Bass Gear - Page 254

NS Design excited the bass community at last year’s NAMM show by unveiling the NS Radius Bass Guitar. This year, the company has introduced a production version of the headless bass. Made in the Czech Republic, the CR5 Model shares all the same dimensions as its U.S. counterpart. The CR5 Radius Model is a 5-string bass that comes in three...

Jackson’s Concert Bass series has grown this year with the introduction of the JS3QM and JS3VQM models. The new versions take all the features of their brethren and add a quilted maple top. Four and five-string basses, respectively, the JS3QM and JS3VQM Concert Basses feature basswood bodies, bolt-on maple necks, and 24-fret, compound-radius rosewood fingerboards. The four-string model sports a...

This review will cover two Cort basses, the T54, and the Curbow 52. These basses are not the Cort basses of years past you may remember when you went shopping for one of your early basses. For an entry level intermediate basses, I was truly impressed with the features, fit and finish, and the sound. It has been many a...

After a limited release for their Premier Dealer Network, Ernie Ball has reissued the Music Man Sabre as a standard model. The original Sabre, first introduced in 1978, was Music Man’s first dual humbucking bass. The new Classic Sabre is the first production of the instrument in twenty years and brings back the vintage design with updated electronics, classic mini...

While perusing Facebook, I stumbled upon this uber-sleek, uber-unique instrument: The Stash Stainless Bass Guitar. Designed and built by Stanislaw Potyrala in Mississauga, Ontario, the bass is made entirely of stainless steel, which the company says improves stiffness, mechanical and environmental stability, sound quality and tunability. “The only disadvantage is that rock stars will not be able to destroy this...

Grip Studios has expanded their hand-shaped Guitar Grips with the GS Ladies series. Made in Detroit, the guitar hangers are shaped like female hands and mount to the wall to hang your instrument. Like the rest of their models, the Ladies series hangers are built from durable resin with felt on their “wrists” to protect your wall and TAH3 cushioned...

Radial Engineering has introduced the StageBug SB-2 Passive DI, which they say suits well to electric bass, acoustic guitar, and keyboards. The new, compact direct box was designed in response to the trend of reducing gear size for traveling purposes and measures at 2? wide and 3.5? deep. The SB-2 revolves around a custom made Eclipse ET-DB3 transformer, which performs...

Eden Electronics introduced their new E-Series of combo bass amps at NAMM this year. Ranging from 20 watts to 180 watts, the six new models are aimed at beginners and up with features to aid practice and performance. Each of the amps is built with Eden’s proprietary enhance EQ control, a custom Eden designed speaker enclosure, heavy duty carpet covering,...

ESP Guitars unveiled a host of new basses at NAMM this year, including the LTD BB-4. Available in Natural and Black finishes, the new model features neck-thru construction, a P/J pickup configuration, and active/passive electronics. The ESP LTD BB-4 is built with a 5-piece maple and walnut neck with an alder/swamp ash body. The rosewood fretboard holds 21 XJ frets....

David Ellefson now has a signature model of the Jackson Kelly Bird bass, which he helped design last year. The new 4-string bass stands out with the Megadeth bassist’s signature red pinstripe finish over its modern body shape. The Jackson David Ellefson Signature Kelly Bird Bass is built with a basswood body, and a bolt-on bound maple neck with 21...

Known best for their use of the Novax fanned-fret system, Dingwall decided to capture classic tones with their Z-series. The Z1 set out to “capture the best qualities of the classic swamp ash tone” by placing their Super-Fatty pickups in the same relative positions as traditional designs. The Z2 then put the pickups closer together towards the bridge to get...

Dean has introduced a new variant of their flagship Edge series of basses. The new Edge 4 and Edge 5 basses distinguish themselves from the pack with upgraded electronics including a pair of active EMG pickups. Both of the new models feature bolt-on construction and sport 35? scales. They’re built with basswood bodies, maple “C”-shaped necks, rosewood fingerboards, and 24...