Bass of the Week - Page 49

Vitaly Ganya sent us a note suggesting we check out the Brutal Guitars Egregore 5, and I’m glad he did. The instrument is the first bass by Latvian luthier Andrew Schultz and was made in collaboration with Ganya for his band avant-garde band Theatrum. Ganya gave us the whole scoop: “The body of this five string instrument is made from...

Bass #010 is a landmark instrument for Bilodeau Basses. Completed in 2011, the intricately designed bass was the culmination of years of work and the last before luthier Mathieu Bilodeau took a break from building to focus on his family. “I managed to complete his instrument in fall 2011 which represent the last bass before my break,” Bilodeau explains. “A...

Prometeus Guitars has a way with creating interesting body shapes that still function well. They also have a knack for extended range basses. Both of those features are showcased on their Kirlian 8, a multi-scale eight-string bass that will stop you in your tracks. The Prometeus is built around a padouk neck and wenge fingerboard with fanned frets. The strings,...

This week we check out the Ruokangas Steambass Deluxe, a specialized version of the company’s flagship bass model. Hand-made in Finland, the bass is set apart by a 2-piece Spanish cedar body with a thermo treated arctic birch top. Its rock maple neck is also topped with a thermo treated Indian rosewood fingerboard. “From the guitar maker’s point of view,...

Miki Santamaria is a favorite here at No Treble headquarters – and among readers too – so I was excited to check out his signature bass from Lorita Basses. Designed by the bassist and built by luthier Xavier Lorita in Barcelona, its striking design includes a maple theme with a flamed maple top over a swamp ash body, a 3-piece...

This week we take a look at Italian luthier Anastasio Fasanaro’s Contrabasso model, but this is no ordinary double bass. The unique 1/4 size bass features low profile sides for a slim body and a highly figured, bookmatched curly Italian poplar top. Fasanaro gave it a dark finish for a smoky, elegant aesthetic. The Contrabasso is fitted with K&K pickups...

Adamovic Basses recently posted a set of photos on their Facebook page that made me want to look up some more. The bass was SuperNova 5 featuring a one-piece African padouk top, and it’s our bass of the week. The SuperNova one of the company’s first models and features a three-dimensional hand-carved body. While the Netherlands-based company builds the model...

Based on the the company’s Powerline model, the Rikkers Guitars Hollowline is distinguished by a chambered body that makes all the difference. “Not only do [the chambers] reduce weight significantly, they also make for a remarkably resonant and transparent tonal character,” Rikkers shares on their website. Each bass is custom built to order with a plethora of options. Rikkers prefers...

This week we check out the Healy Guitars Healer Bass. Based in Easthampton, Massachusetts, the company is headed by luthier Trevor Healy, who spent years honing his craft under the legendary Roger Sadowsky, Joe Zon, and others. The Healer is a take on a classic bass and features a curvy, offset mahogany body. Its set-neck is also made of mahogany...

I love checking out fledgling bass builders and self-starters, so when Alain Guiraud sent a note about his new bass, I got just as excited as he did. His friend and guitarist Bruno Régis created an axe that mixes and matches features from a handful of basses. Guiraud says it is his friend’s first order, and I have to say...

Part of the fun of the NAMM show is finding all the oddities that are tucked away into the booths for different vendors. One of the coolest discoveries for us this year was an intricate striped bass at the Hipshot booth. After a minute we got to talking with its creator, Pete Hilton of Hilton Guitars, and I got to...

One of the most interesting booths we visited at the NAMM Show this year was James Trussart Custom Guitars. The L.A.-based luthier takes a different approach to building instruments and uses steel for his bodies, often giving them a rusted finish. “I’ve always liked the look and feel of old guitars, believing them to have a life beyond that of...