Lotus P-Bass Copy

This was a closet classic I bought off Craigslist. I was told it was 17-18yrs old and i don't know where it was made, it's not marked. It has 20 frets, 4 strings, volume and tone controls, split single coil passive pick-up. It's black with a white , triple layered pick guard, solid wood body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard. In short it's a classic P-Bass copy.

I haven't been playing long, just a year or so and I play for my own enjoyment. I don't have a "type of music" I play what I like and I have eclectic taste. I have tried alot of different basses from high end to very low end and this one has a sound that I LOVE! It makes me happy to hear it's rich and meaty, full and warm. I know I like it but I have asked other people to play it to get their opinion and they have all been impressed. If I played on stage, this is the instrument I would want people to hear. I know it would be good in a studio.

As I said, this bass was over 15yrs old when I bought it. The guy I bought it from said he tried it but gave it up quickly and put it in the closet. It came to me pretty well set up and well adjusted. The action was very comfortable. The neck was a real suprise, it has the smoothest frets I've ever felt. I feels like it's been played regularly for decades. The finnish is just as impressive. It hasn't got a single blemmish. In fact, I could drive nails with this brick. It doesn't show it's age at all. It doesn't have the plastic coatedfeel of most low end basses, instead it has a finnish that feels more like laquer. It is well assembled and well fit compared to any ax under $600. God, I hope I don't break a string before I can find out what kind they are! They feel and play FANTASTIC!

I can't really say how it would do in hard stage play but I would expect it to hold up well. I rarely needs any adjustment or tuning (compared to my other basses). It's solid as a rock and if it has any drawback...it's the weight. This axe weighs a ton! I would have to start working out to be able to play it on stage. It's by far the heaviest bass I own. Again, compared to any bass in it's class, it's EXCELLENT!

I have no idea if the company even exists any longer.

I've only been playing for a little over a year so my expirience is limited but I have done alot of research. I've tried to learn as much as I can about the instument so I can become a better player. I own 7 different basses, both old and new. A Squire P-bass an Austin J-Bass, a Bentley Series10 Pro Hybrid and other used/older basses. I also have a Dean Zone XM and a Dean Edge 10a and and I've played many others. This one is HEAVY and looks boring (black and white P-bass...whoopee) It's nothing that would jump out a grab you in a pawn shop (the only place I would expect to find one). I'm very glad I bought this one though. I have no doubt that I am a better player because of it. I love to play it, I love the way it sounds when I do. If it was stolen... I would feel crushed. I would gladly hand over my most expensive axe to save this one. I am already looking for another one... just in case. Feel free to let me know if you have one you want to sell.

I bought this guitar new in '96, so I'm guessing it was made around then. I've heard that it was made in India, but it may be asian. It's a standard 4 string, with volume and tone controls. There are two passive pick ups, a la P-base. Body is alder, neck is maple i think, board is rosewood. The finish is darn sexy - a red wine sunburst into black, with a white pearl pickguard. BTW, the pick guard will break, and a replacement will be impossible to find. I had a friend fab one out of aluminum, and do a really sharp looking swirl brushing. I got tons of compliments with the Pearl, but people really notice the aluminum. Bridge is string through, tuners are no names. Neck feels good to me, if it is a little larger than a Fender. I got no accessories with mine.

I play standard adult contemporary rock, and this bass fits the bill. The sound is unique, but when I put some Fender Light strings on, it was hard to distinguish this bass from a Fender. I use Blue Steel strings now, and the sound is really nice. I usually play throug a PA or my beat up Peavey Scorpion. I have had no problems with noise. The sound is pretty darn full, and right down the middle of the road with brightness. Again, with Fender strings, you will have a hard time telling that this is not a Fender.

The factory set up was pretty standard - I did not change it for several years. The action is a bit high, but not horrible. I was able to adjust this by tightening down the truss, instead of screing with the bridge. The pickups are acceptable, but some new Basslines made a huge difference. This guitar is generally flawless. When I was shopping for this base, the shop had about 25 Lotus basses in stock, all with different finishes. There were some spectacular color combos, so it was a hard decision!

I play this bass live once a week, and it holds up well. The hardware is solid, but one tuner is getting a little iffy. The finish is bullet proof. The strap buttons are immovable. I've only adjusted the neck once in 10 years, and that was to get a different feel, not because of a problem. This is the only bass I use. I bought a $900 Fender P-base, and sold it 7 months later because I was only playing my Lotus.

Never gave them a shot.

I love this guitar. Good strings and maybe some new pickups, and this thing is great. I even used the stock pickups for about 6 years, and they weren't horrible. I bought a Fender a few years back, but I realized I wasn't using it, and sold it off. I would buy this again, if I could find it. If this guitar was stolen, I would try to find another one, but I've heard that they are no longer in existance. I love this guitar's durability, playability, and unique sound. I also love the look - it's frinkin' beautiful. I'm not a big fan of the breaking pick guard, or the challenge in getting it to play without buzz. I compared to a cheapy Washburn, a Squire, and some other knockoff brands. I went with this because it had the best feel in my price range. I wish it had better pick ups from the factory, but that was a $70 change.

This was a basic 4 string P-bass copy with passive pick-ups. Got a really crappy chipboard case with it. Was a metallic, cream color with a matching headstock and a white pickguard. Had black, plastic knobs with white numbers on it, one tone, one volume. Neck was maple with a maple fretboard. It was actually a very sharp looking bass. But when I took off the pick guard I noticed the body was made of a very light plywood. Crap.

I was using an Ampeg BA-115 with it and playing basic rock. Sounded pretty good to me. Had a very bright sound to it though. Pick-ups were somewhat noisy but were pretty hot. Not much variety of sounds though considering there was just a volume and tone knob.

Was so long ago that I owned it and since it was my first bass I didn't know anything about the action when I bought it. However, it was very hard to get a lower action on. Always had fret buzz when lowered. Was a bear to play with the higher action. When I took the pick-guard off I noticed the body was some sort of plywood. Very cheap. Not a solid wood body.

Hard to say. Wouldn't play it live without a back-up. Finish stood the test of time. But then it again it wasn't played all that hard. Knobs started to go on me by the time I got rid of it. Started to get a lot of static when the knobs were turned. Have to take neck off to adjust truss rod. Booo! Hiss! Strap buttons stripped on me. Neck warped on me. But to give them credit it was after about 10 or 12 years.

Never dealt w/ company.

At the time I had the Lotus I didn't play that much. Been only seriously trying to play for the last few years after a long hiatus, and now own a Schecter Model-T bass. Compared to the Schecter the Lotus is poo. Would not buy another Lotus if stolen or lost. Don't even know if they're still made. Didn't really compare it to other basses since it was the only one I could afford at the time. Plus, it was the only line the music store carried.

Typical P-Bass configuration, Rosewood fretboard, 3-tone sunburst body. I believe it to be an early 90's model, possibly '93 or '94. Came without a gig bag. This was my first bass -- the one I learned on. It wasn't until I advanced to other basses and amps that I realized how good this particular bass is. It has a punchy, woody tone that cuts through a band like no other bass I've played, particularly when playing notes higher on the fretboard. It beats my Fender active Jazz in making the ground rumble through my SVT classic.

As mentioned in other reviews, the sound is odd. It has a woody tone, similar to that of a P-bass. I've played recordings of this bass for other bassist friends and they couldn't tell the difference between this bass and a fender p-bass. My biggest gripe, however, is the pickups. If you buy one of these Lotus basses, get the pickups replaced with ones that are more quiet. The pickups on this bass can exhibit a lot of hum under flourescent or neon lights. Still, the sound is amazing under most conditions.

The action is perfect to my liking. I tend to like it a little higher than most people. My style is blues, rock, hard rock and old school funk. No slapping, popping, or picking here. There is a slight buzz in the E string, but it doesn't come through my amp. The hardware is all good. The thing will stay in tune through anything. My only complaint is that the bridge springs have rusted, but that hasn't caused any problems. Also, after about 7 years of owning it, the nut began giving me problems. It made the E string go down a step when plucked open, yet if fretted, the note would be normal (weird). The problem seemed to fix itself over time, however. The cable jack will also make noise when the cable is excessively jiggled.

This is a very solidly constructed bass. It's been in hot cars for days, it's been slammed down, etc. If you buy this bass (and I recommend that you do), get new pickups and maybe a new bridge. The finish has lasted, though I regretfully decided to strip it off 4 years ago. Still sounds great, however. The bass has gotten better with age in the 10 years I've owned it.

From what I hear, Lotus is based out of India. That's all I know about them.

I currently own a Fender Deluxe Active Jazz and this Lotus P-bass copy. I play through an Ampeg SVT classic amp and an SVT-HLN 410 cab. I've been playing bass for almost 10 years. This bass was my first and one of the best-sounding basses I've heard and played for under $300. Buy this bass and you'll like it. Just change the pickups. It's the perfect beginner's bass. I've played other Lotus guitars and they all sound good. Lotus has got to be one of the best quality makers of guitars and basses for under $300.

Oriental production (China/Korea/Japan? I don't really know)
Maple Neck, Rosewood Fretboard, 20 frets, 34" scale
one volume, one tone control, P style split-coil passive pickup, gloss black finish, white/black/white 3 ply pickguard,
no name tuners.
basic Fender p-bass knock-off.
Not sure what the body is made of, but it's friggin heavy!

A Nice bottom heavy yet bright tone when clean. It suits my style,and I play a bit of everything from blues to classic rock to stoner metal. It has a great fuzzed out sound for stoner rock. pickups are plenty hot, but exhibit a hum if exessive gain is used. I play through a carvin 1000 Watt readline head through a 4x10" cab and a 1x18" cab, and usually no effects.

Good set-up when i purchased it from local music store. no flaws that i could see.

Unbelivably dependable and solid. I've dropped, kicked and abused this thing for seven or eight years now, and it's built like a tank. I had to replace the tone pot cause i broke the stem off when i dropped it on a concrete floor. After dropping it though, i picked it back up and went right on playing without a hitch. The finish is tougher than nails. It has held up amazingly well, and I would and do gig with it with confidence as long as i had an extra set of strings.

never dealt with the company. i can fix most anything myself, so i doubt i'll ever need to.

This was my first bass, and I keep coming back to it. I also own a Jackson C5-P and i muck prefer my lotus. I've been playing for about six years, and i also own a Les Paul Standard and a mutt guitar I built from pieces. This is an excellent starter bass, but is good enough for a serious musician if you like the tone.

Hmmm, this bass was truley an odd one. It was my first bass. I picked it up for $250 and I believe it was a very good deal. I can asses this bass more fairly now that I am a more seasoned player. This bass had a maple neck, rosewood finger board, heavy alder body with a blue burst finish. The bass is a bit heavy, however my own personal preference is a heavier bass. This bass really made me work a lot, it was probbly one of the hardest basses out their to play, mainly because if you lowered the bridge you would get frett buzz, so I had a hell of a time learning to push down those strings. However I am so happy I went through that stage, as a result of that bass, any other bass I play is practially effortless. I believe this was the perfect starter bass for me, as I have yet to find another quite like it, in it's own reguard.

Sound, hmmm this is very interesting. This bass deffinatly has it's own sound, unlike any other bass I have played before, it's very ironic. The sound ranges from a very bright, treble sound, to a low "dead" sound. The bass resinates very well for it's price, and the neck is slightly clumsy. I have had the bass for 5 years now and I have grown acostum to it's odd tone. The thing I like about the guitar is it's hardworking fretts which in my oppion are good for any begginer looking for a workout. I disklike the frett buz you get when you lower the strings however it seems i have grown acustom to haveing high strings now because of this guitar. THE BIGGEST IMPROVEMENT ON THIS GUITAR WOULD BE THE PICKUPS. The pickups are not the greatest, and could be vastly improved, the tonal knob doesn't work too great, and the pickups recieve a lot of hum.

The action was quite good for me, I belive it game a good punch for a begginer bass and slaping and popping seemd to maket the bass come alive. However the high string action makes it difficult for some people to play who don't like putting a decent amount of work into playing. The fit was farily decent considering it's a good begginer bass. The finish in my oppion is amazing, more so for a bass that only cost 250 bucks. It's a blueburst with a black middle, with a silvery pick guard, I still can't understand why they put so much work into a finish for such a low end bass.

The bass is pretty reliable. It has never failed me yet, however I would not use this bass as a main stage bass not for reasons of reliability but im guessing by the time you get to be playing serious shows you are going to be quite advanced and what a bass that has more to offer. The hardware has been pretty durable in these years, however the knobs sometimes come loose, this only requires a quick tightening. The truss rod is actually very good, I haven't had to make any major adjustments to it. THIS BASS IS VERY DURABLE, the finish is solid it has been banged around a few times and it's very tough. The strap buttons are very solid.

I have never had to deal with lotus.

I have been playing for a little over 5 years now and I have come to the conclusion that this bass is great for a begginer. It makes the player work a little bit which in my oppion is a good thing, because I think sometimes people don't work enough. I think the bass is over all a very solid instrament and in my oppion better than a squire or ibanez(LOW END). Personally I played the SWR-200's and I think they a big rip off. This bass has a high bridge which can make somethings difficult but I have grown acustome to it. I think Lotus is a very weird company, almost as if they have to set standards in basses. Some are complete peices of junk while others are well, pretty good. This bass was great I think it was some sort of "different one" I have yet to see one exactly, or anything like it, I have played other lotus not nearly as good, for the finish, playablity, durability, and price this bass is awesome, however like i said ealier I have yet to find another lotus comparable to it. However word of advice, make sure you play the guitar first and make sure you like what IT has to offer, and lotus basses seem to have to set standard or sound.

No idea where this bass was made. 20 frets, 4-string, neck looks like maple w/rosewood fretboard. Decent width, maybe a touch thick but good to learn on. Tuners are pretty big, and hold well unless temperature or humidity changes significantly. The body is your basic p-bass copy but a little bigger than a fender. The finish is sweet, kind of a sparkly smoked chrome fading towards silver at the edges-I have seriously never seen anything else like it. Pickguard is silver crackle. Chrome knobs, tone and volume. Pickups are stock passive. Hard to tell what body is but it is a heavy bitch. String-thru bridge is pretty decent. Came with a nice hard case.

I thought the sound was terrible until I heard it through a good amp, it is actually decent. Dark, full, not particularly punchy, maybe even a bit muddled, but quite serviceable. Best not to adjust the tone too much, unfortunately. About a third of the range sounds decent, then it gets thin and a bit raspy. I play mainly indie pop and jazz, like sloan and sea and cake. This is probably not the best guitar for me, but as it is my only one right now it works alright. I would use it for a stage backup, but not in a studio. Lately it is developing a bit of a buzz in the G string, which I really don't care for.

The action on this bass is a joke. The strings are so high and hard to press down it is amazing, but after playing it for 2 years most other basses are ridiculously easy to play. I lowered the strings and pickups a bit, but it has a nasty fret buzz if you lower to a playable level. I bowed the neck a touch to offset, but this is a working man's instrument! The frets are a little too high I think. Also the volume and tone knobs are about ready to be resoldered but it is at least four or five years old.

It is heavy and unwieldy but solid. It has been mistreated and, although it doesn't play like a dream, handles alright once you get used to it--and is very consistent. The finish is thick, and the strap buttons are quite strong. As I said, I would use it as a backup but not a principal if I could help it.

N/A

I have played this bass for about 26 months. It was a great beginner bass, really built up my strength, but I am looking to pick up a better piece over the next couple of weeks. At this point I wouldn't bother to replace it if it were lost--although I do love the finish. It was the best bass I played in the price range when I bought it, and came with a case. I play through a Kustom solid-state kb65 w/a celestion speaker (a great little amp, incidentally). Don't pay more than $150 for this bass-but it will be well worth it if you can get it for $150 or less.

This lotus trash was bought from my guitarist for $35. He payed $75 (which was "too much"). Body is a typical Jazz bass set up: 21 frets, thick bolt on neck, huge headstock, ugly pick guard, weights a ton, etc. Bridge is strings through body (the only good characteristic), but bridge can't be lowered to even a reasonable string height. Passive pickup(s) (split into one per 2 strings) are a joke. worst I've ever played. Neck looks like maple, no seperate fretboard. :(

Pick ups are a joke. I had to play a spontaneous gig with it. Through an ampeg amp it had a hissing, muddy tone that cut through like a 2 X 4. (As in, it didn't cut through) Unplugged, the bass has a very mellow tone remeniscent of Fenders, which is cool if you like that. It does have some serios sustain because of the through- body bridge. Tone overall is embarassing. Buy and install new electronics and pickups.

Action can not be lower to a payable level because the stupid saddles. I plan to carve out the wood below the bridge and lower it about 5-7 mm. Frets were poorly installed. (I plan to rip them out in view of making it fretless) Wiring was totally unsheilded. Screws were rusty. Tuners are not smooth and are largest i've ever seen. Nut is decent.

This bass should not be played at a paying venue. Just don't, okay? You will bring shame on yourself and the bass community.

I don't want to think about this.

I've been playing for over 5 years. I've played and done semiprofessional recording with a rock/acoustic band. highest possible level for my bass solo @ solo & ensamble. Own 5 and 6 string basses.
This bass is useful after lower the entire bridge and replacing pickups. After that, you use it for most styles. I bought this because I am going to rig it up as a frettless used in funk/jazz applications.
BEGINNERS: there are many other basses that are decent for a little more money. This bass will only fustrate you. (I recommend Ibanez stuff) Good Luck

I don't know the year it was made and don't know where it was made. It's a 4-string fretted bass with a tobacco sunburst finish. It has a volume knob and a tone knob. Passive electronics.

I play mostly blues and it is fine for that low, live, muddled sound you hear on all the old recordings. It gets a bit noisy when you try to make the tone brighter. I like the fact that it takes a beating and keeps on going. I don't like the fact that you don't have too much control over the sound coming from it. I play it through a Fender BXR60 most of the time and sometimes use an effects pedal to shape the sound.

Everything was fine when I got it. The finish was very professional looking.

It has been very reliable, though the pick guard did break where the cable comes in and I have had to re-sodder the connections twice. But I've had it for 8 years, so not too bad. Buttons are still good and I've only had to adjust the truss rod once.

Never dealth with them, had a one year warranty.

I've been playing for 8 years, this was the first bass I ever bought. If it were lost now, it would be lost forever and I'd replace it with something else. I give it credit for lasting though never ending torture, abuse, and misuse. Although I like the sound that I get from it, it isn't very adjustable and sounds poorer the brighter you try to make it sound. Overall it was as good a first bass as you'll get, especially for the money.

I have no clue where it was made but I think its made in a jackson factory and I have no clue what year it was.
Rosewood fretboard with one volume and one tone knob.
P-bass pickup with passive electronics.
The color of it is pearl white. And it is a precision bass.I don tknow the brand of tuner pegs. The neck is perfect width, not wide not too skinny.

My bass suits my style of music perfectly. I play punk stuff.
I am using it with a peavey combo and it sounds clear and crisp.
I can slap pretty well on it, the only problem I have is how high the strings are.This is a guitar well suit for the stage or a backup. The only problem I have had with it is the input jack wires coming apart.

The bass alignment was perfect until I dropped it like 3 times.
And now it starts to buzz.The pickups are kinda set high up when you first get it so I lower them cause they get in the way of your strumming.The only problem is the input wiring. You may have to sauder the wires back to the input cause it doesnt come stable. The pickups are good but Im hoping to try a brand like dimarzo or something to see the difference.

This bass will definately work for playing live.I think the paint finish is very cheap and it chips off. I put jim dunlop straplocks on for secure feeling when jumping and stuff. I'd be able to depend on it, I would use a Danelectro as a backup.

I never got a warranty cause it was bought at a pawn shop.

I have been playing electric guitar 3 years and bass 3 months.
If it were stolen and lost, and could get it for a 100 bucks I would definately buy it again cause it plays like a jackson. The feel of the neck is good.My favorite feature is the sound and color. I compared this to a fender p bass and they are almost alike. I think this ties with the p bass.I chose this one cause it was the only one in the shop with no finger board wear.

Bought it 4 years ago after liking my Lotus Strat copy so much. Probably made in india like all Lotus guitars. Natural finish with cool red sparkly pickguard. Rosewood fretboard, volum and tone knobs. I bought it with an amp, cable, strings, gig bag included.

Good sound, used with several amps, now using a GK setup. No problems, always low and bass-y but defined tone/notes.

A-OK

It has never been played live, only as a backup. I'd trust it. Strap buttons OK. A volume/tone knob fell off but it easily was put back on, and a section of the pickguard came off after years of reckless pulling on the cable to take it out. My fault on that one. Its a well built bass.

I have played a lot of basses, and this one is actually really good. You don't have to kill yourself trying to make it sound good through a given amp.

Asian made, 22 frets, 4 string. Red with white pickguard. Neck has a nice finish. No accessories. Standard precision bass body style.

Decent sound. Have never run it through a bass amp so I can't tell you how it performs there, through a guitar amp it sounds better than my Kramer Focus bass. Can get a good funk sound or standard rock sound.

Needed to lower the action, pickups were fine.

Never played it live, unless you could that I used it in the air guitar contest, where it wasn't plugged in. It's lasted the past 5 years. I don't play bass regularly but I'd keep a backup for everything.

Never had to call them.

I've been playing guitar for 11 years. If it were stolen or lost I probably wouldn't care, since I won it.

Made someplace in the Orient I suspect. Bought it new for 200-something bucks, and it's been worth that. Basic P-bass construction. One thing I'm pleased with is the volume and tone knobs are chrome instead of plastic so should be much more durable. Has all the features a good bass should, nothing more.

I like to play most anything. I've used Crate and Peavey but learned my lesson and now I'm using a VOX T-25. Sounds like the Fender P-Bass; tone can be dialed in to my liking. I like the more subdued bass tone as opposed to all the thump-thump racket some others prefer.

Action was a tad too high at first, but that was quick and painless to fix. I've had it almost seven years and taken good care of it; there are only a few small dings on the finish.

As I said, I've had it almost seven years now. No problems at all.

Lotus seems to have gone the way of Holmes and Palmer. Not that I've had to contact them anyway.

A friend of mine has a Fender P-bass and this one plays just as well. Being a Fender nerd, I don't dish out such compliments loosely. This is a good sturdy bass well worth the money I paid for it.