Bass of the Week: Paul Belgrado String Instruments NaNo Bass

Paul Belgrado String Instruments NaNo Bass 4

The Guitar Summit in Mannheim took place at the end of last month and showcased loads of new instruments from luthiers around the world. Paul Belgrado was on hand with a trio of basses including his new model called the NaNo, which fuses several classic styles and has a shortened 30.29-inch scale.

“This is the scale length measured from the second fret to the bridge on a 34″ long scale, [so] the design of the bass is like putting a capo on the 2nd fret and see the bass like that,” he writes. “I added two frets on the higher positions and reduced the shape of the body to be ergonomic and in balance. It’s like holding a classic offset body bass with a shorter neck and smaller headstock for balance. It feels familiar when putting your thumb on a pickup while playing.”

The body is made from Obéché, a hardwood Belgrado describes as having a bit of an acoustic growl, while the neck is a 3-piece laminate of rock maple. For electronics, he fits the NaNo with a pair of TV Jones Thundertrons in a “60s” position of a 34-inch scale to get a similar tonal response. Other features include a rosewood fingerboard, Emerson CTS pots, a Hipshot hardware, and an aged pearl beige nitro finish.

Check out this rough demo of Belgrado playing his NaNo bass:

The NaNo is a new model for Belgrado. As he is a one-man shop, he can customize options for tonewoods, inlays, binding, and more. In a few months, different versions of the NaNo will be ready.

Paul Belgrado String Instruments NaNo features:

Scale:30.29″
Body:Select Obéché
Neck:3-piece Maple
Nut Width:1.52″
Fingerboard:Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius:Compound 7.25″ to 12″
Binding:White
Inlays:Acrylic Block
Pickups:TV Jones Thundertrons
Pots:Emerson CTS
Controls:Volume, Volume, Tone
Bridge:Hipshot Vintage
String Spacing:18mm
Tuners:Hipshot
Neck Finish:Hand Rubbed Oil (Satin Poly Available)
Body Finish:Aged Pearl Beige Nitro

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Share your thoughts

  1. MG

    This is pruuutty! Interesting concept as well.

    • Luc Vandael

      ha Cool, I have a custom bass, made by Paul Belgrado, I named the model : MG :-D