Rick Turner Teams Up with Michael Kelly Guitars to Release Licensed Renaissance Bass
Luthier Rick Turner has teamed up with Michael Kelly Guitars to release a licensed line of his Renaissance instruments, including the Renaissance Bass. Turner, who co-founded Alembic in 1970, has been making the series by hand up until now.
The Michael Kelly MKB4SB Renaissance Bass is a chambered acoustic 4-string bass built with an okumé body, mahogany neck, and rosewood fingerboard. Its center block is also mahogany, and the body is adorned with abalone purfling. The Rick Turner-designed bridge has a 7-degree saddle tilt and strings through the body.
For electronics, the MKB4SB is fitted with a USA-made Seymour Duncan/Rick Turner D-TAR System that consists of a piezo pickup, a condenser microphone, and an 18-volt preamp that’s tuned to improve sound reproduction in live situations.
The Michael Kelly MKB4SB-MK Rick Turner-Licensed 4-String Bass made its debut at the Summer NAMM show in Nashville this week. It will begin shipping in September with a MSRP of $1,015.
Michael Kelly/Turner-Licensed Renaissance MKB4SB Bass Specs:
| Neck Material: | Mahogany |
| Neck Finish: | Natural Satin |
| Nut Material: | Bone |
| Fretboard Material: | Rosewood |
| Scale Length: | 34″ |
| Body Shape: | Turner Renaissance |
| Top Material: | Okoumé |
| Body Material: | Okoumé w/ Abalone Purfling |
| Center Block Material: | Mahogany |
| Bridge: | Rick Turner Design w/ 7 degree saddle tilt – Strings through body |
| Electronics: | USA made Seymour Duncan/Rick Turner D-TAR System |
| Finish: | High Gloss Sunburst |
For more information:
Michael Kelly Guitars
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
Seems cool ! where is it built ? in the US or Asia (say… indonesia, see what I mean)
Hey Joachim, I believe they’re being made in Korea.
Nice looking bass. Are you considering five/six string models in the furture