[quote name='Sparkl' timestamp='1359412926' post='1954523']
I'm terribly and truthfully sorry if I offended someone, I just don't consider a Rockbass as a professional instrument. For hobby playing perhaps, for serious professional use, not really.
There is a difference between a cheap instrument and true craftmanship.
[/quote]
No axe to grind here, whatever you buy it is your own money. I have recently bought 3 x rockbasses Chinese. Two of them are every bit as good as my USA basses (vintage G&L, Kramer), they also equal Gibson EB2 (1958), Ric 4001 (1977), Fender P (1977) and John Birch EB3 (1980?) that have been in my ownership over the years. My EB2 was a nice thing, between 1975 and 79 when I used it 5 nights per week I wore the frets off it, the finish (lovely Nitro) crazed, bubbled and wore down. I lived in fear of headstock break. Buy a 2nd hand Chinese rockbass, be amazed at the finish and quality. Then stick some after-market pickups of choice on it. In fairness the neck finish is thin compared to G&L and Kramer - 1980s poly and aged.
If I drop, lose, have stolen or break my USA basses I will never replace them, largely because I will never find replacements, I know of one Kramer for sale on the Internet that is the same as mine. G&L SB1 1985 - how many can I find? Chinese Rockbasses £100 to £150 s/h - loads. It gets stolen etc, so what. It is not just Rockbasses either, there are so many high quality cheapies available. I am totally with Robin Trower on this one - get your sound from commodity gear. Craftsman built kit is superb, it is a joy to play. For me it is too valuable for the day to day.
Bass buying / trading is rather difficult at the moment, I am amazed at what is available for so little. All I will say is judge what you have in your hands at the time, does it play well, do you like it, is it fair for the money. Long term resale values in the current recession .. hmmmmmmm