Bass Gear - Page 303

Mike Lull introduced a new Tom Petersson signature bass, the TPT4, at NAMM this year. The TPT4 is based on Lull’s T4, with some tweaking specified by the Cheap Trick bassist. One of the key differences is the pickup placement. The pickups, made by Lull, are both pushed up closer to the neck: a position that Petersson worked meticulously at...

Hartke has released the Kilo Bass Amplifier, a new head unit that delivers 1,000 watts via bridged mono or 500 watts per side in stereo or dual mono. Housed in a 3U rackspace chassis, the amp features a tube preamp and variable Hartke Bass Attack Overdrive and Shape Control in addition to an onboard compressor. It also has a slew...

Tech 21 has unveiled a new two new Boost Chorus pedals, including a bass specific version. The new Boost Chorus Bass, which can be used to obtain slapback, echo, flanging, and doubling effects, was designed after ‘70s vintage choruses, to mimic their richness. To get a chorus sound without making “seasick tones,” Tech 21 added a Detune knob that adds...

Veillette Guitars has unveiled their new Concorde Semi-Hollow Bass, being the company’s “most acoustic” bass yet. Designed to mimic vintage and classic semi-hollowbody basses, the body is 14” wide and heavily chambered with dual soundholes and a radiused spruce top. The curved face gives the body more depth in the center while keeping the edges thinner for comfort. Veillette added...

While making the rounds at NAMM, we came upon the Von Saint booth, where the company was displaying its innovative bass guitar grips. The concept is that bass stands are awkward and take up floor space, which is important, especially on stage. The Crewsader Grip, Rogue Grip, and Renegade Grips are designed to hook onto your cab or combo, either...

For NAMM 2011, Peterson released the StroboStomp Classic, a retro stomp box tuner modeled after their Conn ST-11 Strobotuner from the ‘70s. The new pedal boasts .1 cent note detection and the company’s “Sweetened Tunings,” which are presets for specific instruments. A USB input allows for you to drop in your own presets and update firmware. The display is a...

Ibanez has unveiled a new take on their SR series with four new models. The SR Premium basses are built at Ibanez’s premium factory and all feature USA Nordstrand “Big Single” pickups, a first for any of the company’s basses. Each model also includes their EQB-IIISC 3-band EQ that has a Mid frequency switch and an EQ bypass switch for...

Ernie Ball/Music Man has unveiled a new patent-pending pickup switching system called the Game Changer that will be available on their Reflex HH bass. By choosing the coils in any order, whether they are in series or parallel, and whether they are in or out of phase, the system allows for 250,000 pickup combinations without rewiring, digitizing, or remodeling. A...

Genz-Benz unveiled three new amps at the NAMM show, including two in the new Streamliner series and an update to the ShuttleMax line. Sporting a retro look and feel, the Streamliner 900 and 600 amps have straight-ahead controls, allowing players to “focus more on their playing and less on adjusting knobs.” The models feature Class A Six Stage All Tube...

Fender has rolled out a few new bass products this year, including the introduction of their bass models into the American Special series and an update to the Mark Hoppus Signature Jazz Bass. The American Special Precision and Jazz basses are built in the U.S. and feature a slim neck profile, high-gloss finish, and the Fender “Greasebucket” circuit. The circuit...

F-Bass has released a new Alain Caron signature model, dubbed the AC-Classic. Built to attain an “upright” tone from an electric bass, the instrument features a redwood top, additional chambering, and a floating bridge. Another new development for the series is a natural sounding RMC piezo pickup system that is controlled by master volume, bass cut/boost, and treble cut/boost knobs....

Among a slew of new gear Ampeg released at NAMM this year is the Heritage B-15, a combo that pays homage to former Ampeg VP Jess Oliver’s original flip-top design. Limited to 50 units, the B-15 is hand-built and hand-wired in the U.S. by George Metropolous and his team at Metroamps. The classic design includes an all-tube head and a...