Bass of the Week: Versoul Swan 8
It’s not often you see an 8-string fretless, but this one takes the cake. This week we’re checking out the Swan 8 by Finland’s Versoul, which the company describes as having traditional looks with an innovative body construction.
“Solid Finnish Aspen flat top on solid Alder sides, a flat back and the long scale neck (34″) create an exceptionally mature acoustic bass sound from this compact size,” Versoul writes. “[It’s tone is] colorful, deep and clear with a broad dynamic range. Swan’s sound is exceptionally even: the G-string does not have those common dead note and E-string’s lower notes are solid and clear.”
The bass has a slick ebony fingerboard to match its ebony tailpiece. Versoul fits the Swan 8 with a single Model 2 humbucker as well as a Schertler Lydia Acoustic Transducer And Preamp. This gives flexible controls with volume and tone for the Versoul humbucker and a volume for the Schertler Lydia. There are separate outputs for each.
Other unique features include a Finnish Visa Birch headstock veneer, 23-carat gold leaf inlays, and black and white ABS plastic binding. Several options are available such as gold plated hardware, maple binding, a Finnish Curly Birch top, or a fretted fingerboard.
Versoul Swan 8 Bass Specs:
| Scale: | 34″ |
| Construction: | Set Neck |
| Body: | Solid Finnish Aspen or Alder |
| Body Binding: | Black/White ABS Plastic |
| Headstock: | Finnish Visa Birch Peghead |
| Headstock Inlay: | 23-carat Leaf Gold Decorations |
| Neck: | 3-piece Hard Rock Maple |
| Fingerboard: | Ebony |
| Fingerboard Radius: | 9.5″ |
| Pickups: | Versoul Model 2 Humbucker, Schertler Lydia Acoustic Transducer |
| Electronics: | Schertler Lydia Acoustic Preamp |
| Controls: | Volume, Tone (The Versoul Humbucker), Volume For Schertler Lydia; Separate Outputs For Magnetic Pick Up and Acoustic Transducer |
| Saddle/Nut: | Moose Shin Bone |
| Tailpiece: | Ebony |
| Tuners: | Hipshot Ultralite |
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.
