5-string Bass Archives - Page 29

Gerald Marleaux is a world-class bass luthier based in Clauthal-Zellerfeld, Germany. His designs bring together the highest degrees of form and function into 4-, 5-, and 6-string basses. Today we check out Marleaux’s Consat Signature, the luxury version of his flagship Consat model. Standard features include a 3- or 5-piece birdseye maple neck with wenge strips, an ebony fretboard with...

Luthier Brad Lowe launched his custom instrument business in 2009 in order to combine his lifelong interests of the musical, visual, and industrial arts. His flagship bass model called the Chromasonic is proof that he’s on the right track. Available in 4- and 5-string versions, the bass is designed with a unique body shape that includes his “forearm facet” to...

Ella Basses has introduced a new singlecut model called the Isaac. Named after luthier Jeff Power’s son, the bass is handmade and can be ordered to suit. The Isaac has been made in 4- and 5-string versions with standard features including set-neck construction, Bartolini pickups and electronics, and Hipshot hardware. The first 4-string Isaac is built with a stunning spalted...

Following up on their recent PB series, Carvin has announced the JB4 four-string and JB5 five-string Classic Bolt-Neck Jazz Basses. The new models blend classic styling with the company’s more contemporary features including a locking bass bridge, a smooth contoured neck heel with a 5-bolt neck plate, and a 22-fret neck with dual carbon fiber reinforcement rods. Another key aspect...

Back at the Winter NAMM show this year, we ran into our friend Vuyani Wakaba roaming the floor with a smile from ear to ear. He was overjoyed by his new HJC Customs Fretless Alchemy 5, which is this week’s Bass of the Week. Wakaba teamed up with luthier Harold J. Cagle for the custom creation. It features an African...

This week we check out the Limes bass, a unique singlecut design that’s handmade by Oliver Lang Instruments. The series came as a collaboration between Lang and his customer Michael after meeting at a fretless workshop. Together they created the first of the Limes series, dubbed the “Erik,” which features a five-piece maple and walnut neck, walnut body wings with...

Spector is now shipping a limited edition version of the Alex Webster Euro5LX, featuring a reverse “Zombie Drip” design over a red finish. The new color design is rounded out with red outlined Spector fret inlays and a red Spector logo on the black headstock. Only twelve of the basses have been produced. Similar to the standard Alex Webster Euro5LX,...

Available in 4- and 5-string versions, the Godin Shifter bass is an interesting take on old school aesthetic. Its neck, headstock, and body will look familiar to many, but its pickup system is the real magic. The Shifter has three soapbar, passive single coil alnico pickups with extra large magnets. Each pickup can be selected individually or used in combination...

Polish instrument company Skervesen Guitars has announced two new bass models to their lineup. The instruments are hand-crafted in Poland and can be built with range of options. Skervesen Guitars Mondo Bass The Mondo is a 5-string bass with an offset body designed with designer Dominika Pajdowska for a member of the Skervesen team. It was then chosen by Materia...

Dunlop is now shipping their Super Bright Bass Strings, which the company designed with slap bass players in mind. The strings are defined by a lighter tension and provide clear highs balanced with a fat fundamental. The sets come in either stainless steel or nickel with options for 4- and 5-string basses with light and medium gauges. They’re available now...

Victor Wooten is all about stretching boundaries, but most recently he’s teamed up with Fodera to create a radical new bass design. They’ve just announced the first prototype of their collaboration, which they’re calling the Bow Bass.

Facebook is great for discovering new and beautiful instruments. Our friend Russ Sargeant posted a picture of this fantastic Anaconda Crusher Standard and I was hooked. Built in England, the hand-crafted bass has some nice curves for ergonomics and aesthetics. The Crusher comes in several flavors, with the Standard version offering all of the most important features in a clean...