I’m a beginner bassist. When I realized that the 34” scale Samick acoustic electric bass I had was just too big for me to progress with, I went searching for a short scale acoustic/electric bass to replace it with.
I’m not even sure how I came upon the Lindo brand, but I’m sure glad I did. The good looks and specifications of the Neptune Electro-Acoustic Short Scale caught my eye first, then the reviews had me more interested. It was a bit of a leap of faith ordering an instrument online from a distant country (being an old school, in person kinda guy) but dealing with the guys at Lindo was super easy, from phone calls and prompt responses to email communications… full marks for that!
When I got the instrument, along with the nice gig bag, I was pleasantly surprised. Again, the good looks, but it played so well right out of the box, and it just seemed to ‘fit’ me. The scale length is just what I was looking for, and the 80mm body sits well against me.
I’ll be honest; I have rarely played it plugged in. I like to just have it sitting in its stand, where I can just grab it and play whenever I want without annoying my partner, or the neighbours.
I don’t have a lot of experience to compare it to other instruments with respect to sound/tone or playability, but to my ear it sounds great. I think the sound hole placement really lets those low vibes emanate out of the instrument right where you get the most/best effect.
As a beginner, I love having the built in tuner, but I can’t make any comment on the electronic adjustments available, and how they make the bass sound.
I do travel back and forth between Vancouver and Whistler every week, and the instrument holds its tune, with just minor tweaks required; mainly I think due to significant temperature and elevation changes
The action did seem a little high when I first got it, but I quickly got used to it, and I think it does allow for a little more ‘muscle’ in plucking, which you kind of have to do in an acoustic setting with other players.
Finally, I think the quality/workmanship/finish of the instrument is top notch, and very well priced… if I recall correctly, it was around 600$ CAN all in, from the UK to my door in Vancouver BC.
I’ve had the Neptune for a couple of years now. I recently contacted the guys at Lindo about replacing the strings with flat wounds and received a helpful, informative response within a few hours. My thoughts on Lindo based on my experience: both instrument and customer service top notch…I wouldn’t hesitate to purchase from Lindo again!