NAMM Archives - Page 9

Ernie Ball’s booth at NAMM this year was buzzing with a new neck-through version of their flagship StingRay Bass. Available in four and five-string versions, the StingRay Neck Through is built with a 3-piece maple neck the runs the entire length of its ash body. The StingRay has only featured bolt-on construction since its introduction in 1976. The new bass...

Fodera went old school at NAMM this year by introducing the Standard Classics line, including the Monarch 4 and Emperor 5 Standard Classics. The new models retain the qualities of Fodera’s Standard series models while taking on a classic aesthetic. “All our tone woods and everything are from the same Brooklyn shop [and are] the same tone woods we use...

Boss has introduced the BB-1X Bass Driver, a compact pedal that employs the company’s MDP technology to offer sounds ranging from natural clean tone to a heavy distortion. Beyond a drive pedal, the BB-1X has EQ controls and a 1/4-inch line output to add preamp and DI functionality. The pedal’s distortion circuit analyzes your bass signal to respond to your...

Ashdown Engineering took the opportunity at NAMM to unveil the B-Social, a desktop bass amp that’s loaded with innovative features. The 75-watt stereo amp is boasted as the first desktop amp system for bass guitarists with Bluetooth connectivity that allows the bass to connect wirelessly via an optional transmitter. The “social” aspect of the amp comes from from several features,...

Dream Studios announced their Majestic Bass at NAMM – one they describe as simple, but with quality. The bass is built with a one-piece alder body that is heavily contoured for comfort and playability. The instrument’s hard maple neck can be topped with either a rosewood or Torray Carbon Fiber fretboard. Each option holds 22 frets and mother of pearl...

Rush’s Geddy Lee and Iron Maiden’s Steve Harris are having their Fender signature models spruced up for 2015. Each of the signature models have been around for years but will be getting new specs and features. The USA Geddy Lee Jazz Bass is getting more of an update between the two. “[It] is a new version that combines the specs...

G&L Guitars has introduced a 5-string version of their MJ-4 called the MJ-5 Bass Guitar. The new model retains all the features of the four-string model with re-engineered bi-coil Alnico V pickups. Each pickup features two side-by-side coils configured in a series-humbucking mode to offer a range of single-coil tones without the classic hum. The pickups are matched to a...

Morley debuted the Cliff Burton Tribute Series Power Fuzz Wah at the Winter NAMM Show this year. Introduced in part with the bassist’s father Ray Burton, the pedal is a tribute that blends aspects of the 70’s model used by Burton on the early Metallica recordings and the company’s modern models. The Power Fuzz Wah’s fuzz and wah effects can...

Ampeg’s booth at NAMM this year featured their new revamped BA combo series, but it centered around the unveiling of their brand new SCR-DI. The bass-friendly direct box is their first new pedal in years and brings together an Ampeg preamp, EQ section, and their Scrambler Overdrive. The SCR-DI starts with a legacy Ampeg preamp with tone stack circuits, which...

After introducing the Bassbone OD last year, Radial Engineering is updating the original Bassbone with the Bassbone V2. The second generation device features a dedicated effects loop, a combination power booster-mute footswitch, and a piezo optimized input for upright bass. “We recently launched the Bassbone OD which has gained tremendous attention from many of the world’s most prominent bass players,”...

TC Electronic took the opportunity at the Winter NAMM Show to unveil the new K-Series of bass cabinets. Following in the footsteps of the company’s RS and BC cabinets, the K-Series models are designed to be lightweight with vertical stacking ability. The lineup includes the K210, the K212, and the K410. Each is constructed with a durable plywood cabinet loaded...

Marcus Miller has a new line of signature instruments with Sire Guitars. The series is based on two models – the J-bass inspired V7 and the modern-styled M3 – and aims to create quality instruments at low prices.