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10 Awesome Bass Displays Out of NAMM

For four days last week Anaheim’s Convention Center was packed with its fair share of mullets, black leather, and the newest and most innovative music equipment ready to hit the market in 2012.

The National Association of Music Merchant’s (NAMM) trade show aims to promote music-making for people of all ages, but with appearances by Anthrax, Testament, Alice in Chains, Megadeth, and Slayer, the annual event took a noticeable dip towards the heavier side.

Nearly a hundred thousand attendees were on hand to explore the over fourteen hundred exhibitors and check out the many jam sessions by everyone from the monsters of heavy metal to a former Presidential candidate.

For everyone that wasn’t in attendance we bring you the ten most interesting bass displays from the convention center’s floor.

1. Aguilar Tone Hammer 350 AMP

Coming Soon to Best Bass Gear

Aguilar Tone Hammer 350
Aguilar Tone Hammer 350 - $499

The Tone Hammer 350 packs the same sound that had Premier Guitar Magazine saying the Tone Hammer 350 “outrivals the many mini-amps on the market” into an even smaller more compact design. A pound-for-pound bruiser of an amp, the lightweight 3 lbs. 350 comes with an enormous sound but without the enormous aggravation of lugging around a large unit.

 Specs:
Power Output: 350 watts into 4 ohms, 175 watts into 8 ohms
Preamp Section: Solid State
Power Section: Class D
Transformer: Switching mode power supply (SMPS)
EQ Section:
Bass: +/- 17 dB @ 40 Hz
Mid Level: +/- 16 dB
Mid Frequency: 180 Hz – 1 kHz
Treble: +/- 14 dB @ 4 kHz
Drive Control: Fully adjustable, featuring Aguilar’s proprietary AGS(adaptive gain shaping) circuit.
Inputs: One 1/4″ input jack, compatible with all active and passive basses
-10dB input pad
Speaker Output: Neutrik Speakon
Balanced Output: XLR balanced output with pre/post EQ and ground lift switch
Tuner output
Cooling: High quality whisper fan with thermal speed control
Dimensions: 8.25″ W x 7.5″ D x 2.75″ H
Weight: 3 lbs
Warranty: Three year limited

 

2. TC Electronic PolyTune Mini

TC Electronic PolyTune Mini

The minature version of the PolyTune polyphonic tuner has arrived at NAMM with the PolyTune Mini. With the ability to tune your strings simultaneously or seperately, the PolyTune Mini automatically tunes in polyphonic mode or chromatic mode, depending on whether you strum all your strings at once or individually. The bright LED display is clear and makes it easy to read.

 

Main Features:

  • Ultra-small Footprint – Will Fit on Any Pedal Board
  • PolyTune – Tune All Strings Simultaneously
  • +/- 0.5 Cent Tuning Accuracy
  • True Bypass w/ Silent Tuning
  • Super-bright LED Display
  • Up to 5 Semitones Flat Tunings
  • Drop-D and Capo Tuning

 

3. Dunlop Bass Fuzz Deluxe

Coming Soon to Best Bass Gear

Dunlop Bass Fuzz Deluxe
Dunlop Bass Fuzz Deluxe

Dunlop takes vintage fuzz circuitry and brings it up to date to create a stompbox that’ll have bassists drooling. It’s armed with a cutting and old fuzz tone, but without sacrificing killer punch and crystal-clear clarity. And with its separate Wet and Dry controls the Bass Fuzz Deluxe will sound like you’re running two amps.

 

 

4. David Ellefson CB-X and CB-XV Bass Guitars

David Ellefson CB-X
David Ellefson CB-X Bass Guitar, MSRP $533.32
David Ellefson CB-XV
David Ellefson CB-XV Bass Guitar, MSRP $666.65

 

 

 

The legendary Megadeth bassist, David Ellefson, joined Jackson Guitars in unveiling two new members of their X-Series, the David Ellefson CB-X and CB-XV. Equipped with dual humbucking pickups and a lightspeed compound-radius fingerboard, the signature series are everything you would expect a bass bearing Ellefson’s name to be.

Specs:

Body: Alder
Body Shape: Concert™ Bass
Body Finish: Gloss

Products Specs Neck:
Number of Frets: 21
Fret Size: Jumbo
Position Inlays: Shark Fin Inlays
Fretboard Radius: 12” to 16” Compound Radius (304.8 mm to 406.4 mm)
Headstock Binding: Ivoroid Headstock Binding
Fretboard: Rosewood
Neck Material: Quartersawn Maple
Neck Finish: Oiled
Nut Width: 1.75″ (44.45 mm) on CB-XV, 1.625″ (41.33 mm) on CB-X
Scale Length: 34″ (86.36 cm)
Neck Binding: Ivoroid

Products Specs Electronics:
Bridge Pickup: EMG HZ40B on CB-XV, EMG HZ35B on CB-X
Neck Pickup: EMG HZ40N on CB-XV, EMG HZ35N on CB-X

Products Specs Hardware
Hardware: Black
Bridge: High Mass V on CBX-V, High Mass IV on CBX
String Nut: Black Plastic

 

5. Zoom’s B3 Bass Effects Pedal

ZOOM B3
ZOOM B3

This stompbox pedalboard with USB audio interface from Zoom is a virtual Swiss army knife of an effects pedal. Its all-in-one design sporting 3 large LCD screens and a simple interface allows you to use several effects simultaneously. So create and save effect chains while leaving that tangled monster of chords behind.

 

Specs:

Effect Types: 111
Simultaneous Effects 3: 3
Patch Memory: 10 patches x 10 banks
Sampling Frequency: 44.1kHz
A/D Conversion: 24bit, 128times over-sampling
D/A Conversion: 24bit, 128times over-sampling
Signal Processsing: 32bit floating point and 32bit fixed point
Frequency Response: 20Hz〜20kHz +1dB-3dB(10kΩload)
Display: LCD×3
Input:

  • 1/4” phone jack
  • Rated input level: -20dBm
  • Input impedance: 1MΩ
  • ACTIVE/PASSIVE( Switch selectable)

Output:

  • R:
    • 1/4” phone jack
    • Maximum output level: [line]+5dBm(Output load impedance 10kΩ or higher)
  • L/Mono/Phone:
    • 1/4” stereo phone jack (LINE / PHONES)
    • Maximum output level: [line]+5dBm(Output load impedance 10kΩ or higher)
    • [PHONES] 20mW+20mW(32Ωload)
  • Balanced Output:
    • XLR jack
    • Output impedance: 100Ω(HOT-GND、COLD-GND)、200Ω(HOT-COLD)
    • PRE/POST(Switch selectable)
    • GND LIFT(Switch selectable)

Control Input: For FP02 / FS01

USB:

  • Audio Interface: 16bit / 44.1kHz
  • Supported OS: Windows XP / Vista / 7, Mac OS X v10.4 / 10.5 / 10.6 / 10.7

Noise Floor: -100dBm

Power:

  • AC adapter: DC9V/Center negative/500mA(ZOOM AD-16)
  • Batteries:
  • AA/LR6 battery x 4
  • Battery Life: 6hours (with alkaline batteries)
  • USB: Bus power

Dimensions: 170(D)x234(W)x54(H)mm
Weight: 1.2kg (without batteries)
Options: FP02 expression pedal, FS01 foot switc

 

6. Mike Pope’s Flex Core Modular Preamp

Coming Soon to Best Bass Gear

Mike Pope showing up the FlexCore at NAMM 2012

Experience unbelievable versatility with the customizable Flex Core. Find your perfect configuration by teaming the high performance modular multi-band internal preamp with the many expansion modules to create your own personalized sound. And with Mike Pope you aren’t dealing with a faceless company. He’s a man with a serious love for the bass, and that shows up in his products.

Frequency Centers:

  • Bass +/- 12dB @ 46Hz or 90Hz
  • Lo Mid +/-12dB @ 330Hz or 473Hz
  • Hi Mid +/- 15dB @ 1kHz or 1.8kHz
  • Treble +/- 15dB @ 6kHz or 10kHz
  • Gain pot : 12dB

 

7. Fender Bassman Pro Series

Super BassManPro

This new series of heads and cabinets includes the Superbass Man 300-watt tube head and Bassman ProCabinets featuring Fender’s Special Design Eminece Neodynamic speakers. And all packaged in Fender’s classic ‘60s look.

Specs:

  • Frequency Response: <10Hz – 22kHz (-3dB)
  • Input Impedance: >820k (INPUT 1), 136k (INPUT 2), 43k (PWR AMP IN)
  • Output Impedance: 220 ohm (PREAMP OUT)
  • Sensitivity: 12mVrms (INPUT 1), 1Vrms (PWR AMP IN) @ 100Hz
  • Signal To Noise> Ratio: 95dB (Power amp), 46dB (Preamp)

Super BassMan Pro:

  • Amplifier Depth: 13.5″ (34.3 cm)
  • Amplifier Width: 24.5″ (62.2 cm)
  • Amplifier Height: 10″ (25.4 cm)
  • Amplifier Weight: 65 lbs. (29.48 kg)

BassMan 100T:

  • Amplifier Depth: 10.63″ (27 cm)
  • Amplifier Width: 24.5″ (62.2 cm)
  • Amplifier Height: 10″ (25.4 cm)
  • Amplifier Weight: 48.5 lbs. (22 kg)

 

 8. Kenny Wayne Shepard & Mike Huckabee Jam Session

In a pairing that only NAMM could bring together the former Arkansas governor, Mike Huckabee, strapped on his bass and sat in with Country-Blues musician Kenny Wayne for a spontaneous jam session.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZlK0hYhsx0

 

9. GHS’ Bass Boomers 2-pack

Bass Boomers

If it’s good enough for keeping those leftover Oreos from getting stale, it’s good enough to entrust your bass strings too.

Using a new resealable packaging, GHS has created a package for their widely popular nickel-plated steel-wrapped strings with the touring bassist in mind. After opening, slide the plastic zipper closed to keep the remaining strings from going bad.

 

10. Squirer’s Mikey Way Mustang Bass

Squirer's Mikey Way Mustang Bass

Developed with input from Mikey Way, of My Chemical Romance, based off the classic design, the Mikey Way Mustang Bass comes with dazzling large-flake silver sparkle finish, jet black racing strips, a black headstock, a single humbucking pickup, and Way’s own John Hancock on the back.

Body

  • Body: Basswood
  • Body Shape: Mustang®
  • Body Finish: 0301082517 Gloss Polyester

Neck

  • Neck Shape: “C” Shape
  • Number of Frets: 19
  • Fret Size: Medium Jumbo
  • Position Inlays: Parchment Dot Position Inlays
  • Fretboard Radius: 9.5″ (24.1 cm)
  • Fretboard: Rosewood
  • Neck Material: Maple
  • Neck Finish: Satin Polyurethane Finish
  • Nut Width: 1.5″ (38.1 mm)
  • Scale Length: 30″ (76.2 cm)
  • Headstock: Painted Black, Artist Signature on back of Headstock
  • Neck Plate: 4-Bolt Neck Plate
  • Truss Rod Nut: 4 mm Truss Rod Nut

Electronics

  • Pickup Configuration: H
  • Middle Pickup: Covered Passive Humbucking Pickup (Middle)
  • Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone

Hardware

  • Bridge: Strings-Thru-Body with 4 Individually Adjustable Saddles
  • String Nut: White PPS
  • Pickup Covers: Black Pickup Cover

Tools

  • Truss Rod Wrench: 4 mm Truss Rod Wrench
  • Saddle Height Adjustment Wrench: 1.5 mm

3 thoughts on “10 Awesome Bass Displays Out of NAMM”

  1. Thanks for that review on the 10 Awesome Bass Displays Out of NAMM. Wasn’t able to be there and this was very helpful. You guys are the best.

    Reply
  2. I second your thoughts on the Aguilar Tone Hammer 350 and the MXR Bass Fuzz deluxe. Both are great products. I missed some of the others you reviewed, but as you know the show is huge and there is only so much time.

    Reply

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