Basses

UK-based PJD Guitars has introduced a new four-string model called the St. John Bass. Based on their St. John guitar, the bass has an offset obeche body with a belly cut and armrest contours.

Spector’s Euro line of basses have some new additions with the Euro CST and Euro LX basses. Both lines are fitted with the all-new Spector Legacy preamp, which was developed with Darkglass Electronics.

Since Fender launched the Player Series basses in 2018, it’s been one of their most successful lines. They expanded on it with the Player Plus models, but now they’ve revamped it with the Player II Series.

Fender has expanded the Squier Affinity Series with three new basses: the Affinity Active Jazz Bass, the Active Jazz Bass V, and the Jazz Bass VI. The entry-level lineup makes it easier for bassists to acquire an active bass and a six-string.

Cort has added to its Artisan line of basses with the C4 and C5 Deluxe. The Artisan C Deluxe model, available in four- and five-string versions, is built with bolt-on construction and features a lightweight poplar body, a hard maple neck, and a 24-fret jatoba fingerboard.

Ernie Ball Music Man has unveiled the 2024 Bongo Bass Collection, which includes four-, five-, and six-string models. Each bass model includes stainless steel frets and is available in four colors: Stealth Black, Titan Gray, Blood Orange, and Mantis Green.

A decade after its introduction, Kala’s California U-Bass is getting a facelift. The solid-body, ukulele-sized bass has been updated to a “more adjustable version of the instrument that maintains its stylistic and tonal integrity.”

Ola Englund’s Solar Guitars has so far only had one bass style, but they’ve just fixed that the introduction of the Type E Bass. Available in four or five-string versions, they call the new axe “the most brutal bass ever crafted.”

Harley Benton has added a new line of basses called the MV series, which includes six models that take their cues from the P-Bass, the Jazz, and the Mustang. As with most of the company’s offerings, the new basses aim to be available at prices ranging between $207 and $225.

Animals as Leaders guitarist Tosin Abasi launched Abasi Concepts to further his vision of ergonomic instruments. After showing a prototype several years ago, the company has introduced the first commercially available Larada Bass.

At NAMM this year, we got a sneak peek of Doug Wimbish’s signature basses from the Spector USA Custom Shop. Now, the DW-4 and DW-5 have been officially launched.

Alberto Rigoni has teamed up with luthier Gaetano Costanzo to create a signature bass called the VPR5. Handmade in Italy, the bass is a five-string with 30 frets and a Seymour Duncan MM-style pickup.