Bass Gear - Page 340

Bass builder Bud LeCompte has just unveiled a new line of vintage style basses under the moniker V-Groove Basses. The new models include the Nola and Provision basses, available in 4 and 5 string versions. Though custom options are available, the basses come standard with alder bodies and three piece 1/4 sawn maple necks. The fingerboards are either maple or...

If there’s one thing about playing I’ve always had trouble with, it’s going through strings. My hands sweat. A lot. And sweat really breaks down strings, especially in places where the humidity can be really bad (such as the Midwest, where I live). I’ve played every brand and type of string: coated, uncoated, steel, nickel… the whole spectrum, and I’ve...

In our first installment of “Old School”, bassist Matt Shively shares the story of his 1967 Epiphone EB-232 bass. Make/Model/Year My bass is a 1967 Epiphone Rivoli EB-232, made in Kalamazoo, MI. How long have you owned it? Going on 3 years now. How did you come across it? Well, I have a cousin named Larry Holcomb who played in...

After showing the prototype at NAMM, Carvin has released the Brian Bromberg Signature Bass series, available in 4 and 5-string versions. The new Bromberg B24 and B25 models feature neck through construction with alder bodies and maple necks. AAAA flamed maple tops come standard, though you can get a solid color finish. The fingerboard is ebony and has Bromberg’s logo...

Phil Jones Pure Sound has a new bass amp on the market, the D-600 Digital Amplifier. Taking after their D-200, the new model is rated at 600 watts while weighing in at merely 7 pounds. The dual channel setup give each path it’s own 5-band EQ and mute switch. Other features include an optical limiter and front-facing aux-in with separate...

Warwick has unveiled the WA bass amp series, a line based on their Hellborg series but at a lower price point. Available as rack mountable or in sleeves, the WA300 and WA600 amp heads pump out 300 and 600 watts respectively and feature 10-band EQs with additional Bass and Treble controls. A one-knob adjustable compressor is built-in for dynamic control....

HARMAN DigiTech is moving into new territory, with their announcement of their new amplifiers at Musikmesse 2011. The company has focused mostly on a line of guitar amps (five of them), but is introducing a bass amp in the mix, the Classic-15B. The Classic-15B is a 15 watt combo bass amp and a new addition to the world of lightweight...

Kala Brand Music Co. has released a solid body version of their U-Bass. Though the original model was a bass-version of a ukulele, the Solid Body U-Bass takes a step to more closely resemble a bass guitar. Featuring a 21” scale, the bass is available in 4 and 5-string versions and fretted or fretless. It utilizes Kala’s proprietary polyurethane strings,...

Rancid bassist Matt Freeman now has his own Squier signature Precision Bass, modeled after his favorite personal bass. Freeman explains that “[it] is a ’77 P Bass that I picked up in 1987 for, like, $400 when I was in Operation Ivy. I went all over the world with that bass. And I still have it and I actually play...

The amp makers at Vox have translated their mini guitar amp to the bass world with the introduction of the AC1 RhythmVOX Bass, a portable practice combo that weighs in at only 19.4 ounces. Similar to its predecessor, the new model includes 66 built-in rhythm/song patterns including 8-beat, blues, funk, reggae, irregular patterns, and more. The tempo and level for...

Korg has a new tuner on the market, dubbed the Pitchclip. As the name suggests, the device works by clipping it to the headstock. The Pitchclip uses a built in piezo sensor to detect vibrations and determine the pitch in the meter. Korg says the accuracy of the device is +/-1 cent. The device includes an LED display and is...

Warwick has introduced the BC Combo series, a 5-model line ranging in strength from 20 to 300 watts. The company explains the new combos are good for when you need to be heard, but not “bend people’s eardrums.” The pinnacle of the series is the BC300, a 300-watt amp combined with a 15” driver and 4” HF horn. The combo...