Bass Gear - Page 127

After previewing them last year, Ashdown unveiled the new Studio Range at the Winter NAMM Show this year, which includes four new combos: the Studio 15, the Studio 12, the Studio 10, and the Studio 8.

Last week, the bass community suffered a major blow with the loss of Mike Lull. Beyond his incredible craftsmanship, Lull was a positive force and an inspiration to all those he met. We wanted to honor him by featuring the M4V/M5V as our bass of the week.

Headless bass designs were a big theme at the 2020 Winter NAMM Show, and Ibanez got in on the action with their new EHB series. The models have a new, specially designed body that maintains its playing position whether you’re sitting or standing.

Reverend Guitars and Mike Watt have teamed up to refine the bassist’s signature bass, dubbed the Wattplower. The new Wattplower Mark II features many of the original’s design concepts while adding a new pickup configuration.

Phil Jones Bass has announced the BG-110, aka the Bass Cub II, which builds upon their Bass Cub comb amp. Rated at 110 watts, the combo amp is fitted with two of the company’s five-inch drivers in a “‘shoebox’ size package.”

This week we’re checking out the Phantom BF5 by Geist Custom Instruments. Luthier Tim Gospodinov shared that he “enjoys experimenting with tonal characteristics of different shapes and materials...”

Judas Priest turns 50 this year, and Spector is helping bassist Ian Hill celebrate by updating his signature Euro4 bass. Hill, who is the only member to stay in the band its entire existence, worked with the company on some new specifications.

Yamaha unveiled the next generation of their Silent Bass series of electric upright basses at the 2020 Winter NAMM Show. The new SLB300SK continues the range’s familiar feel of acoustic double bass but has an important update in its tonal qualities.

G&L Guitars is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its flagship bass model, the L-2000, which was designed by Leo Fender in the company’s early days. To commemorate the occasion, they’ve unveiled a Ruby Anniversary Custom Shop L-2000.

Another one of the exciting developments at the 2020 Winter NAMM Show was the introduction of Ashdown’s range of bass guitars. The four new models are a collaboration with Dan Lakin, formerly of Lakland Guitars and currently of D. Lakin Guitars.

Neural DSP has so far released several plugins for modeling software. The company, founded by Douglas Castro of Darkglass, has now unleashed its first piece of hardware. The Quad Cortex is a unit they call the “most powerful floor modeler on the planet.”

The NAMM Show has a row called the Boutique Guitar Showcase, which allows for independent luthiers to show off their instruments. This year I got to catch up with Peter Malinoski of Malinoski Guitars, who showed me his Nero model.