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[Bass of the Week] The Vacillant Gambit

See Jeirn’s business listing here This BotW that arrived to featureme@bestbassgear.com is being featured this week for one reason: It has a cool name. Last week, I said that it’s helpful if you builders/modders out there actually name your basses when you submit them, and Jeirn’s bass without a doubt had the best name. Jeirn … Read more

How to avoid “over-modding” a bass

Most bass players new to building a bass don’t actually scratch-build the instrument but rather modify an existing one, and that’s fine. However, when the modding starts, sometimes it can end up in disaster where the bass becomes ruined and unplayable from modifying too much stuff. That’s also fine because sometimes the best way to … Read more

Top 5 rules of being a bass snob

In order to be a true bass snob to separate yourself from “the little people” (or to be an a**hole just for fun), one must practice the following 5 rules. 1. Hate Fender All bass snobs must hate Fender in all forms. Here are a few lines you can use: “Fender hasn’t made anything good … Read more

What is “clean bass distortion” and how do you get it?

Some players like using distortion, and that’s fine. However, there’s some debate that exists on whether you need a bass-specific distortion effect or not. Technically, no, you don’t: However…. Although the term “clean distortion” is a bit of an oxymoron (it’s like saying “clean dirty”), regular distortion pedals can’t distort cleanly. Why? Well, let’s take … Read more

[Bass Of The Week] Fanned Buck Eye Burl

See Stijn’s business listing here A request to all that send in instruments to featureme@bestbassgear.com for Bass of the Week: Please name your basses if it’s not a name brand, because we keep having to name these things. And remember, players like it when the bass has a name to go by. Name your custom … Read more

When is a pedal better than a preamp?

Preamp vs. Pedal is can basically be defined as inboard vs. outboard. With a preamp, everything is literally inboard to the bass guitar itself. Internal power, internal board, all-direct connections with the least noise, and so on. With a pedal, everything is outside of the bass guitar. External power and board with two big wires … Read more

Small Tools of the small builder

Second in a series of articles about tools in the small builder’s workshop, this is a brief overview of the smaller tools commonly used in a shop.  A later article will cover specialized jigs used in instrument building. As mentioned in the previous article on large tools, several of the tools in the small builder’s … Read more

When is a bass not a bass?

When is a bass not a bass? Over the past few years, there has been a rising popularity in multi-range guitars. It started with the baritone guitar and then, later, the 8-string “extended range” guitar. But at what point is a bass not a bass (or are all stringed instruments of this type just “guitars” … Read more

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