Bass Gear

Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan and Fender have teamed up once again to refresh the Duff McKagan Deluxe Precision Bass. The instrument is based on the ’80s Jazz Bass Special he used to record the album “Appetite for Destruction.”

EBS expanded their bass pedal offerings this year at the Winter NAMM Show with the EBS MicroBass 3, an analog “multi-tool” for bassists. The unit is a two-channel preamp that brings together features from their HD360 and Fafner II bass amplifiers.

G&L Guitars has introduced the Fullerton Deluxe range of basses including two new models. The Fullerton Deluxe JB and Fullerton Deluxe LB-100 are both made in the company’s Fullerton, California shop.

Fuzzrocious Pedals released two new pedals at the Winter NAMM Show with the Playing Mantis and the Knob Jawn. Each of the pedals is handmade in their New Jersey shop.

Fender has refreshed the Squier Classic Vibe Series with several decade-specific models of their flagship instruments. For bassists, that includes the Classic Vibe ’60s Jazz Bass, the Classic Vibe ’60s Precision Bass, the Classic Vibe ’70s Jazz Bass, and the Classic Vibe Bass VI.

I got to catch bassist Remco Hendrix playing a the Duvoisin booth at NAMM, and it led me to check out more of the company’s instruments. This week we’re looking at their Fat Standard Bass “Satin Prince of Olivewood,” which was part of a limited run of instruments featuring olive tops.

After fifteen years, Ashdown Engineering has reinstated the ABM 300 to ABM EVO IV series of bass amps. The new head has a lower power rating to fill in the flagship range.

EBS unveiled the latest in their line of signature pedals for bassist Billy Sheehan at the 2019 Winter NAMM Show. The Billy Sheehan Ultimate Signature Drive helps to create his sound when he can’t bring his entire rig.

Bergantino expanded their bass amp line with the forté HP at the 2019 Winter NAMM Show. Building upon the existing forté, the new HP version offers 1,200 watts of power while weighing in at just 6.4 pounds.

System of a Down bassist Shavo Odadjian has teamed up with Ashdown Engineering to create the Head 22, a 600-watt bass amp that is hand-built in Ashdown’s UK Custom Shop.