Ash as has often been described as a complete ‘musical tree’ and, along with alder, has been the popular tonewood choice for building bass guitars for decades, including the outstanding Vintage VJ4 Series of ReIssued bass guitars.
The Vintage VJ74 ReIssued bass has a reputation as a workhorse bass guitar with professional, semi-professional and bass players around the world who just love its defined sound and playability.
Solid ash is the perfect choice for the body, not only to support the solid construction, but for this popular tonewoods ability to distribute an equally fine balance of high, and low frequencies, with a slightly scooped mid-range, delivered uncoloured to a pair of Wilkinson WOJB single coil pickups which enhance this tight, piano-like tone, with extended clarity and articulation.
It goes without saying that ash of course with its wide distinctive grade pattern, looks stunning to the eye under a skilfully applied clear translucent finish, seen here on the VJ74 Maple fingerboard Natural Ash bass.
Pair ash with the VJ74’s bolt-on, hard rock maple neck and maple fingerboard with classic black, block fretboard position markers and you know you just can’t go wrong, for rocky-blues bass, or, just wind the tone control back a tad and enter a whole new world of jazzy, mellow soothing bass lines.
This classic bass design continues with chrome plated pickup and bridge cover, while smooth, open-geared Wilkinson machine heads and a friction free white graphite precision cut nut, ensure tuning stability. The addition of revolutionary Wilkinson designed four-saddle, compensated brass bridge, increases sustain and improves string intonation.
The sonic versatility of this classic bass design with its timeless style, has proven itself over the years as the perfect bass for practically any style of music and, with its characteristic narrow neck design and medium weight tonewood construction, playing a 2 hour gig is just not a problem.
Slapped, plucked or picked, the Vintage VJ74 Maple fingerboard Natural Ash bass is a real winner.
VJ74 Features
Body:
Ash body provides resonance, tone and ‘correct weight’ comfort, enhanced with correctly radiused contoured body.
Neck:
Hard Maple bolt on neck for instant comfort, speed, accuracy and great feel.
Scale Length:
34" / 864mm.
Frets:
20 Medium profile frets add to comfort, accuracy and overall positive feel of the Vintage VJ74.
Neck Inlays:
Black Block.
Nut:
38mm white graphite stays friction-free to aid tuning and playability.
Bridge:
Wilkinson four saddle compensated brass bridge provides improved intonation all over the fretboard. Featuring a chrome 'ashtray' cover.
Machine heads:
Wilkinson WJBL200 ensure smooth and stable tuning.
Pickups:
Two Wilkinson WOJB (N), WOJB (B) single coil pickups for ultimate clarity and articulation. Features chrome pickup cover.
Controls:
Two Volume and one tone.
Headstock:
Classic Vintage headstock design for balance and visual appeal.
The VJ74™ is an original Vintage® ReIssued Series bass designed and created in the UK by the Vintage design team.
About Vintage
Guitars for the Working Musician
Since 1993 Vintage® has enjoyed an excellent reputation around the world for creating guitars which use a blend of classic timber selection, premium branded components from some of the biggest names in pickups and hardware, and an approach to design which lets Vintage® instruments perform way beyond expectation.
Our philosophy of understanding, caring and ensuring that Vintage® can be equally at home in the bedroom, a garage band, with a local hero or used in anger on any one or the World’s most famous stages has seen legions of loyal fans who rely on Vintage to perform for them, day after day, gig after gig, session after session.
Our relationships with famous designers, and a skilful in-house design team means we never stand still, continually innovate, and focus on bringing the best bang for the buck guitars to players of all stripes, busting myths and debunking the black magic to produce outstanding value and outstanding guitars.
Vintage® Guitars Website