Bass Gear Roundup: The Top Gear Stories in September 2024

After teasing the instrument back in June, Les Claypool and Pachyderm Instruments unleashed a production version of the Whamola on September 19th. They promptly sold out within the day, but a new batch will be on the way.

Harley Benton has introduced the HB-50, a bass they describe as a “semi-acoustic body meets an archtop.” Inspired by designs of the 60s, the instrument comes in Cherry Red and Vintage Orange finishes.

Tim Sway of New Perspectives Music has unveiled a new upright bass pickup that he says he’s been “dreaming about making for decades.” The pickup mounts to the back of your fingerboard with a simple system, while the height of the four ceramic magnets can be easily adjusted.

Neural DSP has added a new pedal to its arsenal called the Nano Cortex, a more compact take on the Quad Cortex released in 2020. The new unit, designed for both bass and guitar, packs a digital amplifier, cabinet simulator, and effects processor all in one.

Bergantino has upgraded its Forté HP bass amp line with the new Forté HP2X, which they say is “back and better than ever.” Central to the redesign is a new custom output transformer.

Fender has unveiled a new artist signature instrument with the Blu DeTiger x Player Plus Jazz Bass. The bassist worked with the company to modify the Player Plus Jazz to reflect her style and playing.

Orange Amplification has upgraded their AD200 bass head and speaker cabinets for 2025. Their flagship bass rig has been used for decades and some new updates show they’re planning to have bassists use it for decades more to come.

Cort has announced the GB-Fusion Bass series, which they say builds upon their GB-Modern series to be innovative yet affordably priced. The J-style bass comes in four- and five-string models and features a new pickup design.

Lusithand Devices has revamped its lineup once again with the Double NFP MKII and the Double NFP-Special MKII filter preamps. The company says each model has been “re-invented, re-designed, and reborn.”

Death By Audio has expanded its lineup of bass effects with the Bass War, a fuzz pedal they call a sibling to their Fuzz War pedal.