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When Form Follows Function: Q&A with Scott Surine

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Surine Quest 5The concept of an object being created based upon the intended purpose is always a noble feat, but when you then bring in aesthetics and marketing, somehow that original concept is not what you had intended, and you finally understand the phrase, “A camel is a horse designed by committee.” Especially for this musician, one of the main functions involved is comfort when playing in a seated position (since the bulk of my gigs are in the studio or under the stage). So it was wonderful to meet Scott Surine and Roberto Bernardeinello of Surine Basses this past November at Bass Player LIVE! in Hollywood, CA and play some amazing basses. After chatting with both about design, function and the like, we exchanged business cards and I wrote up some more questions.

Yours Truly playing a Surine Regency 5With a design background, how did you marry the aesthetic choices (based on design) with the utility choices (based on players needs) into Surine? I am a firm believer in “Form Follows Function”. My objective, early on, was to build a brand based on this principle, where aesthetics are seamlessly fused with functionality. Simple, clean lines to create a contemporary and timeless design, easy access to the fingerboard’s upper register, reducing the size of the headstock to ensure optimum balance regardless of string configuration, and an intuitive controls layout. Our standard layout configuration is: Individual Volumes, Concentric Bass and Treble, Mid Boost/Cut. Although we offer the option of a Master Volume and Pickup Blend, I feel the individual volume configuration dramatically increases the sonic versatility of the instrument. For example: on an indoor gig, I might have only the bridge pickup on, but on an outdoor gig, I might add 50% of the neck pickup to add low-end on an outdoor stage.

How have ergonomics (especially when playing in the seated position) affected your design focus? Great question. I remember, when designing the first of the bodystyles, the Affinity, I wanted to make sure that, when sitting, the user wouldn’t be hunched over because the instrument’s waist was too close to the centerline of the instrument. I actually cut out a couple of foamcore mockups to see which felt better. A few years into the business, additional bodystyles became available. The Regency, then the Quest, became very popular – perhaps due to their appearance. But, both these versions incorporate a lower waist that is positioned more forward (towards the neck) than its predecessors which significantly helps balance while seated. This became especially apparent when 7-strings were almost becoming the most requested order.

Surine Regency 5Tell me how the Regency concept came into being, and any issues that had to be addressed to bring it to life? The Regency is a very distinctive instrument. Back when MTV Unplugged was very popular, I remember thinking “I need to have a semi-hollow design that would fit right in on this show”. So, I sat at my coffee table for several hours (legs crossed and cramping up) and sketched . . . and sketched . . . until a whole new shape started to emerge. I wanted to come up with a design that hadn’t been done before. So, instead of a variation of an “F-Hole” on either side of the through-neck construction, I chose to have the sound cavity carve into the neck and pass into each wing, which are mostly hollowed out. Aesthetically speaking, I wanted the soundhole to start geometrically as a perfect circle then transition into a more organic shape. Extending the range of the fingerboard to a major 6th beyond the second octave and resolving its edge so that it was part of the design of the soundhole completed the overall look. It stayed as a drawing for awhile. I brought it to my very first NAMM show (I believe it was January of ’96) and when approached by an attendee, Vik Momjian, asking If I had any 6-string models that would weigh around 6 pounds, I showed him the drawing and stated I wasn’t sure what it would weigh, but would certainly be less than a solid body bass. After some dialogue and negotiations, Vik agreed to order both a fretted and fretless 6-string Regency. These became the very first Regencies and, without his willingness to try something untested, the Regency may never have come to fruition. For this, I will always be thankful to Vik.

As for any issues, the first handful of Regencies have the adjusting nuts to the trussrods located just beyond the end of the fingerboard. Although this works, they are a little challenging to access without bumping the edge of the soundhole. After the Quest (the solid body equivalent) was introduced, I decided to try something new – a removable extension to the fingerboard in which the trussrod access cavities were concealed underneath. Unsure whether this idea would really work and that it wouldn’t affect the playability beyond the 24th fret (where it is removable), we tried it on a Quest that was for my own personal use. With a successful prototype on hand, I decided to incorporate the same concept into the design of the Regency.

Rainbow Regency

What is your favorite instrument that you’ve built to date and why? My favorite instrument built to date may very well be what we refer to as the “Rainbow Regency,” for a customer in Montreal, Canada. This instrument is the main image on the Surine Basses Facebook page. The challenge of having the 39-piece laminated top align with the laminates on the back, the Lion of Judah 12th fret inlay and related motif inlays elsewhere on the fingerboard, the custom 8-string bridge by Hipshot, the redesigned headstock to accommodate all 8 tuners, two of which were D-tuners, the “invisible” thumbrest, all led to an adventurous journey of detail and intricacy.

Also, what’s your favorite instrument that you haven’t built and why?There is a concept instrument that I have yet to build and am not yet ready disclose its unique functionality at this time.

Sonova Bass BridgeThe Sonova bridge seems a very logical progression to your bass building. How has the reception been among players and other builders? The Sonova bass bridge has been very well received. For all those who have asked for this upgrade, have been very impressed with its stylish appearance, versatile string spacing options, and amount of sustain achieved from a bridge machined from solid brass. At this point, it is an upgrade option due to its high unit cost (resulting from small production runs). I plan to look into ways to have it produced in large enough quantities to get the unit cost down. It does however, add an elegant and uniquely refined look to our instruments and hope to make it a standard on all our basses in the future.

Thank you to all who have taken the time to read this interview, and thank you Jon for the opportunity to tell a bit of the Surine Basses story.

For more information on Surine Basses:
Surine Basses Webpage
Surine Basses on Facebook
Sonova Bridge Webpage

Bass Videos

Reviews: Phil Jones Bass Compact Plus 450 and Bass Engine 17

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Reviews Phil Jones Bass Compact Plus 450 and Bass Engine 17

Phil Jones Bass Compact Plus 450 and Bass Engine 17 Reviews…

In this issue, we take an in-depth look at two new amps from Phil Jones Bass, the Compact Plus 450 and Bass Engine 17.

For more information, visit online at pjbworld.com

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Bass Videos

Review: BITE Custom Bass – The Black Knight PP Bass

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Review - BITE Custom Bass - The Black Knight PP Bass

BITE Custom Bass – The Black Knight PP Bass Review…

I am sure many of you saw my review of the Snobby Steampunk Bass from BITE Guitars back in February of 2021 and will remember what a remarkable bass it was. BITE has been building custom basses since 2019 and has a unique custom approach where you can configure your bass to your specs.

I am very excited to have another Bass From BITE Guitars in my hands, The Black Knight PP Bass! 

The need for a P-Bass in one’s armamentarium is pretty standard for bass players and I recall chatting about this with Marty O’Brien about a year ago. It turns out that Marty and BITE Guitars got together and came up with this excellent configuration that gives you a P-Bass with a whole lot more.  Marty even played his own Black Knight PP bass at the 2024 NAMM show. You can see his review here.

Join me as I take an in-depth look at this very cool instrument and share all the details.

Here is The Black Knight Bass from BITE Guitars!

For more information, visit online at bite.guitars/product/black-knight-pp

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Gear Reviews

Gear Review: Origin Effects Cali76 Compact Bass

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Gear Review: Origin Effects Cali76 Compact Bass

Origin Effects Cali76 Compact Bass Review…

Throughout the evolution of music, bass players have sought tools to sculpt and enhance their sonic landscapes, and one indispensable ally in this pursuit has been compression. Origin Effects, a name synonymous with premium audio craftsmanship, introduces the Cali76 Compact Bass Compressor, a pedal that pays homage to the legacy of compression and brings forth a new chapter in bass sonic mastery.

As we delve into the world of the Cali76 Compact Bass Compressor, we’ll explore how Origin Effects seamlessly weaves together the heritage of compression and contemporary bass demands, promising a pedal that not only honors the past but propels your bass playing into the future. Join us on this sonic expedition as we dissect the nuances of the Cali76 Compact and uncover the secrets it holds for bass players seeking the perfect blend of vintage warmth and modern versatility.

For Starters, the Cali76 is a studio-grade FET compressor pedal, based on the classic Urei 1176, but with some features optimized for bass guitar. For those of you who are not familiar with it, a FET (Field Effect Transistor) compressor is essentially a solid-state tube compressor emulation that allows for fast and precise control over the attack and the release parameters; allows for extreme compression ratios; and finally adds the typical 1176 color and character to the sound.

Together with the common controls we see in most compressor pedals – Ratio, Attack/Release, input (just like the original 1176, the threshold in this pedal is fixed), and output (makeup gain). The Cali76 offers two more controls dedicated to us bass players.

A Dry control – This allows us to mix in our dry, uncompressed signal to the pedal output. This is great for when we want to add back some of our playing dynamics to the compressed sound or for when you want some volume back in situations where the compression starts taking away the volume.

A High Pass Filter control – Low frequencies on a bass guitar signal normally overwhelm compressors. This high pass filter allows the compressor to only react to higher frequencies, which helps preserve the natural dynamics of our playing while keeping the low end intact.

Metering on this pedal can be a bit hard to get used to at first. There’s a single LED light on the pedal, that not only serves as an On/Off light, but it’s also our meter. It glows red when no compression is applied and orange for active compression. The brighter the light, the greater the amount of gain reduction. Yellow signifies that the gain reduction reached 27dB and maximum reduction occurs around 38 dB.

In practical terms, it’s all about working with the input and the LED to find the sweet spot (turn the input to zero, start playing and slowly increase the input level until you start seeing the LED glowing orange, which means there’s reduction going on).

With 6 highly interactive knob controls, this pedal implies some degree of compressor knowledge and also some amount of tweaking and experimentation to find the perfect settings. The good news is that it is very hard to make this pedal sound bad…

It can go from very subtle compression settings to very extreme, and it can do everything in between. Also, the team at Origin has been kind enough to add a couple of sample settings in the manual to get players started and to help us understand better how the pedal works.

Origin Effects Cali76 Compact Bass

Dynamic Control is a setting that provides natural compression, balancing dynamics between various playing techniques. It is a subtle compression that will work almost out of the box almost all the time. Having a medium setting for the High Pass Filter ensures an honest translation of the lower string dynamics.

Origin Effects Cali76 Compact Bass

Parallel compression is a popular studio technique, where both compressed and natural signals are blended. We get the sound and feel of hard compression while retaining the natural playing dynamics.

Origin Effects Cali76 Compact Bass

Percussive, lively & Fat is a setting that uses a slower attack time to accentuate the start of any note. Then using a fast release allows the compressor to recover between notes so that the phrases sound more percussive. Ideal for slapping and other percussive techniques.

Finally, I would like to mention the classic 1176 tonal coloration. It’s not a secret that engineers all around would sometimes use the 1176 compressor, without applying any compression, just to get the tonal coloration into the instrument sound.

And the Cali76 compressor is no different, it has such a rich, warm, and full coloration that’s super pleasing to the ear and makes you want to have it ON all the time. So be aware, that if you want a transparent compressor, this pedal is not for you!

All in all, it is easy to understand why this pedal became a favorite of so many bass players around the world. The Cali76 Compact stands as a testament to the meticulous craftsmanship and thoughtful engineering that Origin Effects is renowned for. It seamlessly navigates through the rich history of compression, offering bass players a gateway to the soulful resonance of the past while empowering them to sculpt a contemporary sonic future.

Whether you’re a seasoned bass maestro or a budding virtuoso, the Cali76 Compact invites you to embark on a sonic journey where every note is held in a delicate balance between tradition and innovation. As we bid farewell to our exploration, we do so with the realization that the Cali76 Compact is more than just a pedal; it’s a sonic companion that elevates the artistry of bass playing

For more information, visit online at origineffects.com

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Gear Reviews

Spector NS Ethos HP 4 Bass Review

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Spector NS Ethos HP 4 Bass Review

Spector NS Ethos HP 4 Bass Review…

Not long ago, I did a review of the Spector NS Dimension HP 5 Bass and I have just been given the honor and privilege of reviewing the Spector NS Ethos HP 4 Bass. I have to say, another great bass from Spector that is hard to put down! While there are some similarities between both basses, there are also some noticeable differences which is why I believe having both is essential to any bass arsenal.

Spector, widely used by many rock and metal bassists like Ian Hill, Alex Webster, Colin Edwin, Doug Wimbish, and many more, just to name a few, has a long-standing in these genres. Well, that’s about to change! The bass I used for the review, didn’t see any of those genres, matter of fact, I used it on a few classic country gigs and at church too! However, when at home in the studio, I let the funk out. The NS Ethos HP 4 Bass is an all-around great bass for any genre and will not disappoint.

Let’s get into the specs about the bass, and here we will find the differences between the HP 5 Bass and the HP 4.

Forget that one is a 5 string, while the other is a 4, while that is a difference, that’s not one that I feel needs to be noted as both models are available as 4 and 5 strings. The Spector NS Ethos HP 4 Bass has a 34” scale, 24 fret, 3 piece maple neck through construction with solid alder wings, ebony fingerboard along with centered and side dots and the 12th fret Spector logo inlay with a brass nut.

While the pickups are different as the NS Dimension HP 5 Bass uses the EMG 45DC and the NS Ethos HP 4 Bass sports the EMG 35DC pickups, they are the same pickup configurations, the difference being, one for 4 string, the other for 5 string. The electronics are the same, consisting of a Darkglass Tone Capsule preamp which consists of +-12dB @70Hz for Bass, +-12dB @500Hz for Mids, and +-12dB @2.8kHz for Hi Mids. Controls for Spector NS Dimension HP 5 Bass consist of Master Volume, Blend, Bass, Mid, and Hi Mid controls. The electronics are powered by a 9-volt battery.

The bridge is a Hi-Mass locking bridge with intonation screws and the tuners are sealed die-cast. All hardware is black. Same as the Spector NS Dimension HP 5 Bass, the HP 4 Bass is available in 4 different finishes, White Sparkle Gloss, Gunmetal Gloss, Plum Crazy Gloss & Black Gloss. The bass also comes with a very nice and well-padded gig bag.

Check out the Spector NS Ethos HP 4 Bass at a Spector Music Retailer today near you or visit online at spectorbass.com/product/ns-ethos-hp-4/

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Gear Reviews

Review: Italia Leather Straps

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Review: Italia Leather Straps

Italia Leather Straps…

Whenever I get a new bass, I like to get a new strap to christen it and I also like to find one that is “color coordinated” to my new instrument. I recently had a 6-string fretless bass created by a local luthier named Frank Brocklehurst, which started my search for a new strap.

There are a few points that I always look for when searching for a new strap. 

1-Comfort 
2-Width
3-Great color
4-Price

My most recent quest put me in touch with “Italia Leather Straps.” Italia has been in business in California for about 20 years and has been selling factory direct for the past 18 years.

When you order your strap it begins its “made to order” build process and after shipping more than 50,000 straps they certainly have it well in hand!

To answer my 4 questions regarding comfort, Italia uses some of the most comfortable and luxurious leather in a wide variety of colors. I was able to match almost perfectly the color of my bass and the color of the leather.

You can order it in either a 2.5” or 4” width as well as a standard and long model for tall players. I prefer the 4” for all of my basses. 

I received my strap and I must tell you, the leather was soft, supple, and truly comfortable when I attached it to my bass.

I must commend Italia Leather Straps for their attention to detail and beautiful selection of leather. I would say that when you go looking for a new strap, these guys should be on your shortlist.

Call or visit Italia Leather Straps online:
831-324-4277
www.italiastraps.com

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