You can stop looking. If you're ready to graduate from the $150-250 beginner range but don't think you're yet ready to drop a grand on a bass, this is the one. Hell, you don't even really need to drop more on one, this is flexible enough for anything you need.Looked and felt great right out of the box. Only a very minor truss adjustment to correct a little fret buzz and I was off to the races. From this price point on up, you'd be wise to take it to a luthier (most guitar shops will have one on staff) to get it adjusted just to make sure it's in top shape, if you haven't done it yourself. You can learn to adjust (it isn't difficult) but it isn't very expensive to have it done for you, either.The active/passive pickup is a great addition and worth the step up from the 304. Once I started using it, I'm not sure how I was able to do without it for so long. The back of the body has an LED battery warning indicator so you won't be caught flat-footed with a dead battery when you're in active mode. It does automatically switch over to passive when it loses power, though.Don't take the missing fifth star as criticism. I only use five stars for above and beyond. Take the fours as ringing endorsements. To address the categories Amazon asked about:As far as for beginners, you can find less expensive basses in the $150-200 range, this might be a little pricey for someone's first instrument. The TRBX174 at about $229 (they're still widely available as of April 2021) might suit the absolute beginner a little better at a much lower price point. That said, you definitely can't go wrong with this one if the money isn't a concern.Craftsmanship is top notch. This bass is made in Indonesia. I was a little squirrelly, but the construction is top notch and I found nothing to complain about. I couldn't find any obvious flaws, and it looks, feels, and plays great. No cheap construction materials here. It was perfectly tuned and had only minor fret buzz out of the box, something common with any bass. One quick adjustment and we're off.Versatility is the best I've experienced so far. It works great in the basement, studio or stage. I mostly use it for practice and home use, but it's stood up to everything I've thrown at it. I've tried to find limitations but haven't found any. The active/passive option is something I didn't think about when I ordered; I'd never played with it before. But now that I have it it's like adding a fifth gear, I notice its absence when I'm playing any of my other basses.In short: this is your sign that this is the bass for you.
