Bass Gear Roundup: The Top Gear Stories in February 2024
News from the NAMM show continued in February, and all the gear news over the month generated tens of thousands of views.
From all that coverage, here are the top 10 reader-favorite bass gear stories for the month.
1. Thumb Fin Offers a Fresh Take on the Thumb Rest
Many products were launched at NAMM, from monster rigs to elegant new bass guitars. However, one new gadget that caught our eye was the Thumb Fin. The thumb rest uses suction cups to easily be placed and removed on any bass without any alterations.
2. Fender Custom Shop Unveils 2024 Basses
Fender has unveiled the 2024 Custom Collection from the Fender Custom Shop, and it has a good handful of basses. Four-strings appear in the Limited Edition, Time Machine, and Artisan collections for a total of seven new models.
3. Sire Announces GB Series Acoustic/Electric Basses
Sire has introduced the GB Series, which they designed as an electric bass that produces an acoustic sound. The lineup includes four and five-string models available in fretted or fretless versions.
4. Sire Guitars Unveils Z-Series Basses
Sire attended the 2024 NAMM Show to launch several new lines of basses, including the Z Series. It has two basses – the Z3 and the Z7 – that are their take on a classic bass design.
5. Ashdown Introduces Affordable Roasted Series Basses At NAMM 2024
Ashdown is most known for their bass amplifiers and pedals, but in 2020, it introduced a line of bass guitars. This year at NAMM, they unveiled the next generation of their basses with the Roasted Series.
6. Eastwood Guitars Announces the Jet Star Bass
Eastwood Guitars has a knack for reviving instrument designs of the past. The latest is their newly announced Jet Star Bass, which pays homage to the DeArmond Jet Star from the ’60s.
7. Fodera Introduces the Ryan Martinie “Black Beauty” Standard Bass
Mudvayne bassist Ryan Martinie’s signature line of Fodera instruments has gotten a new member as the company has announced the “Black Beauty” Standard bass.
8. Cortex Bass Unveils the Ganesha 5-string at NAMM
Cortex Bass attended the 2024 NAMM Show in part to introduce the latest in its lineup. The Ganesha Bass, the company says, was designed to “suit all players ” and comes in four, five, or six-string versions.
9. Sterling By Music Man Introduces Sterling Bass, Updates StingRay Short Scale for 2024
Sterling By Music Man was at NAMM this year to introduce a new bass and revamp a classic. First is the limited edition Sterling Bass, followed by an updated StingRay Short Scale bass model.
10. ESP Announces the LTD Signature Series Mike Leon MLB-4
ESP introduced the MLB-4 bass at NAMM this year in collaboration with Soulfly and Cavalera Conspiracy bassist Mike Leon. His signature bass is based on the LTD B Series basses that he’s used for years.
Great information on current products. Keeps you informed on new developments in bass equipment.