Best of 2017: The Top 10 Reader Favorite Basses
We covered a lot of new basses in 2017. Here are the top 10 reader favorites of the year.
1. Ibanez Ashula SRAS7 Hybrid Fretted/Fretless Bass
Ibanez shocked many bassists again this year by introducing a new Ashula bass. The SRAS7 is a seven-string model that has a unique hybrid fretted/fretless design with three strings over a fretless purpleheart fingerboard and four strings over a fretted rosewood fretboard. The fretted portion is tuned to a standard E-A-D-G, while the fretless section…
2. Sire Guitars Marcus Miller P7 and V9 Basses
The popular Marcus Miller line of basses by Sire Guitars is growing this year with two new models: the P7 and the V9. The P7 is the company’s first P-style bass, while the V9 adds a solid maple top and quilted veneer to the V7 model. Available in four and five-string versions, the P7 centers…
3. Ibanez Thundercat TCB1006 Bass
Stephen “Thundercat” Bruner has been turning heads for years, including when he debuted his signature Ibanez hollow-body bass on stage a few years ago. Now Ibanez and the bassist have teamed up to release the bass as a model in the company’s lineup. Made in the company’s Japanese workshop, the TCB1006 is a six-string built…
4. Fender Justin Meldal-Johnsen Road Worn Mustang Bass
Fender debuted five new signature models at the Summer NAMM show this year including one bass: the Justin Meldal-Johnsen Road Worn Mustang Bass. The session ace, who has worked with artists ranging from Beck to Nine Inch Nails, teamed up with the company to create an instrument based on his personal ’66 Daphne Blue Mustang…
5. Fender Limited Edition Adam Clayton Precision and Jazz Basses
U2’s Adam Clayton is getting a new pair of special basses from Fender this year. The limited edition Adam Clayton Precision and Jazz basses come with maple fingerboards and a unique purple sparkle finish. Both basses are built with an alder body, carbon-reinforced maple neck, and maple fingerboard that’s adorned with abalone inlays. Fender fits…
6. Eastwood Airline Pocket Bass Reissue
Eastwood Custom Shop is reintroducing another vintage bass with a remake of the Airline Pocket Bass. The short-scale bass, which GE Smith described as one of the best recording basses around, was a widely requested reissue for the company. “This time around we will fix a few of the originals short-comings,” they explained. “We’ll give…
7. Chowny Retrovibe EVO Davie 504 Signature Bass
Chowny Bass has introduced another artist signature model by teaming up with YouTube sensation Davie504. The new release is called the Retrovibe by Chowny EVO Davie 504 Signature. “Featuring the Retrovibe Stinger ’77 pre-amp that is designed to the spirit of the original bass pre-amps to give a great unique bass tone, the EVO features…
8. Willcox Guitars 2018 Saber Bass
Wilcox Guitars is updating their bass lineup by replacing their outgoing Saber VL Bass with the 2018 Saber bass. The reworked instrument features an AAAA flame maple top, lightweight chambered swamp ash body, and their patented LightWave optical pickup system. “LightWave pickups use infrared light technology to ‘map’ or ‘see’ string vibration, resulting in a…
9. Epiphone Limited Edition 20th Anniversary Jack Casady Bass
Jack Casady and Epiphone are celebrating twenty years since the introduction of the bass legend’s signature bass. Launched in 1997, the bass will be offered this year in a special limited edition outfit defined by a flame maple veneer top and a Wine Red finish. It will also come with a custom gig bag, deluxe…
10. Fodera Masterbuilt Southwest Bass
Shortly after announcing the Woodblock, Fodera has unveiled their third Masterbuilt bass for 2017. The Southwest was designed by the company’s Emily Krohn and is inspired by the “textiles, textures, and colors of the American Southwest.” “To accomplish this look and theme, we chose various woods including Spruce, Bloodwood, Ebony, and Mahogany – capturing the…
