Bass Gear Roundup: The Top Gear Stories in March
Time for your monthly dose of bass gear goodness, with our usual disclaimer: may cause G.A.S.
These are the top ten most read, commented and shared bass gear stories on No Treble last month.
1. Blast Cult Enters the Electric Bass Market with the Thirty 2 Bass
Blast Cult announced a new electric bass model late last year, but the details were still being worked out, into 2013. Now we know a whole lot more. The aptly named “Thirty 2” is a 32-inch scale bass, and the first electric made by the company…
2. Warwick Adds Triumph Lite to RockBass Series
Warwick has added to their RockBass series of instruments with the RockBass Triumph Lite. The electric upright follows in step with its German counterpart and is based on the original Framus designs from the 1950s. The Triumph Lite is built with a maple body, maple neck, and rosewood fingerboard…
3. ESP Introduces LTD FB-204 to Frank Bello Signature Series
ESP’s Frank Bello LTD Signature line of basses has a new addition. The FB-204 is an entry level model with bolt-on construction and a black satin finish to suit the Anthrax bassist’s style. The FB-204 is built with a basswood body, maple neck, and rosewood fingerboard…
4. GFS Pickups Introduces REDactive Bass Pickups
GFS Pickups has announced new REDactive series of pickups, including Jazz and P Bass styles. The pickups are low impedance, noiseless models with internal preamplifiers. Each pickup is vintage voiced and “position calibrated” by their coils and the internal preamplifier. Beyond standard configurations, each pickup can be matched with REDactive components…
5. Lakland Introduces Skyline Hollowbody 30 Bass
Lakland has added another flavor of their Hollowbody bass to the Skyline series. The Skyline Hollowbody 30 shortens the model to a 30? scale for ease of playing and an old school feel. The bass is stocked with a pair of single-coil, vintage-style pickups with a Volume/volume/tone configuration…
6. Ibanez Introduces BTB Premium Basses
Ibanez has added to their Premium line of basses once again with the BTB Premium. Building on the “boutique-style” of the BTB series, the Premium models take things a step further with upgraded materials and are built in Ibanez’s Premium factory. Available in 5- and 6-string models, the BTB Premium models feature 35? scale…
7. Warwick Introduces RockBass Vampyre Dark Lord
Warwick has added to their RockBass series with the Vampyre Dark Lord, a 35? scale bass built for extra low tuning. From lowest strings to highest, the Dark Lord is tuned F#, B, E, A, which the company says gives it a “diabolic sound character”…
8. Tech 21 Unveils Private Stock Formula 21 All-Tube Bass Preamp
Tech 21 has unveiled the Private Stock Formula 21, an exclusive vacuum tube bass preamp. The limited edition preamp is hand-built at the company’s U.S. factory and is housed in a solid mahogany cabinet with a cherry finish…
9. Ibanez Refreshes Artcore Series Basses
Ibanez has updated their Artcore series of basses with the AGB205 and the AFB200SRD. As part of the Artcore line, the acoustic/electric basses follow vintage aesthetic and sport 30.3? scales. The AFB200SRD is built constructed with a 3-piece maple/mahogany neck, a maple body, and a bound rosewood fingerboard…
10. Warwick Releases Limited Edition Thumb BO LTD 2013
Warwick’s limited edition bass this year is the Thumb BO LTD 2013, an upgraded version of the company’s existing model. Available in 4- and 5-string versions, the new model features bolt-on construction and is crafted from FSC certified woods…
11. Lakland Introduces 44-01 and 55-01 Deluxe Spalt Basses
Lakland has given their Skyline 44-01 and 55-01 models the Deluxe treatment this year. Sporting four and five strings respectively, the Lakland 44-01 and 55-01 Deluxe Spalt models add to their predecessors with spalted maple tops for visual flair…