Product: Samick YBL-530F Fretless
Price Paid: N/A
Submitted
12/26/2004
at
06:54am
by
Anonymous
Features
:
No Opinion
Just wrting a sound update.............
Sound
:
10
Just replaced the stock P/J's with SD BassLines Quarter Pound P/J Combination. Man, what a difference. Best 100 dollars I've spent in a long while. Lot's more definition better defined harmonics and big output. I get a lot clearer mwah and can actually hear the wood. It almost sounds active without the without some of the annoyances I find when using many active basses.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
No Opinion
Just wrting a sound update.............
Reliability/Durability
:
No Opinion
Just wrting a sound update.............
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Just wrting a sound update.............
Overall Rating
:
10
Just wrting a sound update............. (but since I was already pleased with the bass in general, it get's even higher marks!)
Product: Samick YBL-530F Fretless
Price Paid: US $500.00
Submitted
03/05/2002
at
09:51am
by
Archie McLeod III
Email: AMcLeodIII at aol<dot>com
Features
:
9
This bass was made in Korea. It is a fretless model. There very well may have been a previous review under Samick Fretless but I wasn't sure if it was the same model so I posted this one. It's a four string model. Neck is made of Maple (very pretty detail on this one) and fretboard is Rosewood. (Very deep, dark color) It really matches well with the Black Gloss finish and black chrome hardware. A very attractive, "musicians" type of instrument. Pickups are said to be "Duncan" designed. P and J set up. Electronics are passive. The do the job but will be changed. The body is alder. The bridge as installed is a variation on a J Bass style bridge with a little refinement. Tuners are diecast and Grover inspired. They hold intonation well. Came with a gig bag and now has an SKB Inject-Mold Case.
Sound
:
8
This instrument is pretty typical for a fretless. Loads of "mwah" when needed. I find that the stock pickups are loud and lively but lack focus and detail that I like. I've heard people say that this fretless fails in the pop and slap department. Duh???????? "Frets" make that distinctive sound. So if you play "fretless", you don't pop and slap the thing. (Elementary my Dear Mr. Watson) This instrument accels at warm, legato styles of playing, jazz style, scale riffs or upright simulations with the right strings. Comes with a set of Round Wounds. I quickly switched to Ground Rounds. (The rosewood neck will last a lot longer)Operation is relatively quiet even though the pickups are single-coil. I use this bass in the studio as well as live with great success.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
8
Mine came to me as a new instrument and the action was a little high. Truss Rod and bridge adjustments quickly fixed that. New strings (Ground Rounds) evened out the feel and gave me more of that "mwah" that fretless players look for. Some people would nit pick a blemish here or a imperfection there. This instrument though very pretty was designed to be a player at a modest price. This is where I feel it truly excels. Definitely maximum bang for your bucks here. Flaws are very minimal. The only thing I didn't like was the feel of the toggle switch. Very inexpensive and sometimes doesn't switch on the bridge pickup without wiggling it a bit. Switching the pots will also make for smoother volume and tone control operation.
Reliability/Durability
:
9
As I said, this instrument is a workhorse for me. It see's a lot of stage as well as studio use. A very high quality finish rejects dings and scratches very well. Hardware is very good quality. All of it s stamped Samick but I suspect that there are a lot of Grover and Schaller influences in the bridge and Machine Heads. Factory strap buttons are sufficient but invest in a set of strap locks. I make seasonal truss adjustments but I this is more me than the need of the instrument. The only time I need a backup with this instrument is when I need to play more agressive pop and slap bass styles.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
I've never had to use Samick Customer service but their dealers are very helpful when there is a problem.
Overall Rating
:
10
I've been playing Bass and Guitar for over 23 years. I teach bass and guitar as well as Instrumental music in a Public School System. I play several other basses including A Modulus Quantum 5, a Dean Hollywood Z, Fender Jazz Bass and another Samick 5 String. If it were stolen or lost, I'd probably buy another one (although I've got my eye on a Music Man Sterling Fretless). This is an instrument for bass players- real musicians and not just for someone looking for something flashy or gimicky. Takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'
