Bass of the Week

The old adage is true: so many basses, so little time. That’s why we’re bringing you the “Bass of the Week,” a column featuring low-end instruments ranging from beautiful to bizarre. Have a bass you think we should feature? Drop us a note at [email protected]

Bass of the Week: Zoot Bass Chaser “Northern Lights” Turns a Shelved Build Into Something Special

Zoot Bass luthier Mike Walsh shares the story of the Chaser “Northern Lights,” a four-string with Wal-style pickups and an unusual B-E-A-D tuning.

Brooks Combines Gibson and Epiphone Classics for the Three-Pickup EMB-3

The Brooks EMB-3 blends elements of the Gibson EB-3 and Embassy with three coil-splittable humbuckers, Khaya construction, and vintage-inspired style.

Mondell’s Single Cut Short Scale Bass Is Packed With Handmade Details

Rob Mondell’s Single Cut Short Scale Bass pairs a chambered mahogany body with flame maple, checkerboard binding, abalone purfling, and vintage style.

This Creston Electric Creature Bass Is a Short-Scale Monster

This custom Creston Electric Creature Bass combines a 30-inch scale, salvaged spruce body, Novak pickups, and hand-painted artwork.

Doc Wiley’s Strat-o-Bass Is One Bass to Rule Them All

Doc Wiley’s custom Strat-o-Bass transforms a Fender Precision into a three-pickup workhorse built to cover a full night of Tom Petty classics onstage.

This Buckeye Burl Lakland 44-51 Is an Absolute Showstopper

This chambered Lakland USA Series 44-51 features a Buckeye Burl top, roasted birdseye maple fingerboard, and Neo Punch split-coil pickup.

Paragram Guitars’ Agave Bass Puts a Semi-Hollow Spin on the Short Scale

Paragram Guitars’ Agave Bass pairs a 30-inch short scale with a lightweight semi-hollow body and a wide range of custom woods, pickups, and hardware options.

Bass of the Week: Aron Bach’s Stunning Austrian Curly Maple DCH34-6

Aron Bach’s DCH34-6 pairs a hollowbody design with Austrian curly maple, Nordstrand pickups, and a low-action setup built for fast, expressive playing.

Bass of the Week: Schecter’s FreeZesicle Is Ricky “Freeze” Smith’s Purple Funk Machine

Schecter’s FreeZesicle bass was built for Ricky “Freeze” Smith, pairing a Freeze Purple finish with EMG electronics and Prince-inspired visual details.

Garda’s Benaco Elite Bass Blends Italian Design With Semi-Hollow Innovation

This week’s Bass of the Week checks out the Garda Benaco Elite Bass, an Italian-made semi-hollow instrument with Delano electronics and a turquoise finish.