1. Tilt Back Headstock. The headstock is a slight tilt back designed to offset string pull. The tilt gives the strings proper downward tension at the nut, without too much angle, so the string is not distorted at the nut. This eliminates the need for string trees.

2. Sperzel Tuning Machines. Premium USA made Sperzel locking tuners for precise tuning that holds.

3. Fingerboard. The fingerboard is precisely machined to be very level. This allows for an excellent fretless surface and a fretted surface that requires little fretwork.

4. U.S. Masters Exclusive Contoured Flex Truss Rod. The U.S. Masters Exclusive Contoured Flex Truss Rod gives the neck smooth adjustment. The adjustment works on an exponential basis so more emphasis is placed on the lower frets. Easy, Fast Truss Rod Access. Simple Set-up & Care.

5. High Quality Frets. The frets we use are of very high quality metals, precision made for a smooth feel and long life. These frets also have a large tang, the part of the fret that seats into the fingerboard. The fret seats, and remains solid in the fingerboard.

6. Intonation. Our machining for fret placement is extremely precise resulting in excellent intonation.

7. Conical Radius Fingerboard. What is it? A fingerboard has a curvature which fits the curvature of your hand/fingers making it easier to fret notes. As you move your hand toward the nut it is more comfortable to have a heavier curvature. However, as you move up the fingerboard it is more comfortable to have less curvature. Also, less curvature at the upper frets allows for less fret interference when bending notes, also allowing for a lower overall action. This cone shaped fingerboard is much more time intensive than a single radius neck, but it yields a more comfortable playing surface with reduced hand tension.

8. The 5-Strings Offset Conical Radius Fingerboard - What is it? This is the conical radius fingerboard with the high point of the arc moved from the center of the fingerboard towards the low B, under the E string. This makes it easier to reach and play the low B string.

9. Compression-Set Neck Joint. The neck joint is not discussed very much. A neck-thru has a good feeling, smooth transition to the body, but wood of the neck is the center of the body, and therefore becomes the heart of the sound. The set-neck or glued in neck joint can also give you a smooth feeling neck joint, but dependent on the style of the instrument can result in a larger extension of the neck joint to make is strong enough causing it to interfere with the upper frets. The typical bolt on is usually loose fitting and does not have a very good transfer of sound from neck to body, but allows for different woods to be used. So, we invented the Compression-Set neck joint. It is very solid, tight fitting, and does not allow neck shift. The neck is compressed into the body with machine screws and steel inserts for maximum sound transfer. The heel joint is very small so you have full upper fret access. And the neck wood does not interfere with the sound of the body. Wins all the way around.

10. Extended Uniform Profile. Because of the neck joint the shape of the neck does not have to thicken as you move towards the upper frets. The feel remains consistent, which we call the extended uniform profile.

11. Neck Finish. The neck and fingerboard are sealed and protected with a urethane based penetrating oil. This finish allows you to feel the "wood" of the neck. The neck will not slow down, or grab, under the friction of playing or the heat of stage lighting, unlike a build finish, such as lacquer, which will soften under minimal heat or friction causing it to grab. The neck stays fast and consistent.

12. U.S. Masters Pro Series Bridge. Quick string change bridge made of
high sound-transfer metals. This bridge is made in the USA.

13. Easy Truss Rod Access. Quick and easy access to the spoke wheel truss rod adjuster, just below the strings at the end of the fingerboard.

14. Custom Electonic Layouts. Choose from five different electronic layouts: Passive, Multi-Voice Passive, 3-Band Active EQ, Live Active and Studio Active. Read more in-depth on our Bass Electronics page.