Steve Wishnevsky has been an instrument maker for over thirty years. He concentrates on making simple cleanly constructed string instruments with locally harvested woods at very affordable prices. His instruments are stripped of non-essential ornamental flourishes, giving them a home-made, folk-art look.
The Yamaha RBX 270F is a fretless version of the Yamaha RBX 270. It has an alder body and bolt on maple neck. This model offers good value, and would make a good introduction to fretless bass playing. Good upper fret access is provided by the wide-cutaway contouring of the solid alder body. The scale length is 34 inches.
Yamaha have a reputation for producing affordable quality instruments. The RBX270, with its alder body, bolt on maple neck, is no exception. This model offers good value, and would make a good bass guitar for a beginner. The scale length is 34 inches.
This funky looking bass has an agathis body, with a bolt on maple neck. Retailing at less than $200 (in 2007) this would make a great beginner instrument.
The Specimen Products brand was born in 1981 when student artist Ian Schneller began using the name for his sculptures. Schneller began making instruments in 1984, first for himself and then for friends; before long he was selling Specimen Products stuff to local musicians.
The Libellula Electric Upright Bass is a solid body instrument with a piezo transducer in the bridge. Unlike most electric upright basses the Libellula instrument is wearable, it hangs from the player's body on a strap.
Liutaio Mottola is the non-commercial enterprise of a former engineer, R.M. Mottola. Mottola started making stringed instruments in 1994 after an illness left him unable to work. Since then he has used a methodical approach to the investigatation of instrument design and construction.
Slapping is a bass technique where you hitting the string with your thumb near the start of the neck, often pulling or snapping the higher strings with your index and middle finger (popping). This technique first appeared in the 1970s and was synonymous with the funk music of that period. Larry Graham, bassist with Sly and the Family Stone, was one of the bass slapping pioneers.
This is a striking 2 string fretless bass from Atlansia. It would make a good travel instrument as it folds to only 8cm wide by 6.5cm thick (although it is 101 cm long). The body and neck are a single piece of maple, with a folding maple strap supporter.
The Saint Blues brand had its origins in 1960s Memphis. Custom luthiers Charles Lawing and Tom Keckler worked together at Mike Ladd’s Guitar City across the street from Graceland. The first Bluesmaster, the signature St. Blues model, was designed by Lawing and Keckler before Keckler left to help start Schecter Guitars in Los Angeles.
Charles Lindert established the Lindert brand in 1986, producing hand made guitars out of Chelan Falls in Washington.
All Organic guitars are made by luthier Duncan Wales, trained at “The Totnes School of Guitar Making”, Duncan combines his engineering background with traditional luthier's skills.
The Organic Custom model is entirely handmade to order with custom options. The Standard and Classic models use CNC machining before being completed by hand.
The Gus G3 bass comes with 4 string, 5 string, baritone and midi options as well as optional active electronics. Hardware is designed and made in-house, except the tuners and locking Schaller strap locks. Pickups are two Gus made Gus Tube pickups and with a 4-way switching system
Girl brand's Chris Larsen makes guitars as they should be made, each one is a work of art and great fun. Money is not the bottom line with this guy!
A budget 4 string bass guitar from Hohner:
