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Bass

The Rascal returns in an affordable, stylish format—this time with hot humbuckers driving the works.

Gorgeous lines. Balanced, comfortable design. Super playable. Excellent quality. Sweet value. Varied high-output tones.

Humbuckers mean less vintage headroom.

$449

Squier Paranormal Rascal HH
squierguitars.com

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Whether you’re a bassist or a guitarist who occasionally fills in as one, short scale basses can be a source of joy, ease, and worlds of expressive potential. Great ones feel like lightning under the fingers. They pack a punch in the fundamentals. And the right ones look and feel a little less like an oversized Viking war ax if you are not a towering Viking. In the case of the newest version of the Rascal, the Paranormal Rascal Bass HH, all of those attributes come together in a bass that’s potent and cuts a unique and beautiful silhouette. And though it may be an amalgam of elements from less iconic but beautiful Fender shapes (not least the Fender version that preceded it nearly a decade ago), the Paranormal Rascal Bass HH is a striking, well-proportioned instrument that looks gorgeous and fits like a glove.

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Convincing 12-string tones, anyone? The compact-stomp vets retreat from less-used OC-3 features while preserving vintage octave vibes and serving up stunning new capabilities.


Recorded using a Squier Tele with Curtis Novak Tele-V and JM-V pickups into a 1976 Fender Vibrolux Reverb miked with a Royer R-121, going into an Audient iD44 then into GarageBand with no EQ-ing, compression, or effects.
Clip 1: Both pickups in poly mode (with direct level at 11:30, +1 octave at 1:30, -1 octave at minimum, and -2 octave range at minimum).
Clip 2: Bridge pickup in vintage mode (with direct level at max, +1 octave at minimum, -1 octave at 10 o’clock, and -2 octave range at minimum), then with fuzz also engaged. SImultaneously routed through a Fender Rumble 200 miked with an Audix D6.
 

Ratings

Pros:
Capable of yesteryear’s quirkiness and myriad subtle and practical applications.

Cons:
Not completely immune to digital-sounding artifacts. Careful dialing still crucial to avoiding cheesy vibes.

Street:
$129

Boss OC-5 Octave
boss.info


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With a decidedly unique design, this cool and quirky short-scale bass appears to have the answer. The PG Nordstrand Acinonyx review.


Recorded direct using PreSonus FireStudio and PreSonus Studio One 3.
Clip 1: Both pickups engaged. Flat EQ.
Clip 2: Bridge pickup soloed. Flat EQ.
Clip 3: Neck pickup soloed. Tone rolled off.
 

Ratings

Pros:
Modern-meets-vintage design. Fast neck. Multiple tones on tap.

Cons:
Would have liked one of the EQ buttons to be a mid or high boost.

Street:
$839

Nordstrand Acinonyx
nordstrandaudio.com


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