Ernie Ball Music Man Unveils Joe Dart II Bass
Vulfpeck fans with keen eyes may have noticed that Joe Dart was sporting a new bass in the latest Fearless Flyers music videos. Now Ernie Ball Music Man has revealed the instrument to be the Joe Dart II, which adds to the company’s line of artist basses.
“The Dart II offers a classic passive tone within a full-scale 34-inch package with its custom contoured body and simplified dual single-coil layout,” the company writes. “The bass features a premium ash body, select maple neck, and passive split-coil pickups at the heart of its warm, punchy tonality. Dual volume controls are standard, but there are no tone controls to color the sound; therefore, the tone is manipulated solely by the user’s technique and finesse.”
Other features include a Natural Velvet finish, a custom artist series neckplate, and 22 frets. Hear it in Joe Dart’s hands in the release video from Vulpeck:
The Ernie Ball Music Man Joe Dart II bass is limited to 100 basses for its first run. Each will ship with a limited edition numbered neck plate, a premium G&G case, and a certificate signed by Joe Dart. It’s available now for $2,699.
Ernie Ball Music Man Joe Dart II Bass Features:
| Scale Length: | 34″ (86.4 cm) |
| Construction: | 5 bolt, sculpted neck joint |
| Body: | Ash |
| Neck: | Select flame maple neck |
| Neck Radius: | 7.5 |
| Neck Finish: | Gunstock oil and hand-rubbed special wax blend |
| Neck Width: | 1-1/2″ (38.1 mm) |
| Fingerboard: | Flame Maple |
| Frets: | 22 High profile, medium width |
| Fret Markers: | 5/16″ Dot Inlay |
| Pickups: | Music Man Custom Wound Dart II Pickups with Alnico 5 Magnets, Split Coils |
| Finish: | Natural |
| Controls: | Passive with 250k ohm Neck Volume pot and 250k ohm Bridge Volume pot |
| Electronic Shielding: | Graphite acrylic resin coated body cavity and aluminum control cover |
| Bridge: | Vintage Music Man top loaded chrome plated, steel bridge plate with vintage nickel plated steel saddles |
| Tuning Machines: | Schaller BM, with tapered string posts |
Sure you can change the tone of your bass with just your playing hands and fingers. Very few will sincerely dispute that, right? ~But no matter all the personal BS and the ad claims, you ain’t gonna do it as much as a good tone control built into your bass, or with adjusting your amp’s EQs, IMO!
Anyway, I think it’s a nice looking bass. ~But (again IMO) quite drastically overpriced for what you’re actually getting… But then aren’t most “bassist name” basses? ~The power of a celebrity’s name to somehow increase the value of a music instrument that can be purchased much less expensively ‘unnamed’ never ceases to astound me!
You make a valid point.Joe could make a cheapo bass sound great probably.The simplicity of design works for me though aesthetically.
Far too many knobs for a Joe Dart bass. ;-)
Gorgeous but lack of tone control is a big deal.also concerned about weight.
In my humle opinion I uderstand it´s not a good option to move from 11″ radius neck from original/predecessor one to 7.5″ to this new one (Dart II)
I love the J.D. basses.They look great and sound terrific,in Joe’s hands anyway.That is what scares me though.Were I back in my heavy gigging days I’d be very tempted.
With that 7.5″ neck radius and 1.5″ nut it’s something like a long scale Mustang… I like that kind of neck setup and find it easier to play, but I’ll stick with my short scale CV Squier Mustang. ~It’s easier playing, yes, but also a lot easier on my wallet!