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.

Michael Kelly/Turner-Licensed Renaissance MKB4SB Bass

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

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  1. Seems cool ! where is it built ? in the US or Asia (say… indonesia, see what I mean)

  2. Nice looking bass. Are you considering five/six string models in the furture