5-string Bass Archives - Page 13

One of the great things about writing the Bass of the Week column is that builders send us photos of some of their best work. This recent Sadowsky NYC Will Lee 5-string hit my inbox and stopped me in my tracks. Built with a chambered swamp ash body, the bass’s candy apple orange finish and black pearl pickguard are enough...

Master luthier Mas Hino is a man that can appreciate the finer things in life. That’s why his bass design called the Matador is inspired by both Picasso and Lamborghini. “The Matador was inspired by Pablo Picasso. The shape is an acoustic guitar with an offset on the sides like Picasso’s guitar,” Hino writes. “The body line and shape was...

Xotic has expanded their bass lineup with the XJPRO-1 5-String ProVintage Series Bass. As part of the ProVintage Series, the new bass combines elements of classic and modern features while building on their previous lineup. “The ProVintage Series basses, inspired by the Xotic XJ Series, feature a structurally balanced neck for reliable intonation that is coated with a unique oil...

Wilcox Guitars is updating their bass lineup by replacing their outgoing Saber VL Bass with the 2018 Saber bass. The reworked instrument features an AAAA flame maple top, lightweight chambered swamp ash body, and their patented LightWave optical pickup system. “LightWave pickups use infrared light technology to ‘map’ or ‘see’ string vibration, resulting in a significant enhancement in tone, sustain...

This week we’re checking out the Intrepid bass from Fast Guitars. Available in four-, five-, or six-string versions, the model features a lightweight chambered body with a long-tenon neck joint. “Our neck joints are as tight and precise as any other type of neck joint. With a tapered tenon, the string tension will only tighten the joint rather than pull...

Back in May we shared an incredible bass by Frederiek de Vette. Shockingly, it was her first ever build. Now she’s followed up with her second bass that looks just as stunning. We’ll let her tell you the story: “For this build, my second, I decided on a five string fretted bass with a bolt-on neck,” de Vette explains. “While...

Fodera has unveiled the latest in their Masterbuilt Series with the “Woodblock” Emperor II 5 Elite. Limited to four basses per year, the Masterbuilt series is described as the pinnacle of what their custom shop can produce. Woodblock was created as a collaborative design with Vinny Fodera and luthiers Vadim Medved and Patrick Blaney, who found inspiration in historic art....

Esh Bass Guitars has announced their basses will now be available in the United States and Canada. The European manufacturer has been relaunched this year with a North American sales channel. “The Esh bass guitar brand is known for its innovative Eshtronics onboard electronics package as well as edgy and unique body stylings,” the company stated. “Esh models available are...

This week we’re checking out gorgeous Unique V bass from Schack Guitars. Built with a flamed ash body, the instrument features a striking top and matching headstock of spalted quilted bubinga. Similarly, its flamed maple neck is topped with a beautiful marbled ebony fretboard and bubinga binding. “The neck is connected to the body with our unique Covered Neck Fixing-System...

After introducing a JJ model earlier this year, Cort has once again added to their GB7 series with the GB75JH bass. The new bass takes a “proven body and bridge design” and adds a new pickup configuration – in this case a single coil pickup with a humbucker in the bridge position. “This model is equipped with two-band EQ with...

This week we’re taking a looking at fiery bass called the Hathor Deluxe from Anka Custom Guitars and Basses. Built with an alder body, the model features a striking AAAAA Quilted Maple top and walnut veneer that will make you look twice. The bass’s ovangkol neck is matched with a wenge fingerboard sans inlays. Anka fits the five-string with big...

Elrick Guitars has teamed up with bassist Daric Bennett to introduce the Platinum Series e-volution DBS (Daric Bennett Signature). The new model, which is part of their U.S. hand-carved basses, is designed to fit the bassist’s wide style. “A respected player and educator, Daric is well known for his unique percussive style, and for combining funk, blues, gospel, and jazz...