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The trade off is if it’s like mine it will absolutely need a fret filing, and while the stock setup is actually passable, and pretty good with a slight truss rod tightening it could use a proper one. That said for the price of an Affinity Squier (which is just the bass, no accessories) you can get this Donner, which comes with a strap, gig bag, and cable then have it professionally set up with a good set of strings.
That is a way better option for a beginner or someone just wanting a bass laying around.
If you’re looking for a project bass, move along.
Quality: Is a mixed bag. My bathroom scale says this weighs 9.8lbs which for me is heavy but manageable. The body's finish is absolutely flawless but my neck has a tiny nick and the headstock looks like it got smacked or smacked something at the factory. The electronics are great, the pots feel very smooth and work well.
Mods: New strings, strap locks, knobs, and fret inlay stickers are about as far as I got. The pickups, bridge, possibly neck, likely tuners, and pickguard are all different from Fender/Squier sizing. So changing anything means you could be changing quite a few things. I really wanted to throw my tort pickguard on here as I love black/tort/rosewood but it won’t even fit over the pickups, forget the fact that it’d need all new holes drilled for the screws and the electronics need to be specifically positioned to fit. Fortunately I didn’t buy this as a mod bass but as a backup and travel bass.
Sound: Is massive and incredible. I would say it’s very much aimed at the bedroom bassist as it naturally dips in the mids but by digging in with a pick you can create this growly and aggressive tone with a HUGE bottom end. Donner really took the bass part of bass guitar seriously here. I don’t know if I’ve ever heard a split single sound so big.
Playability: If you like a 59 style P bass this is a great and playable choice for you. It did scratch my hands up pretty bad before I filed the fret ends but I really enjoyed getting to learn and use a new skill and because this is such a cheap bass there was no worry about damaging the fretboard (which for the record I didn’t at all). Now that the frets are nice and smooth it plays like butter and feels like home. I own 2 other P basses and a Stingray, 2 of those are 5 strings, so I like and am used to bigger necks and P basses. If you’re into a smaller neck, or you need a bass to be lightweight this isn’t for you.
Accessories: Are totally usable. None of them are special but you do get a standard gig bag in terms of padding, quality, and pockets, the cable is actually a quality, thick cable with metal ends unlike some of the cheap, useless cables you sometimes get with starter instruments, and the strap while not particularly high quality is comfy and would have no problem lasting a long time if strap locks are used. All of this is light years ahead of the garbage that came with my first Squier Bullet guitar (that I still own and love but the accessories were all trash) 16 years ago, and it cost the same if you factor out the amp.
Conclusion: I feel like this is a great bass, but it needs a tiny bit of love to get it there. Still if you’re really into that classic P bass feel and a tone that could knock over a building given enough amplification this is an incredible option for a mass-produced bass. We’re long past the days of country of origin mattering for stuff coming off the production line, and while spending more does get you some nicer fretwork and more pickup options, and is basically required if you want a project bass there’s always going to be trade-offs (namely in stock sound and accessories). For me this hit a real sweet spot and fits nicely into a really tight budget.
