Bass Gear - Page 171

Höfner’s Gold Label series gives the company a chance to make limited runs of special designs created by their master luthiers in Hagenau, Germany. This week we’re checking out a version of their 500/2 Club bass that’s finished in a retro, 60’s paisley top. “Introduced in 1964 the Club bass has for many years only been available in Sunburst,” Höfner...

BBE’s Sonic Stomp now comes in a compact pedal called the MS-92. The stompbox is a pedalboard-friendly version of their Sonic Maximizer, which is designed to improve clarity and definition in your signal. It features the same all-analog processor as the larger SS-92 with a new circuit board and control layout for a smaller chassis. It has two controls: Process...

TC Electronic has introduced a black version of their Polytune Clip-On Tuner. The discreet device, which works for bass and guitar, has strobe, chromatic, and polyphonic tuning modes up to +/-0.02 cent accuracy. The polyphonic mode allows for strumming all strings at once to see their tuning. The tuner also features an ultra-bright display with an adaptive screen, a stainless...

Amp builder Nick Epifani has beefed up his Piccolo bass amp series with the Piccolo 999. The 1,000-watt head utilizes Epifani’s UL series preamp including a new Vintage circuit that adds a tube-like tone to the overall output. The Class D amp and switch-mode power supply keep the amp down to just 4.5 pounds and small enough to fit in...

Positive Grid has expanded their BIAS amplifier processing technology into the BIAS Distortion Pro Pedal. The tone-matching distortion pedal works for guitar and bass by emulating the circuitry of any distortion. “With BIAS Distortion pedal, users can easily match their favorite distortion, overdrive, fuzz, and boost pedals’ tones,” the company writes. “BIAS Distortion integrates with BIAS Pedal’s Tone Match technology...

Fodera has unveiled the Victor Wooten Yin Yang Deluxe Series III, a new take on the bass guru’s signature instrument. The bass, which is his third signature fretted Yin Yang, is designed to have a broader and unique range of tones with different woods and electronics. “Earlier this year Victor visited the shop to demo various possible tonewood combinations and...

J. Rockett Audio Designs has added the SOS Buffer pedal to their Tour Series line. The simple pedal is made for use in conjunction with other pedals to save your tone. “Buffers balance out your impedance and get the loss of highs back on track, especially with multiple pedals and long cable runs,” the company writes. “The quality of guitar...

A year after introducing their first Class D amplifier, Mesa Engineering has expanded the Subway series with the Subway D-800+ bass amp. The new amp expands on its predecessor with a more comprehensive preamp featuring extra EQ controls, a series effects loop, a tuner output, and a 1/4-inch mute footswitch jack. The 4-band EQ section now has semi-parametric, sweep-able Low-Mid...

This week we’re checking out another beautiful instrument by Serbia’s Ploughman Guitars. Their take on a semi-hollow body bass is crafted with a one-piece Sipo body that topped with book-matched, hand-carved, Bosnian maple. Its five-piece maple and mahogany neck is topped with a wenge fingerboard adorned with mother of pearl block inlays. The hardware includes a solid brass LP-style bridge...

Spector Basses has announced their first ever acoustic bass line called the Timbre Series. Available in Black, Natural and Walnut Stain finishes, the bass is crafted with a solid sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides, a mahogany neck, and a rosewood fingerboard. “This is much stronger than solid lumber would be and helps to allow the top to vibrate...

Tensor Inc. has expanded their bass guitar offerings with the Ultralight Jazz Bass series. The custom made basses come in four- or five-string versions and are fitted with a pair of Aguilar J-HOT pickups, which feature an over-wound design for a hotter output. Each bass is built with a chambered maple body and 3-piece, grain oriented maple/mahogany neck with a...

Cort has introduced the Action DLX AS bass guitar, which they describe as delivering “a deluxe sound and feel along with a simple, yet attractive aesthetic.” The bass expands upon the Cort Action DLX with a new active Markbass MB-1 preamp featuring a 3-band EQ, pickup blend, and master volume controls. A mini-switch allows for toggling between active and passive...