The Wing Bass Now Available

Bassists looking for a portable bass to travel, practice and perform on have a new option. Measuring in at just 21 inches, the Wing Bass is an instrument that feels and plays like the top range of a bass guitar.

Wing Bass 4

“The concept is simple,” the company shared. “Place a capo at the twelfth fret of a standard bass and chop the neck off behind the capo. The result is the Wing Bass, an instrument that feels and plays like a standard scale bass with a capo at the 12th fret.” While the range of the Wing Bass puts it an octave above a standard bass, the company says it allows for great solo/chordal work and using an octave-down pedal will also get you back to the low end of the spectrum.

The Wing Bass comes in four- and five-string versions with several options for each. Its body is made of either mahogany or black limba with a choice of rosewood or maple for the fingerboard. Lined and unlined fretless options are available, as well. Each bass is fitted with a Bartolini humbucker and a Hipshot Headless tuning system.

Wing Bass 5

The Wing Bass is manufactured in the United States in partnership with Stambaugh Designs. Prices are $699 for the four-string and $799 for the five-string, with an additional $25 option for the lined fretless upgrade.

Wing Bass 4 Specs:

Body:Mahogany or Black Limba
Fingerboard:Rosewood or Maple
Dimensions:24 x 14 x 4 in
Pickup:Bartolini Humbucker
Electronics:Passive (Volume, Tone)
Actual Scale:16″ (40.64 cm)
Tuners:Hipshot Headless System
String Spacing:19mm (0.750″)
Height:20-1/4″ (51.4 cm)
Width:10-7/8″ (27.6 cm)
Thickness:1-7/16″ (3.7 cm)
Product Weight:3.5 to 4.5 pounds (1.58 to 2.04 kg)

Wing Bass 5 Specs:

Body:Mahogany or Black Limba
Fingerboard:Rosewood or Maple
Dimensions:24 x 14 x 4 in
Pickup:Bartolini Humbucker
Electronics:Passive (Volume, Tone)
Actual Scale:16″ (40.64 cm)
String Spacing:17.5mm (0.689″)
Tuners:Hipshot Headless System
Height:20-1/4″ (51.4 cm)
Width:10-7/8″ (27.6 cm)
Thickness:1-7/16″ (3.7 cm)
Product Weight:4.5 to 5.5 pounds (2.04 to 2.5 kg)

For more information:
Wing Bass

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Leave a Reply to Trey Smith Cancel reply

  1. this will cure those of us who like to wrap our thumbs around the top of the neck!

  2. Jon R.

    Okay… This is strange, yet interesting. Maybe tune the 5 string F#, B, E, A, D instead?

  3. i’ve thought about this concept years ago, i’ve also thought that is would work great with a decent octaver that could function as the octave valve of a saxophone for a full range . plus some physic approaches to the bass could be diminished .

  4. pretty cool really…I can see some people adding a second bass player playing one of these as a soloist.

  5. Dwayne jones

    Once again for 799 you could buy two uke basses pricey

    • John

      The difference between these and a Uke bass is significant. The quality of these, from what I can see, is vastly superior to a Uke bass, which is essentially not the same instrument. I would MUCH rather these than a cheap sounding uke bass any day of the week. These are crafted beautifully for what they are.. I could see it being it’s own instrument. Not just a ‘half bass’ as such.

  6. Josh Hermann

    What? No active preamp? This would be perfect with an active preamp that way its possible to simply practice anywhere. All you require is regular headphones and a headphone adapter plug for the bass guitar.

    • We’d consider the inclusion of a preamp as a custom order. Passively, it sounds great plugged in, or you could use any of the decent headphone amps out there.

      • I totally agree with you. Active is over rated and inherently problematic. There is nothing more classic than a passive Fender bass, of witch this borrows from, kudos ;)

        • John

          How is Active problematic these days? I agree with Passive being wonderful ;) Do you mean from a personal taste point of view?

  7. Está idea fue creada hace años por Alfonso Iturra
    http://www.alfonsoiturra.com/bajos.php?id=30

    • “This idea was created years ago by Alfonso Iturra”

      • This idea was actually created in 2008 by Chilean bassist Luis Cheul. After the Wing Bass concept was put into play, we learned of the Biajero. Since then, we reached out to Luis and made him part of the team.

  8. kim

    Very cool. Mandates upper-range practice, which offers plenty of challenge and it would be interesting to be limited to that area when traveling.

  9. Rae Runge

    And where would one obtain bass strings for this mini bass?

    • The Wing Bass uses standard strings… However that would stop anyone from experimenting. We’re currently working with a string company on custom gauges, specifically for this instrument.

  10. Gio Sanserino

    Wow! – But where do you get strings for it??

    • Hi Gio, we use standard strings, but you can experiment with different gauges if you like. We’re researching gauge, core and material combinations to find our holy grail (if there is one).

  11. James

    No, thanks.

  12. Ummm……Like luc Vandeal said: I will just keep playing Ubass for my travel bass. It is less expensive. For solo work or a fake 8 string sound with an octave pedal I could see it as viable.

  13. alfred.

    Are special strings made for the bass? Or do you have to cut them down from regular strings?

    • We use standard strings and cut them. However, we are researching different string gauges, cores and tensions.

  14. Tom Herrmann

    Have you tried the Pyramid Silver Round Wound Strings for UBass on a Wing Bass, which would bring tuning down to actual true Bass tuning. If they don’t fit you might want Pyramid to make them for the Wing Bass.