SBL-100-Basses-Guide.pdf

100 BASS GUITARS TO PLAY BEFORE YOU DIE

Our Defnitive Guide to the Best and Most Desirable Bass Guitars Ever! From the team behind behind ScottsBassLessons.com ScottsBassLessons.com a an n essential resource for every electric bassist

100 BASS GUITARS TO PLAY BEFORE YOU DIE ABOUT THIS GUIDE

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ntil now, now, your experience of choosing a bass has probably been relatively straightforward. Gut instinct tells you whether you feel a connection with an instrument, your wallet tells you whether you can afford it and, hey presto, you’re poor but happy! With

that in mind, we’ve compiled a bucket list for you to tick off; 100 Bass Guitars o Play Before You Die. Deciding which instruments

made the cut was a momentous task and compiling it came close to inciting a riot - some SBL staff members still aren’t speaking to one another! And no doubt some of your favorites didn’t didn’t make it, but this list is just a reflection of the basses that have inspired us. Tere are a few firm favorites in there, from Ernie Ball’s Music Man StingRay to the ever-popular Fender Jazz Bass - but we’re fairly certain you won’t have ticked them all off, and now might just be the time...

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1: SIGNATURE SOUNDS

1: SIGNATURE SOUNDS

THE MOST AWESOME SIGNATURE MODELS THAT EVER EXISTED!

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any of us will want to own a certain axe because it’s what our favourite bassist plays, be it Victor Wooten’s Fodera, Mark King’s Status or Nathan East’s Yamaha. We’ve all done it when choosing gear. But that shouldn’t take anything away from the

craftsmanship that’ that’s on display in the first section of our guide. Tese are astonishing examples of design, workmanship and artistry, artistry, and the care and attention afforded in their production is remarkable. So, you’ve heard of the players, but how about their basses?

Look, and be amazed…

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1: SIGNATURE SOUNDS

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FENDER NATE MENDEL P BASS

YAMAHA NATHAN EAST BBNEII

ZON GUITARS MICHAEL MANRING HYPERBASS

Nate’s Signature model is based on the 1971 Precision he uses onstage with the Foo Fighters. ‘Once you land on a P Bass, that’s kind of where you stay,’ said Mendel. ‘Fender took my bass to find a way to copy the shape of the neck and I’m super excited about it.’ Te body combines special contours with an extra-slim nut width, a worn Candy Apple Red finish, a Seymour Duncan

A 5-string, neck-through neck-through bass bass with a 36-inch 36-inch scale, two-octave ebony fingerboard, stacked alnico humbuckers and Yamaha’s active electronics, which feature a custom three-band EQ and switchable mid cut. ‘When we designed my signature bass,’ says East, ‘I went over and tried out different types of pickups and woods, fingerboards, necks, just trying to figure out what the best combination was,

Developed in conjunction with Michael Manring and designed specifically for altered tuning, the Hyperbass Hyperbass is capable of around 10,000 different tunings via four Hipshot D-tuners and two levers down at the bridge. ‘You can vary the amount of travel for each bridge saddle and basically have each string change at whatever increment you want, ‘explains ‘explains Joe Joe Zon. ‘When ‘When you move move the

Quarter Pound split single-coil, Badass II bridge and Mendel’s signature on the headstock.

and I’m very happy with the final product. I use it all the time.’

levers the pitch changes.’ Now that’s bass geekery worth knowing about.

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1: SIGNATURE SOUNDS

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SADOWSKY WILL LEE MODEL

STATUS CHRIS WOLSTENHOLME SIGNATURE BASS

JACKSONDAVIDELLEFSONSIGNATUREKELLYBIRDV

Tese magnificent 22 fret basses have a familiar body shape and feature a custom 3-band preamp with a switchable midrange boost that’s adjustable via a trimpot on the rear control cover. Other details include a Sadowsky chrome-plated brass bridge, a narrow 1.45-inch nut and custom Hipshot/Sadowsky tuners. Hats off to Roger Sadowsky for pushing the boat out yet again with

Since scouring the heights of rock stardom with Muse, Chris Wolstenholme has taken to the stage with a host of different Status basses including a headless Series 2 and a KingBass Mk-II. His signature model retains many classic Status features including a woven graphite neck that’s set into an alder body with a graphite shell. Te onboard electronics have been designed to deliver Chris’s

Designed with the serious metal bass player in mind, the Kelly Bird V features a basswood body with Ellefson’s signature blue burst and black centre stripe finish. From there we have a bolt-on maple neck with 21 jumbo frets and an impressive list of hardware that includes a Jackson high-mass bridge and die-cast mini tuners. Te pickups are EMGs wired to independent volume controls and

this fantastic design.

huge onstage sound... and it looks awesome.

a 3-band EQ.

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1: SIGNATURE SOUNDS

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CORT GENE SIMMONS PUNISHER-2 BASS

MAYONES JABBA HADRIEN FERAUD 5

SKJOLDDESIGNGUITARSDAVIDDYSON SIGNATURE

Te GS Punisher-2 features a bolt-on neck with a rosewood fingerboard and diamond-shaped inlays. Te body is made of mahogany and features a black finish with custom graphics to match the basses Gene Simmons plays onstage. Each bass is equipped with two pickups, one volume control, one tone control and a three-way selector switch.

Te Jabba Hadrien Feraud 5 is an ash-bodied 5-string instrument with a specially contoured neck heel and a slick bolt-on joint for easy access to all 24 frets. It has a distinctive bass sound too, thanks to the Delano humbuckers and Mayones M-BP3 preamp. It comes in Antique Brown with a satin finish.

Te David Dyson Signature Series has an impressive looking spec list: a three-piece maple neck, premium maple or morado fingerboard, custom Skjold/Hipshot hardware and Skjold custom pickups. Each Skjold instrument is built entirely by hand without any CNC machines or prefabricated bodies or necks.

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1: SIGNATURE SOUNDS

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GRETSCH TOM PETERSSON SIGNATURE

FENDER FLEA JAZZ BASS

EPIPHONE JACK CASADY SIGNATURE

Tis Gretsch signature model honors Cheap rick co-founder and bassist, om Petersson. Te 4-string version features a laminated maple body, short scale-length (30.3-inches), AdjustoMatic bridge and Gretsch ‘Cadillac’ tailpiece, gold hardware and a middle pickup (Seymour Duncan Super’ron) that pairs with the all-new Rumble’ron neck pickup.

Hand-crafted in Ensenada, Mexico, the Flea Jazz Bass is a precise re-creation of his 1961 Fender. Features include an alder body with a Road Worn faded shell pink nitrocellulose lacquer finish, dual Pure Vintage ’64 Jazz Bass single-coil pickups, a C-shaped maple neck and a 7.25-inch radius rosewood fingerboard. A special 4-bolt neck plate also boasts some of Flea’s engraved artwork.

Combining some classic design features with stunning retro looks, this signature model from Epiphone is something very special. It’s based on a 1970s era Gibson Les Paul bass that Jack Casady acquired in the 80s. Features include a rosewood fingerboard, metallic gold finish and a JCB low-impedance pickup that’s wired to 3-position tone switch.

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1: SIGNATURE SOUNDS

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WARWICKARTISTLINEBOOTSYCOLLINSSPACEBASS

IBANEZ GWB GARY WILLIS

SIRE GUITARS MARCUS MILLER M7

Perhaps the very ultimate in bass guitar bling, the Bootsy Collins Space Bass is a sensational looking instrument that’s been treated to a special purple finish. It’s loaded with a pair of active MEC J/J pickups and the body is mahogany with a maple neck and ekanga veneer stripes. Te Artist Line model offers a more affordable way in to Warwick’s iconic Custom Shop design.

With a detachable finger ramp, high gloss finished rosewood fingerboard, curved Bartolini pickup and lightweight swamp ash body, the GWB has a few features that make it a very interesting proposition. Other nice touches include a Bartolini NB 2-band EQ, a three-piece maple neck, fretless fingerboard and Gary’s specially shaped machineheads. Tat sounds pretty good to us.

Built in conjunction with Marcus, the M7 comes with an ash or alder body coupled with a flame maple top. It’s fitted with dual humbuckers that can be selected in series, parallel or single-coil mode, and the company’s Heritage-3 preamp, which has a sweepable-mid EQ stack, and a mini-switch to toggle between active and passive mode. You also have a choice of 4-string or 5-string models.

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1: SIGNATURE SOUNDS

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MANSON E BASS

MTD ANDREW GOUCHE SIGNATURE BASS

FODERA MATT GARRISON STANDARD SERIES II

Te Manson JPJ E-Bass is a production model based on John Paul Jones’ own first-call Manson 4-string, created by his long-serving guitar tech, Hugh Manson. It’s a great body shape, with an elongated horn extending over the two-octave neck. Other spec points include neck-through construction, an ebony fingerboard and a figured maple top, finished in aged cherry sunburst high-gloss lacquer. Te hardware

Tis artist model from Michael obias has been created for one of the instruments most celebrated players. Te Bartolini pickups have been custom-wound and are wired to five knurled control knobs that comprise bass, middle and treble EQ controls, a pickup blend and a push/pull volume control that deactivates the EQ when pulled away from the body. Te mid control also offers a push/pull mid shift from 250Hz – 800Hz.

Te Matt Garrison Standard Series exhibits the same single-cut body shape and smooth contouring as Matt’s Custom Signature Model. Each instrument is handcrafted from the company’s workshop in Brooklyn, New York, in exactly the same way as the Custom Shop instruments, only they’re built in batches, which allow Fodera to lower production costs. Te neck-throughbody is made from walnut with an alder tone-block and

comprises EMG pickups and active circuitry, a Hipshot D-uner, Schaller machine heads and a Badass bridge.

You also get a full complement of smoked chrome hardware, including the MD quick release bridge.

madrone burl top. Te neck is hard rock maple with a madagascar kingwood board.

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1: SIGNATURE SOUNDS

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DINGWALL GUITARS NG-2

WARWICKCUSTOMSHOPROBERTTRUJILLOSIGNATURE#611 SCHECTERMICHAELANTHONYCUSTOMSHOP SIGNATURE

Te NG-2 is an adaptation of the ever-popular Dingwall Combustion and has been through a long development cycle involving Periphery bassist Adam ‘Nolly’ Getgood. Te maple board employs Ralph Novak’s fanned-fret system and a 34–37” scale spread (the scale length of the B string is three inches longer than the G). Like the frets, the Dingwall FD3 neodymium pickups are also slanted. Tey’re wired

Te Robert rujillo Signature #611 features the same components and standard range of options as Warwick’s other high-end basses. Te main departure from the company’s Signature Series is with the finish. A very thin iron coating is applied to the body wood and oxidized to create the distressed, rusty appearance. Te pickups and parts of the hardware have also been artificially aged. Genuine

Schecter Guitars have long been a favourite for toughsounding rock, so it’s no surprise that former Van Halen bassist, Michael Anthony, turned to them for a signature model. Te alder-bodied instrument has a bolt-on neck with a rosewood fingerboard and 21 premium Jescar silver frets. It has a distinctive tone to o, thanks to the Schecter Monsterone pickups. Ernie Ball strings, a Hipshot D-uner, Graph ech nut and

to a custom Darkglass 3-band preamp, along with master volume and a rotary pickup selector.

silver fingerboard inlays and 24 jumbo nickelsilver frets round out this stunning instrument.

a 2-way adjustable truss rod round out this bass, which comes in a choice of Sunburst or Carbon Grey.

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1: SIGNATURE SOUNDS

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SPECTOR DOUG WIMBISH NS-2

PRS GRAINGER

IBANEZ ANB1006

Best known for his bass work with Living Colour, Doug Wimbish has also played on some of the biggest hip hop anthems of all time, including White Lines (Don’t Do It), Tat’s Te Joint and Apache. ‘I’m really happy with how it came out,’ said Doug of his Spector signature axe. ‘It’s pretty much built to the specs of the 4-string bass that I had Stuart make for me back in 1987.’

A collaboration between the Maryland company and bassist Gary Grainger, construction employs the conventional PRS approach of a mahogany body and a carved figured maple top. Other nice touches include a pair of PRS pickups, an active 3-band EQ and a huge choice of finishes including Aquableux, Blood Orange, Charcoal Burst and Orange iger. one, clarity, feel… it’s all here.

Te ANB1006 Adam Nitti Signature Model features a neck-through-body, purpleheart fingerboard, Bartolini pickups and a custom Bartolini 3-band EQ. As always, the Japanese company’s master builders needed to get it right, so work commenced alongside Adam himself. ‘Tis i nstrument represents the ideal balance of tone, playability, ergonomics, and extended range,’ said Nitti.

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1: SIGNATURE SOUNDS

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ALEMBIC STANLEY CLARKE SIGNATURE MODEL

RICKENBACKER LEMMY SIGNATURE 4004LK

YAMAHA ATTITUDE LIMITED III

Stanley Clarke has always favoured the Alembic medium-scale basses strung with Rotosound stainless steel roundwounds. Introduced in 1988, his signature model has a 30.75-inch scale with 24 frets and an ebony fingerboard, plus gold Alembic/ Gotoh machineheads and an active circuit supplied by Ron Wickersham. We love the playability and focused bass tone, coupled with the added Stanley

Te sight of Lemmy Kilminster pounding away at his Rickenbacker, head back and growling into that impossibly high mic, with a wall of Marshall stacks behind him is one of the most iconic images in British metal. o honour the Motorhead frontman, Rickenbacker created his very own signature model, which features a handcarved relief of oak leaves and white binding.

Yamaha’s Signature Ser ies has al ways boas ted rock-solid construction and playability, and this incarnation of Billy Sheehan’s Attitude doesn’t disappoint. It comes fitted with a Yamaha Custom Woofer in the neck position and a DiMarzio WillPower towards the bridge. A set of open-geared Gotoh tuners, Hipshot D-uner and front-mounted stereo jack sockets complete

Clarke kudos.

Only 60 of these were made.

the hardware.

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2: VINTAGE & COLLECTABLE


BOUTIQUE BASSES THAT ARE WORTH INVESTING IN.

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f you’ve got a few thousand dollars to spend on a bass, the chances are that you’re looking for more than just another bog-standard 4-string. Tis kind of money gets you into vintage guitar territory and a world’s worth of luxury instruments. However, with a big

budget comes a big responsibility. Remember, a hefty price tag isn’t always enough - no matter how much you have to spend, be sure you get your money’s worth. Let’s see which instruments made the cut...

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1955 FENDER PRECISION BASS

HARMONY H22

OVATION MAGNUM

Te pre-1957 P-Bass is much loved by players as diverse as Sting and Green Day’s Mike Dirnt for a reason – it plays like a dream. From 1954 it had contours inspired by the same year’s Stratocaster. Te early ‘50s models also had a single-coil pickup. Original spec is always best: try to find one as it left the factory.

Harmony is a proper old-school brand, operating for decades until the 1970s. Although the H22’s shape makes it look like a pretty standard instrument, underneath that semi-hollow body there’s a bass of immense versatility. Te DeArmond pickup is incredibly loud. Ronnie Lane played one of these in the Small Faces.

Te choice of axe for Public Image’s Jah Wobble among others, this curious-looking bass was much loved by players in the late 70s, but suffered a loss of credibility as the decades passed. Good ones are still collectible, though. Te tone circuit is a thing of beauty too, with the added bonus of stereo.

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JAYDEE SUPERNATURAL

ROLAND G-88

STEINBERGER L-SERIES

Designed on the back of a roll of wallpaper in 1978 by UK luthier John Diggins, the Jaydee Supernatural emerged as a front runner in bass sound and instrument design thanks to Mark King’s hard-hitting bass pyrotechnics on early Level 42 records.

Packaged with the GR-33B bass guitar synthesizer unit, the G-88 was built by the Fuji Roland Corporation and is widely regarded as Roland’s flagship synth controller from the 1980s. It features a Roland single-coil pickup, a Midi pickup, a 24pin synth connector and a 2-band active EQ.

First introduced in 1980, the L-Series went on to define the Steinberger company. With a slick finish and a genius tuning system, it was constructed with a molded resin body and neck, with a 24-fret phenolic fretboard. Don’t forget the fold-out arm that allows you to play it seated.

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AMPEG DAN ARMSTRONG ‘PLEXI’ BASS

DANELECTRO LONGHORN

BURNS NU-SONIC

Introduced in 1969 and made out of see-through Plexiglas, bass guitars don’t get much more distinctive than these Ampeg Dan Armstrong models. It features a short 30.5-inch scale length and a 24-fret maple neck, with all 24 frets clear of the bolt-on neck join. Did we mention that it’s made out of see-through Plexiglas?

Released in 1958, it’s said that the Longhorn was inspired by the profile of an Ancient Greek harp called a lyre. Features include dual lipstick pickups wired to stacked volume and tone controls, a shortscale and a 24 fret fingerboard. John Entwistle of Te Who famously beat his way through three Longhorn basses trying to record his solo on My Generation.

First launched in 1964 as a follow-up to the Burns Sonic, the Nu-Sonic bass was marketed as a budget, mid-range instrument that was very light, with a short scale length. Elements like the 30-inch scale length, small machine heads and the flatwound strings lend it real vintage character. A Nu-Sonic was also used on the Beatle’s ‘Paperback Writer’ sessions.

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IBANEZ MUSICIAN

WAL MK 1

BRUCE JOHNSON AUB-2 SCROLL BASS

Introduced in the late 70s and aided by Sting using one with the Police, the Musician boasts a neck-through-body design and an electronics package that borrowed ideas from Alembic. Te pickups are wired to a 3-band active EQ and pickup selector switch, so there’s plenty to tinker with. If you are lucky enough to stumble across one of these, be sure to give it your full attention.

aking its lead from the original Wal Custom 4-string shape, which was championed by the likes of Geddy Lee, Mick Karn and Sir Paul McCartney, the Mk 1 features the same versatile components and precise set-up. Never a ‘production line’ instrument, there are many variations around, each tailored, very precisely to cater for the needs of working professionals.

Hand-built in Burbank, California, the Bruce Johnson AUB-2 Scroll Bass is a near exact replica of the original Ampeg AUB-2. Te AUB-2 followed on from the AUB-1, which was the world’s first production fretless. Ampeg assumed that these newfangled ‘frets’ would die out before too long and players would return to their double basses (hence the scroll headstock).

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WARWICK CORVETTE $$ NT SPECIAL EDITION 68

DUESENBERG SOUNDGARDEN BLACK HOLE SUN BASS

HÖFNER 60TH ANNIVERSARY VIOLIN BASS

Inspired by the General Motors 1968 Model Corvette Stingray, the Corvette $$ N Special Edition 68 was designed by the Warwick Custom Shop in an attempt to match the car’s muscle. Features include a Candy Apple red finish, an airbrushed aluminum centre section and a cool inlay in the tigerstripe ebony fingerboard.

Bass guitars don’t get much more distinctive than this. Te Black Hole Sun 4-string from Duesenberg’s Alliance Series was available as a limited run and celebrates the history of US rock band Soundgarden. It has a semi-hollow body with a spruce top, a sexy mother-of-pearl finish and custom-lasered control knobs.

2016 was the 60th anniversary of Höfner’s 500/1 Violin bass and to mark the occasion, Höfner released a commemorative model that features artwork by Klaus Voormann, who also designed the cover of Te Beatles’ seminal Revolver album. You also get some impressive extras such as a Höfner strap and a hand-made fuzz pedal.

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MODULUS FUNK UNLIMITED

MUSICVOX LIMITED EDITION MI-5 12-STRING

PRS PRIVATE STOCK HOLLOWBODY BASS 4

Players of all stripes have queued up to play a Modulus bass; most notable among them is Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. With its carbon fiber neck and uniquely shaped double-cutaway alder body, the Funk Unlimited offers serious strength and response. You also get to pick from a range of exotic top woods, flake and metallic finishes.

With its cool looks and impressive sounds this limited edition from Musicvox features neckthrough construction, dual output jacks and 12-strings grouped in four triple courses, which is pretty much the most exciting thing in the bass world, ever. It’s also equipped with an active/ passive 3-band EQ and adjustable bridge.

Limited to a run of just six, the Hollowbody Bass 4, the January 2016 pin-up from the PRS Private Stock’s Guitar of the Month Program, is a guaranteed show-stopper. Te quilted maple top gives the body an unforgettable look, topped off with an Electric iger Smoked Burst high-gloss nitro finish.

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READY TO TAKE YOUR BASS PLAYING TO THE NEXT LEVEL? 2: VINTAGE & COLLECTABLE

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WARWICK MASTERBUILT THUMB NT #15-2874

WOOD & TRONICS CHRONOS 5 ‘KLIMT’

Tis Warwick ‘Masterbuilt’ 5-String Tumb N features a bubinga pommelé body and a buckeye burl top. Te snakewood fingerboard is home to 26 jumbo frets and intricate ‘F Clef inlays’ that light up with blue LEDs. Te active MEC pickups are wired to a 3-band EQ and a rechargeable lithium battery. A Fishman piezo pickup system is also housed in the bridge.

aking inspiration from the work of Austrian painter Gustav Klimt, this special Chronos 5 is built with a neck that uses a seven-piece ‘Klimt’ combination of ash, maple, zebrawood and padouk, an ebony fretboard and 26 banjo frets. A GK-midi pickup and a 3-band preamp with inter nal frequenc y presets rou nd out this stunning instrument.

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3: COOL & CLASSIC

3: COOL & CLASSIC

WE PUT A SPOTLIGHT ON SOME OF THE MOST ICONIC BASS GUITARS OF ALL TIME.

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o, what makes a particular bass a classic? While some basses are undoubtedly born great (it’s a testament to Leo Fender that the P-Bass is still one of the most played instruments ever): some achieve greatness over time and some have greatness thrust upon

them (Rickenbacker have long enjoyed the star power of Lemmy, Geddy Lee and Chris Squire, for example). And so, for your viewing pleasure, the following pages feature a role-call of past, present and future classics. Marvel at their greatness… and collect the set.

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3: COOL & CLASSIC

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FENDER JAZZ BASS

RICKENBACKER 4001

GIBSON THUNDERBIRD

So called in an attempt to encourage upright ‘Jazz’ players to switch to the electric bass, the Fender Jazz remains an icon in the history of the bass guitar. aking its lead from the Jazzmaster guitar and immortalised by the likes of Jaco Pastorius and Marcus Miller, the core tone is punchy, but clear and precise. So here’s to the Fender Jazz Bass – we salute you.

Released in 1961, the Rickenbacker 4001 is a classic, there’s no question about it. Sir Paul McCartney, Bruce Foxton and Geddy Lee have all wielded a Rickenbacker at some point or another, a mark of just how popular it became. Te bridge pickup has a higher output than the neck unit, producing a powerful and unique sound that became the trademark ‘clank’.

Elements like the reverse gear tuners and American Indian-style eagle emblem have kept the Tunderbird at the top of many players’ wish lists, while a well-documented redesign with a ‘nonreverse’ body also kept things interesting. So much of what it has to offer is bang on the money. When it comes to great sustain and a super rich tone, this bass has it in bucketloads.

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3: COOL & CLASSIC

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LA BELLA OLINTO

FENDER MUSTANG

LAKLAND SKYLINE DECADE

Named after one of the founding brothers of La Bella Strings, the Olinto comes fitted with a set of the company’s flatwound strings and is offered in Sunburst, Olympic White, Black, Natural, Daphne Blue, Candy Apple Red, Burgundy Mist, Sea Foam Green and wo-oned Sepia Burst. It’s also loaded with handwound pickups for that classic vintage tone.

Launched in 1966, the Mustang bass was the perfect companion to Fender’s Mustang guitar. Te company’s first short-scale bass, and the last original bass design that Leo worked on at Fender, it’s arrival filled a gap in the market for a professionally made, solid-body student bass. Look out for the ‘competition’ paint schemes that came with cool racing stripes.

Lakland celebrated its first 10 years in style with the introduction of Te Decade, which incorporates several new design elements for the company: a unique body shape, Lakland’s Chi-Sonics pickups and a new truss rod wheel for adjusting the neck. As you might expect, it is a real workhorse in terms of its construction and playability.

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3: COOL & CLASSIC

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VIGIER EXCESS

BURNS BISON

PEDULLA MVP/BUZZ

Te weapon of choice for Deep Purple’s Roger Glover, Vigier offer a unique feature on their Excess bass – a metal fingerboard – which adds an audible zing to the sound. Best of all, the fantastic build quality adds up to produce a bass that’s capable of giving any of the big names a run for their money.

Te original Bison was the first full-scale bass produced by Jim Burns in the 1960s as a companion to the Bison guitar. It has three Burns ri-Sonic pickups, 22 frets, an A/B pickup selector and a bolt-on hard rock maple neck. We love the distinctive ‘batwing’ headstock and curved horns.

Available in 4, 5, 6, and 8-string configurations, the MVP (fretted) and Buzz (fretless) were designed to combine hard-hitting tone with player-friendly ergonomics. So long as you’re not looking for a completely vintage-feeling instrument, we can’t think why you wouldn’t be as smitten with it as we are.

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3: COOL & CLASSIC

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PEAVEY CIRRUS BXP

FENDER PRECISION BASS

D’ANGELICO EX-SD BASS

For many bassists the Peavey Cirrus will represent the perfect combination of looks, feel and flexibility. It has a familiar-looking spec list: a 34-inch scale neck, black hardware and a pao ferro fretboard. What you also get is a neck-throughbody design and a wide range of tones courtesy of Peavey’s own active pickups and 3-band EQ.

Tere were attempts at an electrified double bass before the P-Bass, but nothing that has become anywhere near as influential. Te main characteristics that we know and love were achieved back in 1957. Te secret was essentially an effective 34-inch scale length and split-coil humbucking pickup. If you’ve never played a P-Bass – you simply have to!

US builder D’Angelico Guitars came up with the goods once more in the shape of the EX-SD Bass. It features a chambered flame maple body, hard maple neck and a pair of Kent Armstrong pickups. From there we have an impressive set of goldplated hardware that includes a une-O-Matic bridge, sealed tuners and a Switchcraft input jack.

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3: COOL & CLASSIC

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G&L ASAT

WARWICK STAR BASS II

MUSIC MAN STINGRAY

Te ASA has all the hallmarks of a classic. Te pickups use a ceramic bar magnet installed beneath each coil and soft-iron pole pieces that can be adjusted to set the output of each string on each pickup, as opposed to simply setting the overall pickup height. Tey’re wired to G&L’s ri-one active/passive system. Tis is a great bass, with a good range of sounds, an iconic look and a bit of Leo Fender magic.

Te Star Bass II merges traditional aspects of the original Framus Star Bass with a full 34-inch scale length, AAA flame maple body and chromecovered MEC single-coil pickups. Both the top and back of the body are made from a bookmatched, 3-ply maple laminate gently arched with a pale satin finish. Te Star Bass II has a cool retro vibe, along with all the company’s regular flash-factor.

Launched at a time when Fender basses were dominating the market, the StingRay’s active electronics struck a chord with bass players the world over. It’s a real workhorse in terms of its construction and playability. Te ‘3 over 1’ machine head configuration and the 8-pole humbucker were major new innovations, and as far as basses with active electronics go, this soon became the trademark sound.

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3: COOL & CLASSIC

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F BASS BN5

FENDER DIMENSION BASS

YAMAHA BBP34

With an unusual body shape (the elongated upper horn compensates for a smoothly sculpted cutaway on the treble side) and transparent gloss finish, this modern take on the venerable Jazz Bass sits atop the F Bass range. It could comfortably sit in with any genre from up-front pop or jazz to reggae and funk. Its performance, build-quality and materials are up there with the best.

In a market dominated by a small number of iconic models and their many imitators, establishing a new instrument with its own identity that can challenge the big boys is a tough ask. But that’s exactly what Fender set out to do with the Dimension bass. Available in 4-string and 5-string versions, it comes with humbucking pickups, an 18-volt onboard preamp and 3-band active EQ.

Te Yamaha BB brand boasts a serious heritage and has been the instrument of choice for the likes Nathan East, Peter Hook and Michael Anthony. Te BBP34 was launched in 2017 to mark the 40th anniversary of the BB. It has a wide range of sounds on offer, making it a lot more versatile than you might have thought. Made in Japan, this BB is a whole lot of bass.

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STENBACK FOUR

XOTIC XJ-1T

ERNIE BALL MUSIC MAN BONGO

Te Stenback Four comes with plenty of features that set it apart from the crowd. It’s solidly built, neatly finished, and the stainless steel hardware is matched to each individual instrument. Everything about this bass is pretty roadworthy, but the design hints at a touch of class too. All told a consumate piece of work. We suggest you get your hands on one.

Tis 6-string from Xotic is a hugely versatile instrument that offers loads of tones for the money. Features include an ash body, maple neck, HipShot bridge and Ultra Lite tuners, EWS ri-Logic preamp and the company’s own single-coil pickups and Hum Reduction Inductor circuit. Fans of extended range basses are in for a treat.

Te Bongo sports a lightweight basswood body, neodymium humbuckers and an 18-volt preamp that delivers all the classic Music Man sounds plus a whole lot more. Almost any bass player is likely to be happy with a Music Man and rest assured the Bongo represents a fine example of a modern design classic.

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3: COOL & CLASSIC

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NS DESIGN NS-CR5 RADIUS

KEN SMITH BSR

GIBSON MEMPHIS ES LES PAUL

If you’re looking for something a little different in a bass, the NS-CR5 boasts plenty of Ned Steinberger’s regular wow-factor, along with some totally unique features. Built in the Czech Republic, it includes the patented self-clamping NS tuning system, custom-designed EMG pickups and a bridge-mounted piezo pickup system.

Regarded by many as one of the most playable basses that money can buy, the BSR has a narrow maple neck, brilliant custom-wound humbucking pickups and a super low action. Tis is a bass firmly rooted in Ken Smith values and capable of performing brilliantly. Ideally suited to the modern-day player.

As high-profile instruments go, they don’t come much bigger than a Les Paul. Te Memphis ES model sports classic Gibson looks, together with humbucking pickups, a semi-hollow body, tuneo-matic bridge and stop-bar tailpiece. A choice of vintage colour schemes make this a guaranteed show stopper.

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GRETSCH ELECTROTONE

OVERWATER PERCEPTION

BLADE B-2 TETRA

Te Gretsch Electrotone is reliable, tonally generous and not overcomplicated. If you’re used to playing a solid-bodied guitar, then the sheer depth of the body may take a little getting used to, but from the moment you plug in, these basses really begin to sell themselves.

If the aim was to design a tonally versatile bass that offers exceptional comfort and playability, then the Overwater Perception hits the bullseye. Tese basses simply look, feel and sound wonderful. Like the rest of the Overwater range, the Perception is about getting genuine tone from quality materials.

Te high build quality and wide range of bass tones make this a great all-rounder from Blade. Te blueprint leans on traditional Fender designs, albeit with some modern innovations and there are handsome Honey, See Tru Red, Misty Violet and Ocean Blue finishes to choose from.

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4: CUSTOM CREATIONS

4: CUSTOM CREATIONS

OUR PICK OF THE MOST INNOVATIVE AND GENRE-BENDING BASSES YOU’LL EVER SEE.

C

ustom instruments boasting clever design tweaks or funky paint jobs are becoming increasingly common - and for good reason. Jens Ritter’s outrageous designs consistently impress. While James russart, with his trademark metal construction,

plus reputable UK-based luthiers like Gus Guitars are all challenging the status quo. We applaud companies for coming up with new designs, but the road to progress is often paved with ideas that we’re either happy to forget or wish a lot more people knew about. Ready to have your mind blown?

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TRUSSART STEELCASTER

RITTER JUPITER

SEI FLAMBOYANT

More wonderful stuff from James russart in the slightly beaten shape of the hollow body Steelcaster bass. It’s been designed to have the look and feel of a vintage instrument with that extra special appeal of the company’s trademark metal construction. Tere are a number of different component choices – including various pickup combinations, neck options, finishing and engraving.

Working from an old winery compound in Deidesheim, Germany, Jens Ritter remains at the forefront of bass design. Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh made a custom order back in 2008, the result being this Jupiter ‘Eye of Horus’ bass. It features solid silver inlays, blue front and side LEDs, custom electronics, Ritter’s Quattrobucker pickup and a Futura Frosted finish.

Martin Petersen’s exquisitely crafted custom basses have been wowing players for more than 20 years. Te Flamboyant is really quite unique, with its slick flowing lines and dynamic curves. ‘I have done some pretty mad things and I suppose being a custom maker you’ve got to do that from time to time,’ says Martin. ‘You have to rethink things a little bit, but it keeps things fresh.’

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STONEFIELD MUSIC MODEL ONE

WOOD & TRONICS ZOID

EVE GUITARS ELITE 5

Tis intriguing bass from New Zealand has a unique tailpiece tuning system that’s designed to provide better handling and ergonomics than traditional tuning machines. Prospective customers can also take their pick from a list of exotic top woods, including asmanian blackwood, zebrano, anigre or New Zealand-grown cypress. Te body is made from a 40mm core of Salusala, which is another Pacific timber.

Situated north of Venice near the Italian town of Belluno, Wood & ronics currently boasts three production models: the Chronos, Zoid and EJ, each of which can be fully customised with a huge range of wood, finish and hardware options, not to mention four, five or six-strings. Love or hate the look, auditioning any Wood & ronics bass will certainly be an experience you’ll remember.

Douglas Mullen is making big waves with his range of custom-built basses. Te mahogany body sports a figured walnut top and some extremely smooth contouring. aking care of tuning duties are a set of ever-reliable Warwick machineheads and a Spector locking bridge holds things securely in place at the other end. Te pickups are Aguilar AG5J-70’s wired to Aguilar’s OBP-2 onboard preamp.

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SPALT INSTRUMENTS VVIPER

GUS GUITARS G3

GITTLER B4F ELECTRIC BASS

Tis curious looking bass employs a patented ‘wiping’ pickup system that allows you to employ a range of different placements and then lock the pickup in your favourite position. Te body is swamp ash with a flame bubinga top, and the use of tasty woods continue with the maple neck and macasser ebony fretless fingerboard. You also get a Hipshot bridge, Graph- ech piezos and a Bartolini

Tis futuristic design from Gus Guitars represents the very finest in bass guitar construction. Te body is beautifully finished using high-quality House of Kolor custom paints and two chrome-plated aluminium bolt-on horns. Several thin layers of carbon fibre have been wrapped around the central body wood, running continuously from the end of the body to the top of the headstock. It’s expensive

Built from the ground up using aircraft-grade titanium, this impressive looking instrument incorporates a radical headless design with 31 frets, patented tuning machines, LED fret markers and an adjustable strap/stabiliser arm. Each string boasts a custom single-coil pickup, which is wired to an internal mid-range control, plus treble and bass controls. A 1/4-inch jack and a 13-pin output

pickup and preamp.

to produce, but the benefits are clear to hear.

complete the eye-opening look.

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WARWICK MASTERBUILT KATANA

IBANEZSRKP4EQUIPPEDWITHKORGMINIKAOSSPAD2S

MARLEAUX CONSAT SOPRANO

Warwick chose Kyuss bassist Scott Reeder as the recipient of this stunning masterbuilt bass. Scott asked for a left-handed, 8-string and the Warwick Custom Shop willingly obliged, presenting Reeder with this striking chrome-tone finished Katana featuring front and side LEDs and active MEC J/J chrome pickups.

Ibanez collaborated with Korg to produce a bass that incorporates a Mini Kaoss Pad 2S, which is loaded with 100 effects. Te SRKP4 also features a headphone output jack, onboard distortion, a mahogany body, maple neck and 22 medium frets. How cool is that?

Te Consat Soprano has become an increasingly familiar sight within the bass world. It’s available in a choice of exotic woods, with a single Delano passive humbucker, and has a 22-inch scale length. It also gives you tones that none of your other instruments will give you.

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IBANEZ SR2010ASC ASHULA BASS

ARISTIDES 050

FODERA BOW BASS

Te Ashula is something of a hybrid 6-string fretted/fretless instrument. So, the fingerboard has been separated into two areas. Te bottom four strings are fretted and tuned as standard, GDAE. Te additional two strings are repeated D and G strings, but fretless. Te body is ash, with a fivepiece jatoba/bubinga neck, and the pickups are Sonic Arch humbuckers.

Te 050 is made from a composite material called Arium, which has been developed in collaboration with a team of Dutch engineers from the echnical University of Delft. Tis Arium core is finished with multiple layers of carbon fibre, which produces a smooth, non-sticky feel that’s very different to wood. Seen here in matt black, the 050 is fitted with a pair of Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounders.

You’ll hear no complaints from us about this intriguing design from Fodera. ‘Our good friend, Victor Wooten, wanted us to build an instrument for him that could be played both fingerstyle and with a bow,’ explained Vinny Fodera. Te alder body features a box elder burl top and a radically smoothed and rounded outline that’s designed to provide plenty of clearance when bowing the B and G strings.

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ZON GUITARS ZEMI AKOUSTIK

ENFIELD CANON

ALUSONIC HYBRID 5

Built to Meshuggah bassist Dick Lövgren’s exact specifications, the Zemi Acoustik features a hollow African mahogany body with a ‘floating’ flame maple top and composite neck, but the business side of this 6-string is based around Graph ech ‘ghost’ piezo pickups in the bridge saddles and a Bartolini magnetic neck pickup.

Te Enfield’s Super 8 pickup incorporates eight individual coils. Each coil can be configured either horizontally or vertically with a choice of split-coil, single-coil or humbucking modes. Besides that, the Canon also incorporates a vast range of wood, hardware and finish options all courtesy of the Sims Custom Shop.

Te Hybrid 5 combines alder with aluminium alloy. Te Aguilar Super Single Pickups are linked to powerful active EQ circuitry and the headstock is fitted with Hipshot Ultralight uners and a Hipshot Xtender. It comes with a set of DR Lo-Rider Stainless Steel Strings. Te mirrored finish is pretty much the most exciting thing in the world, ever.

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READY TO TAKE YOUR BASS PLAYING TO THE NEXT LEVEL? 4: CUSTOM CREATIONS

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WEEKLY SEMINARS une in to weekly live streams from our expert teaching faculty.

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KALA SOLID BODY U-BASS

SURINE QUEST

Designed to deliver more bass with less space, the Solid Body U-Bass is the next step in the evolution of Kala’s line of 21-inch scale bass instruments. Tey’re available in 4 and 5-string models, and with the option of a fretted or fretless fingerboard. Other features include Custom Hipshot uners, a Mi-Si Align Active Preamp system and a Graph ech black usq nut.

With a 31-fret fingerboard extension that increases the upper register to a perfect 5th above the second octave, this 5-string must be seen to be believed. Although each bass is built around the same basic body shape, the list of custom options available is vast. Customers can select a range of different body and neck woods, four, five, six or seven-strings and take their pick from a list of finishes.

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5: UNPLUGGED!

5: UNPLUGGED!

SIX OF THE BEST ACOUSTIC BASS GUITARS IN THE WORLD TODAY.

W

hat makes one acoustic bass sound or play better than another? Far more than a solid-body electric, an acoustic bass guitar is a balancing act. While the two instruments – electric and acoustic – have much in common, they are in many respects

radically different. So there’s good news and bad. If you’re thinking of buying your first acoustic and don’t know where to start, we’ve come up with six cracking instruments that each have something very different to offer.

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FYLDE MAGICIAN BASS

SPECTOR TIMBRE SERIES

WARWICK ALIEN

Fylde is always a good answer when the question involves great acoustic guitars, and the Magician Bass is no disappointment. With high-quality timbers used throughout and an active pickup system, the Magician Bass is ideal for use at home, in the studio or on stage.

Designed and engineered at Spector’s workshop in Woodstock New York, these instruments feature a solid sitka spruce top, a three-piece mahogany neck with a rosewood fingerboard, mahogany back and sides, and a Fishman Presys + onboard preamp. Every bass player should own one.

Te Alien has a deep, hollow body that uses laminated timbers to improve strength and durability. It features an ovangkol back and sides and a spruce top. Te unusual styling adds an extra dimension to the design, while Fishman’s Prefix Plus electronics would suggest that it comes well equipped for the live stage.

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FENDER KINGMAN BASS SCE

MICHAEL KELLY DRAGONFLY

KALA U BASS

It’s not surprising to find that this electro-acoustic is full of good unplugged sounds. Dressed in the retro-cool style of Fender’s California Series, it also benefits from a Fishman pickup system. Tis is no showpiece, however, and looks aside, it’s made using a solid spruce top with scalloped “X”-bracing and a maple Jazz Bass neck.

Te Dragonfly comes with a choice of fretted or fretless fingerboards, both with a stunning abalone and pearl inlay. A manufacturer whose acoustic instruments are ever growing in popularity, judging by the number of players we speak to who love them, this offering from Michael Kelly has something for everybody.

A big ukulele? Or a tiny bass guitar? Te Kala uBass has much more in common with a conventional bass guitar than you might expect. It’s tuned EADG in the same range as a full-sized bass. On top of all that, the uBass gives you a unique set of tones, and it does it all in a package that fits in a decent-sized backpack.

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SBL-100-Basses-Guide.pdf

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