photo zex.png

The Latest

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Gamma Custom Bass Guitars Alpha Model,...(Review)


Reviewed By: Jac Harrison
Purchased from: Manufacturer
Street Price: $899.00  USD with soft case + shipping 

About: 
Gamma Custom Bass Guitars is a manufacturer of boutique electric bass guitars based out of Holmdel, NJ.

This Alpha model is a 34" scale with a maple neck dressed with a matching maple fingerboard featuring black block fret markers and binding topped with a Tusq nut on an alder body.

Hardware:
Chrome oversized machine heads with (1) volume (1) tone knobs. 

Electronics: 
(1) "P" style pickup with  (2) CTS 250k  pots. 

Sound

Amp used:
SansAmp Bass Driver DI into the board 

Cables used:
Intex  

Action, Fit & Finish: 
The finish is spotless. The action was low without any fret buzz and the intonation was dead on. 

Reliability & Durability: 
The guitar seems to be well made. It is solid through and through. There was no hum or crackles from the electronics, all knobs and hardware were installed snug and proper.  

Impression:
This is a fun spin on a traditional bass guitar. For many years Mr. Leo Fender dominated the bass guitar market for two very good reasons. He was the inventor of the modern style bass guitar and he was always making improvements to his design to stay ahead of the curve. Unfortunately for the Fender Guitar company they stopped making improvements on their traditional design due to their superiority complex (in my opinion) leaving a huge hole in the bass guitar market for custom shop and boutique builders to pick up where Leo left off. 

This is an excellent example of just that. This bass guitar has most of the characteristics that the Fender custom shop precision bass guitars have. For example, Fender's Adam Clayton Limited-edition is $5,100 USD and the description used on the Sweetwater sound web page from Fender is "4-string electric bass with alder body, maple neck, 1 x custom pickup, block inlays, vintage hardware, and hard case - gold sparkle". It is almost the same build materials as this Gamma guitar -- so you will be paying over $4,000 USD more because it was made in the Fender factory. 

I don't know about some people, but I would not want to  spend over $4,000 USD more for a guitar just because it said someones name on the headstock (unless is was my name and then that is completely understandable). Fender is no longer a person, but is a company - and a company does not have the same passion as a person when it comes to the precision in the build. So... if you are wondering, yes this Gamma bass plays as well if not better then most guitars in the upper price rage -- and is an excellent example of an entry level boutique bass guitar. 

What I would change: 
For an entry level boutique bass guitar I wouldn't change anything. It is a great value at under $900 USD. 

My advice:
If you are looking for your first boutique or custom shop bass guitar you should play a Gamma.

Contact   
Gamma Custom Bass Guitars 
Holmdel, NJ