Nordstrand Launches Acinonyx V: Short Scale Five-String With PolyVox Pickup and Custom Shop Build
Nordstrand Audio recently announced it was ending production on its factory-built Acinonyx, aka the Cat Bass. However, it’s not the end of the vintage-inspired model. The company has just launched the Acinonyx V, a five-string variant with a short 30.7-inch scale. The first batch is limited to five pieces that founder Carey Nordstrand built in their custom shop. Nordstrand shares that while a five-string had been requested for some time, the time wasn’t right until they found the right pickup.
“The new Acinonyx 5 wasn’t destined to exist until the PolyVox pickups were developed,” Nordstrand writes on their website. “These new multi coil pickups offer unrivaled string to string definition and clarity in a passive installation and they’re the perfect solution for how to make a short scale (30.7”) B string deliver like never before.”
The company fits the Acinonyx V with a single PolyVox pickup, which they say has a total of six coils under its cover. While the original design had four push-button pickup selectors, the new bass has one wide-range tone knob allow for dialing in a broad palette of sounds from the PolyVox. “Anything from super dark synth-y sub vibes to clean and clear chime are all available with nary a blurry undefined note to be found,” the company states.
The Acinonyx V is crafted with a soft maple body, a maple neck, and an Indian Rosewood fingerboard. Its fingerboard has a compound radius for ease of playability across its entire range. Finally, Hipshot hardware holds everything together.
The first handmade batch of Nordstrand Acinonyx V basses features five finishes: Two-Tone Burst, Surf Green, Aged White, Fiesta Red, and Faded 3-Tone Sunburst. They have direct prices ranging from $5,500 to $6,000. Nordstrand says the model will continue with two 10-piece batches available over the next year that will be built by a local shop in Temecula, California.
Nordstrand Audio Acinonyx V Specs:
| Scale Length: | 30.7″ |
| Body: | Soft Maple |
| Neck: | Maple |
| Neck Shape: | Classic Medium Slim |
| Fingerboard Wood: | Indian Rosewood |
| Fingerboard Radius: | 7.5″ - 14″ |
| Fingerboard Inlays: | Dots |
| Width at Nut: | 1.725″ |
| Nut Material: | Bone |
| Frets: | 21; StewMac #147 Fretwire (Narrow/Medium) - Nickel/Silver |
| Pickups: | Nordstrand PolyVox 5 |
| Controls: | Volume, Tone |
| Hardware: | Hipshot |
| Bridge: | Proprietary Custom Hipshot Bridge |
| Tuners: | Hipshot Ultralight Lollipop Tuners |
| Truss Rod: | 2 Way Spoke Wheel Truss Rod |
| Strings: | Dunlop Custom Scale Super Brights |
| Body Finish: | Polyester |
| Neck Finish: | Urethane Satin |
| Weight: | 6.83 lbs |
| Origin: | First Batch Built By Carey Nordstrand in California |
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
As usual, you left out an important detail: “Lefty model available” or “Lefty model not available” Would it be too much to ask that you add those 3 or 4 words in articles about any new basses going forward???