Reviews: Bass Gear
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Premier Guitar's rating system includes brief summations of a product’s pros and cons, as well as pick ratings (0–5) in four categories—Tones, Design/Build, Value, and Playability (for instruments) or Ease of Use (amps, effects, and other devices) or Versatility (pickups and speakers). Items with a total of 18 or more picks (out of 20) win our coveted Premier Gear Award.
ARTICLES
Fender Trapper Bass Distortion: The Premier Guitar Review
January 18, 2021
Separate, stackable custom-voiced circuits make a strong and crunchy case for two being better than one.
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Blast from the Badass Past
January 4, 2021
With funky-cool looks, a comfy short scale, and built-in fuzz, this 4-string is a whole lotta cool. The PG Serek Grand bass review.
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The Year in Gear 2020
December 17, 2020
It may be the understatement of the century, but this year was weird. Even so, the killer gear kept coming. Here are the goods that stood out as extra-great amongst our annual haul of Premier Guitar reviews.
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Schecter Banshee: The Premier Guitar Review
December 7, 2020
This 30"-scale 4-string has a velvety voice, vintage vibes, and comfort for both the hands and wallet.
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How Do You Make a Cheetah Purr?
November 19, 2020
With a decidedly unique design, this cool and quirky short-scale bass appears to have the answer. The PG Nordstrand Acinonyx review.
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Mind Your Ps and Js
November 10, 2020
This well-constructed 4-string takes cues from yesteryear’s sounds, looks, and price tags. The PG Aria Pro II Detroit review.
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If This Stomp Doesn’t Get Your Booty Shaking, You're Probably Dead
September 17, 2020
The PG Seamoon FX Funk Machine review.
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Orange Little Bass Thing: The Premier Guitar Review
September 14, 2020
With 500 powerful watts and an exceptional optical compression circuit, there’s nothing little about this Thing's tone.
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Ibanez EHB 1505: The Premier Guitar Review
August 27, 2020
What’s loaded with tones, has an ergonomic body with cool lines, and a burl top … but no head?
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This Humbucker-Saddled Unicorn Is Ready to Ride
July 21, 2020
With beefy, splittable ’buckers and a Darkglass pre, this decidedly modern bass also commands cool vintage vibes. The PG Balaguer Monoceros review.
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When Bass Tone Shaping and OD Align
June 28, 2020
Potent overdrive plus solid EQ-ing capabilities equals old-school grit. The PG Tritonlab Equinox review.
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Classic Hofner, P & J Bass Tones Meet in a Splendorous Mid-Scale
June 11, 2020
The PG Rivolta Combinata Bass VII review.
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Five Knobs and the Truth
April 26, 2020
Fatter, punchier bass tone via a clean boost with two gain stages and precise 2-band EQ. The PG Xotic Bass RC Booster V2 review.
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Hartke LX8500: The Premier Guitar Review
April 7, 2020
With a highly maneuverable class-A tube preamp, 800 watts, a built-in handle, and a featherweight 8 1/2 pounds, this amp was born to rumble and travel.
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Release the Yeti!
April 3, 2020
A stylishly designed 4-string that offers unique looks, unique tones, and a uniquely pleasant playing experience. The PG Dunable Yeti review.
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Gallien-Krueger Fusion 800S: The Premier Guitar Review
March 10, 2020
A wealth of tone-shaping possibilities—and not one but three 12AX7s—lurk in this featherweight 800-watt powerhouse.
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G&L Fallout: The Premier Guitar Review
March 6, 2020
Racing stripes match a wicked-fast neck, while short-scale goodness and an MFD humbucker gas the machine.
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This Bass Head Redefines What It Means to "Get in the Pocket"
February 20, 2020
This innovative head-and-cab pairing musters impressive thunder for its size. The PG Quilter Bass Block 802 and BassDock 12 review.
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EBS OctaBass Blue Label: The Premier Guitar Review
February 16, 2020
The Swedish bass pros slim down their octaver while imbuing it with gut-shaking low end and analog warmth.
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Fender American Ultra Jazz Bass: The Premier Guitar Review
January 30, 2020
An iconic bass undergoes a few tweaks to its formula, but make no mistake—this 4-string is all Jazz and then some.
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