Bass Gear - Page 279

German builder Andreas Kristall makes a host of impressive basses, including this week’s bass of the week: The Kristall Solid. Available in 4, 5, and 6-string models, the Solid sports a singlecut design with bolt on construction. Kristall says the bass was built for “Rock character, sound, look, and feel.” As each piece is made to order, options vary from...

In addition to the AL Series, Epifani has introduced the next incarnation of their flagship UL series cabinets with the UL3 line. The UL3’s differ from the previous generation in that they have ceramic drivers, lighter weight enclosures, and textured paint finishes. The series includes 4×10, 3×10, 2×10, and 1×12 models, as well as a DIST 112 model, which features...

In our last edition of Old School, we shared Mark Anderson’s 1963 Fender Shoreline Gold Precision bass. This time, we’re showcasing Fender’s Jazz bass from the same year, and specifically Jay Fortier‘s ’63 Jazz. Fender introduced the first Jazz in March, 1960, becoming the company’s second bass model after the Precision. In 1963, Fender replaced the below-string mutes with a...

New for 2012 is the Traveler Ultra-Light Bass, an extremely lightweight and compact bass guitar. The whole instrument measures 33 3/4? in length and weighs in at a mere three pounds and 6.5 ounces. Built from a solid piece of Eastern American Hard Maple, the Ultra-Light Bass features a removable metal lap-rest and a built in thumb rest for comfort....

Genz Benz has introduced the Contour 500 series of combo amplifiers, including a 1×15″ model and a 2×10″ model. Built with power and weight in mind, the CTR500-115T and CTR500-210T push out 300 watts at 8 ohms while weighing 48 pounds and 52 pounds, respectively. The line also includes a pair of matching extension cabinets that raise the power output...

Among the new basses announced by Dean at the 2012 NAMM show is the new signature model for Morbid Angel’s bass player David “Evil D” Vincent. The Demonator 4 “Chaos” Bass was custom designed by Vincent and Dean to match the bassist’s playing style. The bass features a mahogany top and a 34″ scale, set mahogany C neck with a...

Cort has a new Curbow Series of basses for 2012, including the four new models. The Curbow 41, Curbow 42, Curbow 51 and Curbow 52 each feature bolt-on necks, soft maple bodies and Bartolini electronics with slap-switch system. The 41 and 42 are 4-string models, and the 51 and 52 are 5-string. Cort developed the series in collaboration with bass...

Traynor introduced their DynaBlock series of bass amplifiers at NAMM this year. Central to the line is the DNB 400 head, which is then implemented into 1×12, 1×15, and 2×10 combos. Rated at 400 watts, the head has active and passive instrument inputs to accommodate all basses. Tone controls on the amp include a 4-band EQ and a Low Frequency...

The Rob Allen MB-2 is a unique semi-hollow bass designed to combine the warmth of an upright with the punch of a solid body electric bass. Though it’s available in a fretted version, the MB-2 comes standard as fretless to keep with the organic feel. The bass is offered in three variations depending on the top selected: Maple, Walnut, or...

Ashdown has expanded their ABM line of amps with introduction of the ABM-1000 and ABM-2000. The pair couples the company’s ABM Evo III preamp with Class D amplifiers to pump out 1000 and 2000 watts, respectively. Ashdown ABM-1000 bass amp head Both amps carry a unique EQ that combines rotary knobs with a pair of dual sliders. The knobs cut...

Epifani has announced the AL combo and speaker line, utilizing hybrid aluminum enclosures. The new models have a pure aluminum shell paired with wood front and rear baffles, with the combos containing the company’s Piccolo 600 amplifier and DIST speaker technology. DIST allows for the combos to run at 4 ohms on their own and switch to 8 ohms when...

Black Veil Brides bassist Ashley Purdy had a new pair of Dean Signature basses debut at the NAMM show this year, with the Spire “War Paint” and Cadi “Outlaw” models. Co-designed by the bassist and the company, the basses are revamps of the existing models, with special graphics added to suit Purdy’s style. When Purdy first joined up with Dean,...