NAMM 2016 Archives
Ibanez Introduces Adam Nitti Signature ANB306 Bass
After launching the Adam Nitti Signature series last year, Ibanez introduced the ANB306 model. The bass is a production model of the ANB1006, carrying many of the same features at a lower price point. “In terms of concept, you’re looking at somewhere from 80 to 90% of the specs from his custom shop bass to this bass,” says Ibanez’s Ken...
Orange Introduces 4 Stroke Bass Amplifiers
Orange Amplification has introduced the 4 Stroke Bass Amplifier, an all-analog bass head available in 300 and 500-watt versions. The Class AB amps are described as staying “crystal clean and expressive all the way up, without ever becoming sterile or fatiguing.” Each amp centers around a 4-band parametric EQ section that has variable frequency knobs for Bass, Lo-Mids, Hi-Mids, and...
Schecter Adds To Session Series With 8-String, 5-String, Fretless Models
Schecter expanded their Session Series of basses this year with an 8-string version of their Riot bass, a 5-string version of the Model-T, and a fretless version of the Stiletto. As a part of the series, each of the basses is built with a swamp ash body, hard rock maple neck, ebony side block inlays, and active EMG pickups and...
Surine Basses Introduces The Lunara NTVII Bass
Luthier Scott Surine was showing his basses at the NAMM Show this year including a brand new model called the Lunara NTVII. The bass, which is Surine’s second single-cut design, features neck-through construction with a seven-piece Rock Maple and Walnut neck. The Lunara NTVII’s swamp ash body core is sandwiched between a Redwood burl top and back with black Sycamore...
Ibanez Introduces SR300E with Upgraded Electronics
Ibanez is stepping up their SR300 series with the SR300E basses, featuring upgraded pickups and electronics. The models, which come in four-, five-, and six-string versions, aim to bring a high quality of tone and control to a lower price point. The lineup centers around Ibanez’s new Powerspan dual coil pickups that have stainless steel poles to improve output, clarity,...
Gittler Instruments Unveils Bass Models at NAMM 2016
First introduced in the 1980s, the minimalist Gittler Guitar was reborn in 2013 thanks to musician and titanium expert Russ Rubman. This year Gittler Instruments has unveiled three new bass models, including four-string, five-string, and fretless versions. “Similar to the six string Gittler Guitar, these basses are manufactured of aircraft grade titanium with an optional weapons grade finish and weigh...
Sadowsky Introduces Satin Series Bass Guitars
Sadowsky has unveiled the Satin Series, a lineup that brings their chambered, NYC-made basses to nearly half the cost of a built-to-order custom instrument. The instruments include their 21 fret Vintage Style J Bass and 24 fret Modern Bass models built in batch with limited options. “We’re committed to serving the working musician, so we found a way to thin...
Phil Jones Bass Introduces Session 77 Bass Combo
Phil Jones had a handful of new bass goodies at the NAMM Show this year including the Session 77 combo. The 100-watt bass amp, which is PJB’s most affordable offering to date, features a pair of seven-inch drivers tweeter and a three-inch tweeter. The combo’s controls begin with a three-way switch at the input that toggles between a mute, high...
Fender Unveils American Elite Series Basses
Fender’s new bass offerings at the NAMM Show this year revolved around their new American Elite series of instruments. The lineup includes each of the company’s main models with the American Elite Precision Bass, Jazz Bass, Jazz Bass, and Dimension Bass. Common features for the series are Fender’s fourth generation Noiseless pickups, compound neck shapes, new cases, and new finishes....
Bartolini Unveils B-Axis Pickups
Bartolini unveiled the b-axis series of bass pickups at the 2016 Winter NAMM Show. Based on the company’s original HI-A design from the ’70s, the b-axis pickups feature a fully encapsulated Alnico V exposed pole piece design that fits as a replacement set for J-style basses. “The main design principle was to provide a highly asymmetric magnetic field in order...
TC Electronic Introduces Ditto X4 Looper
TC Electronic’s Ditto series of loopers got a little bigger at the NAMM Show this year. The Ditto X4 Looper builds on the simplicity of the original Ditto by adding two loop tracks, two loop modes, seven loop effects, loop decay, MIDI sync, loop import/export, and stereo inputs and outputs. The list of options and effects offer the option to...
Ashdown Unveils Rootmaster EVO Series
Ashdown took to the Winter NAMM show this year to introduce the Rootmaster EVO Range. Building on the Rootmaster series, the EVO range has been streamlined with improved features and a reduction in weight. The Rootmaster preamp now has active and passive inputs to get optimal levels for your bass. Other common features in the line include a 5-band EQ,...