“it’s not a bass… It’s a lifestyle” – Jack Stratton of Vulfpeck proclaims as he announces the new Joe Dart II bass in a YouTube video. The this new Ernie Ball Music Man bass is the latest addition to the Joe Dart signature bass guitar collection.
The new four-string bass from the Vulfpeck bassist comes in a Natural Velvet finish, which highlights the grain on the premium solid ash body.
The bass has a throwback vibe to it, which is complemented by Dart’s pickup choices. He has a pair of Alnico V split-coils in the 1960s pickup position, each with its own 250K volume pot. This is a unique bass in many ways, it does not have an internal EQ – not even a tone pot. So you’ll have to dial in the preferred tones on your bass amp or with your fingers.
Dart, on the other hand, prefers his instruments in this manner. He describes the Joe Dart II as “the ultimate live axe.”
“On an old-school passive bass like this, the design goal was for fast speed, smooth playability, and a deep, rich Music Man tone from the pickups,” Dart explained. “I believe we nailed it, and I believe I’ll be performing it for years to come.”
Expect all of the usual EBMM high-end flourishes. It boasts a flame maple neck with a five-bolt carved joint, a 34″ scale, Schaller tuners with tapered string posts, a graphite acrylic resin coated body cavity and aluminum control cover to reduce unwanted noise. The neck is treated with gunstock oil and hand-rubbed with a special wax blend. Peak of luxury.
The first 100 instruments will come with a numbered neck plate, Certificate of Authencity with Dart’s signature, and a deluxe G&G case. These basses are only available through the Ernie Ball Music Man Vault at a cost of $2,600.
To find out more about this bass, visit their website – https://www.music-man.com/
