Bass of the Week: Shaffer Guitars Acoustic Bass Guitar

I recently had a gig in Pennsylvania at the Bedford Fall Foliage Festival, which had a literal damper put on it by the remnants of Hurricane Ian making their way inland. Between sets, I decided to wander through the sprawling vendor tents that sold knick-knacks, cinnamon-roasted almonds, homemade soap, and… more knick-knacks. Just before glazing over at the fiftieth “live, laugh, love” sign booth, I was pleasantly surprised to find a luthier set up and an acoustic/electric bass guitar prominently displayed.

Builder Michael R. Shaffer of Shaffer Guitars invited me in to give it a run. The instrument is labeled #066 and is his very first bass, though you wouldn’t know it from playing. It had a comfortable neck with a shortened 32-inch scale, while the body had wider hips for a comfortable armrest.

Shaffer built the bass in his Salemville, Pennsylvania shop with an Adirondack spruce top and a body of black walnut. Other materials include a crotch black walnut headplate, an African Mahogany neck, an Ebony fretboard, and an ebony bridge. The design features Shaffer Guitars’ Hurricane-Style fretboard and rosette detail.

The bass is then fitted with a Fishman Matrix VT pickup and preamp system. I only played the bass acoustically, but I was struck by the depth and warmth of the bass’s sound. It’s not often you can really feel the resonance of an ABG, but this one took me along for the ride.

It just goes to show that special basses are hiding out all around us – you just have to keep an eye out for them!

Shaffer Guitars Acoustic Bass Guitar Specs: