Sometimes, you can buy an inexpensive instrument and it will sound great. This is one of those instruments. I hope my post helps others, I’ve been playing acoustic guitar, bass guitar and other instruments for more than 30 years.
Here is the breakdown on this acoustic electric bass guitar.
What came in the box:
1) On the box, the guitar was made by Sky Enterprise, the model of this bass is 427 for the one that is natural color.
2) The box came with pick guard that has a Self Adhesive sticker on the back. I am glad that the manufacturer is giving the owner the option. To me, I like the way the bass looks without it, but end game... it depends if the player heavily uses a pick or not.. some do.
3) There was no hex wench for the truss rod, however I have ones that fit already.. so no big deal on that.
4) The guitar did have foam wrapping inside, and then just the thin outside box. I think that there should have been another external box for more protection.
Physical condition / Fit and Finish:
1) Unlike others that have posted, on the one I got... “no” scratches or other damage. The body is perfect! There is abalone for the rosette, and the front top wood may be spruce, the sides and back very much do look like mahogany.
2) The fretboard is supposedly rosewood, and it was “very dry”, I put 3 dime sized drops of Old English lemon oil (not polish) to condition the fretboard. The strings were not tight (as they should) so it was easy to rub in the oil.
3) The “BC” that is on the head stock was very faded, and not to noticeable unless you get in close to the guitar. I don't think that was intentional by the manufacturer, however I very much like the way the logo looks. It's not pronounced. more faded with the wood itself.
4) There is a strap bottom on the very bottom of the guitar and another one of the side of the “neck” toward the body, not sure if that was added as an after thought as I read some posts here on Amazon that there was no 2nd strap button.
5) The built in equalizer is a model: EQ-7545R which you can find by itself on Amazon. The volume knob does not seem too solid, so be careful about that when your turning that volume knob, the other sliders on the EQ, seem good. The battery check light works. Also note that the 9-volt battery is installed and has plastic wrap on it, so you have to pull the battery compartment out and then take that plastic wrap off..don’t forget about that.
Sound / Playability:
1) All the frets are fine, they seem to be all the right height.. no dead spots.. nothing. The ends of the frets are "dressed", no need to file them.
2) I did have to tighten the truss rod, that that helped bring down the string height. The white saddle the the strings goes over on the bridge, that piece does come out, and I took down “half” of the material using a dermel rotary tool, then a flat metal file and that also helped get the strings height lowered for better playability. Don’t forget to look on YouTube for instructions on adjusting the truss rod and saddle, "you can" do the basic set up yourself. It's more of a feel, see and play "thing"... more than anything else.
3) Some people in the comments has said that the biggest string, the “E” string does not sound loud enough when the guitar is plugged into an amplifier. Try adjusting the equalizer settings, take down “higher end” on the right of the guitar equalizer and then turn up the “mid” or “high” on your amplifier, that may balance out the sound more.
4) The bridge looks more like a classical style bridge. It has no bridge pins, only holes that go thru the bridge itself. I went with light gauge D'Addario Strings, which I may return for some phosphor acoustic ones, not 100% on that. Another idea, is Nylon strings. Also to note, buy bass guitar strings that are short scale. Also to add, that light strings tend to be brighter, but the upside of that, they are easier to press down and \ fret and also less tension on the neck and bridge.
5) The strings that comes with the guitar, are “ok” for the short term, but I can see physical imperfections of the strings themselves, like the wounds are mushed up in some areas of each string. There is plenty of new ones to choose from on Amazon.
Final Conclusion:
This electric acoustic bass guitar is a Christmas present but I needed to check out that there was not any outstanding issues with it. From what I can see, this is perfect. I have not seen any acoustic electric bass guitars, that the body has that cutaway shape in this low price range.. anywhere. It’s definitely worth buying 100%… Have a great holiday season! - Tom
Best Choice Products Acoustic Electric Bass Guitar - Full Size, 4 String, Fretted Bass Guitar - Blue
4.3 | 5,359 ratings
Price: 94.99
Last update: 08-04-2024
About this item
ACOUSTIC-ELECTRIC BASS: Equipped with a 4-band EQ-7545R preamp to produce high-quality audio for hours of musical practice and play
4-BAND PREAMP: Experiment and customize your sound with built-in volume control! A 4-band equalizer lets you adjust bass, middle, treble, and presence with ease
ATTRACTIVE DESIGN: Crafted with an attractive sound hole inlay, chrome die-cast tuners, and a glossy finish for easy upkeep
CUTAWAY SHAPE: A classic design, the cutaway shape combines a rich, supple tone with easy access to the higher frets for a more diverse sound
BASS GUITAR DIMENSIONS: 15.5"(L) x 4.5"(W) x 43.7"(H)
4-BAND PREAMP: Experiment and customize your sound with built-in volume control! A 4-band equalizer lets you adjust bass, middle, treble, and presence with ease
ATTRACTIVE DESIGN: Crafted with an attractive sound hole inlay, chrome die-cast tuners, and a glossy finish for easy upkeep
CUTAWAY SHAPE: A classic design, the cutaway shape combines a rich, supple tone with easy access to the higher frets for a more diverse sound
BASS GUITAR DIMENSIONS: 15.5"(L) x 4.5"(W) x 43.7"(H)
Product information
| Item Weight | 5.5 pounds |
|---|---|
| Product Dimensions | 45.5 x 18.3 x 49 inches |
| ASIN | B003HUWCLA |
| Item model number | SKY425 |
| Customer Reviews |
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars
5,309 ratings
4.3 out of 5 stars |
| Best Sellers Rank | #1,033 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments) #1 in Electro-Acoustic Bass Guitars #20 in Guitars (Musical Instruments) |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Date First Available | February 13, 2009 |
| Back Material | Basswood |
| Body Material | Wood |
| Color Name | Blue |
| Fretboard Material | Rosewood |
| Guitar Pickup Configuration | humbucker |
| Neck Material Type | Mahogany |
| Number of Strings | 6 |
| Material Type | Wood |
| Size | 45.5 x 18.3 inches |
Top reviews from the United States
Tom and Laurie
A great acoustic electric bass, fantastic price !
Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2016iforgotmyname
Pleasantly Surprised
Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2020
Jude the Obscure
Exceptional for the price!
Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2024