Bass of the Day: LTD Arctic Metal Series

The LTD Arctic Metal Series bass takes the Black Metal Series’ design theme and switches the color scheme from the darkest of blacks to the coldest of ice wastelands. The LTD Arctic Metal Bass is comparable in build quality to the Deluxe “1000 Series,” but with a Snow White Satin finish, and a single premium-grade pickup with a matching white cover. Furthermore, it also features a Macassar ebony fingerboard with no inlays and glow-in-the-dark side markers.

This bass feels excellent in hand and is ready for rapid, smooth movement. This is thanks to its maple neck, which is naturally light in weight and has an extra-thin “U” shape. Furthermore, maple is physically strong and resistant to twisting and warping (as is the alder body), making it a great choice for gigging bassists or anyone with limited time for maintenance.

Because of the ergonomic cutaway in the body, you’ll find yourself exploring all 24 XJ frets of the Macassar ebony fingerboard, which has a 15.75-inch radius and unrivaled access. From the Grover tuners to the Gotoh 201B-4 bridge, the set neck-through design offers a strong, dependable tone. It also features a neck-through-body bass with a 35″ scale length that is ideal for down-tuning.

The LTD M-4, like its Black Metal sister, features a single active EMG 35CS active humbucker. This dual coil pickup uses ceramic and steel magnets in a solderless design to control the top end while creating powerful, thunderous lows with plenty of warmth. EMG’s preamp is engineered to contain the heat when necessary, remaining silent when not in use yet ready to fire on all cylinders at a moment’s notice. The sleek exterior is adorned with a single volume control knob, in keeping with the heavy metal design philosophy that pervades every pore of this polar axe.