4-string Bass Archives - Page 38

This week we’re taking a look at the Futura from Roks Instruments out of The Netherlands. Luthier Axel Roks, who created the bass as part of Dutch Design Week, uses the human body as a large influence on his creations. “This design originated out of the idea that a bass guitar could be an object in itself,” he writes on...

ESP got into the multi-scale game this year with the LTD B-1004SE and B-1005SE basses. Four and five-stringers, respectively, the new models have different scales for each string to optimize tension and ergonomics. The multi-scale effect is created with Hipshot solo bridges and a fanned fret design. Both basses are built with a swamp ash body topped with solid rosewood,...

Today we’re checking out another iconic bass with the Gibson SG Standard. Originally introduced in the 1961 as the EB3, the current incarnation of the bass carries many of the same attributes including the instantly recognizable body shape. Nowadays, the SG Standard is built as a dual pickup model with a vintage-style TB Plus humbucker in the neck position and...

Ex-Van Halen and current The Circle bassist Michael Anthony has a brand new signature bass from Schecter Guitars. Available in production and custom shop versions, the bass is a take on their Model T with updates to suit Anthony’s playing style. The Diamond Series Michael Anthony Bass is built in South Korea with an Alder body, maple and walnut neck,...

PRS Guitars began their Private Stock series 20 years ago, and to celebrate they’ve brought back their guitar of the month showcase. They kicked it off with a jaw-dropping Private Stock Hollowbody Bass 4, which is our bass of the week. The short scale bass features a solid center block with hollow body wings. The neck is curly maple while...

Ibanez has expanded their Bass Workshop and Soundgear models with the SR Cerro, a singlecut bass available in Natural and Deep Twilight finishes. The Cerro’s body connects to the neck from the 24th fret all the way to 13th fret for increased stability and sustain. Built with neck-through construction, it’s built with a mahogany body, poplar burl top, a five-piece...

Ernie Ball Music Man kicked off the NAMM Show this year with a press conference to reveal new products, including the 40th Anniversary “Old Smoothie” StingRay Bass. The bass is modeled after a 1976 prototype featuring a 10 pole piece pickup design that gives it a smooth tone. “Since its introduction in 1976, the Music Man StingRay bass has been...

Nineteen years after it debuted, Peavey reintroduced the Cirrus bass to their instrument lineup at the 2016 Winter NAMM Show. The neck-thru design will once again be available in four-, five-, and six-string models featuring a 35-inch scale maple and mahogany neck. Its alder body wings will be topped by either red oak or walnut. Similar to the previous versions,...

This week we’re checking out the Puntundo 5 by Spain’s Ele Custom Basses. This version of their El Puntundo bass was made for Fabio Lessa and features the headless version of the striking singlecut design. One’s eye is led straight to the buckeye burl top, which is accentuated with matching pickup covers. The set-neck bass is also built with a...

Beginning bassists have a new option with the Washburn Sonamaster SB1 bass. The entry-level instrument, which comes in Black and Tobacco-Sunburst finishes, is inspired by their ’80s models in its body shape, reverse headstock, and offset position markers. It’s built with an alder body, maple neck, and fingerboard. Washburn fits it with a P-style pickup and passive electronics for an...

Godin Guitars will be showing the new Passion RG-4 Swamp Ash Bass at the 2016 Winter NAMM show. Following the Passion guitar line, the RG-4 features five tuned, Synchronized Resonance Chambers that are interconnected inside the body for air transfer. Godin says the chambers create “exceptional resonance and a lightweight, vibrant body.” Its body is Red Cedar with a Swamp...

Fender set the standard with the Precision Bass in 1951, following it up the Jazz Bass in 1960. This week we’re taking a look at a bass that sleekly blends the two icons: the Fender Aerodyne Jazz Bass. The blacked out bass features a slender basswood body fitted with a P/J pickup configuration. Contoured for comfort, the Aerodyne’s top has...