I think, my HBs were made in Indonesia, if I remember correctly.
And as a full blood European, I am reluctant to purchase anything “Made in USA” anyway, cause of tariffs … 
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This may be true, I’m pretty ignorant as to how HB works their production and supply chains. One major issue with all of that though, HBs are lower end (of the cost spectrum) instruments, where a lot of their sales are likely coming from people who are just wanting to start learning bass or guitar. This type of buyer isn’t going to be checking and verifying where specific models are made to ensure they’re getting one of the good ones. These are also going to be the buyers who don’t know how to do set ups, or fix wonky frets and that kind of stuff.
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The Paranormal line from Squire is made in China and they are top quality. Every country has some good factories
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…..user experiences may very.
I remember picking up and holding a brand new Fender Yngvie Malmlsteen strat in a music store once. The fret sprout on the sides was so bad that I sliced my thumb open.
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True. But from personal experience, and many reputable reviews, Paranormal are good quality. I have had some ESP basses from China, but I don’t recall the specific bass and so we’ll set that aside. I know the Ali Express basses are cheap. If you can prove Paranormal are crap I’d love to see it. I hate being proven wrong, but not as much as I hate being ignorant.
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Lol, I’m not Fender’s biggest fanboy either. I’m trying to be open minded about it more lately. I’d been itching for a jazzmaster and ended up going with G&L’s Doheny over the Fender because I just can’t stand the JM bridges. Same goes for the Telecaster. I hate those double saddles, how are you supposed to properly intonate on those?
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My son’s first bass was an €80 Fazley. It was total crap, but good enough to get him started 
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My solve for this was a “go big or stay home” purchase. Now I am not suggesting you take it to the nth degree like I did, but… a Fender Custom Shop ‘62 P ala James Jamerson, relic’ed in all the right places is a thing to behold. You can get 85-90% there with a Squier VM or CV P (not the Affinity series) and a set of Labella flats
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You’re unlikely to hit your one-and-only forever bass with your first purchase. If you follow through with bass, you’ll probably end up having multiple instruments that fill different niches.
Of the ones that have been suggested that will take you the furthest though… I’d strongly push the Yamaha BB434.
I’ve been playing 1.5 years. I’ve purchased 7 basses in that time, and held on to 4. One of those is a BB434, and it is probably the best general-purpose bass of the ones I’ve owned. It is certainly the one I’ve owned most likely to fit with the styles of music you’re most interested in.
The ones I like better are significantly more expensive, and not any higher quality. Just different.
Even if you purchase other basses you like better, it’s not one you’re going to “outgrow” or become disappointed with. It’ll be like… mine is my fretted bass with flats.
You should go put hands on instruments and see what speaks best to you.
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The best advice, go try some, anything you can get your hands on.
You will be suprised what you think you like before trying a bass, and what you like (or really dislike) after trying a bass. I know sometimes this is not practicle, but the more info you can garner the better off you will be and you may avoid a few ‘forever bass’ wannabes
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…you keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means. 
Good luck with that. I’ve been on that quest since 2021, and I have fewer fingers and toes than the number of basses that have passed through my home since then.
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LMDDGTFY
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Like this one?
With, for example, this one?
I had to setup every bass to my taste, even the Ibanez EHB I had or the ESP (which I liked a lot, by the way).
The bass with the absolutely worst setup (which I truly could not fix) was a Ibanez TMB35, by the way.
And the only bass I tested with really wonky frets was … a Fender!
And just recently, somebody returned his Dingwall SP1 here. Just saying..
And this might be the underlying issue. Cheap = no good? No cool brand = no good?
I only heard great things about the Paranormal basses.
Now, if HB would produce their basses in the same factory, using the same wood, parts etc - but had a HB label instead of Squire. Would the perceived value not be lower?
I remember when a bass player played (an early version of) Ronin for the first time and was like “Wow, what is it?” … he looked at the headstock and was like “Meh, Harley?”. He came with his expensive custom boutique bass, but played the fraction-of-a-cost bass with great joy. Even after he learned where it came from…
Maybe we are all snobs? At least a little bit?
You’re resorting to cherry picking quotes. I’m done with this discussion. You have every right to be wrong and die on that hill.
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Same for you, my friend
My goal was to take away the fear of trying none-a-brand basses (like HB) for people that read some negative and possibly biased statements here.
For those people: if you try out a new bass, especially if you don’t have the budget, be sure to try an HB too. You might be surprised.
I think HB makes excellent entry level price tier basses. I would absolutely recommend someone check them out.
I’m just saying that a blanket statement that they are generally better than Fenders or Yamahas is simply false. MIJ Fenders, for example, are manufactured by Fujigen (and CIJ were by Tokai). These are outstanding instruments made in the same area as Aria MIJ lines, for example.
Sorry, but on average a Benton isn’t going to be better made than that. Or for that matter any current Yamaha BB (even a 234); Yamaha mades them in their own factory in Indonesia and they are super well made for anywhere near the price. Plus the design of the 434 and 734a in particular are next level good.
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I’ve got a P, a PJ and a J bass and I rarely play the PJ and J. My player pbass plays so well and a pbass sound is just my thing, esp with the 0760M labella flats. It all depends on the player, what feels good in the hands and sounds good to their ear. I don’t need more “versatility” than a tone knob
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I even tend to agree here! Except for Fender
(And yes, of course I know they make good ones too - like the one that @Wombat-metal has. But he only has great basses…)
Hmmmm. I don’t know if you’re objective about Yamaha. Have you tried out an Indonesian made HB and compared it?
My personal opinion: I find the built of the HBs I know (body, neck) very good. I’m not too happy with their choice of pickups, tuners & electronics. But those are the parts that can easily be replaced … and even then the HBs tend to be cheaper than an a-brand.
Except when you go nuts and mod everything - but who does such a thing?
Oh I am a total Yamaha fanboy 
Benton are hard to find here and frankly would not compete well with the local brands at all.
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