GB Guitars Classic £4995

Premium timbers, state of the art electronics, expert craftsmanship – that Bernie Goodfellow has been at it again! Mike Brooks examines the GB Classic

We recently gave the GB Merlin a sound going over – and were suitably impressed. However, the bass under review today is a different prospect altogether: the latest ‘all bells and whistles’ model from luthier Bernie Goodfellow. It has all the high-quality aspects you’d expect from a GB instrument, but with the added ability to switch between humbuckers and single-coil pickups at the flick of a switch. As with all GB basses, the Classic is totally customisable to the player’s requirements – so what do we get for the frankly huge outlay of £4995?

Build Quality

The Classic’s curvaceous body-lines and contouring are complemented by the sumptuous timbers that make up the body core, front and rear facings, and seven-piece neck laminate. The warm, natural colouring of the wood lends a compelling appeal, and flipping the bass over shows off the choice cuts that have been used. The rear body contour is welcoming, although the upper front bout lacks a chamfer for the player’s right arm. The upper body horn is slightly extended, with a deep cutaway, and the lower cutaway offers unhindered access to the top end of the 24-fret fingerboard. This is made from snakewood, a timber known for its hardness of tone and exquisite figuring.

There are numerous small touches of class to be enjoyed, such as the matching truss-rod cover, pickup covers, sculpted neck heel, locking Neutrik jack socket and sculpted body edge around the bridge. Another fine detail is leather strap button washers instead of the usual felt. Both the neck and body have been lacquered with a high-gloss finish, which has then been brought down to a silk feel, giving the ultimate in smooth finishes. I can’t imagine anyone complaining about this, as it’s quite stunning. The neck itself is immensely solid, and features mother-of-pearl front-facing markers and white side dots. Lastly, the new headstock design harks back to the original GB shape.

Sounds And Playability

With the full package of GB electronics and pickups on board, this bass was always going to have a huge tonal palette on offer. Added to that, the humbucking units – comprising two single-coil pickups per unit – can be individually switched to single-coil mode, which effectively turns the bass into a Jazz-style instrument, increasing its flexibility even further. But even before plugging in the bass’s acoustic tone is worthy of a mention – it thrums with noticeable natural punch and spring.

Plugged in, the sustain is very evident, and the power of the 18volt circuit will knock you off your feet, so use the EQ sparingly at first. The humbucking pickup mode produces an ‘all guns blazing’ tone – full-bodied and powerful, with plenty of top and bottom end. Your lightness of touch with the mid controls will dictate whether you merely rattle the plates in your cupboards or unleash a noise that levels the entire street... so be careful.

Switching to single-coil mode, the tone is naturally more refined and crisp, so rein in the tone controls as the glassiness of the circuit can take over if pushed to extremes. Passive mode is impressive, as is the passive tone control and the colours it can offer to the mix in both active and passive use. With all of this tonal sculpting on offer, the low B-string really stands out and bubbles along nicely, imparting a raspy character to the bottom of the bass’s range.

Despite minor headstock bias, the bass balances very well, due in no small part to its chambered body. This means that alongside the tonal possibilities, the player is afforded a truly luxurious playing experience. With its slim D-shaped neck profile, this is an extremely comfortable five-string to play; the broadness of the fingerboard doesn’t affect its playability one iota. With adjustable string spacing at the bridge (it’s a Hipshot unit, as are the Ultralite machine heads), the player is given all the tools they need to coax the maximum from this bass.

Conclusion

This is top-shelf bass material – high-quality from top to bottom, and supremely comfortable, with a vast array of tones. Of course, it’s not cheap, but you have to listen to the quality. You have to feel it. If you’re blessed with the kind of budget that makes a bass like this an option, then it could be an investment worth making.