Basses Under $500 Archives - Page 3

Eastwood Custom Shop is reviving their former Airline 2P bass with a new model: the Airline Jetsons Jr. Bass. The retro design retains many of the same features with a few differences. “Inspired by the discontinued Airline 2P Bass, the new Airline Jetsons Jr. Bass keeps the same ‘JB Hutto-style’ body shape, but now comes with a single, P-Bass style...

ESP updated their LTD line this year with upgraded versions of their most popular basses. The LTD B-204FM and LTD B-205FM take the flagship models and add a flamed maple top in translucent See Thru Red and See Thru Blue finishes. Other new features include an improved control layout and a new fingerboard wood: roasted jatoba. Each model is built...

Epiphone has unveiled two new Pro design basses: the Embassy Pro Bass and the Thunderbird Vintage Pro Bass. The new instruments are inspired by models from the 1960s with modern updates. The Embassy Pro commemorates the 60th anniversary of the Epiphone joining Gibson. It’s built with a mahogany neck and body that’s been rebalanced for comfort. It also has improved...

Yamaha’s BB Bass series is growing this summer with nine new models that debuted at the Summer NAMM Show. The reworked basses, which range from entry-level to professional, will feature a smaller body among other upgrades. The new line starts with the four-string BB234 and five-string BB235. Each is built a solid alder body fitted with a custom V3 ceramic...

Fender has introduced the Classic Design series that they say is aimed at the company’s acoustic tone and aesthetic at an affordable price. The lineup includes the CB-60SCE, an acoustic bass guitar featuring a slim-taper neck profile and rolled fingerboard edges for playability. Its concert-bass body is built with a solid spruce top with mahogany for the back and sides....

D’Angelico introduced the Premier version of their Mott acoustic/electric bass at the Winter NAMM Show this year. The affordable bass features a cutaway design with a 16-inch-wide body and solid Sitka spruce top. Its mahogany neck has a slim C-shape, which the company says allows for maximum comfort and playability. Similar to the rest of the Premier series, the Premier...

Cort has introduced the Action DLX AS bass guitar, which they describe as delivering “a deluxe sound and feel along with a simple, yet attractive aesthetic.” The bass expands upon the Cort Action DLX with a new active Markbass MB-1 preamp featuring a 3-band EQ, pickup blend, and master volume controls. A mini-switch allows for toggling between active and passive...

Fender has revamped their T-Bucket series for 2016, including the introduction of the 300E Bass. The medium-scale, acoustic-electric bass is fitted with a Fishman Isys III pickup system. It comes complete with an active preamp and built-in tuner as well as volume and tone controls. The T-Bucket 300E Bass is constructed with mahogany back and sides with a figured maple...

Cort Guitars has expanded their bass lineup with the AB850F, an acoustic bass guitar featuring a full-size, jumbo body that the company says produces plenty of volume. The bass, which comes in natural and black finishes, is constructed with a dovetail neck joint and venetian cutaway for better access to the upper register. Its body back and sides are mahogany...

Mitchell Electric Guitars has debuted a new line of electric guitars and basses, including four bass models over three series: the FB Series, the TB Series, and the MB Series. The company calls the FB line their flagship model while the TB and MB basses are configured more traditionally. The FB700 is available in four-, five-, and six-string versions, each...

This review will cover two Ibanez basses that are by design apples and oranges, but maybe in side-by-side comparison help you to find a good fit that suit your needs. The SR300E-CCB is the more modern styled and beginner level variety and the TMB2000-TFL fits the more seasoned player seeking a classic sound and esthetic. Both are well built, came...

Dean is now shipping the Exotica Supreme Cutaway Acoustic/Electric bass. The full-sized instrument is a pared down version of the Exotica Quilt Ash that gets down to the essentials. Its body is made from mahogany with a spruce top while the mahogany neck is topped with a rosewood fingerboard. The soundhole has a distinct inlay and the neck has multi-ply...