heavy with its solid wood construction. I think you will be pleasantly surprised with the feel of this bass.
If you get a chance, buy a hard case if you can. I bought one for it from the same dealer, and it is awesome. Very well finished---comes with a key, which didn't seem to work, though! I would never need to lock it anyway!

Jerry from Jammers on Ebay was fantastic. I received it one day after payment was made, but I am only 90 miles away. Still incredible! Carefully packaged, too. I will give no opinion on this, because I haven't dealt with Turser's customer support.

Because of the great sound, beautiful finish, and extremely low cost, I give it a 10. If this was made in USA, and the very quality that this one is, this bass could fetch $500.

This bass cost me $220. I got a hardshell case for another $75. And replaced the strings to Rotosound Trubass Black Nylon MEDIUM scale (RS88M) for $30. I got the black with gold hardware JTB-2B model. It goes well with my custom VOX bass rig. http://www.zumbido.com/my_rig/my_rig.html

The tuners seem better than the original Hofner's. The tailpiece is shorter - causing the scale of this instrument to be 30.5 inches.

It's truly a copy. Fat, deep and characteristically a bit out of tune high-up-the-neck. More time spent on that issue would be necessary. But overall usable. A blast to play!

The bass was initially delivered set up well. I, however, immediately replaced the strings to Rotosound Trubass Black Nylon MEDIUM scale (RS88M) - just like Sir Paul used from Revolver through Let it Be. I had contacted Rotosound and it was suggested that I get the MEDIUM scale (32-34"). The tailpiece, on the Turser, is shorter than the Hofner and therefor the scale is actually 30.5 inches - a half-inch more than the Hofner! The MEDIUM scale allows for the needed extra string length over the nut and bridge. I was pleased with the pickup adjustment.

Appears to be reasonably durable. I play relatively hard, mostly with fingers, occassionally with a pick. The finish looks great. As to the metal plating, time will tell. Personally, I don't get the feeling, as others have stated, that the bass is frail. It is light weight, that's all.

No experience with JAMMERS MUSIC STORE other than the quick delivery after purchasing this bass on line. At this price I would not hesitate on buying another bass from them.

I have been playing since 1968. I at one time owned a Hofner Beatle bass. This JTB-2B is totally reminiscent of that instrument. I have not stopped being amazed at the quality of this bass - and for $220!

Just like everyone else, mine has all the standard features of a real hofner, but the tuning pegs are different (although I cant complain, because they hold their tuning really well). Also the part at the bottom of the guitar that holds the strings onto the guitar is a bit different. But this is relatively unnoticable to most people.

It sounds great! I've never played a hofner, but I cant imagine that it sounds much different. Once you record a bass track I would recomend tweaking with the EQ, but in the end you can get a sound almost exactly like Macca's

The bass looks and plays great! Ive never had anyone pick it up who didn't insist on having to buy there own because they were so impressed.

Being a hollow body, i did not expect it to hold up, but I've had it for over a year now, and despite my efforts to keep it out of harms way, it has been tested, and it has more than stepped up to the challange. The bass is still in perfect condition.

I dont know cause I havent had a problem with it, but I hope I never find out.

Overall, it is a 10. I bought it so that I would have a Hofner knock off because I could never afford a real hofner, and it has been everything that I could have imagined it would be. I love playing it, I love recording with it, and I love showing it off. Its an Unbelieveable guitar and every beatle fan should have one.

black finish gold hardware,2 pickups,pretty much like a 70's hofner but made in china

i am a picky s.o.b when it comes to sound, i want NO noise,lows where i want them to go,highs and brightness where i want them to go,too.i had 3 hofners in my life a 55,a 68,and a 70.they sounded good but a bit noisy,and a pain to to get the sound where you want it.this bass completely BLOWS THEM AWAY,i was not expecting much and i am very pleased.you can actually slap on this sucka! cant do that on a hofner

i had to readjust the neck,reseat some screws,fiddle with a few things,but hell i have had to do this with 2000 dollar basses to get them the way i like them so,this rating is negotiable, minus the neck adjustment.

have not really had it long enough to tell,so i will get back on this one,but i do not agree with a previous rater about a hofner not being able to take a beating,my 55 did not even have an adjustable neck and never went out of wack or out of tune in the 18 years i had it,and believe me it went thru some real canadian arctic weather.i feel this one could not put up with that kind of beating,but i could be wrong.

have not had to deal with them,so i will let you know as time progresses too.

i have to admit,i sold my hofners because i hated their ugly look(that brown sunbust,yucky!),and there uncontrolable sound,this one takes the best from hofner and adds a little common sense,and bam !you have a winner,plus much much less exspensive.but i will have to keep an eyeball on the durability,hofners were extremely well made.but that does not justify their high cost.

China made, 2000 I think...

I play rock; in fact a lot of 60-70s influenced rock. The notes at the low end of the bass are not clearly distinguishable, mid-range she sounds like a dream, esp. playing live and again not so great but okay at higher end. Studio use is out of question.

Super finish. Believe it: this baby looks incredibly beautiful the first time you pull it out. It's been 6 months and it still has that wonderful gloss.
The fit appears good. The action needed some adjustment at the bridge, (one string buzzed terribly initially) but was pretty good otherwise.

Have used it for plenty of live shows now and I'm still dragging it along in a gig bag and it's been through some travel. So far, no issues, except for the cable plug bolt falling off it's threads, which happened while I was playing, but took about 5 minutes to reset. Can't comment much on reliability otherwise...yet. But it looks okay if you take good care of it.

Dunno...not needed any support. Lifelong warranty?

Okay, here's the thing: I've been playing bass for 3 years and have had 3 basses so far: the previous two were solid bodies and I am also using a Peavey Milestone now.

If you play regularly in a band AND sing (like Paul did), I can almost gaurantee you you will not find a better bass (at this price). It's the easiest bass I can play, let's me focus on my singing and is light, yes very very light and that's a huge plus, which you will appreciate after you've slugged around a heavy solid body for a year!

If you're looking for something to get serious about bass playing, to plug into your computer and record an album, there are better basses out there. Eventually, it's all about the sound, and I think this bass falls short on that.

All in all, it's a super bass for me, and I'm going to make sure I have one by my side at all times. I love it live. Just love it.

Price paid: 237.00 including shipping.
8 Best copy of a hofner that I have ever seen, Everyone including my band members, have asked me , is that a hofner? A Beatle nut would know right off, that it's not by the look of the pick-ups and look of the electronics.This bass is made in China

9. Hofner sound all the way, especially through a big professional sound system. If you listen to Lonley Road on McCartney's new album, it sounds just like that, There is also a video on the internet that shows Paul playing this song and he is on the Hofner (his main bass again these days)I also changed the strings to ernie Ball 100's (light), the originals were a little too light and didn't stay in tune as well. On Beatle songs, it's the sound! Sounds nothing like a Fender though, so bring a Jazz or Percision for the other stuff!

8, Plays great, especially if you have small fingers, I don't! I am 6'4", I play the Fender much better, The Turser's fret board is more like a guitar (if you ever played a Hofner, it has the same feel)The finish is great, High luster, I have a slight fret buzz (even after I changed strings) on the B note (second string, 9th fret) Doesn't come through in the amp though. No intonation problems, stays in tune great, again, after I changed the strings, I chose round wounds because I want the sound to be closer tho my fender.

9, It seems really durable, I play between 3 and 6 nights a week, every week! I use this bass a lot, I always have my Fender with me, I wouldn't think of going out without 2 guitars no matter what! The Turser is really light, great after playing the heavy Fender for 3 hours, I don't trust the strap buttons on this guitar, or any other guitar, so I put on strap locks right away, but the original buttons seemed solid and tight

Jerry at Jammer's music store (where I bought it via e-bay) seemed real friendly and responded immediately to any questions I had. the bass comes with a limited lifetime warranty.

I have been playing 38 years, I also have a Jazz, Percision, a Hartke 3500 head with 4-10's, various 6 sting guitars. Our band, The Fabulons, has a huge Pa. and several mixing boards so everything is lined out, The Turser is huge through all that, I would definitely buy this bass again, $200.00 is a good price for it, better than $1500.00 for a Hofner just because "He" plays it. The Hofner went for about $60.00 in Hamburg in 1962. I've played a Hofner, trust me, that's all it's worth! The Turser feels a lot more solid and durable than the Hofner

Near identical copy of Hofner Beatle Bass. 30" Short Scale. Made in China I think.

Looks beautiful. I'm amazed at the quality of low end guitars these days. Twenty five years ago I learned to play on a Japanese copy of a Fender Mustang. Like all copies in those day, it looked and played like crap. Not this one.

Exactly what I was looking for. The warm thump of the Hofner without the extravagant price. If you're looking for heavy metal growl, keep looking. But for pop, classic rock, spot on.

Mind you, this is after I changed the strings. Comes with cheap roundwounds. If you have the money, go with Pyramid flatwounds or if (like me) you're on a budget Fender flatwounds (light gauge) will do.

Action was pretty good on arrival. Pick ups needed some tweaking. No other flaws.

Fair warning. Intonating this bass is a challenge. The "floating bridge" makes it thus. Took me a while, but eventually got it set. Some will disagree, but one on the tradeoffs of these kinds of basses is the intonation problems as you go up the fretboard. Hey, it doesn't worry me.

Remember, it's a Hofner copy. You want to be careful. It's held up well for me, and everything seems solid on it.

Comes with a "limited lifetime warranty" from Jay Turser. Emailed them with a question about the pickups and got a speed reply.

Playing casually for twenty five years. Last bass was an Ibanez SR800. Way too much for what I do. For the money, this bass looks great, sounds close enough to a Hofner that I would absolutely buy another one if lost or stolen.

Same as a Hofner - thin, short neck, slider selectors that are a pain to understand, great nostalgia look, distinctive sound. I love it.

I borrowed a Hofner from a friend at a music store and played it side by side with the Turser while deciding if I should buy the Turser. The Turser kicked Hofner ass! Louder, deeper ouput, with the distinctive Hofner 'thump', more solid-feeling body and neck attachment.

Excellent in studio, a little thin live (probably the EQ/amp).

Great multitone tobacco sunburst, nice flaming on the back. Neck is short, narrow and fast, with good medium, pick-playin' action. Also plays clean and deep with fingers.

The pickups don't look like Hofner, nor does the tailpiece and knobs, but they are minor to the overall look.

The Turser felt more substantial (and heavier) than the Hofner, less likely to crumble in your hands. This probably also helps with the deeper bass output.

Some cheap (but great) mods I made:
- The tuners are ugly, BUT, I removed the wings and heat-pressed some ukelele (!) tuner knobs on the original Turser tuners and it looks and works great. Very cheap fix, too - less than $10.
- Had the guitar tech at Rufus' bevel the backside of the white truss-rod cover so I could flip it over and have the black back showing instead of the ugly white front.
- I also got some Hofner creampot knobs off eBay for $20 as replacements.

This bass is tougher than a Hofner - at a gig, my guitarist knocked the Turser over, and it hit the concrete HARD. That would have easily wrecked a Hofner. The Turser took only a minor neck-heel crack that didn't affect tuning at all. Solidified it and it's as strong as ever.

Nice deep lacquer, neck is straight and stable.

ALWAYS have a backup when playing live - but I haven't needed t use it yet.

I found the owner of Rufus' Guitars to be a bit dismissive of my ilk for buying a cheaper instrument - even though he stocked quite a few of them. His guitar tech, however was great. He beveled the backside of the white truss-rod cover so I could flip it over and have the black back showing instead of the ugly white front.

I've had this bass 4 years now and it's the only bass I play. My aggressive, guitar-based style is appropriate for this bass, and it sounds great in the studio, but less so live (probably the amplification/EQ).

Hofner for a collector, Turser for a player.

Good features on it, almost like a hofner, except how the egdes are half curved. The pickups are good, like the cavern beatle bass.
It has a good rosewood fretboard,which makes it easier to play than a fender.(to me, anyway)

The sound is great when playing on an amp. When playing without the amp, the strings can buzz after a while.(which get annoying)
Rich sound/deep sound.

This bass can withstand live playing, and the strap buttons are solid.

I have been playing for two years or more, and I really enjoy it. I seldom play this bass with my thumb, like paul m., because it makes a better sound. I wish it had smaller tuners like the hofner, because it looks better without those metal T's. I also have a YAMAHA six-stringed acoustic guitar, which I use when I'm not playing bass.
Overall, I think this bass was worth buying, especially on the internet. I would buy it again, because I wouldn't spend $2,000 or more for the orginal because personally that's a rip off.(especailly since I wouldn't have the money...)

I guess it was made in 2002 in china, it features all the gifts it advertised for.Great looks and sound.

I play beatles music in mexico city in a couple of bars,i think is better for the studio than gigs.but te looks are just awsome
Very rich sound,deep and nostalgic ,remindes me of a diferent era.

I couldnt sleep for a couple of days thinking that I was going to be disapointed:but I was not, I dont even think that the original looks this great;it is beautiful and sounds great. Nothing was wrong with it ,except a couple of minor flaws,very easy to fix with a little patience. factory sent this in perfect condition.thanks

I dont know yet?????

i hope I dont have idea ,because i am happy

it took me 4 hours to get to you,and I look all over the web ,and let me tell you something ,even if I dont get my bass stollen I am going to get another one for my collection.

Very nice for the price--much better than the Epiphone Viola I had, especially the pick-ups!

It sounds very much like a Hofner--It has smooth pots and decent switches.
Dump the cheap strings and go for the Fender flats for that vintage sound.

It has decent action, and a very good finish, considering the price of 200 bucks.

It is probably more frail than a solid body. Don't drop it or throw it and it will be fine. It seems to be remarkably solid. On arrival, 1 tuning peg was loose, but 10 seconds with a wrench took care of it. I put heavier guage strings on and I did not have to adjust the truss rod.

Jerry at Jammers was first rate. The bass was represented honestly and it showed up on time--great price as well!

This is a spare or second bass for gigs. I have some Warwicks and Fenders so it has some competition. It is excellent quality for the money---period. I would buy it again.

Made in china, cause thats what it said on the sticker on the back. Normal amount of frets, 4 string bass. Volume and solo, bass, and treble are the main controls givin. It is a little off balance when playing with a strap on, standing up , i went from a peavey milestone to this and there is a huge difference, light as a feather, not as small as some people say it is just the normal size of bass but very very light!

My music style is good ol classic rock and most importantly the Beatles. I use a Peavey Microbass amp with it and it sounds fine. Its very loud without the amp, mom says TURN THAT DOWN, but you cant when the amp off! I would use it on stage more than in the studio if I ever got around to it, my other bass is a little less noisy, but i love the noise it makes!!

I had it set up at the music pantry in richmond, in. The 11th fret buzzed horribly and they had to raise it, so that wasnt a plus, but now it plays just awsome,never had one like it!

I think it would stand live playing, it just feels like it is going to break all the time(probably because im so reckless)i hope it doesnt though because i love it. The finish was great nice and shiney no problems there! The strap buttons are great which is a plus cause on my other bass the are realy loose and i have to re-screw them all the time. I wouldn't gig without a backup, even if i had a hofner

It came with a horrible buzzy 11th fret, they don't do anything about it

I have been playing for a year and this is the best bass i have come across so far, very catchy looks, and great sound, if you want to look like paul m. but dont have the money for a hofner, this would be my first choice!It said it listed for $400 on the jay turser web site and I got it for $230 felt like i stole it!

Got it in 2000, assume it was made then since I got it new. It's a beautiful copy of the McCartney violin bass. Very nice sunburst finish and has the three switches with two volume knobs. It takes a little tinkering to figure out what the switches actually do to the sound, there are a lot of combinations with the three switches.
The tuners work nicely and evenly, the neck suits me just fine, not too wide or thick.

I love the sound of this guitar. I play a variety of styles from early Beatles stuff to STP, Creed, Zeppelin, Blink182, etc. and I can get a lot of different tones from this bass. But it really shines on Beatles tunes, it has that deep, low, booming sound of the Beatles recordings. I haven't had any noise problems.
I like it on stage because it looks so cool, and it is very lightweight. Your neck and shoulders aren't sore after several hours like they get when playing a Fender P-Bass.

It came set up pretty well, although I did raise the bridge slightly to eliminate minor string buzz (when playing hard with a pick). There wereno flaws in the finish, it looks great. The action is fine, I find this bass is very easy to play.

I have used this bass in rehearsals for about 3 months (6 times a month) and have played live twice. Haven't had any problems yet. You always get a comment or two from people like "wow-nice looking Beatle bass", etc.
I've had the bass for about a year now and play it constantly, there haven't noticed any wear of the finish. I do however take a backup with me when playing live (mostly in case a string breaks).

Never had to use customer support

I've been playing for over 30 years and have 2 basses, 2 electric 6-string guitars, a 12-string electric, a 12-string acoustic, and 2 6-string acoustic guitars. This bass is a great addition to my gear, I'd probably buy it again if needed. If you like playing any of the 60's - 70's era stuff, this bass gives you that sound, especially on Beatles tunes. Plus, it's versatile enough to get different tones that fit well with more recent styles.

Brand new, dead ringer for the "you-know-who" violin shaped bass. Same # of frets, same pickguard, same nice thin neck. I also play a ric (gee, who's my favorite bass player?) and the neck on this is like a mandolin. Basic 2 pick ups. Selector is a bit strange, that 'Solo" switch really boosts the volume.Light as a feather, which, again, compared to the Rickenbacker, is a delight. I play long nights, lots of classic rock and roll, and this bass is ideal. The inout jack was a bit loose when I got it, but it's okay now. The bas, I guess due to it's shape, is a bit off balance, but the so is it's owner.

As I said, it's ideal for the classic rock stuff. I play through a Hartke 115 Combo, and while it could be a bit louder, it's fine for the bar thingy. Nice deep sound, black fender strings. Treble sound is a bit lacking, but that's not why I bought it, so I don't really care. Again, great for the long gigs, as it's so light.

Called Maggio Bros in Bklyn with a rush job. They set up the bass for me and did an outstanding job. Ran in, picked it up, ran out to a gig. Those folks are the best.

Seems to be pretty durable, but may be too soon to tell. I've playedabout 8 shows with it,(at 4 hours a piece) and it seems fine so far. I always bring another bass any way, no matter what I'm playing.

Didn't deal with the factory, but again, Maggio Bros. is the best

I've been playing for 20 years, also own a Rickenbacker and a Mosrite knockoff, and this is a fine bass. If I lost it somehow, yeah, I'd get another one. I'd say to anyone that has that wish for a Hofner, but doesn't have $1300 for one, or if you play a lot of gigs and wouldn't want to risk that $1300 investment, because I'd be crapping with fear as well, then this is the bass for you

This is the Best copy of the Hofner 501 I've seen. I think it's made in china (Especially since it does say Made in China on it). It had those horrible Large generic Machines heads, (I've since have changed them with original Hofners Machines). Look great next to real Hofners, (I own 2, 1-Cavern model-Purchased from Music ground in England, & 1 Purchased from Subway guitar on the Left coast). Great finish. Love the Mother of toilet seat pick-guard. Does not-I repeat does not sound like a Hofner, But does sound great, great for R & B, Just put on some Rotosound or Pyamid flat rounds. I purchased because I did not want to take a chance beating=up my real ones. I Play thru a Vox B-25 & T-60 bass amp.body made of sycamore, not maple as some people say, but still great. espically for $249.00

Great for Beatles stuff, let's face it, Live, nobody hears how your bass sounds, they just want to see a Violin bass, lets be real, looks super cool!
Great dark sound, i play thru a B-25 & T-60 vox amp.(Again, for the look!!!!)

Great finish, great set-up at the store, Again, I had the machine heads changed, The original ones worked, i just hated the look.

I can only answer this question next year this time, but again, why would a company give a lifetime warranty for something they did not believe it???????

I go to my own technician (Rick-owner of Carmine guitars in the Village in manhattan) Life-time warranty (Is that My-life-time or the manufacturers?)

Been playing over 25 years. Would replace it immeditely with another one. Compares with Fenders,Epiphones, Hofners, etc. I choose it for the Playability & looks. I wish they made a Cavern model, (Pick-up's near each other & next to the neck, would buy this second model in a flash!!!)
2 friends of mine play Paul & are lefty, they wish there was a lefty model.

This instrument was made in China new in 2000. It has a short 30" inch scale. and the top could be laminated , oer should be for the price paid . The controls are very similar to the real Hofner . and it has two humbucker style pickups which are passive . The overall construction seems very good , above average I would say . The general finish is as good or better than you would find on the Epiphone copy. As far as metal parts the finish seems very good , and only time will tell how well it stands up to wear and tarnish.

I bought this instrument basically because i am a certified beatles fanatic , and since I own other instruments could not justify laying out the big bucks for the real thing . If you are after a solid vintage sound and look ,this is the instrument for you . I play this through an S.W.R.400 and a Trace Elliot single 18 cabinet and it sounds really authentic . It is a good idea to change the factory strings to flat wounds . I'm using Pyramid , The same as Sir Pauls , expensive but worth the effort.

Flawless finish !!!!!!!!

Very delicate feel after playing a Pre. bass requires a very gentle touch . no Megadeth on this puppy.

Lifetime warrenty , and from asking around they seem serious .hope it doesn't need it

I've been playing about Thirty years , and know the Beatles like the back if my hand . This guitar will not let you down . I've played the Hofner and it does feel better but not by much . By the way Hofners come stock with Pyramid flats . and this contributes greatly to that feel and sound.

A Hofner Style lawsuit bass.....Short scale, two pick-ups with the Hofner style "Mother of Toilet Seat" pick gaurd and electronics. Two volume controls, a bass & treble switch as well as a rhythm-solo switch. Very nice looking replica....Feature wise it's everything a Hofner is....Quaity is another issue but this Chinese Hofner copy is very well done.

Sound wise...again Hofner all the way. It came with round wound strings and sounded very good. I put a set of D'Addario half wound flats on it and it made it sound a little a little deeper but really cut out the bite..Just a matter of taste. Still a nice vintage sound.

The body, neck and finish workmanship are flat out spectacular. Clean binding job, flawless finish, even some flame in the neck. The pickguard is poorly finished. It almost looks as if it was cut out with a knife instead of a router. The action was a little high and I lowered it. The neck also had some bow that couldn't be taken all the way out but it is still very playable...but clearly not like my Alembics. Hey, it didn't cost thousands either...

Two hours after playing it, a loud hum developed and the treble pick-up went out. After pulling the control panel I saw the worst wiring in history. The soldier joints all looked cold, the ground had fallen off the treble pot and insulation on various leads had been burned thru. Took a good hour to clean things up. It's hard to believe that such superior wood working skills are met with an extremely poor wiring job. I've read other Jay Turser reviews and wiring is a problem...Add to this a neck that can't be properly adjusted and it is more a wall hanger and occasional use bass than a main axe...thus my poor rating. I wouldn't take it to a gig until I've played it a home for several months to see if the electronics hold up..

Hard to say....I paid $199.00 for it new and would have had to ship it back to N.Y....Warrantee says lifetime...That's pretty good...

All in all...it looks KILLER...plays very well even with the very slight bow and sounds great...Durablity is a big unknown. For the money $199.00...a steal.....but not worth the $450.00 list. My overall 9 is based on VALUE....

I assume it was made in 2001, since I bought it new on ebay. It was made in China. It has 22 frets and is short scale. It is a Hofner-like bass. It appears to have a one piece maple top and back, semi hollow, with top and back edge binding. It has 2 volume knobs, of whick I don't care for and will replace. and the usual 2 slide switches. It has 2 humbucking? pickups, chrome, with plain covers and black plastic surrounds. Passive electronics, I plan on wiring it stereo someday. To me, the control panel is installed upside down, I will change it. Semi-hollow maple body, maple one piece neck. The bass has a set neck, which seems very nice. Body style is violin shaped, no f holes, and a pearloid pickguard and truss rod cover. Thye finish is a honey burst (?), kind of plain maple. I think the Rogue Bass is the same bass with flame maple top and back and a black truss rod cover. Binding is very nice and I could only find 2 very small flaws in the finish(both on the headstock...over all a very, very nice finish. The tuners are die cast, mini Grover-like, and work fine. The maple set neck has a dark finish and rosewood fretboard, with small frets, short scale, narrow, small and very easy to play. Other than the hangtag, I did not receive anything else with this instrument. I have played the bass guitar for over 33 years. This will not be my main bass, but fills that Hofner niche.

This will not be my main bass, but fills that Hofner niche. I primarly play fretless, but wanted this for fun. I play it through a rack system and 2 JBL's and an Acoustic 301 18" speaker and a Peavey sub cabinetthat was designed for a 15", but I installed an 18".The bass sound great, but not like that Fender-like sound I'm used to. But that's what I expected. It has plenty of bass response with plenty of unexpected treble. I do not currently play with a band, so I have not used it in a "live" situation. I have not found any problems with the sound yet. Altho, I will wire it stereo.

The bass was set up very nice, with somewhat light gauge strings, roundwound. The action was somewhat high like all new guitars, but I have lowered the action a bit. The pickup are adjusted correctly. I found one fret with a flaw, only seen when sighting down the neck and dose not seem to affect the playability. One tuning peg had a loose nut and the pickguard was loose, both fixed now. The fret edges are really smooth( better than expected), but the nut has sharp edges, soon to smoothed out. The pickguard has very minor edge roughness that will be easily corrected. As stated above the bass had 2 minor flaws in the finish(both in the headstock, overall....very nice.

I sure this bass will stand up, I probably would not used as my only bass in a job. The chrome does look a little thin. The strap buttons seem to be real solid. The neck was very straight and true. It hasn't need a truss rod adjustment yet! As far as finish durability....I sure you get what you pay for.

It has a limited lifetime warranty. I have never owned a Jay Turser instrument before.

I have played for over 33 years.. I own many basses and amps. I would buy this bass again if lost or stolen. I love the sound and playability of it....I hate the knobs(like radio shack), I don't really care for the tailpiece either.I compared to other knockoffs and mainly choose this because it look so nice on the ebay ad and the price.

Just got a Jay Turser Beatle Bass.It was shipped as a temporary "Blem" pertaining to the finish.Two pick-ups. After digging inside to repair a wiring fault to the neck P/U. It is apparently made of plywood veneer but very nice.Neck is thin and easy(maple) but strings sit loose (may need another brand) It feels very fragile but its virture is weight or the lack of it.Very light.Reasonable tuners.I gave a 5 rating because it is not intended to be loaded with features.Its a good basic,semi-acoustic bass

after the p/u repair I had only an opportunity to use my small marshall lead (backed off a bit) and was surprised by the sound and smoothness of it.The rythem/lead switch(on a bass???) even works well.Ive been playing up a streak with it the truth will come with a bass amp that can handle it.It seems to have a decent warm range since thats what I wanted for a kick-around bass(old man -old music)

Remember,this was a factory blem. compromise.The finish I thought was pretty good.Alot better than the old Hofners I just seen at a guitar show(Hofners' were 80 bucks American when I was in the Army 71-73 and my guitar teaching buddy at the time said thats all they're worth)The bridge could be improved upon.I had to repair a ground wire to the pick-up.A choice of my own I decided to keep this one after the repair(I was given excellent compromise and service from Proffesiongear who I bought it from It was only to be a temporary replacement)

Everything seems pretty good.Alot of low end guitars have been improved quite a bit and this ones no exception.Ill only play the thing when other old hack drinking buddies show up and that will be a true test of reliability but I like this thing so much I just might hide it.As with the Hofners of the past ,its light and just as fragile but fun and you wont or mabe you will cry if you drop it.

I dealt mostly with with professiongear on e-bay and not to sound like a plug ,they were excellent,highly recommended.As far as Jay Turser goes,I made the repair myself since from past reviews,noone has gooten any satifaction out of them I figured why frustrate myself if Im going to wind up talking to my own ass-hole.The rating for Progear would have been high

I had Gretsch Tennessean in the past(wonderful)Rickenbacker 365 Fender Jag and now a Fender Mex (which is ok)Since Im not making a fortune why spend one).I would buy another one,It like a Blonde date You know you're going to have trouble with it down the line but its worth it.I like the semi hollow thump in a bass and this has it.Ill p[robably bring it in to have it set by a guy here.But I really like itNice variety of tone.I would like the strings with a little less fret buzz but mabe thats part of the strings they use.Ill find out when I bring it in

I traded for this bass, it's about a year old. Glued neck (not bolt-on), 2 chrome humbuckers, decent tuners, mother-of-toilet-seat pickguard and switch cover. This is a short-scale bass with maple back, top and neck, nice deeply-lacquered sunburst finish. Two volumes plus two pickup swithches and a "rhythm/solo" boost switch.
Bound neck and body, violin/mandolin style bridge with tailpiece slotted for string ends.

I play bass for a living, own eight basses (mostly Fender P's and J's). This little Hofner copy has a very authentic sound - I owned a Hofner back the days, and the Turser copy is very close in sound. Electronics are noisy, some 60-cycle hum in certain clubs, but my Hofner did the same thing. I run this bass through an old Peavey 400B bass head into either a two-ten PAF cabinet or a Peavey single-fifteen loaded with Carvin 600w 4-ohm speaker. This bass is strung with Fender stainless flat-wounds, which I had to cut to length. Beatle Bass strings are available from a few sources, but they're expensive and basically the same thing. If anything, my Fender flats are a little stiffer than the famous old Beatle Bass strings, but that helps fatten the sound a bit, I believe.

The Turser copy has a very dark, string-bass quality, especially when plucked with the thumb mid-course. I have used it both onstage and in the studio with perfect results. It even has deadspots like my old Hofner, which add more authenticity to the sound.

The electronics are most likely sub-standard, given the propensity for noise, but maybe that's another reason the bass sounds so period.

The finishing on this bass is pretty amazing considering the price range, somewhere in the mid-$200's... binding is straight, frets are set correctly and polished, nut is aligned well. When I got this bass, someone had tried to string it with Rotosound flats (115 on the E string, way too heavy for this baby), and the neck understandably became very curved. I simply put the Fender strings on, a much lighter guage, and adjusted the truss rod, and the bass came together beautifully.

The paint job and lacquer is particularly good here, no overspray, no pitting.

I use this bass on tons of gigs and never bring a backup, it's totally dependable at about half the weight of a Fender Precision. For the blues, it's unbeatable, perfect old Chicago electric bass sound, and a breeze to play with the small scale and thin neck width.

However, it's a hollow-body bass, vulnerable to cracking if dropped.

Overall, this bass is a 9, if only for the cheap price and decent workmanship. This is the best Hofner copy I've seen; almost all other copies are bolt-on neck instruments. This bass having a set-in neck is a big plus. I would definitely get another Turser Beatle copy.

Again, it's a Beatle Bass. It sounds like a Beatle Bass, or perhaps like an old Kay electric bass guitar from the early Sixties... no sustain, no Geddy Lee tone, none of that. It's all woof. That makes it a good tool for situations that require that sound. Be ready for wisecracks about Paul McCartney, though.

Purhased new 2000 JTB-2B violin 4 string Bass (Hofner copy). Set neck, 2 chrome pickups, chrome Gotoh type tuners, Pearloid pickguard and
switch cover. Short scale bass with 2 volume and 3 switches. Maple
back, top and neck with quality sunburst finish. No case but came
with inexpensive cord. An excellent copy of the hofner beatle bass.

This bass sounds awesome for the price!!! I have it connected
to a Peavey KB/A-100 keyboard/acoustic amp. This bass really
has that vintage sound and the look of a true hofner!!! Some
sutle string buzz but overall excellent sound!!!

Not only was this bass flawless out of the box but
it was tuned ready to go as well!!! The bass has a
beautiful maple finish with set neck and chrome hardware.
It closely resembles Sir Paul's coveted 1962 Hofner violin bass.
This is an incredible value for the price!!!!

This bass feels somewhat fragile so I would recommend a backup for
gigging!!! The finish seems very durable and should last years of
playing. The hardware seems to be of a reasonable quality.

I do not have any experience with Jay Turser guitar company.

I've been wanting a bass for years and finally broke down and
picked up this hofner beatle violin bass copy. It is a beautiful
and interesting looking guitar. I currently have an Ibanezx aw900
acoustic, Washburn J9VG and Aria Pro II PE-SPL. I love the vintage
sound that comes from this bass!!!!

I'm not sure where this guitar is manufactured, but I'm guessing it's in the US. The bass is a pretty sweet copy of the McCartney Hofner bass. It's a semi-acoustic four-string, with a 30' neck. It has that classic Sunburst wooden finish, with that sweet violin style head. The neck is made of maple, and the frets are Rosewood. It has 2 humbucking pick-ups, three swithes (Bass, Treble, Bright), 2 Volume control knobs, and a Pearl pickguard.

I personally love the Classic rock sound. I love deep bass, and I'm not into slapping and popping when I play. I love a very bassy low-end sound, which I think is perfect for McCartney's riffs and slides. If you're like me, just lower the highs on your amp and raise the lows and it's going to give you that sweet "muddy" boom your looking for. (It's very close sounding to the Hofner). I'm not crazy about the swithes that come on the guitar (this is one of the few cosmetic differences between the Turser and the Hofner). There's a switch for "bass" which acts as an ON/OFF switch for the whole guitar.

As far as external appearance, this bass was beautiful! I really scrutinized mine for misalignments, or imperfections, but couldn't find any. The wood finish is beautiful. I didn't have to modify the pickups at all, and it was ready to go out of the box. I'd consider this a fast-action guitar mainly because it's VERY light and you really have quick access to any part of the neck. I've heard some complaints that it's actually too light, but I don't mind it at all.

I gigged with this bass once but I had a backup. I definitely recommend bringing a back-up when gigging. It actually broke on me while I was practicing one night. A ground connection broke on the input jack. I had to take it apart, and re-solder the connection. It took about ten minutes, but it would be a disaster if it happened to me while I was gigging. You should buy a quality strap, because the guitar can/will fall if it's loosely strapped (being so light, it literally can "bounce" loose). I trust the finish, it seems pretty high-quality, and it doesn't look ike it would wear down much.

I've not had to interact with customer service yet.

I've been playing bass for about 7 years now, and I'm so glad I found this guitar. I sound like a different player with this guitar b/c it's giving me the sound I always wanted. I've been playing with a Fender P-bass before this guitar, but it's not as pleasing as the Turser. I was considering buying the Epiphone Viola style bass, but it was hard to find, so I stumbled onto this one. For a lot less $$ than the Epiphone, and a TON less $$ than the Hofner, this guitar can't be beat. I'm a little nervous about it's durability, but I'm in LOVE with the sound! I would definitely buy this guitar again if I had to do it all over again.

1998 Model dead-on copy of Sir Paul's famous axe. Short scale (30") maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, Generic tuners, generic soapbar humbuckers, 2 volume knobs, on/off switches for neck p/u, bridge p/u & midrange boost, mother-of-toilet-seat pickguard, hollow body (maple?), violin sunburst, floating bridge with trapeze tailpiece. And, of course, the classic violin-shaped body. A beautiful reproduction of one of the coolest guitars ever built.

This sound is a subjective thing. Beacuse of the short scale and hollow body, the sound is rather overly-warm & boomy. Also because of the design, there are a lot of overtones that contribute to a somewhat muddy and uneven sound -- in short, it sounds just like a Hofner 500/1. Some people love the sound, some people hate it. I happen to love it, screw anybody who thinks otherwise. But after playing this for awhile, I can see why McCartney played a lot of short, staccato notes with a pick.
This bass is great for the 60's stuff my band plays, as well as the retro-ized newer songs out there. Great for swing & jump music, too.

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. The finish is deep & subtle & gorgeous, the binding is well-done & the set neck appears absolutely seamless at the body joint, like the whole thing was carved from a single piece of wood. The hardware, while not the best, is quite good for its price range. I'm thrilled with it.
I'm thinking about eventually replacing the pickups and hardware with actual Hofner parts, but this may end up costing more than buying a 500/1.

I've been using this as my only axe for about 4 months now & it's making me a bit nervous, but only because of the design, not the construction. Someone else who was reviewing a Hofner described the experience "like playing chicken bones, it's so delicate." I tend to agree. Although it's got beautiful looks and great tone, it doesn't feel like it would withstand the daily rigors of a rock band (I don't know how McCartney did it). You should MOST DEFINITELY have a sturdier backup with you onstage. I just picked up a Washburn solid-body as a backup, but will continue to use the JTB-2B as my showpiece.

Never dealt with them

It's not for everybody, but if you like the look and sound of the classic Beatle Bass, then you should break open your piggy bank & buy one right away. At about 1/4 the price of a real Hofner 500/1, you can't go wrong & you won't be disappointed.

new for 1998,made in China,22 frets. i ordered this bass sight unseen ,on the trusting word that it was a dead on copy. (i've wanted a copy of the beatle bass for a long time ),i'd never heard of Jay Turser guitars before, but i rolled the dice for $395 and hit the jackpot ,other than not being left handed it was dead on ! soap bar pickups seam to be a generic brand ,but sound like they sould ( 60's vintage ) the controls are the same as the Hofner,2 vintage vol. 3 switches ... treble,bass and boost all on a pearloid rectangle and has a pearloid pick guard. The headstock is the same as the hofner, the tuners are an off brand,but are working fine. The body is semi-acoustic ( no f holes ) has arch top and bottom,triple bound top and bottom,maple set neck,rosewood fret board,vintage styled bridge and tailpiece is a little diff than original,but looks nice. color is violin shade and has high gloss finish. my only problem has been a wire on the treble switch was touching another wire, it took me all of 5 min. to fix

it's sound is good for what it's suppossed to be . i would'nt recomend it for heavy metal,or for it to be your only all the time ax ,but it makes some funky classic rock sounds and i've had 4 guys think i paid a couple grand for it, until i showed them it was a copy .

it was set up great,action is not as slick as my DEAN 5-string,but again i feel it's just right for the type of bass that it is. The set neck joint looks super and the body binding is impressive along with the finish. the only thing that i thought could've been done better is when i fixed the wire on the treble switch i noticed the hole was cut a little to big and 2 of the screws were right at the edge of the hole that is covered by the switch plate.

it surely looks well made and i don't see it crapping out on me.again the pickups an tuners are the only suspects, from making it a absolute killer.i'd use it for some flavor at a gig,but you should have another badboy waitin in the wings for the heavy shit.

they were as friendly as any newyorker i've ever talked to !! really though, they answered all my questions and since i liked my beatle bass so much they informed me they have copies of the John Lennon blk. rickenbacher and George Harrison sunburst semi-hollow body rickenbacher coming mid. september , so sign me up !

been playin since 1978,if you dig the beatles or just want a classic sound and look ,for the price i don't think it can be beat.