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The guitar itself is badly unbalanced and likes to spin counter-clockwise when you let go with your left hand. Everything else about this guitar makes up for it. This is simply the sweetest most playable bass I have ever touched. I also have a 34" scale bass, but this 30" scale is so much easier to play I don't know if I could ever go back. With the help of a modern effects box I really can't tell any difference in tone from the longer scale. If you are a guitar player like me, try this bass. It fits.

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Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.

The other reviewer said that when you let go of the neck it drops downward, and it does, but that's not a big deal, it's just what SG body style guitars do, and you're supposed to just develop a habit of keeping your hand on the neck. You can also get a non-slippery 3" strap which will help make it harder for it to slip forward on your shoulder. I wouldn't follow anyone's advice if they start telling you to relocate the strap anchor though. This is a beautiful real Gibson instrument, designed to be as it is; so I absolutley wouldn't think of drilling new holes in the wood. -- Okay, this is a short scale bass, which means it plays more easily (than a long scale), plus short scale strings are a little cheaper to buy. {To find out more, look up "short scale versus long scale basses". You'll see arguments for and against the short scale, which is a rarer bass which was more common years ago. The 'for' arguments convinced me this is a sweet guitar to have, and when i got it home and tried it, wow, it plays like a dream. It's gorgeous. I love this instrument. ...My other guitar is an Epiphone Les Paul electric, and I like Epiphones. If money is tight, they're a cheaper alternative. The Epiphone version of this Gibson SG bass, I think, is here ( http://www.zzounds.com/item--EPIEBG3 ) (and the CASE FOR THAT ONE: http://www.zzounds.com/item--EPILPCASE ) That's a long scale though. And the pickups are different. But you'd still be happy if money dictated you could only get that one. They're very good copies, and my Epiphone Les Paul is something I'd never give up. But if you do have the money to buy this Gibson, you'll notice you get more when you pay more. The case that comes with this, for example, is PERFECT -no jiggling the lid or fiddling with the clasps to get them to close right. And the pickups, wow, night and day difference.Now, as for an amp, I think if I had gotten the Epiphone, I'd have been ok to just get a $400 TC Electronic BG250 amp to go with it (here: http://www.zzounds.com/item--TCEBG250115 ) . Those are actually pretty good for a modest priced practice amp you can also use to play with a band. And they let you download effects for it, as software you usb into the amp. Fine deal for $400. Sounds nice too. And there's a choice in speaker size (I chose 15", it's more bassy. But if you like slap, definitely look for the 2 x 10" model, which Zounds also has. ( http://www.zzounds.com/item--TCEBG250210 ). - - -But me, I decided to get the Gibson bass, not the Epiphone, so I'll be getting a Fender tube head to go with it, because if you go listen to some you tube demos of this guitar, oh my it can sound GOOD!! It really can!! And a tube amp, versus a solid state ("class d" as they call them, when it comes to basses), is just so so much sweeter to hear. I bet this Gibson would sound fine with the TC Electronic amp too, because it's got nice pickups. But dont let me sway you. It all matters what you are going for. In my opinion, if you got more money, the Gibson will make you happy you bought it; but if you need to spend less, that Epiphone EB3 I linked you to is currently on sale, and is an unusually good cheapy. It really is. I'd take an Epiphone before any other value model. Oh and it's--> old style bass, not a new "slappy" Seinfeld theme bass. (ah, see, it's about taste now, isn't it? Yea, I HATE slapping!! That's why I got this bass. Listen to Led Zeppelin., Listen to Grand Funk. Listen to ANYTHING from the 70's. THAT'S what bass is supposed to sound like (for me). And it's why you might see this guitar referred to as a "Jack Bruce bass". HAVING SAID THAT THOUGH, it's entirely possible if you play this through 10" speakers with regular strings it will sound beautiful for slap also. I recommend go search on you tube for demo videos to hear, for verifying that. ..Alright. So if you're all set, buy this, it's probably got a minor defect in the finish, and that's why it's marked down, but you know what, I always read good things from people who buy these. Worst case scenario, here's what I do if I find a ding--> get a set of colored permanent markers, and pick the closest color, and make the ding disappear. Just dot some matching color into it, voila! Maybe put some Dunlop Carnuba wax over that, and you got yourself a beautious instrument, and saved hundreds! (Dunlop System 65 (comes with Carnuba wax, cleaner, cloths)-> http://www.zzounds.com/item--DNP6500 ) I'm not saying you'll get a dinged guitar from Zounds, but this one is actually marked down because it has some kind of cosmetic issue. That's why you can save. Maybe you'll get lucky and it will be nothing, or located on the back. You know. Point is you can get a really great instrument for a steal here, because it's marked down for a cosmetic issue AND it's also cheaper from being a leftover 2014. And it rocks. This is one sweet bass guitar!!Okay, other than that, you do know the type of string you buy will affect your tone right? There's regular bass strings, which are bright, and good for slapping (not my style, but many people like it). Then there's flat wound strings which don't let you hear string noise and trebly high end, just bass, like old school Led Zeppelin bass. And inbetween flatwound and regular strings is half round strings, which will flatten out the treble, but not kill all of it entirely...a compromise, in case you like a little of both. - Rock on!

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