Gear Reviews
In This Issue | MSI, Joe Barden, DR, AccuGroove, Fodera, Ashdown : Product Impressions
This month…
Exciting basses from Dan Maloney at MSI, brand-new strings from DR, and the long-awaited Jazz Bass pickups from Joe Barden. Also reviewed are the Mark King Signature Bass Head from Ashdown, the Tri 15-L Cabinet from AccuGroove, and the Fodera NYC 5.
Maloney Stringed Instruments (MSI) Tribal Bass
It’s no surprise that Dan Maloney makes a fine bass: he was head luthier/designer at Zeta for sixteen years. Over the years, some of his more noteworthy instruments/clients included an electric upright and banjo bass for Les Claypool; a violin for Jean Luc Ponty; and guitars for Kirk Hammett. Now, he has returned to his roots as a builder of custom guitars and basses. The Top Shelf got to try out Maloney Stringed Instrument’s Tribal Bass. The bass has a characteristic look and feel, and the quality of craftsmanship is readily evident in the details.
The long upper horn makes for great balance on a strap, and its more-massive-than-usual size contributes to a strong bottom end. Coupled with a stock 35-inch-scale, the bass produces a commanding voice. Dan has also devised a highly helpful, “guitarchitecturally” satisfying solution to jack placement. Instead of a front- or edge-mounted jack—which often puts the cable in an awkward position and strains the output jack and cable end—MSI basses have a back-mounted output jack inside a graceful scoop.
The cable stays out of the way when players are sitting and reduces the tension on the jack and cable end. The Tribal series has an East Coast-meets-West Coast vibe, combining a striking modern shape with distinctive woody warmth. The bass we reviewed, which had an EMG load and maple-over-alder construction, got more than one player thinking, Victor Wooten. MSI is a flexible custom shop. Wood and finish options abound; frets can number twenty-four (stock) or thirty-six; and pickup/preamp combinations are available from EMG and Bartolini (stock) or from any company the customer chooses. The fit and finish of the MSI Tribal Bass are world-class and the design details are very well executed and harmonious.
For more information, visit online at www.maloneystringedinstruments.com
Joe Barden’s New J-Style Bass Pickup
One of the best things about owning a bass with a truly archetypal design like a Fender Jazz-style instrument is the wide range of available pickup options that allow you to dial in your personal tone. The recently released J-Style pickups from Joe Barden offer wonderfully distinctive new voice. Like their famous Barden guitar pickup cousins, the bass pickups are humcancelling and feature twin blades rather than polepieces. I installed the Bardens in the house J bass (maple/alder with an ebony board) for testing, playing them first passively and then through a variety of onboard preamps. These pickups are very even and natural-sounding throughout their entire range, and they transition well from string to string. They manage to be tight and focused at the bottom without sounding lean. The mid-range is clear and punchy, and the top end is less jagged than a standard single coil. The overall impression is one of quickness and solidity. Their output is not significantly hotter than a stock or vintage load, so players who are used to a passive circuit should feel comfortable with these quiet, precise pickups. They are also a great platform for preamping, because they are very quiet and can be sculpted heavily while retaining their core tone. The J-Style set sits very well in a mix, without being harsh or hyped. Players who have been yearning for Joe Barden bass pickup for a long time will not be disappointed with this great addition to the Barden line.
For more information, visit online at www.joebarden.com
DR’s Two New Strings for Bass: Hi-Beam Flats; and Jonas Helborg Signature Series
Jonas Hellborg and DR wanted to create a string with a very strong fundamental while retaining a pure top end. They developed a new construction method using a single pure nickel outer wrap over a round core. The result is so on target that the strings are likely to become their own series, instead of remaining a “signature” model. The larger outer wrap looks stranger than it feels, and most players appreciated the additional grip. The notes seem to leap off the fingerboard, and the bottom end is so extraordinarily tight and solid that chords can be played in a much lower range than normal. The slap tone also benefits from the additional fundamental, adding more low-end support in a mix. We have a new king of the “piano-bass” string. Also new from DR are the Hi-Beam Flat Wounds. Flat-wound strings are coming back into favor, attracting two distinct groups of players. One camp comes with an upright bass background and likes very high-tension strings, such as the La Bella Jamerson set. The second group, players who started on or who play primarily electric bass, like a flexible string like the Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flats, which offer the traditional tone but are low-enough tension to be played with existing techniques. The new DR Hi-Beam Flats split the difference very well. They are stiffer than the TI but nowhere near as demanding as the La Bellas. They are made with a flat stainless wire wound on a round core with hand-applied gold silk ends. These strings combine old-school tone with a feel that srikes a good balance between the old favorites. Their physicality and clarity make them a flat for all seasons.
For more information, visit online at www.drstrings.com
AccuGroove Tri 15-L Bass Cabinet
It is a great time to be a bass player! The Tri 15-L is a wonder. This cabinet is a three-way enclosure capable of stand-alone function—plus it weighs less than fifty pounds. The speaker complement is a fifteen inch low-frequency driver, a six-inch mid driver, and a pair of high frequency drivers. Each is in its own optimized box within the cabinet structure. This allows each to function at its best, and allows for natural tones throughout a very wide frequency range. The Tri 15-L is an 8 Ohm cabinet, which would function quite well by itself in many situations. Or, it could be combined with a second Tri 15-L or Tri 12-L to create a 4 Ohm stack capable of almost anything. This recent offering from AccuGroove is a top-quality all-around box. Hi-fi enough to please modern ears, the Tri 15-L’s fifteen-inch low driver and six inch speaker, not horn, handling the mids can happily go more old school than many boutique cabs.
For more information, visit online at www.accugroove.com
Fodera NYC 5 Bass
We all lust after a bass made by hand from the finest woods, electronics, and custom options. Most of us can’t afford the $4,000+ price tag or the typical one-to two-year wait for such an instrument. Fodera has a solution to this problem: the NYC line. Unlike a number of other makers of high-end basses who have off-shore versions of their popular models or who license their designs to be built under other brand names, Fodera builds the NYC series in the same New York shop as the rest of their line. These basses are made with the same grade of wood and hardware, and a Mike Pope preamp. By reducing the design complexity (currently, only 5-strings are available) and making the NYC basses in batches, Fodera has been able to reduce both cost and wait time. The main changes from the higher end Foderas are a bolt-on neck; and a simpler body construction with a single-figured wood top over a non-laminated back. The bass we tested at the Top Shelf had a lovely maple top with a clear pickguard and J-style pickups. The fit, finish, and playability were top-notch. This is a classic, well-rounded bass. It sounds warm and traditional in the passive mode and has modern zing and extra-deep lows with the preamp engaged. This could easily be a first-call bass for a pro player and represents an amazing value for a US-made bass from such a prestigious shop.
For more information, visit online at www.fodera.com
Ashdown Mark King Signature Bass Amplifier
Given Mark King’s trademark rapid-fire slapping and extremely articulate finger-style lines, it comes as no surprise that this amp excels at quickness, cut, and clarity. This great-looking amp is very simple to work with; it occupies two rack spaces and doesn’t add much weight to your rig. Its tight, uncolored power section makes it easy to get the sound of your bass to come through. The amp is equipped with a graphic equalizer optimized for bass and a harmonic emphasis feature that, when engaged, increases presence and impact. The Mark King Signature Bass Amp is a top choice for extreme slappers and tappers, or rock players doing battle with distorted guitars. Because of its simplicity and sturdy construction, it is also a strong candidate for anyone needing a powerful bass head for club gigs.
For more information, visit www.ashdownmusic.com
Fodera Victor Wooten Monarch Classic Bass
As a bonus, I thought it would be fun, given the Victor Wooten lead story, to give readers a snapshot of this famous bass. The Wooten recipe is actually quite simple: a 4-string Monarch bass with a set neck, rather than neck-through or bolt-on; a mahogany back with a maple top; EMG P/J pickup load; and the Mike Pope preamp. The set neck combines the stability and sleek heel of a neck-through with the explosive punch of a bolt-on. Over the years, I have sold and worked on many of these consistently excellent basses. They tend to be midweight, balanced instruments with very pleasing acoustic properties. The combination of the woody yet hi-fi EMG pickups with the lush and versatile Mike Pope preamp makes these basses suitable for almost any application. Sorry, everyone; the magic is not hidden in the bass (as nice as they are) but in Wooten’s hands and commitment to his music.
For more information, visit online at www.fodera.com
Coming next issue: Glockenklang on-board preamps, basses by Alleva-Coppola and more great gear.
Gear
New Joe Dart Bass From Sterling By Music Man
Sterling by Music Man introduces the Joe Dart Artist Series Bass (“Joe Dart”), named after and designed in collaboration with the celebrated Vulfpeck bassist.
Above photo credit: JORDAN THIBEAUX
This highly-anticipated model marks the debut of the Dart bass in the Sterling by Music Man lineup, paying homage to the Ernie Ball Music Man original that all funk players know and love. The bass embodies many of the original model’s distinctive features, from its iconic minimalist design to the passive electronics.
The design process prioritized reliability, playability, and accessibility at the forefront. Constructed from the timeless Sterling body, the Dart features a slightly smaller neck profile, offering a clean tone within a comfortable package. The body is crafted from soft maple wood for clarity and warmth while the natural finish emphasizes the simple yet unique look.
Engineered for straightforward performance, this passive bass features a ceramic humbucking bridge pickup and a single ‘toaster’ knob for volume control. Reliable with a classic tone, it’s perfect for playing in the pocket. The Dart is strung with the all-new Ernie Ball Stainless Steel Flatwound Electric Bass Strings for the smoothest feel and a mellow sound.
The Sterling by Music Man Joe Dart Bass is a special “Timed Edition” release, exclusively available for order on the Sterling by Music Man website for just one month. Each bass is made to order, with the window closing on May 31st and shipping starting in November. A dedicated countdown timer will indicate the remaining time for purchase on the product page. Additionally, the back of the headstock will be marked with a “2024 Crop” stamp to commemorate the harvest year for this special, one-of-a-kind release.
The Joe Dart Bass is priced at $399.99 (MAP) and can be ordered globally at https://sterlingbymusicman.com/products/joe-dart.
To learn more about Joe Dart, visit the official Vulfpeck artist site here https://www.vulfpeck.com/.
Gear Reviews
The Frank Brocklehurst 6-String Fretless Bass Build
A few months ago, my Ken Bebensee 6-string fretted bass needed some TLC. You know, the one rocking those Pink Neon strings! I scoured my Connecticut neighborhood for a top-notch luthier and got pointed to Frank Brocklehurst, F Brock Music. He swung by my place, scooped up the bass, and boom, returned it the next day, good as new. Not only that, he showed up with a custom 5-string fretted bass that blew me away. I couldn’t resist asking if he could whip up a 6-string fretless for me.
Alright, let’s break down the process here. We’ve got our raw materials: Mahogany, Maple, and Holly. Fun fact – the Mahogany and Maple have been chilling in the wood vault for a solid 13 years. Frank is serious about his wood; they buy it, stash it away, and keep an eye on it to make sure it’s stable.
First up, they’re tackling the Mahogany. Frank glues it together, then lets it sit for a few days to let everything settle and the glue to fully dry. After that, it’s onto the thickness planer and sander to get it nice and flat for the CNC machine. The CNC machine’s the real star here – it’s gonna carve out the body chambers and volume control cavity like a pro.
While the Mahogany’s doing its thing, Frank goes onto the neck core. Three pieces of quartersawn maple are coming together for this bad boy. Quartersawn means the grain’s going vertical. He is also sneaking in some graphite rods under the fingerboard for stability and to avoid any dead spots. The truss rod is going to be two-way adjustable, and the CNC machine’s doing its magic to make sure everything’s just right.
Now, onto the design phase. Frank uses CAD software to plan out the body shape, neck pocket, chambering, and those cool f-holes. I had this idea for trapezoid F-holes, just to do something different. The CAD software also helps us map out the neck shape, graphite channels, and truss-rod channel with pinpoint accuracy.
Once everything’s planned out, it’s CNC time again. Frank cuts out the body outline, neck pocket, and the trapezoid F-holes. Then it’s a mix of hand sanding and power tools to get that neck just how we like it. Oh, and those f holes? We’re going for trapezoids of different sizes – gotta keep things interesting.
Next step: gluing that neck into the pocket with some old-school hide glue. It’s got great tonal transfer and can be taken apart later if needed. Then it’s onto hand-carving that neck-body transition.
For the custom-made bridge, Frank uses brass for definition and Ebony for tonal transfer and that warm, woody sound.
BTW, for tunes, Frank went with Hipshot Ultralights with a D Tuner on the low B. This way I can drop to a low A which is a wonderful tone particularly if you are doing any demolition around your house!
Now it’s time for the side dots. Typically, on most basses, these dots sit right in the middle of the frets. But with this bass, they’re placed around the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 12th frets.
Frank’s got his pickup hookup. Since the pickup he was building wasn’t ready, he popped in a Nordstrand blade to give it a whirl.
It sounded good, but I was itching for that single-coil vibe! And speaking of pickups, Frank showed me the Holly cover he was cutting to match, along with all the pink wire – talk about attention to detail!
A couple of things, while it is important for me to go passive, it is equally important for me to just go with a volume knob. Tone knobs are really just low-pass filters and the less in the way of a pure sound for me, the better.
Finally, it’s string time! As usual, I went for the DR Pink Neon strings. Hey, I even have matching pink Cons…Both low tops and high!
Once we’ve got everything tuned up and settled, we’ll give it a day or two and then tweak that truss rod as needed. And voila, we’ve got ourselves a custom-made bass ready to rock and roll.
I want to thank Frank Brocklehurst for creating this 6 string beast for me.
Gear Reviews
Review Transcript: BITE Custom Bass – The Black Knight PP Bass
This is a written transcript of our video review of the BITE Custom Bass Black Knight PP Bass originally published on March 4, 2024
BITE Custom Bass – The Black Knight PP Bass Review…
Bass Musician Magazine did a review on a Steampunk bass from BITE Guitars about three years ago, it was an amazing instrument, and we were very impressed. Now we’re happy to bring you another BITE bass, the Black Knight PP.
Everybody needs a P-type bass, it’s the standard of bass. If you’re recording, they want you to have a P bass. So why not have something that gives you a little more by having two instead of one P pickup. That’s the idea of this bass, it’s the first thing that leaps out: the double P pickup configuration.
Installing two of their 1000 millivolt split-coil pickups, BITE then went one step further and wired them up in a 4-way parallel/series circuit, a look at the controls reveal a 4-way rotary selector:
The first position, marked “B”, gives you the bridge pickup by itself.
The second position, marked “P”, gives you the bridge and neck pickups in parallel mode, that’s the traditional J-type circuit, it reduces output due to the physical law of parallel circuits.
Position number 3 is marked “N”, it gives you the neck pickup by itself.
And finally, number 4, marked “S”, gives your bridge and neck in a series (humbucking) mode which adds up resistances and thus boosts output. The other two controls are master volume and master tone.
What’s more, like every BITE bass, this one also has a reinforced headstock heel designed to give it extra output and sustain. The BITE website features a graph and explanation of what they have done to the heel, as compared to traditional headstocks.
A look at the body reveals a beautiful Black Blast body finish and underneath that we have alder wood. The bass has a matching headstock with a 4-in-line tuner setup and the traditional bite out of it, so everybody will know what kind of bass you’re playing. The pickguard is 3-ply black, the neck is vintage tinted hard maple and it has a satin speed finish at the back which keeps your thumb from sticking.
On top of that, there’s a clear-coated roasted black locust fretboard with black blocks marking the frets. The nut is a black Graph Tec nut, we’ve got diamond dome control knobs, and the tuners are lightweight compacts with cloverleaf buttons and a 1:17 ratio precision gear. The bridge is a Gotoh brass bridge with 19-millimeter string spacing.
Overall measurements: we’ve got a standard 34″ scale, a 1.65″ width nut and a C neck profile. This bass weighs 8.2 pounds, or 3,7 kilograms for our metric friends, and it uses standard 18% nickel silver frets.
Taking a closer look at the sound, this bass is a joy to play. The BITE proprietary 1000 millivolt pickups deliver an extraordinary amount of output which is surprising considering this is a passive instrument. You may even want to set your amp to active mode because of all of the juice you’re getting out of this guy.
The tonal possibilities are very versatile, it’s a straight P if you want but also much more with those different arrangements of the circuitry. So why have multiple basses when you’ve got one that can give you your basic P plus a lot more?
To sum it up, the Black Knight PP is an amazing instrument. The attention to detail that BITE puts into their basses is second to none. This bass is also amazingly balanced and gorgeous to hold and feel with the satin neck finish.
For more information, visit online at bite.guitars/product/black-knight-pp
Bass Videos
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
Bass Videos
Video 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
Preparing for Performance with Dr. Randy Kertz
Interview With Bassist Erick “Jesus” Coomes
Working-Class Zeros: Episode #2 – Financial Elements of Working Musicians
Tour Touch Base (Bass) with Ian Allison
New Gear: Spector Woodstock Custom Collection Volume II
Preparing for Performance with Dr. Randy Kertz
This Week’s Top 10 Basses on Instagram
Guy Pratt, Not Your Average Guy – May 2024 Issue
New Joe Dart Bass From Sterling By Music Man
