Every Eastwood Bass, Explained
by Ellen Angelico
Our bass models, like our guitar models, run the gamut from traditional to far-out. It may be tough to figure out which one is right for you, so we’re going to run down each one and take a look at their specs and features.
There’s a lot to wade through here! We’ll start out with standard 4-string basses, move on to our range of Bass VI options, and finally we’ll end with the oddballs that defy categorization. Whether you’re new to bass or a seasoned pro, we feel pretty good you’re going to find a low-end explorer to love.
4-String Basses
The Classic 4 Bass draws inspiration from our long-running Classic series, with its dual retro humbuckers and fully hollow construction. It’s probably not loud enough to play unplugged on a gig, but it sure makes for a fun experience practicing. The hollow body also leads to this instrument being comfortably light—average weight on these is just 6.5lbs! Got a long gig coming up? Whether you’re right-handed or left-handed, Classic 4 Bass might be the one for you.
The Eastwood Hooky VK PRO Bass finishes: Goldtop, Black, Dark Cherry, and 3 Tone Sunburst
The Eastwood Hooky VK PRO has f-holes like the Classic 4 and comes in a left-handed version, but that’s about where the similarities end! The Hooky VK PRO sports a semi-hollow body instead of a fully hollow one, and it has just one P-style pickup in the bridge position. But don’t let the single pickup fool you: this bass is packed with tonal versatility. You’ve got an active/passive switch, volume and tone controls, and a righteous 3 Band Active EQ. It’s perfect for the bassist who needs precision from tone adjustments.
At first glance, the EEB-1 Bass might look a little strange. But there’s a certain elegance to it, with gentle curves and a single humbucker pickup. The f-holes are cut completely through the body for an unusual “see-through” look. The vintage Ampeg basses this one pays tribute to are getting harder to find, and growing more expensive by the day. So if you love the old-school vibe but want to pay a new-school price, check out the EEB-1 Bass, available both right-handed and left-handed.
Our Hi-Flier series is easily one of our most popular, and it’s not hard to see why. The vintage Hi-Fliers look awesome, but heaven help you wading through pawn shops, trying to find a decent one. Ours are built with modern, reliable construction techniques. Unlike the vintage ones, ours are made to last and play great right from the moment you receive them. The Hi-Flier Bass is also the only 4-string in our lineup to feature a maple fingerboard!
Another Eastwood model with a strong vintage vibe is the Newport Bass. It’s got a single EW humbucker in the neck position, the vintage version of these pickups are sometimes affectionately referred to as “mudbuckers.” Adding to the old-school vibe is a finger rest and string cover. This one is also nice and lightweight, and the short scale makes it super fun to play.
If you like the single pickup and simple electronics of the Newport Bass but prefer a longer scale, you should check out the Black Widow Bass. It’s based (pun intended) on Black Widow basses made by Semie Mosley in the late 60s and early 70s. They went out of production in 1974 and the originals are quite rare now. Our Black Widow Bass gives you access to this classic design at a more affordable price.
Speaking of classic, few basses in our lineup have a more “traditional” look than the MRG Bass. The body shape, called “The Cosey” in honor of legendary guitarist Pete Cosey, is reminiscent of an F-style mandolin. It is semi-hollow for warmth and resonance, and features two great sounding mini humbucker pickups. If you’re looking for a balance of traditional looks and tonal versatility, you’ll find it with the MRG Bass.
Backlund Model 100B Bass finishes: Metallic Blue, Metallic Red, and Black and Mint
And on the other hand, if you’re looking for a completely untraditional look, may we suggest the Backlund Model 100B bass! This thing looks more like the tail fin of a classic car than a bass guitar. Like all of John Backlund’s designs, it combines art deco lines with spaceship contours for a vibe all its own. And if the look doesn’t stand out, the tone sure will! The dual JB single coil pickups delivery fat, punchy lows and articulate mids. Blast off!
Rivolta Mondata Bass Deluxe finishes: Sunburst, Olympic White, Toro Black Satin
Another bass with a sleek look is the Rivolta Mondata Bass Deluxe. It’s got clean lines and a raised center block showing off the dual Rivolta Fumante pickups. This is an ultra high quality instrument, and one of the standout features is the neck. It has a set, one-piece roasted maple neck, with 1.5” nut width (more J style than P style) and a slim tapered C shape. The edge of the fingerboard are hand-rolled at our Nashville warehouse, making each one of these play like an old friend from the moment you start playing.
Last but certainly not least in our 4-string lineup is the Eastwood London Bass. It’s carved from solid mahogany and has two fat-sounding custom soapbar pickups. The London Bass has master volume and master tone controls, as well as one of the coolest features: a blend knob. Do you like your tone to mostly bite, but still need a little “umph?” Or are you mostly a low end critter but need to stand out a smidge for a solo? The blend knob on the London Bass will get you there. (Also, YOU GOT A BASS SOLO?! That’s rad. Let us know when your next gig is.)
Bass VI
First up in our Bass VI lineup is the Sidejack Bass VI. Like the other instruments in our extremely popular Sidejack series, this one is based on vintage Mosrite guitars from the 60s with its “reverse Strat” body shape and P90 pickups. This sharp-dressed Bass VI also features a Tune-O-Matic bridge and a great-feeling vibrato, making it great for everything from classic “Tic Tac” bass to huge, ambient soundscapes. It is also available left-handed!
Eastwood Hooky Bass 6 PRO Left-Handed
The Eastwood Hooky Bass 6 PRO bears the name of bass legend Peter Hook, like the Hooky VK PRO, but it is a totally different animal. It has a solid alder body, bolt-on maple neck with a maple fingerboard, one massive-sounding customer humbucker, and is available both right and left-handed. The Hooky Bass 6 PRO is a painstaking recreation of Peter Hook’s original Shergold Marathon Bass 6 guitar, so much so that when Hook first played one, he wanted to take it straight on tour! If it’s good enough for him, it’s definitely good enough for us.
The TB64 6 String Bass is another one that takes a sometimes-flimsy vintage design and un-flimsies it. This Teisco-inspired design features individual on/off controls for each pickup, a rhythm/solo switch, and a vintage-style vibrato. It’s also pretty hard to miss the “monkey grip” cutout in the body! There’s oodles of tones on tap with the TB64, making this an excellent choice for studios and tone-chasers.
Oddballs
Look, Ma, no frets! It's the Eastwood EUB-1 Fretless Bass
Would it really be Eastwood if we didn’t have a few tricks up our sleeve? First up: FRETLESS! The EUB-1 Fretless Bass has the same Ampeg-inspired look and see-through F-holes of the EEB-1 (and like the EEB-1 is available left-handed), but with no frets at all. The single alnico humbucker pairs perfectly with the growth and warmth of fretless tone. The fingerboard has a super clean look, while the dot markers on the side of the neck keep you between the lines.
The Warren Ellis Bass Guitar is maybe the least “odd” of the oddballs, but it bears including here because of the design philosophy. We like to say this one puts the “guitar” in “bass guitar!” It has a slim neck and short scale, and Eastwood fans will recognize the single Warren Ellis blade pickup from other instruments in the Warren Ellis series. Righties and lefties both can certainly get warm, traditional tones from this bass, but we wanted it to have a voice to fit with your pedal rig. This is a low end instrument that you can switch to from guitar and open up a whole new sonic world. Guitar players deserve to explore low end too!
We don’t do a lot of “extended range” instruments, but we’ll make an exception for the legendary Seye Adelekan. He’s best known for being the bassist in Gorillaz, and when he approached us needing a 5 string bass we thought it was high time he had a signature, custom Eastwood model! The result is this fully hollow 5 string, with a snazzy matte finish and gold hardware. It’s got custom rail pickups, and trust us: this thing has TONE for days.
Speaking of tone, sometimes you need twice as much tone as everyone else. If that sounds like you, check out the Eastwood Magnum Bass. It’s got a humbucker, a single coil, individual volume and tone controls, and mono as well as stereo outputs! Use two amps, run one clean and one dirty, or create spacious tonal landscapes with stereo effects. The tonal possibilities are practically endless with the Eastwood Magnum Bass.
Eastwood "The Sandman" 2-String Bass
Few basses wear the “oddball” crown so comfortably as Eastwood’s “The Sandman” 2-String Bass. Crafted as a loving nod to Morphine’s iconic bassist Mark Sandman, the deep punchy lows of this bass pair perfectly with gritty grooves, slide playing, and other sonic experimentation. Give Morphine’s seminal album Cure for Pain a listen before you dismiss this bass as a mere oddity, though. This is a stripped-down powerhouse (that also comes in a left-handed version!) designed for forward-thinkers who believe that less is more.
So Which One is Right for You?
If you’re drawn to traditional tones and classic looks, you can’t go wrong with models like the MRG Bass, London Bass, or Hi-Flier Bass. These instruments deliver sounds that have defined bass playing for decades, with a little modern reliability baked in. But if you’re seeking something unique—like the snap of a Bass VI, the vocal-like expressiveness of a fretless, or the experimental edge of a 2-string instrument—we’ve got you covered there too.
The truth is, the “right” bass is the one that makes you want to pick it up and play. Maybe it’s the lightweight comfort of the Classic 4 for marathon gigs, or the tonal versatility of the Hooky VK PRO. And don’t discount the importance of how a bass looks! If you get a traditional looking-bass but in your heart you love the retro-futuristic vibe of the Backlund 100B Bass, you’ll never get down to bass business. Whatever your style, budget, or sonic ambitions, there’s an Eastwood bass waiting to become your new favorite. And if you’re still not sure, reach out to us! We love to talk gear and help you find the perfect fit.