Reviewer Rob Condrey (rob_condrey@dell.com)
Manufacturer P B C
Model GTB355
Price $950.00 w/case (list: $1900.00 w/case)

Neck Type Bolt-on rock maple w/mahogany stringers
Fingerboard 24-fret Brazilian rosewood (no kidding!)
Body Type Alder w/quilted maple top
Finish Transluscent wine red (laquer)
Pickup(s) 2 EMG 40DC active humbuckers
Controls 2 volume, 1 master tone (passive) [EMG BTC tone circuit optiona
l]
If you read Bass Player magazine, then you have probably seen the ads for PBC basses. For my money, this is one outstanding 5-string. For starters, the construction is first-rate. The bass is light and comfortable, yet sounds phenominal! Because it is headless, the balance is superb and would probably be so on the 6-string as well. The neck is slim, for a 5-string, which I prefer. The back of the satin-finished neck is shaped asymetrically; it's a soft V shape around the first frets and gradually flattens out as your hand moves up the neck to the higher registers. This makes it incredibly comfortable to play because your thumb naturally follows those contours anyway. The heel block is sloped for ease of playing higher up the neck.

There are a couple of innovations that further add to this instrument's appeal. One is the patented "Tension-Free Neck" design. This allows the instrument to have some of the benefits of a graphite neck, such as no dead spots, increased sustain, etc., while retaining the sound and feel of a wood neck. The neck will not warp or twist, either. In fact, the neck comes with a lifetime warranty. Another unique feature is the bridge setup. This bass doesn't have a traditional bridge; instead it sports separate bridge assemblies that go through the body and attach to a tonal plate on the back. This helps increase sustain and eliminates string cross-talk.

The sound of this bass is wonderful! Thanks to the EMG 40DC pickups, the tone is tight, punchy, and warm, all at the same time. It may be a little unusual to have active pickups and passive controls on the same instrument but the configuration works superbly here. EMG's active BTC tone circuit is available as an option.

My only gripes, and they are minor, concern the control cavity and string availability. The battery compartment is a little strange. It's a fairly deep, plastic holder that's glued to the inside of the control cavity. While it holds the battery securely, changing the battery can be a pain as it's difficult to get the old one out and put the new one in. I also wish that the screws for the cover used threaded inserts of some sort so the holes won't strip out. Since this bass uses double-ball end strings, string availability is limited. I prefer a taper-core for the low B and E strings and the only ones I could find were by Ken Smith. They sound great but they have to be special ordered. These are small problems, though, compared to the overall quality of this instrument. Besides, with most manufacturers, a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard is an extremely high cost option. It came standard with this bass. You can also request ebony or maple if you prefer.

The customer service is excellent, as well. Bob Edmond at PBC has been extremely cordial and helpful to me. For example, the bass originally came with chrome hardware and when I requested gold hardware, usually a higher cost option, Bob graciously swapped it all out for free. He has helped on other occasions as well. In this era of dollar signs, it's refreshing to find a company that makes such a quality product and still cares about the customer!

Construction 90%
Playability 100%
Sound 100%
Value 100%
Cust. Service 100%
Overall 98%
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