Product Spotlight: Fender Bass Amps

The live music scene of the 1940's in Southern California was burgeoning. Musicians were turning their instruments up to higher volumes as bands developed their signature sounds. As these levels rose, traditional acoustic bass instruments were being drowned out by their electric counterparts. Seizing on this opportunity to supply the working musician with the best tools possible, Leo Fender started working on a whole new range of musical equipment and in 1951, a brand new instrument entered the world; the Fender Precision Electric Bass Guitar.

Along with his new 'P' bass, Fender developed amps specifically for these new instruments, which in turn formed the sonic platform of modern music in all its styles and genres.  Here at The Music Spot we are proud to showcase our range of Fender Bass Guitar Amps in this week's Product Spotlight.

The Super Bassman 300 is a two channel all tube bass head with matching cabinet. 2 x 12AX7 pre amp tubes along with a 12AX7, a 12AT7 and six 6550 tubes in the power amp section pump out 300 watts of thick, natural, balanced tone perfect for live performance, or any studio application. 

The Vintage channel delivers the full, warm, classic bass sound Fender amps are renown for while the Overdrive channel delivers an aggressive and modern voiced tone stack. An optional foot switch allows effortless switching between the two channels.

The Super Bassman 300 is not only capable of pumping out stadium level volume. Turning the on board Speaker Output switch to Mute bypasses the speakers to provide a tube driven XLR output for recording at home straight from the preamp section. Brilliant!

Combined with the Bassman 610 1600 watt speaker cabinet, you have a fully professional bass rig and an all tube driven recording amp in one.

The Rumble series of bass amps have been re-engineered from the ground making them louder and lighter than ever. 

The Rumble 500 V3 Combo produces 500 watts of power channeled through a 10" Eminence speaker and a high end tweeter that can be turned on or off. It is also possible to connect an external cabinet if required. Channel switching is also included providing the ability to switch from Vintage to Overdrive mode. A four band eq means you can tune the amp to any room or stage. An XLR line out connects you to a stagebox too meaning you don't need a separate DI. As with all the Rumble models there is a headphone output and an AUX line in for playing along with your media player. Perfect for practice!

The Rumble 40 V3 and Rumble 25 V3 are the little brothers to the 500 delivering 40 watts and 25 watts respectively. Both feature an overdrive channel, headphone socket and AUX input. The 40 shares the same control panel of the 500 as well as its XLR line out. The Rumble 40 is a great choice for places of worship, school concert bands, and music rooms.

The Rumble 25 has a simple three band eq with contour control and is best suited for a practice room. Connecting headphones to any of the Rumble amps bypasses the speaker for silent practice.

Their light weight, great sound, well thought out control panel and attractive look make any Rumble Series Amp a perfect choice for your performance requirements.

Product Spotlight: Schecter, Tokai and Yamaha Bass Guitars

Over the past few weeks we have been focusing on Bass Guitars. This week our attention is on instruments offered by Schecter, Tokai and Yamaha.

Schecter's Nikki Sixx Signature bass with its reverse offset body shape is a pleasure to play both live and in studio. This weapon of choice designed for the flamboyant rocker of Motley Crue and Sixx A.M. fame is loaded with features. EMG X Active pickups with a kill switch are installed into a mahogany winged, neck-thru body design producing a powerful dynamic tone with sustain for days. A high mass bridge and Grover mini tuners complete this Matte Black finished rock beast.

Tokai are a Japanese company who have a reputation for building quality guitars and their basses are no exception. The VB-50-VS is modeled on the famous 'Beatle bass' as played by Paul McCartney of The Beatles. This flamed sycamore hollow body bass features similar controls to the original with independent volume controls and the ability to switch between rhythm and solo modes.

If you're looking for something a bit more classic rock, the Thunderbird SG inspired bass finished in cherry red is just the ticket. Dual pickups with separate volume and tone controls and a three way switch allow the artist to dial in a wide variety of tones. Each Tokai bass also comes with a high quality gig bag.

Yamaha is a stalwart in the music industry with the brand being associated with high quality, reliability, innovative development, and most importantly great sounding products. Their TRBX304 bass reinforces these qualities. A sleek mahogany body mated with a five piece laminated mahogany/maple bolt on neck provides a strong resonant tone, easy access to the higher frets, and a fast, easy to play action. Hum cancelling pickups and an active two band EQ supply the tones, while a clever 5 way switch with pre-selected EQ bands allow you to select from slap to finger to solo modes pending on the style you're going after. These basses are receiving excellent reviews and are definitely worth looking at if you're a semi-pro player looking to upgrade.

So that rounds out our Product Spotlight on the bass guitars available here at The Music Spot. Given our extensive range we're very confident you'll find the right bass that meets your needs and desires. 

Come on in and check them out today!

Product Spotlight: Fender Bass Guitars

Leo Fender started a revolution. In  1951 he invented a completely new instrument, the electric bass guitar, introducing to the world the Precision or 'P' bass. Since their inception, Fender basses continue to define the sound of modern music.

Fender's Jazz or 'J' Bass was the first major development from the original P bass and was released in 1960. Always an innovator, Leo's new 'J' bass featured an offset body, fast thin neck and dual single coil pickups with independent controls. Artists such as Jaco Pastorius, U2's Adam Clayton, Flea from Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Geddy Lee from Rush have all relied on the J bass for their unique styles and tones.

Squier's Classic Vibe 60's James Johnson Signature model, beautifully finished in Lake Placid Blue with matching headstock builds upon this rich tradition. Fitted with a HiMass bridge and brass barrel saddles this bass offers vintage style with a modern twist, and is excellent value for money.

Fender's Modern Player Dimension Bass  features a three single coil 'Triplebucker' pickup controlled by a five-way rotary knob providing a wide variety of tonal options. It also has an easy access truss rod adjuster wheel located at the heel end of the neck and a HiMass bridge to increase sustain.

The Deluxe Jazz Bass Active V gives the extra bottom end that only five strings can. With its active 3 band eq and slap switch, the Active V is a great choice for any working musician,

Introduced in 1966 the Mustang short scale basses were designed with the student player in mind. A shorter neck and smaller body made it easier to play. Building on this tradition, Fender's Mustang Classic Series Bass features a short scale neck, single pickup and is finished in classic Vintage White with tortoise shell pickguard. Short scale basses such as this Mustang model are also a great choice for guitarists who wish to add a bass into their repertoire.

Squier's Precision, Jazz and Jaguar Short Scale Bass Packs are a great choice. Simply choose your preferred model and everything you need to 'Stop Dreaming and Start Playing!' is included to make your mark in musical history.

Leo Fender invented the bass guitar and in doing so started a legacy that continues to this day. Choosing a Fender Bass guitar puts that history and tradition into your hands to create the sounds of the future.

Product Spotlight: Ibanez Bass Guitars

This week's product spotlight focuses on Ibanez bass guitars. Started in 1908 as a sheet music and musical products distributor, Hoshino-Gakki changed its name to Ibanez after Spanish guitar maker Salvador Ibanez, whose instruments they started importing into Japan in the late 1920's. Ibanez started making their own instruments during the 1930's and continue to do so to the current day.

Ibanez bass guitars are innovative and progressive in their concepts and design. For over 40 years, Ibanez have pioneered new developments in bass guitar production conceived in their Bass Workshop. The Music Spot is proud to showcase several of these fine bass guitars in our current lineup.

The SR755 five string bass is a stunning example from the Bass Workshop. With a five piece neck, lightweight maple body with bubinga top, Nordstrand pickups, and Ibanez's Custom Electronics preamp system, this bass covers all styles and genres with the sleek, clean lines the SR series is known for. Ibanez's SR series basses all feature a smooth fast neck, lightweight bodies with well designed and thought out electronics. The SR300 is a four string bass with a sleek body made from mahogany. Its 5 piece maple and rosewood neck is fast and thin while the CAP EXF-N2 pickups and active electronics with three band eq allow you to dial in a wide range of tones.

For players looking for a completely different vibe, the Black Eagle is perfect for the alternative rocker. A limited edition reissue of the now forty year old classic, the Black Eagle brims with 70's era cool with its distinctively shaped mahogany body, striking abalone eagle inlays and F-hole shaped head stock.

The ATK series can be considered as the traditional bass turned up to 11. Ash bodies and that familiar feeling neck profile combine with active electronics and CAP humbuckers that offer three way switching modes. Our ATK800 model features Ibanez's Premium fretwork and comes with a case, while the ATK300 with its natural finish not only looks beautiful but is a pleasure to play as well.

Ibanez also provide instruments for the younger bass player in their Mikro series. Featuring a 3/4 scale length and smaller lightweight body, the SRM20GB is a scaled down version of the extremely popular SR200 series bass. This is a great model for guitarists transitioning into playing bass and comes with a heavy duty padded gig bag.

Finally, there is the PCBE12MH Acoustic bass, Featuring an open pore mahogany body, maple neck, rosewood fretboard and AEQ-2T preamp with built in tuner, this Grand Concert sized bass guitar is perfect for roots, jazz and blues music with its full round warm tone.

All of these basses offer exceptional value for money. With quality materials and well thought out designs, an Ibanez bass is an excellent choice for the seasoned professional and the beginner alike.