Omega EB-393 YL

This new bass from Omega features classic styling and quality tone wood at a great low price! Dual cutaway, solid ash body is lightweight, yet produces a full range of colorful tones Passive pickups offer superior output Two volume controls and one tone control let you tailor your individual sound Truss rod adjustable maple neck with rosewood fretboard and block inlays 3-ply pickguard (white/black/white) All chrome hardware gives this bass a rich look Classic natural finish Measurements Overall length: 45" Scale length is: 34" Width at the widest point: 13" Width of the neck at the nut: 1 5/8" Width at the 12th fret: 2 1/4" Thickness of the neck at the first fret: 7/8" Thickness of the neck at the 12th fret: 15/16" Radius: 14" Pickup dimensions: 3 5/8" x 3/4" Weight: only 10 pounds Wiring Diagram

Hi Kurt,

Recently I purchased an Omega EB-393 YL-2 Bass guitar as a Black Friday special. I recall paying somewhere around $80-$90 plus shipping and it came out to $118 and some change. I honestly don’t know if I got really lucky or all those Omega Bass Guitars are as nice as the one I received.

The neck was straight where it should be, the fret work...there are no high frets, the frets are all crowned as they should be and there are no sharp nibs on the ends. The nut is cut right, not too deep and not too high and slightly rounded at the bottom so as to not snag. I’m not one who had to have perfect finish, so I did not make a critical examination other than to say that there was no flaw so glaring that it was obvious. The action and intonation was spot on. The pickup height was spot on. The hardware and electronics are not top shelf, but everything functions as it should with no signs of any issues waiting to happen. In short, it’s a well built bass guitar.

The tone is, and I kid you not, reminiscent of the all original ‘64 Fender Jazz Bass that a buddy of mine proudly owns. Seriously, I would not believe that this was a sub $100 bass had I not purchased it myself. Compared to what Fender would have got out of me to equal this no-name (the headstock is devoid of a decal and only has its manufacturer’s location-China-and what I believe is a serial number) bass guitar.

I don’t want to think I’d have to spend, maybe $1,250-$1,500 for a Fender American Standard to get this quality out of Fender. I have seen one Fender bass come close and it’s a 5-string Squier Dimension that I own; it cost me $199 on sale from a well known on line music gear seller. I’ve yet to see a MIM or one of the entry level American made Fenders come close to either of the Chinese made Bass Guitars that I own, i.e., the Squier or the Omega I purchased from Rondo. I’d be not surprised if both came out of the same factory.

No wonder the two giants, the American manufacturers known as Fender and Gibson, are in trouble. They are charging what they do for Made in America and yet these two bass guitars, when the prices are added up, are still less than a MIM Fender or most of the Epiphones I’ve played. Good job Kurt. Whatever you’re doing with your contract manufacturers, it’s working. Don’t quit. Don’t change anything.

Best Regards,

Kirk Bolas