Samick SDB569 5-String

I traded another Samick (Silvertone model-passive pick-ups, 5 string) and laid down a little extra cash to get this baby. I believe it is a 2000 model, and it was made in Korea (of course). It has active electronics, a five piece neck (wenge and bubinga), and all the hardware is black. It has one master volume, a bass control, a treble control, and a pick-up selector.

For not having EMG's as an active bass, this thing has a great sound. I play mostly metal, and some funk, and I can dial in a pretty decent sound for either. There is a little buzzing on the A string throughout the 3rd through about the 7th fret, but I could just need new strings. At it's lowest, it can produce a rich, warm sound, but its highs ring like a bell. The b string tends to be a little muddled at times, but that is to be expected.

I don't claim to be a conoisseur of different types of woods-the neck is bubinga and wenge (I just know it shore looks purty!). The body is a natural wood color, and the neck is made of rosewood. It has a sweet action, and I have been partial to Samicks in that respect, some of them may look or sound like crap, but the action on these affordable axes is great. I did notice a slight chip on the fretboard near the fifteenth fret, probably due to a shipping mishap, but it is barely noticable. The strings were set well above the fretboard, and I really only had to lower the b-string just a tad.

I am, uhh...between bands right now, but have been playing consistenly every night since buying this bass (about a month or so now), so I won't be gigging out anytime soon. The only major complaint that I have about this bass, is that the jack has started to pop whenever I move around a little, and since I am generally gentler with this bass than I am with my woman, I attribute it to either poor craftsmanship, or damage caused during (once again) shipping.

I have never had to deal (yet) with Samick, and from reading other reviews, I can say nothing good nor anything particularly bad about them. I will be taking it back to the store that I bought it from here real soon to whine about the input jack problem, but other than that, I have had no complaints.

I have been playing bass for thirteen years now, but have been playing a five string for around a year. But I really do love this bass, granted, it is somewhat of an Ibanez...er...copy, but it is beautiful and has great tone. It has a great finish and a good action, probably one of the best for a five string that I've found. I do wish that it had a passive to active switch, but other than that, it is a great bass for the money. If it were lost or stolen, I'd weep uncontrollably for a few days, then go but another.