Bass of the Week: De Gier Soulmate

De Gier Abachi Soulmate Bass

Luthier Sander de Gier is often asked for a lightweight bass, especially in his vintage-styled Soulmate model. In order to achieve a lower weight, he explored different body woods and built three basses that are otherwise identical with the same specs and parts. The three woods he used were alder, cedar, and abachi. This week we’re checking out the Soulmate with the abachi body.

Using abachi helps to shave off about 1.5 pounds from a traditional alder body. It also creates a bit of a different tonal texture.

“From my experience, I can say this: abachi has a fatter midrange, an airy kind of midrange though,” the bass builder notes. “A lot of interesting coloring happens in the mids. Hard to give words to it, but it is fascinating. I think it has the most dirt if you understand me. For a P sound that’s exactly right. But abachi also has less bottom end and is a little less bright. The sub is not there. The low notes are notes, not wooly sub. Some people like that, some don’t. It is interesting wood for a 5 string. Less sub means more note definition for the low B string.”

Other features on the Soulmate are a maple neck, zizicote fingerboard, and an Aguilar pickup. Hardware includes Hipshot tuners and a de Gier/ETS bridge.

Hear the abachi Soulmate plus the alder and cedar variations side by side in this comparison video:

De Gier Abachi Soulmate Bass Specs:

Body:Abachi
Neck:Maple
Fingerboard:Ziricote
Pickguard:Aged White
Nut:Bone
Frets:Small
Pickups:Aguilar
Controls:Vol + Tone
Bridge:De Gier/Ets
Tuners:Hipshot
Finish:Nitro
Color:Mix Of Presidential Blue (Ford Mustang) And Inca Silver (Corvette)
Weight:3.2 Kg (7.05 lbs)

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Leave a Reply to Peter Hess Cancel reply

  1. Harry Fleishman

    I like seeing this kind of post, where the luthier explains their ideas and how they work them out. I had the same results when I designed the AntiGravity Bass for Jackson. I described it as a lively voice; but “airy” mids really captures it too.

  2. Peter

    Why is almost every new bass either a p or j bass ripofff. Ok so this luthier did some good stuff but it’s still a p or j ripoff. sounds exactly the same too. Probably no better than my squire p bass at a quarter of the price.

    • Lnrdnl

      Yes Peter, “Some” good stuff.. But when you are a professional player and spend a lot of time playing your bass these differences in weight, body shape, etc. can make a huge difference. I own a De Gier Lowlander and I can easily perform 2 gigs a day with it. If I did that with its “original” counterpart I would be suffering from hernia within two weeks :)

      • Peter Hess

        I do agree that the ‘original’ can get quite heavy. I’ve been playing my alembic for 18 years and it’s no light weight but I wouldn’t trade it for any bass on the market. I’m not too proud to take a stool when it gets too heavy.

    • Chuck

      Was thinking the same. I see a ton of “new designs hot off the presses” and they are Les Paul , strat, tele, or p or j bass look a likes.