In March, 2003, I bought a Chinese-made Cremona SB-1  3/4 size 
upright bass.
  
A search of the internet showed a number of owners of high 
priced basses dismissing the Cremona bass as junk. Curiously, 
none of these reviewers had played or even seen one.

I REALLY like my Cremona SB-1 upright bass. It's very 
solidly and well built, has a loud voice, sounds very nice and 
plays great (once a few hours of bridge and nut adjusting were 
completed).

Years ago the historic park I work at was given a number of 
fiddles for use in our music program. These fiddles were made in 
the same Chinese factory as the Cremona bass. We have not had the 
slightest problem with any of them. They all sound and play great.

Over the years I have found a lot of exceptions to the old saw, 
"You get what you pay for" and this SB-1 is certainly such an 
exception.

There may indeed be some bad Chinese basses out there, but this
one is not one of them.

LATER NOTE: Here it is, coming onto a year later, & I like the 
beast more now than ever. Have had zero problems with it -- it 
remains a great instrument -- very responsive, loud and durable. 
I go months without having to even retune it.

YET LATER NOTE, 1/2/2007: The paragraph above still applies 100%.
This bass is imported by Saga music out of California. Another
brand name of instruments made in the same Chinese factory is
Paladino.

Dennis Havlena 
Webpage: http://dennishavlena.com/

Here are a couple of comments along similar lines - found 
on the web (you'd think I have stock in the company --- not so, 
I just really like the thing):

      "i have a cremona that in my opinion is the best 
      bass that i have ever owned , i have owned a 
      50's model kay bass and man this cremona really 
      blows the doors off of that kay ...also i have 
      played many engleharts and i still think that 
      this cremona rocks and has more volume and tone 
      than any other upright that i have 
      played...............in my honest opinion the 
      cremona bass that i own is far the best bass 
      that i have ever had .....just my honest humble 
      opinion."

FROM ANOTHER PERSON:
     "I have a Cremona Sb-1 bass that I have used 
     extensively over the past 2 years. I bought it 
     for 600.00 which is the going retail price and 
     it's been the best bass for the money I have ever 
     owned. And yes I have owned Kays and Engelharts 
     through the years as well but this Cremona walks 
     the dog. After 2 years of riding down the road, 
     being dragged from gig to gig, this bass is still 
     just as solid as the day it was new. So I say if 
     your thinking about a cheap investment in order 
     to have an upright in your hands you want go 
     wrong with one of these basses."