Basses

Harley Benton has added the MV-4JB Gotoh bass to their lineup, which takes its name from its upgraded Gotoh GB-7 tuners. The J-style bass is available in four finishes.

After unveiling the bass at NAMM 2022, Ernie Ball Music Man has now launched the 35th Anniversary StingRay 5. The company states that the model is a chance for them to reflect on the bass and its evolution over the last three and a half decades.

Fender has teamed up with the ever-funky MonoNeon to introduce a signature five-string model for the bassist. The MonoNeon Jazz Bass V follows his aesthetic with a neon yellow and orange finish.

Solar Guitars has rolled out another signature instrument, this time for Jonas Björler of At The Gates and The Haunted. The AB1.4JB is described as excelling in heavy gain with a straightforward approach.

Fender has once again revived more of its original designs with the new American Vintage II series. The lineup recreates models from the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s by building them to their original specs.

More bass history is up for grabs as part of a new sale via Julien’s Auctions. While a full list of the items has not been released, the highlights from John McVie’s collection are eyebrow-raising, to say the least.

Solar Guitars has added to its artist line by announcing the Johan Niemann signature bass. The Evergrey bassist’s new axe is a take on their Type AB model and is called the AB1.4JN.

Luthier Rob Elrick and Cort Guitars have teamed up to release the Elrick NJS series, which celebrates the 30th anniversary of Elrick Basses. It also marks 20 years since Cort and Elrick first introduced the Elrick eVolution Bass.

Ernie Ball has announced the Fall 2022 lineup of the limited edition Ball Family Reserve collection, which is set to include two basses, both of which are takes on the StingRay.

In 2006, luthier Jean-Philippe Ferreira retired from building basses, and the JPBasses brand was licensed to Pete Skjold in 2011. Ferreira just announced a new brand called KISSBASS, which he says has a different approach to bass building.

The Charvel Custom Shop just unveiled the most recent additions to their 2022 lineup with three guitars and one bass: the Frank Bello Signature So Cal Bass. Built by Charvel’s principal master builder Pasquale Campolattano, the model is built to order and builds upon the Anthrax bassist’s existing PJ IV model.

Fender has reissued the Aerodyne Special line of guitars and basses, including a Precision and a Jazz model in the lineup. The Japanese-made instruments introduce new colors for the models.