Bass Gear - Page 176

Kala’s popular U-Bass has three new models for 2018 called the Wanderer, the Passenger, and the Journeyman. The trio are described as their most affordable models yet. Each ukulele-sized bass is made of mahogany with a satin finish and comes equipped with black die-cast tuners, Aquila Thundergut strings and a Kala UK-500B preamp with EQ and built-in tuner. The lineup...

Sadowsky Guitars has re-engineered their line of flatwound strings including their sets for bass guitar. The new Blue Label Flatwound strings, which come in four and five-string sets, are described as “superb for fretless basses or that classic Motown sound.” “Our challenge was to create a string with a true vintage tone and feel that retains a strong fundamental to...

This week we’re checking out a cool minimalist design from Millimetric Instruments called the MB4. The four-stringer is their first bass model and shows some Travis Bean influence in its neck. “This bass was made seeking efficiency in sound and playing,” the company writes. “The tone lies in the neck construction, pickups and the use of maple. MB4 sound is...

Dean Markley has added an Extra-Medium set to its NickelSteel Bass Signature Series of strings. The XM strings split the difference between medium and heavy with gauges of measuring .050, .070, .090, and .110 mm in the four-string set. A five-string set adds a .130mm low B string. The company describes the string as offering a “full bright sound” with...

TC Electronic has expanded their bass offerings with the SpectraDrive, a bass preamp and line driver that the company calls a powerful tone tool for bass players. Its preamp section is taken from their BH800 head and features a four-band EQ plus TonePrint compression from their SpectraComp effect. “But the real power of SpectraDrive is the custom built studio-grade DI...

Norway’s OnkartGromt has expanded their pedal lineup for bassists with three new models: the FunkyFellow envelope filter, the TurboTore EQ, and the Tremolando tremolo. Each of the pedals is fitted with a unique OLED screen that gives a visual representation of the effect’s parameters. In the case of the FunkyFellow, the screen shows the frequency response live. The filter has...

Every year, Warwick produces a limited edition bass from their custom shop. This year they’re also releasing a Pro Series Teambuilt limited edition model. The Warwick Streamer Stage I LTD 2018 is part of their Custom Shop Masterbuilt Limited Edition basses. Available in four of five-string versions, the bass is built with a swamp ash body topped with a 1-inch...

Tsakalis AudioWorks has released two new pedals: the Phonkify envelope filter and the Galactic multi-modulation pedal. As with all of their units, each of the pedals are handmade in Greece. The Phonkify is inspired by funk and soul music from the 60’s and 70’s. “[It has] two modes of juicy envelope filter (Smooth & Nasty) which turns into wah at...

Fender updated their Rumble V3 Series of bass amps with the Rumble Studio 40 and the Rumble Stage 800. The new amps bring the same wireless capabilities and presets as their Mustang GT guitar amplifiers to bass players in 40-watt and 800-watt packages. “The amplifiers are also compatible with the free Fender Tone app,” Fender says, “making it easier than...

This week we’re checking out the Universum Guitars Epsilon UJ4, a unique bass that blends several design elements. Built in Ukraine, it has a unique, conch-like soundhole created using Golden Ratio principles. The body is built using sycamore maple with flamed and carved figured maple for the top. Its seven-piece neck is constructed of flamed sycamore maple and walnut, while...

After introducing the Alpha Bass in September, Jericho Guitars has unveiled the Alpha 5 five-string model. It carries many of the same features including a solid ash body, a single-piece maple neck, a Macassar ebony fingerboard, and a black finish. Jericho fits the Alpha 5 with G&B Golden Age StewMac pickups and Hipshot hardware including an A-style bridge and tuners....

Pennsylvania’s Balaguer Guitars has expanded their bass lineup with the Hyperion Bass. Modeled after a signature guitar, the new bass features an offset body in satin silverburst or satin trans black finishes. “Pulling aesthetics from Ryan “Fluff” Bruce’s signature model Hyperion guitar, The Hyperion Bass has a slightly thicker body to evenly balance the weight and a 35? scale for...