Red Bird’s Gemini Theta Bass Is Built From 18th-Century Monastery Wood
Late last year, we featured the Red Bird Mini Gemini as a Bass of the Week. Now, the company has given the diminutive bass a big brother called the Gemini Theta. The 34-inch scale four-string is handmade in the Czech Republic with some incredible materials.
Just like the Mini Gemini, the new bass has a spruce body reclaimed from an 18th-century monastery.
“Our goal is to make instruments from quality reclaimed wood for its weight, sound features, for its story and also for environmental reasons,” Red Bird told No Treble of their design philosophy. “Wood used for these basses comes from a monastery in Rajhrad (Czechia). This spruce dates back to the 18th century, when there were extensive Baroque buildings designed by [architect Jan Santini Aichel] himself. Unfortunately, the wooden ceiling, from which these beams are also, collapsed due to the poor condition of the building. Currently, the wing of the monastery is undergoing extensive reconstruction. The second wing of the monastery is still functional and the monks live here. This wood is super light and it resonates beautifully, an absolute gem.”
The Theta’s maple neck has a C profile and is fitted with either a maple or rosewood fingerboard. A pair of Nordstrand Big Single pickups are fitted to either the middle and bridge positions or a configuration with both in the middle, as pictured. Other features include a Gotoh bridge, Hipshot Ultralite tuners, and a thin nitrocellulose finish. It weighs in around 7.7 pounds.
The Red Bird Instruments Gemini Theta is now available at a limited introductory price of €2,100, or approximately $2,437 USD.
Red Bird Instruments Gemini Theta Bass Photos:
Red Bird Instruments Gemini Theta Bass Specs:
| Scale: | 34“ |
| Body: | Reclaimed Spruce from 18th century (Monastery in Rajhrad) |
| Neck: | Maple |
| Neck Profile: | C |
| Fretboard: | Maple or Rosewood |
| Fretboard Radius: | Radius 12“ |
| Frets: | 20 frets |
| Pickups: | Nordstrand Big Single (middle+bridge or double middle option) |
| Nut: | Beef Bone |
| Nut Width: | 38 mm (1.5″) |
| Switching: | 4-way switch with series humbucking position |
| Bridge: | Gotoh B-203 with strings through body option |
| Tuning machines: | Hipshot Ultralight |
| Finish: | Thin Nitro |
| Total Weight: | Around 3.5 kg (7.7 lbs) |
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.
