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.