| Reviewer
| Greg Juliano
|
| Experience
| 20
|
| Review date
| November 06 2002
|
| Manufacturer
| Tunebass Technologies
|
| Model
| King Bass
|
| Price
| $750 used
|
| Item owned for
| NF
|
| |
|
| Bass type
| 5 string fretted
|
| Neck join
| Bolt-On
|
| Neck construction
| 3 piece maple, walnut/ebony laminates
|
| Fingerboard
| Brazilian Rosewood, 24 frets, 34" scale
|
| Body
| 1pc Mahogany core, Walnut top and back, Ebony laminates
|
| Finish
| Natural Laquer
|
| Pickups
| Custom made Tunebass pickups
|
| Hardware
| Custom hand-tooled from Aviation grade Aluminum
|
| Electronics
| 1v, 1pu selector, custom preamp with Bass, Treble, mid contour s |
| |
witch
|
| |
|
The Tunebass company has been making superior quality basses since the
early 1980's. Their "Bass Maniac" bass was their most popular seller
and most copied (ex. Bass Collection & Ibanez Soundgear). Unlike Bass
Collection and Ibanez, Tunebass are true custom made basses crafted in
Japan.
Besides the Bass Maniac, Tunebass also made many other models which were
exclusively master built, very limited production, and then discontinued.
The King Bass was one of them.
The purchase price (not list) for these basses in 1995 was over $3000 but
because of their lack of advertising, popularity, and high price. You can
find these and many other similar models at reasonable prices.
I will tell you this bass is far from a mid-level priced bass. I have a
Lakland, and a Sadowsky and have owned Lulls, Alembics, Spectors, and
Warriors in the past. None of which even come close to the attention to
detail, sound quality, B-string tone and construction of the King Bass.
When I tried this bass at a show, I was floored by the sound, balance, and
playability. It's appearance is somewhat like a Status bass but it has a
headstock. The neck joint is so tight, I removed the anchor screws while
it was tuned to pitch and it barely went out of tune. I wouldn't
recommend doing this but I'm a wacko! For a bass with no support bars in
the neck, it has amazing stability and the tightest B-string I have ever
heard. Yes, tighter than a Lakland and it is a 34" scale which is great.
I played a 4hr gig in 60 degree weather out side in the afternoon and
right afterwards played a gig under hot lights in a night club and never
had to re-tune. No matter what pickup combination you select, there is no
gain change. The bridge pu has the same output as the neck pu.
This onboard preamp is extemely versatile! The selected center
frequencies for the controls are set perfect for this bass. Anything from
a MM Stingray to a J-Bass to a Gibson EBO bass to a 4001 to an Alembic.
The mid switch cuts the mids and boosts the highs and lows without
changing the output volume.
Before you spend all that money on a high level instrument, look for a
King Bass and give it a whirl. This has been my main instrument since I
bought it and have no plans on getting rid of it. Now my Sadowsky is
another story....
| Construction
| 100% | 
|
| (I hate using 100% but it really is built perfect!)
|
| Appearance
| 95% |
|
| (Not everyones cup of tea but it sounds and plays to good to care!)
|
| Playability
| 98% |
|
| (Like butter!!)
|
| Sound
| 98% |
|
| (Tight, and Focused yet Muddy and Gritty when it needs to be...)
|
| Value
| 98% |
|
| Overall
| 98% |
|
| (I haven't played anything else since I bought it so whats that tell ya!!!!)
|
This page is part of the BGRA
The BGRA is generously underwritten by David King.
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