Top 10: The Best Bass Gear (November 2010)

1. Luthman Introduces Jazzette Bass

Inspired by the 50th anniversary of the Fender Jazz bass, Luthman has released the Jazzette bass. Available in 4, 5, and 6-string models, the Jazzette is not merely a copy of the icon, but a new design created with a “Luthman’s eye.” The body is your choice between alder or ash, with a custom upgrade…

2. Gear Watch: Gadotti Guitars King Bass

Gadotti Guitars has introduced their newest model, the King Bass, available with 4, 5 and 6-string configurations, and fretted or fretless. Manufactured in Brazil, the bass is a neck thru body design featuring Honduras Mahogany and Maple for sustain and brightness, with a Cocobolo fretboard. The electronics include Kent Armstrong H4BE active pickups as well…

3. Gear Watch: Tech 21 VT Bass 300 Amp

Tech 21 has unveiled their new VT Bass 300 amp, based on their SansAmp Character Series VT Bass pedal. The box, which is rated at 300 analog watts, features two channels that can be dialed in from clean to completely overdriven. You can choose between the two or combine them using the included footswitch. The…

4. Gear Watch: Aguilar SL 112 Bass Cabinet

Aguilar Amplification has added their first lightweight cabinet to their line. The SL 112 weighs in at 25 pounds and features a Neodymium driver with a custom-designed crossover, a phenolic tweeter with variable level control and a frequency response ranging from 37Hz–16kHz. “We spent a lot of time working on the crossover design to arrive…

5. Gear Watch: Hoyer Guitars Reissue Eagle Bass Prestige

Hoyer Guitars has released a reissue of their classic Hoyer Eagle Prestige Bass, featuring many of the same characteristics of the original 1970?s model including a neck-through-body construction, Eagle-typical headstock, Eagle-shaped inlays, and a burr walnut top. The bass has a 33.5” scale, with an ebony fingerboard and 20 medium jumbo frets. The bass’s pickups…

6. Gear Watch: Darkglass Electronics Microtubes B3K Overdrive Pedal

Darkglass Electronics is now shipping their Microtubes B3K bass distortion pedal. The pedal features hybrid JFET and CMOS gain stages for a natural dynamic response, with Level, Drive, and Blend knobs as well as Attack and Grunt switches to dial up your sound. The Attack switch replicates the “Ultra Hi” option from many tube amps,…

7. Albion Musical Instruments Unveils ABH Series of Amplification

Albion Musical Instruments has just released details of their upcoming ABH line of bass amplification products, including 2 heads, 2 combos, and 4 new cabinets. Albion is the brainchild of Steve Grinrod, who besides being a musician, held chief engineer and chief designer positions at Marshall Amplification and VOX. At the forefront of the series…

8. Gear Watch: Sheptone P-Bass Pickups

Sheptone is stepping into the world of electric bass pickups, beginning with a new line of P-Bass pickups. The new models are made for Fender Precision basses and similar models, and are made to vintage specifications, utilizing alnico 5 magnets and #42 plain enamel wire while measuring out to 10.3k. All the pickups are made…

9. Gear Watch: MTD Andrew Gouche Signature 635

Gospel legend Andrew Gouche has shared details of his new Signature MTD bass on his Facebook Page. The Andrew Gouche Signature MTD 635-24 is a 6-string, 35? scale bass that features an alder body with a maple burl top and a maple neck with a purple heart fingerboard. The neck’s side dots are made from…

10. Gear Watch: EBS Classicline 110 and 112 “Mini Size” Bass Cabinets

EBS has extended their Classicline range of bass cabinets with the new 110 and 112 Vintage Style “Mini size” cabs. The cabs feature a vintage look as well as a vintage sound, with a warmer and rounder character than their Proline series. The smaller size cabs are made to match up with a compact head…