Ktaxon Bass Bass Review - How light can a bass be and still be a bass??

I wanted to get a bass. So, on a whim, I bought one of the least expensive bass guitars on Amaszon. It had great reviews, the pickup arrangement I thought I wanted. Color looked good, and price was great - I thought it was a deal...
But, should a full size bass be lighter than my other guitars??? You tell me? It had a nice neck, pots felt like they were good quality, frets were polished nicely, didn't sound or play bad.... But ugh - I just couldn't get over how light it was!!! I thought it was $89.... After I shot the video I realized it was $79!! Still, it should be heavier than my acoustic guitar...
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[@ravingcyclist624]

I just got the same bass except mine is solid black. I'm impressed with the quality. It plays well. Sounds good. I totally recommend it for someone who wants to give a bass a try.

[@TheSingingDrummer]

I wished I would have gotten black... But yes, it is definitely a good buy for someone who wants to give bass a try!

[@Wolfie66]

I'm actually thinking of buying this bass. It's 74 bucks right now. I'm 56 and want to learn to play the bass. If I'm a halfway decent player in a year or two, I'll get a better bass guitar.

[@TheSingingDrummer]

I ended up changing strings and having a set up done. It's not a bad bass... But the lightness still throws me off. Best of luck with 'picking up' the bass! (Play on words intended). :-)

[@Visionism]

Hey man I'm 53 and I've been playing since 1985. The low end stuff coming out of Asia right now is astonishingly good. Because everything is made on CNC machines they can be super consistent. When I started anything under $150 *used* would have got you an unplayable piece of garbage. And that was $150 in 1985! Allowing for inflation this bass would've cost $52 in '85. Get it, ask someone who knows what they're doing to put new strings on it and set it up, get a cheap amp (Make sure it has a headphone out) and have fun. Bass has a high skill ceiling but a low skill floor. You'll be playing full songs in a few hours. (Tip: AC/DC have never played a bassline above beginner level in their entire career.)

[@TheSingingDrummer]

I ended up keeping it... the neck is finicky... I had a luthier buddy set it up with new strings and it plays great (for me) and it is silent when plugged in (no pickup buzzing). The only thing that still throws me off is the weight. My frankentele is twice as much and my gretsch baritone feels like it is almost three times :-p

[@amberyooper]

@@TheSingingDrummer When you have a bad back but you still want to play, that light weight can be a blessing...

[@MrLabrat1974]

@@Visionism It's still simple, but Thunderstruck wears me out

[@amberyooper]

Adjusting the intonation is pretty easy if you have a clamp on tuner. If the 12th fret note is sharp, adjust the bridge piece to make the string a bit longer between the bridge and nut. Keep adjusting it a little at a time until the 12th fret note is in tune with the open note. If the 12th fret note is flat, do the opposite. Getting rid of fret buzz is more tricky...

[@TheSingingDrummer]

It plays pretty well now. New strings and a pro set up from my pal Lars at LPR Guitar works. Now, if I could just play it a little better :-)

[@PapiDoesIt]

I was looking for a decent bass to learn on, and after reading and watching a ton of videos, I'm going to get myself this one for my 60th birthday. I'm retired so on rainy days and evenings when I can't work in the yard I'll practice. If I ever get decent, I'll but something better. if not, no remoney wasted.

[@TheSingingDrummer]

I think it can be a decent bass for that. It's a great journey learning a new instrument - now that you are restired you can put some serious time into it, if you enjoy it!! Have a blast!

[@summerfield858]

I am sold, I was going to pull the frets out of my 1990 Washburn XS2 and fill the fret holes with wood fill for a fretless bass, but my buddy screamed at me, don't do it. So, I am going to buy this one and do it. I will put a good nut on it since I will have to sand it down to bring the strings lower to the board since it will have no frets. Thanks for the review. I have to wait until Hurricane Milton passes, though; no telling how long the shipping will take. I subscribed, thank you.

[@TheSingingDrummer]

Thanks so much! I think that is a perfect use for this bass.... experimenting and modifying. And if you like your results on this, then you might be more confident to try it on something else ;-) Thanks for the Sub! I TOTALLY appreciate it!

[@summerfield858]

@@TheSingingDrummer The bonus is that if I totally screw it up, I'm only out a few bucks, and I didn't destroy my 35-year-old Washburn, hehe.

[@TheSingingDrummer]

RIGHT!!! Thats what I'm saying ;-P Let me know how it turns out ;-P I might be having my set up guy put a set of heavier strings on mine to see if I can drop it down to play next to my baritone ;-P

[@thadarkorange]

did you ever give it to an experienced bassist? i was thinking about trying out bass / guitars in general and i wanted to have something affordable and cheap so if its not for me it wouldnt be a loss. im wondering, what is fret buzz? i hear that a lot when looking up reviews for some bass guitars. other than that i just want to know if this is a good purchase

[@TheSingingDrummer]

I've given it to plenty of bass players. They liked the way it played but that was bc of the professional set up that I had done by Lars Rademacher. ANY instrument, whether cheap or expensive, should be taken to a set up person and have it set for the way you play. For some it may buzz the way it can out of the box, but for another player with a different style it may not. It is a good beginner bass. But you will eventually lose your money on it. But it was less than $100, so I'm not worried. I'll give it to a kid or use it in a video where we light it on fire or something. Or, I will just keep pounding out bass lines in my basement bc it's good for that. I can do things with it that I'd be afraid to do on a more expensive bass. And that was it's purpose. For that, it's a great bass. The best bass you have, is often the bass you have. It is waaay better than the bass you don't have :-p

[@thestealth8847]

Try changing the bridge to a heavy high mass bridge like the omega bridge or kickass bridge then change the tuners to ultralight hipshot, it will improve balance

[@TheSingingDrummer]

Thanks... It doesn't actually do the 'neck dive' that you would think of. It just doesn't have a lot of 'weight' to it... I have new strings on it, and a killer set up from my buddy Lars at LPR Guitarworks here in Portland - and it plays great. It is just un-nerving how light it is ;-( Thanks for the tip tho!!!

[@alexanderwells5148]

Just bought a 6 string version of this for 65 because I wanted one to tear apart and rebuild into a fretless but if it comes as nice as that I might buy a second one to keep fretted. Gotta test the electronics first though xD

[@TheSingingDrummer]

Go for it! I can't believe how quiet my bass is and how good the pots feel. I don't have another bass here to evaluate the output but it seems to track well. But even after having it professionally set up, there was only so much my luthier could do without getting too expensive. But it plays good enough for me! Have fun!

[@leoneddy1492]

The light weight of the Bass could actually be a selling point to some Bass players, as from reading some ads on used Basses is that the reason for selling is that the Bass is getting too Heavy for them,especially if standing on a gig hung around their neck a few hours and most Basses DO need a set up as Manufacturers tend to do an average set up even on some high end Basses .The bass looks great with a good finish and what you say about the fret edges having a good finish is a bonus (this is an area that gets focussed on a lot in reviews if the frets feel rough) Seems like a manufacturers war going on who can make the best Bass or Guitar for least money.Thanks for reviewing

[@TheSingingDrummer]

And thanks for watching! It is just a little trippy on how light it is... The neck isn't awesome, but when you consider the cost of the bass, plus strings and a set up still being below $150... Really it's not bad. And, so far, whisper quiet electronics = win... It is what it is, and for what it is, it's pretty great. Thanks for leaving a comment!

[@leoneddy1492]

@@TheSingingDrummer I've took a Jazz Bass copy home to set up as a spare to be used for a guy that runs a Jam night, it has no name on the headstock so therefore no bias to how good or bad it's supposed to be, It plays and sounds great it was bought used for £50. Just goes to show living without the Fender logo is possible

[@TheSingingDrummer]

Word!!

[@cincinnatipedalsteel4347]

With a little amp for $84. You can tho wrong as long as the frets arent wavy 😂 The tone is what matters not the weight. You can’t beat the price

[@TheSingingDrummer]

Yep... Mine is whisper quiet when plugged in so the electronics are pretty decent - at least the shielding. But it still cracks me up, every time I pick it up :-)

[@EmptyChairNetwork]

Get some Scuba diving weights and put them on the body end of the strap. Balance achieved...

[@TheSingingDrummer]

I've thought of doing a test, boring a couple holes and filling them with epoxy or steel or something - and see how the tone or resonance changed... I should have just bought an Ibanez mikro or something. Oh well

[@sloedwn7509]

Wow, this is pretty damn genius

[@ronaldmaheu]

What gauge string size and scale lenght is on it. What kind or brand of strings would fit

[@TheSingingDrummer]

I believe I got these. The setup is what really helped the bass. But even with that, the neck is still not sitting quite right - but I believe I got these strings. Feels nice.... DR Strings Sunbeam - Nickel Plated Round Core Bass 45-105 a.co/d/18nTTlG

[@richardwheeler3768]

My wife hates the sound of Styrofoam. She keeps extra cups around just to transfer drinks that might come in one of those awful cups. In regard to the bass, you certainly could hear the fret buzz even before you plugged it in. But as you said, "...it's not a terrible set-up."

[@TheSingingDrummer]

I'd blame a lot of that on the 'player'. The neck finish was surprising. I'm sure with a setup, you would have a $125 bass with a crazy lightweight body. I guess I'm used to picking up Rodney's Les Paul's, and such. But it was the weight that threw me waaaay off

[@MrLabrat1974]

As of now, Walmart has a Ktaxon bass starter set for $100.

[@TheSingingDrummer]

I think I would rather pick up a decent used Yamaha or Ibanez. It is an ok bass now, after a set of $25 strings and a pro set up.... So I've got more into it than the initial investment. But if you want a bass to play and smash on stage.... :-)

[@mickie43768]

I was think of buying for myself and this helped me out. Can you please let us see your bass buddy test it out please

[@TheSingingDrummer]

I had two players over Sunday, one to record the bass lines for the new Madwagon EP. Both said that it could use a set up, but the neck felt fine. They were put off by the lightness of the body and the overall feel of how light it was while on their shoulder - but when I said the price, they thought it was decent for a beginner bass. Nothing they would buy. If it was more money, by the time you pay for a set up and strings - you could have bought a used Ibanez... I can try to have one come back and get a video response - but it will be a few weeks before our schedules line up again.

[@mickie43768]

@@TheSingingDrummer im drummer that plays at church and i want start playing bass,so i was wondering if it could be used in church.

[@TheSingingDrummer]

I think it would be ok. However, (as a former church player) there can be a lot of bias against non-name brand instruments. I used to get 'looks' from the other guitar players behind their breedloves, taylors and martins when I would walk on stage with my samick.... So, just be ready for that. But I had it plugged in for a bit at the end of the video and this bass was whisper quiet when I wasn't playing it - no buzzing or static. Pots felt really premium. I would say that the electronics on this are just as good as an entry level Ibanez or Squire. I pretty much think this is a copy of an Ibanez I was looking at for $199. Resale might be an issue later on... but you'd only be out $80... so theres that. But I dont' think there would be anything wrong with using this ;-)

[@nathanquincy4102]

@@TheSingingDrummer i just bought myself this bass recently, where would I get a setup? I'm new to bass but also got this to stay within my low budget

[@TheSingingDrummer]

and there is the hook... when you buy a guitar from a shop - they will usually help you out (price wise) with getting it properly set up. If you go in with a bass you bought outside of them - they will end up charging you more... If you have a local guitar repair shop, they could help you out. I just happen to have a friend who is a luthier and another who is a guitar tech... helps to save a bit of money. There are some set up things you can do yourself (a bit on action and a bit on intonation) that you can get off KZbin.... but if it needs deeperwork, that will mean taking it to a pro. That's why I was saying at the end of the video... $59-69 for the bass, $25 for strings, another $35-50 for a set up... you are into it now for about 130-150.... Still not bad - but might be able to find a 'name brand' used at that price... But I would check out your local music store first and see what they can do for you.

[@johnburris3395]

I can really tell you're not a bass player on more bases and not because of that guy that gets rid of it will tries to

[@TheSingingDrummer]

Definitely not a bass player. That's why I didn't want to spend a lot of $$ on one. But after a set of strings and a set up.... I could have bought a real bass, used, and be further ahead. Oh well. It's playable and quiet, I can't ask for much more.

[@mikehicks3090]

"It's not a Glarry." Except it actually is. Ktaxon basses are rebranded/unbranded Glarry basses.

[@TheSingingDrummer]

I wonder how many other 'brands' are made in the same factory.... workmanship wasn't terrible, pickups and pots are quiet - but they could have picked a little better wood for the body... but, for what was paid...??? New strings it doesn't sound bad at all.

[@drlegendre]

"Why they gotta use STYROFOAM?!" Because it's a relatively cheap, lightweight and very strong packing material for.long-distance shipments. It's also easily molded to custom-fit shapes and has high impact resistance. A Styrofoam clamshell inside of a fitted cardboard box will be enough to prevent shipping damage in almost any case that doesn't involve running over the package with a semi truck. Now quit complaining about nonsense like this and focus on the product qualities

[@TheSingingDrummer]

I get it... but I have to dispose of it - and I always find those pesky little white dots stuck to everything! I wish they would use the vacuum formed paper packaging - but, like you said, Styro is CHEAP - and that was the main 'selling' point of this bass soooo.... I can't complain... The bass is, so far, has really been nice and quiet. Tracks OK... but even my luthier/guitar set up buddy couldn't quite get the neck straight... the old addage 'you get what you pay for...' - totally true here. but its a decent 'starter' bass for a kid or student.

[@kimokahuna]

Light is good......

[@TheSingingDrummer]

It is definately easy on the shoulder. It doesn't sound bad either. However, it required some $$ in set up and new strings - now it plays pretty well... but it is hard to get over how light it is ;-P

[@joannalewis5279]

Definitely discourage them from that 😊

[@TheSingingDrummer]

That was a dig on a former band mate who idolized GS.... I don't think Gene is a bad player or person.... But this former mate was a touch toxic... :-(

[@joannalewis5279]

@@TheSingingDrummer I just thought it was a funny one liner

[@joannalewis5279]

Might buzz less plugged in

[@TheSingingDrummer]

Yeah, with a better player (not me) I'm sure that this bass would not buzz as much. That being said, it is still going to my buddy for a set up :-)

[@hifijohn]

Just bought a $100 glarry 6 string bass, very good guitar for the price.

[@TheSingingDrummer]

If you don't have expectations too high, I think they are a great mod platform for sure!!

[@DadPlaysBass]

That was actually a horrible review. You barely played and when you played those little notes it sounded okay. Just because the bass is cheap that doesn’t mean is bad. You can always put new strings and change the pickup if the body is good

[@TheSingingDrummer]

Use the link and buy one for yourself. It you are right, I should have spent more time actually playing it, or had a player come over and review it with me. I'll keep that in mind. Thanks!

[@drlegendre]

Ironic that the audio is total crap.

[@TheSingingDrummer]

Try as we might - we don't always get it right.... but thanks for watching!

[@MrMrdraken]

You don't play bas so what would you know...

[@TheSingingDrummer]

Nope I don't 'play' bass, I'm no bass player, but I do play some and held enough quality instruments in my hands to know this thing is light. But, it is also the player and not the instrument. I'm sure a great bassist could make this sound great - just like putting a super nice custom bass in my hands is a waste :-)

[@MrMrdraken]

They used Styrofoam because you wasted 60 seconds of everyone's time opening the damn box.

[@TheSingingDrummer]

yep, I need to be more expedient in my unboxing...