A bass that can do it all…or at least come close enough for jazz.

By John McVarish

I’m making a list

So what does a demanding bassist require and how much are we (my significant other and I) willing to spend? First off, I’m old school and have never played in a pop band with a 5-string, but I’m ready to take the plunge. I’ve tried many 5-strings in stores and I want one that articulates well in the lows with a bottom B string that is more than a finger rest. For that, a 35” scale is near the top of my wish list.

Because I play jazz and have trouble fighting feedback with my acoustic bass, I’d like an electric that also has a piezo bridge that can be fudged into sounding as much as possible like an upright. I could go fretless, but I’ll have to compromise for the club band. Next, I want something that’s compact and light for those cover-band gigs where 4 sets are required. Last, and perhaps most important, I want a bass that looks cool.

Read more at:  http://www.harmonycentral.com/expert-reviews/ns-design-cr5-radius-5-string-bass-guitar