Custom Bass Archives - Page 6

This week we take a look at the Skjoldslayer by Skjold Design Guitars, which luthier Pete Skjold came up with the design as a take on one of his singlecut models. “The Skjoldslayer came about after the Damian Erskine Whaleback,” Skjold explains. “I basically made a doublecut version and that was the inspiration for it. It has become one of...

Canadian custom shop Basone Guitars recently unveiled a new 25-fret, 6-string bass guitar. The elegant instrument features a chambered body made of Honduran Mahogany topped with spalted maple as well as walnut and ebony accents. The bolt-on neck is also honduran Mahogany supported with dual truss rods, with a black walnut fingerboard. As an interesting addition to abalone side dot...

Apparently, Lemmy Kilmister has one of the coolest bass collections on the planet. One of our very first Bass of the Week features was of the Motorhead frontman’s signature Rickenbacker. This week, we’re checking out his Nick Page Gott 4, which the luthier built specially for him. “The Lemmy Bass was a very special move we did, because Nick is...

This week we take a look at Noguera Basses’ flagship model, the Expression. Designed to produce a “rich sound with accurate low end,” the bass is hand made in France. Available in 4-, 5- and 6-string models, the Expression features bolt-on construction with a bubinga body, maple neck, and wenge fingerboard. The elegant bridge is wood with individual brass saddles...

Norton Guitars takes a unique approach to building instruments by utilizing what they call the “Norton Mainframe” – a skeleton made of T6061 aircraft grade aluminum. The bass is then built with wood and electronics from there. A prime example of their work is their Wraith model bass. Featuring the “Tube” frame version of the Norton Mainframe, the Wraith is...

Finnish custom shop Ruokangas Guitars is now offering fretless versions of their vintage-inspired Steambass, which they introduced last year. The company included stylish fret markers on the ebony fretboard that don’t cross the whole board but instead correspond in placement to the position of the neck – the lower register has markers under the E-string, while the 12th “fret” and...

Ansir Music has unveiled all-new designs for their custom basses, with the introduction of the Imperial line. The Imperial and Imperial SL models feature ergonomic contouring and the company’s patented “Ansir Industry Standard Playing Angle,” which puts the neck in a more natural playing position. While the two models are very similar, Ansir founder Jody Michael explained the SL (or...

There’s been an on-going discussion about what constitutes a bass, and specifically how more than four strings is “breaking the rules.” Well, what if there’s only one string? Enter the Atlansia Solitaire. Based in Nagano, Atlansia is known for outlandish designs – so much so that their website has to specify that the instruments are “Made in Japan on Planet...

Pat Wilkins of Wilkins Guitars is a man who can appreciate the Old School. After getting his start in amps in the ’70s, he soon switched to guitar building, where he eventually started his own brand. Most recently, Wilkins has turned to recreating vintage basses, right down to the smallest detail. Of course, his work also includes custom work and...

German builder Andreas Kristall makes a host of impressive basses, including this week’s bass of the week: The Kristall Solid. Available in 4, 5, and 6-string models, the Solid sports a singlecut design with bolt on construction. Kristall says the bass was built for “Rock character, sound, look, and feel.” As each piece is made to order, options vary from...

Eric Czar’s Signature bass from Adamovic is a thing of beauty. With a monstrous 7-strings and 30 frets, the instrument gives Czar an incredible range. Strung E to A#, bass was designed between Czar and Nikola Adamovic to allow for easy chord playing and fast tapping while combining “the unique voices and timbres of a bass and a baritone guitar...

DeMars Guitars’ Long Trail bass is no doubt an instrument for proud players of the low end. Inspired by Vermont’s hiking trail of the same name, the Long Trail is a a chambered solid-body instrument sporting the company’s patented bass clef soundhole, which the company calls “a stunning visual signature for forward-thinking bassists.” We call it righteous. The Long Trail...