Bass Gear - Page 143

This week we’re checking out the Tsukanoma bass built by luthier Jim Fleeting of Fleeting Guitars. Taking a cue from Japanese design, the hand-built instrument features striking aesthetics. “The Tsukanoma bass is designed as a tribute to the incredible woodworking and modern design in Japanese woodworking,” Fleeting writes. “The use of sharper corner bevels make this a departure from the...

Z. Vex Effects has introduced a new vertical version of their Vexter Fuzz Factory pedal. Formerly configured as a horizontal pedal, the new VFF will feature the same effects and circuitry in a more pedalboard-friendly setup. It utilizes two new old-stock ’60s germanium transistors, but that doesn’t mean it’s a vintage sound. “The circuit is not modeled after any classic...

Seymour Duncan has a new pedal called La Super Rica. Translated to mean “super rich,” the silicon fuzz pedal is “inspired by iconic fuzz sounds” with a classic parametric midrange for versatility. “First we brought [the classic fuzz circuit] up to modern standards by adding a true-bypass switch, an LED, and a standard 9v power connection,” the company explains. “We...

GHS Strings has introduced a new line of strings called the Pressurewound Bronze Bass for acoustic/electric bass. The newly designed strings aim at eliminating harsh tones associated with bronze strings. “Many acoustic/electric bass players know that the traditional bronze strings that come standard on these basses have harsh overtones and a lot of string noise,” the company writes. “GHS created...

Neunaber Audio has introduced the Inspire Tri-Chorus Plus, a pedal that offers eight stereo chorus effects. Featuring true bypass and mono or stereo i/o, the pedal ranges from classic to modern sounds. “Some of Inspire’s effects are my take on the classic effects that come to mind when you think of tri-chorus, while others are new and unique combinations,” says...

KAE Systems has released the MIDI Ant, a compact MIDI foot controller designed for versatility. The pedal can activate any program or patch in any existing MIDI device in a chain of up to nine devices. Sporting a bright 3-digit LED display, it offers a fully customizable view of the program/patch number and can generate precise MIDI Clock between 20...

This week we’re checking out a hip Gretsch bass that had its start as a blues guitar. The Gretsch G6199 Billy-Bo Bass is a four-string version of the company’s recreation of Bo Diddley’s classic Jupiter Thunderbird guitar he designed in 1959. When he gifted it to Billy Gibbons, the ZZ Top frontman didn’t dare to take such a rare instrument...

Eastwood introduced ten new instruments to their Custom Shop this week including two basses and a double neck guitar/bass. As part of their custom shop, each model is released under a crowd-funding/pre-order campaign. The first new bass is the Eastwood EB-1, which of course pays tribute to the Gibson EB-1 released in 1953. “We’ve made a few subtle changes but...

Keeley Electronics has expanded their pedal lineup with the Omni Reverb, which they describe as “a powerful two control Reverb that gives you all the classic sounds with set-and-forget Room, Spring, and Plate reverb effects.” The streamlined pedal has two knobs- Dwell and Level – as well as a three-position switch for toggling between Room, Spring, and Plate reverbs. Each...

High On Fire’s Jeff Matz has a new signature bass from Dunable Guitars. The JM Bass is the product of several years of custom builds for the bassist, leading to an instrument with his exact specs. “Basically, [Matz wanted] what would be his dream instrument, fit for both tracking a High On Fire record, as well as touring on it...

After previewing it at the Summer NAMM Show, Fender is now shipping the Justin Meldal-Johnsen Road Worn Mustang Bass. Modeled exactly after the Beck bassist’s own 1966 Daphne Blue Mustang, the short-scale bass features a maple neck, a road worn finish, and a custom-spec pickup. “As a player and producer, I feel strongly about the unique timbre, functionality and pure...

G&H Plugs has unveiled the GreyBLES: Expressionz line of cables. Described as having an “expressive sound that’s highly responsive,” the cables are a mix of traditional and modern design. “This cable has been traditionally designed with soldered sound technology, minimizing signal loss and distortion as sound passes through the plugs copper core into the copper core of the cable,” the...