Reviewer Dan
Experience 2
Review date December 31 2003
Manufacturer Alvarez
Model AEB4
Price $350
Item owned for 1-2 years

Bass type 4 string fretted
Neck join Bolt-On
Neck construction 2 pieces
Fingerboard 22 frets
Body solid alder
Finish quilted maple
Pickups passive Alvarez dual humbuckers
Hardware All Alvarez hardware (chrome)
Electronics passive
This was my first (and only) bass to ever own. Its built very solidly; I\'ve dropped it, hit it against walls, and have had it hit by numberous mic stands and end tables and there are still barely any scratches or dents on it. The shiny finish makes any fingerprints on it visible while onstage with bright lights on you, but just at home they\'re hard to see. This bass stays in tune unbelievably well. I\'ve actually played two shows with it while tuning once before the first one, and after the second show it was still in tune. With two humbuckers, it offers a decent range of tone. It\'d be wonderful for jazz, blues, country, rock, punk, metal... almost anything but funk. I\'ve really got into slapping lately, but there\'s something about the sound of this bass when the tone is up that just doesn\'t give that Boosty Collins funk sound. Still, its okay for funk and great for any other type of music. I play it through an Ampeg BA210sp combo. With the high EQ up and the low EQ at 4 this bass sounds beautiful. I got it setup how I like it (low action) and there are no fret buzzes or anything. The neck is slim and slick and allows alot of easy movement up and down it. If I lost it, I\'d probably go get an Ibanez SRX400 because it has just a killer funk sound to it, plus I\'m getting sick of the bright orange look of my Alvarez.

Construction 95%
(pickups are getting lose and making noise when I turn the volume knobs)
Appearance 85%
(bright lights show fingerprints, bright orange wood gets to be too fancy look
ing)
Playability 100%
(The neck is perfect)
Sound 95%
(great for anything but funk, stays in tune well)
Value 95%
(I wouldn't buy another, but I'm happy I bought this over a Fender J-bass)
Overall 90%
(Sounds bad with the tone up all the way, pickups make noise when using sound
knob, appearance is too fancy for me, built like a tank)
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