Bass Gear Roundup: The Top Gear Stories in May 2022
May is in the books, which means our sights are set on NAMM. Before we dive in to all the gear news coming from the show this month, we’re looking back at the top 10 reader favorite bass gear stories for the month of May 2022.
1. G&L Introduces the CLF Research L-1000 Series 750 Bass
G&L has launched a new L-1000 model with the Series 750 version. The new instrument is a five-string with 19 millimeter (aka .750 inches) string spacing at the bridge.
2. Walrus Audio Introduces the Badwater Bass Preamp and DI
Bass players have utilized Walrus Audio pedals for years, but now the company has unveiled its first unit dedicated to bass. The Walrus Audio Badwater is a preamp and DI pedal complete with an optical compressor, an overdrive, and a four-band EQ.
3. Tech 21 Introduces SansAmp Character Plus Series Pedals
Tech 21 has expanded its pedal lineup with the SansAmp Character Plus series, which includes four new units: the Screaming Blonde, the English Muffy, the Fuzzy Brit, and the Mop Top Liverpool.
4. Grez Guitars Introduces the Mendocino Short Scale Bass
Grez Guitars has unveiled a new bass model called the Mendocino Short Scale Bass. The instrument is a compact, lightweight semi-hollowbody design that takes its cues from a vintage four-string.
5. Two Notes Audio Unveils ReVolt Bass Analog Amp Sim
Two Notes Audio has introduced the ReVolt series of analog amp simulators. The lineup includes a guitar and a bass version, each featuring 12AX7 tubes.
6. Ernie Ball Music Man Introduces 5-String DarkRay Bass
After teaming up with Darkglass Electronics to unveil the DarkRay bass last year, Ernie Ball Music Man added a five-string version to the lineup.
7. Fulltone Introduces Custom Shop Supa-Wah Pedal
Fulltone has announced a new addition to their custom shop pedals with the Supa-Wah. The new unit is a spin on their Clyde wah and adds two new modes for a total of five voices.
8. Source Audio Launches Atlas Compressor Pedal
Source Audio has rolled out another pedal with the Atlas Compressor, a flexible circuit that utilizes their Neuro Desktop Editor and mobile app to offer an array of compression designs.
9. Earthquaker Devices Introduces the Special Cranker Overdrive Pedal
Earthquaker Devices has introduced the Special Cranker, an overdrive pedal that boasts an all-discrete analog circuit. The company calls it a sibling of the Speaker Cranker, with “extra grit and boost without drastically altering tone.”
10. Ibanez Introduces New Acoustic Bass Guitar for NAMM
Ibanez will be exhibiting at the 2022 NAMM Show in Anaheim, California next week, and they’ve unveiled some of the new instruments they’ll be bringing along. That includes a new acoustic bass guitar model named the AEGB24E.
