I've occasionally heard Lado Basses referred to as Poor man's Alembics. I guess it's a tribute to Alembic as setting the standard by which all high-end Basses are judged.  Comparing Alembics to Fenders is completely unfair because they are too different with the exception of (sometimes) sharing the same number of strings.  It's also interesting to note that the Fenders most in demand are the oldest and most primitive versions of their instruments.  While the new ones sound and play better, are of much better quality and construction, they have almost no resale value.
 
Anyway, I found this Lado Studio 606:
 

 
Bocate top, Purpleheart back, Flame Maple body and neck with Purpleheart laminates, Ebony fingerboard.  Bartolini pickups, controls: Vol, Pan, Bass, Mid, Treble.  
 
Totally killer sound.  It cost around $3000.00. A similarly equipped Essence is well, quite a bit more.
 
The Lado's not quite as refined as an Alembic - I would have liked dual truss rods, a brass nut, separate battery compartment, and machine screws with threaded inserts for the covers - all the little touches.  But I can't find anything significant to dislike about this Bass for the price.
 
It's not an Alembic, but it's a great Bass nonetheless.
 
Rami
 
(Message edited by rami on October 13, 2005)

Rami:
 
I feel compelled to take issue with you comment regarding Fenders that the new ones sound and play better, are of much better quality and construction.  I have had the pleasure of playing a '61 Strat since I picked it up for $125 in around 1975.  It has the famous slabboard rosewood fingerboard.  It plays and sounds MUCH better than any Fender I've checked out in the last 25 years.  The construction quality is at least as good, if not better, than anything I've seen come out of Fender in recent years.  And it's certainly far superior to my friend's mid- '70s strat with the 3 bolt neck that makes keeping the guitar in tune an adventure if you dig in a little too hard.  Of course the important point is that it's still no Alembic!  But it is kind of goofy that it is worth several Alembics, price-wise.
 
Bill, tgo
 
(Message edited by lbpesq on October 13, 2005)

Hey Bill,
 
You make a good point.  I guess the main advantage of a new Fender is better quality control.  My experience with older Jazz Basses is that they're a hit or miss gamble.  None of my old Jazz Basses sounds alike.  I do love them all and some sound better than others.  New ones sound more alike - you know what to expect.  I particulary like the new American Series Jazz Bass with the graphite reinforced neck, strings through the body and the new SB-1 switching.  All vast improvements over the original design.  And in my opinion, an improvement in sound.
 
Rami

I do respect Carvin for maintaining a neck-thru instrument in a bolt-on world.  'Fashion' swings being what they are, another couple of years bolt-ons will be 'out' and neck thrus will be the rage again. . .but then maybe not, so 'good on 'em' for keeping on with neck thrus.
 
EVERYBODY builds the occasional turkey or problem child.  In industrial rates of guitar building, it just happens.  And here is the down side of Carvin:  Want warranty service?  Gotta send it back to CA, no warranty stations any where else in the country, no dealers to help you.
 
I'd approach Carvins like any other bass:  I want the pickup routs, control routs to be regular sizes so if I want or need to, EMGs, Barts, Activators, etc. will drop in, no extra routing needed.  A lot of times I find the manufacturers pay more attention to the woodwork and meet the price point with cheap pickups, wiring etc.  So anything from now on would have to have standard size pickup routs (Carvins would take Js and MMs) to keep my later customizing life simple.
 
J o e y

Joey hit on the Carvin rub...those crasptastic pick-ups. They don't look good, nor do they sound so great. If they're std sized, then they can be replaced. If not you are screwed. Regardless, why pay for 'em in the first place? Gimme MY choice, be it DiMarzio, Duncan, EMG, Fralin, Alembic, etc.
 
Oh yeah, their headstocks are not the prettiest either, but I am nit-picking here.
 
Oh yeah, believe it or not, Carvin bucked the trend yet again: that Cali Carved Top is just like the PRS it mimics: SET-Neck construction!!! Imagine that!
 
Cheers,
 
Kevin

Rami, sharp looking bass. At first glance I thought it was an old Ken Smith. I am unfamiliar with Lado. Are Lado and Smith somehow related?

Hey J.,
 
No, Lado and Smith are not related.  Smith's from New York while Lado's from Lindsay, Ontrio, Canada.  
 
Here's the site:  http://www.lado-guitars.com/catalogue.htm#
 
I own that Zebrawood 4 string photographed in their catalogue too.
 
Rami

Thank you sir. Some very cool stuff. Love the Zebrawood. I've got an old 1980 Zebawood Series I myself.

Here's a home picture of it:  

 

  It features Zebrawood laminates in the neck too!  The back body laminates are a type of wood called "Afromosia".  Rami

Wow, that baby is nice. What is she like to play? Heavy? the feel, the sound? Ever play a Smith?
If a country boy were to aspire to obtain such a beauty,what ballbark pricewise would he be in? Love the Zebrawood.

Without trying to make light of the great discussion here, I think any of us can point to our own Alembics and say that's the bass that made me a poor man.  And we'd all say it was worth it, too!
 
David Fung

Hey J,
 
She actually plays and sounds really nice!  Not too heavy either.  It actually feels alot like an Essence.  It has an inscription on the inside of the backplate written by hand from J.K. Lado himself indicating that it was the first of its series.
In terms of cost, a similar one brand new runs about $2300.00 Canadian dollars, so around $1800.00 USD.
 
Rami

Seems like a lot of bass for the money. I'll have to sniff around for a test flight. Thanks for the info.

My 'poor man's Alembic' is my Kawai FIIB. Superb instrument, and for the money I paid for it, an incredible bargain. Maple/rosewood neck, rosewood board, maple body and zebrawood front and rear. Fit and finish is excellent, great tone and flexibility and it never needs adjustment. Mine's also so mint it looks like it was made yeaterday, when it's actually about 20 y.o.

Very nice, the Zebrawood looks much like that of my 1980 Series I. Great picture, she looks new. How did you hook up with her?