Bass Gear Roundup: The Top Gear Stories in August 2019
August was a big month for bass gear stories on No Treble – you all viewed these stories a lot. Here are the top 10 reader favorites for the month.
1. Vox Introduces the Mini Superbeetle Bass Amp
Vox has introduced the Mini Superbeetle Bass. The new amp is a compact tribute to the company’s 1960s models and comes equipped with a Nutube analog preamp circuit.
2. Cort Announces the GB74 Gig Bass Guitar
Cort has expanded its GB74 line of basses with the BG74 Gig Bass, which the company says offers “ultimate sonic versatility.” That’s due to its unique pickup configuration, which covers the three main types of bass pickups.
3. Darkglass Electronics Introduces the Microtubes X Ultra Pedal
Darkglass Electronics has introduced the Microtube X Ultra, which they say “greatly expands” on the versatility of their Microtubes X7 pedal. It has all the same controls as its predecessor but adds four key components.
4. Jackson Introduces Mini-Scale JS Series Concert Bass Minion JS1XM
Jackson has scaled things down about with their latest Concert bass – literally. The JS Series Concert Bass Minion JS1XM has a scale of 28.6 inches, which is tiny compared to the standard scale of 34 inches.
5. Ernie Ball Music Man Unveils Ball Family Reserve Bongo 5HH Bass
Ernie Ball Music Man has unveiled the latest in their Ball Family Reserve series with two guitars and a bass. The limited-edition bass is a five-string Bongo in a Wild Cherry Burst finish.
6. Ibanez Introduces Two New Fretless BTB Models
Ibanez has expanded their BTB line with two new fretless basses: the five-string BTB845F and the six-string BTB846F.
7. Blackstar Amplification Announces the amPlug 2 FLY Bass Headphone Amplifier
Blackstar Amplification has unveiled the amPlug 2 FLY, a compact headphone amplifier that comes in versions for guitar and for bass. Each features a fully analog circuit that’s been reworked for a clearer and more present sound, the company says.
8. Fender Unveils New Player Series Bass Colors
Fender has introduced two new colors to their Player Series: Silver and Capri Orange. The new hues apply to the entire mid-priced, made-in-Mexico line including the Fender Player Precision, Player Jazz Bass, and the Player Jaguar Bass.
9. Quilter Labs Introduces the BassDock System
Quilter Labs has announced a new modular amp system called the BassDock system. The series includes two compact cabinets – the BassDock 10 and the BassDock 12 – that are both rated at 400 watts.
10. Sennheiser Introduces XSW-D Wireless Digital Pedalboard Set
Sennheiser has released a new entry-level wireless system for guitar and bass. The XSW-D Pedalboard Set works on 2.4 GHz for worldwide operation and comes with a transmitter and a pedalboard-style receiver. The receiver also doubles as a tuner.