Bass of the Week: Kohlman Bassworks RetroMod 4

Kohlman Bassworks RetroMod 4 Bass Bridge View

This week we’re checking out an amazing RetroMod 4 from Kohlman Bassworks. This particular bass was built by luthier Chris Kohlman for bassist Mike Gardner and features an intricate matching top and fingerboard. The builder utilized purpleheart, flamed maple, quartersawn maple, and walnut to create the patchwork design.

The core of the bass’s body is maple and purpleheart while the back is ambrosia maple and purpleheart. Its neck is solid purpleheart that is reinforced with a pair of carbon fiber rods. For electronics, Kohlman and Gardner picked a pair of Bartolini 9S Jazz pickups matched to a Bartolini XTCT preamp with an MCT3MC Mid module. Hipshot hardware rounds out the instrument.

Kohlman Bassworks RetroMod 4 Bass Specs:

Body Core:Maple and Purpleheart
Body Back:Ambrosia Maple and Purpleheart
Top:Purpleheart, Flamed Maple, Quartersawn Maple, and Walnut
Neck:Solid Purpleheart with Double Carbon Fiber Neck Stiffeners
Nut:Hand Cut Brass
Fretboard:Purpleheart, Flamed Maple, Quartersawn Maple, Walnut
Fretboard Radius:12″
Frets:24 Medium Nickel Frets
Pickups:Bartolini 9S Jazz
Electronics:Bartolini XTCT Preamp with MCT3MC Mid Module
Tuners:Black Hipshot HB7
Bridge:Black Hipshot A style
String Spacing:19mm
Other:Full Copper Shielded Control Cavity

Get Bass of the Week in your inbox.

Don’t miss a Bass of the Week. Sign up for email alerts (every Monday).

Leave a Reply to Murray Neish Cancel reply

  1. Murray Neish

    It looks like neck through. I don’t understand what the bolts are for

    • I know the Owner of this amazing bass. I tried to count the individual pieces of wood in the build from pictures. I gave up at 26.
      I asked him to count them. The final count is 33! That’s a lot of pieces. I was wondering if that is a record.
      Yes, I know about the one with 1,200 colored pencils, but I wouldn’t call that a normal build.
      Your input is welcomed.