Made in China - in nice, modern facilities. This allows us to offer good playing instruments at very affordable prices. Our USA made instruments are some of the best money can buy. You get the advantage of customizing the instrument towards your desire and having master builders craft your instrument. They are top of the line - but that also comes with a cost. The Masters Design is a nice alternative if the USA made are out of your budget. Good playing, good feeling instruments, set up by our luthiers and a very good buy.
Truss Rod Adjustment is as easy as it gets no parts to unscrew, no loosening or moving strings, using a standard allen wrench. This allows the neck to be adjusted easily and under strings tuned to pitch. The truss rod slot at the bottom of the neck instead of under the nut leaves more wood and stregth for the headstock. This is our EPiB4-2: a sparkling pearl white finish, black chrome hardware, maple fingerboard and real (not plastic) black pearl inlays.
Better
Upper Fret Access and Strap Balance
The pictures just above and to the right shows the EPiB Deluxe Bass. The
body cutaway is part of our USA design which removes the body from being
in the way of the fretting hand so you gain easier access to the upper
frets. The upper horn is the correct length so the bass balances correctly
when wearing a strap. You do not want to fight a bass that is neck heavy.
All the Masters Design basses have correct balance.
The LG guitar also has pretty decent upper fret access. The body is comfortable
sitting or on a strap and the neck is a slim design that compliments the
Floyd Tremolo setup.
After developing the fundamental quality of our Masters Design Bass Guitars we tested the pickups that were available and were not satisfied with the sound so we worked with them to develope a better pickup which resulted in our own designs and pickups that we are pleased with.
Our Masters Design P pickups (1) are fully shielded, humbucking and provide a timbre that you'll find inspiring. Our Masters Design J pickups (2) are also a custom-designed fully shielded noise-cancelling single coil. Designed in sets specific to either our 4-string or 5-string EPiB series bolt-on basses, the sound quality and performance exceeds the typical pickups found in affordable basses. Both of our EPiB bolt-on and EPiN neck-thru basses (3) use a high performance 3 band active EQ, have active/passive bypass and a blend control to pan between the pickups. The pickups of our EPiN neck-thru basses (3) are fully shielded soapbar-style humbuckers that provide substantial depth, clarity and power.
The EPiN (N is for Neck-Thru) basses features a solid multipiece neck mainly made from hard maple. The necks are strong, comfortable, and have a nice solid feel. We would characterize the neck size as medium in terms of its thickness. Too thin can become uncomfortable for some players as the fretting hand thumb takes more pressure and tension than the palm of the hand in ultra thin necks and too thick can become uncomfrtable for reach. So the middle ground accomodates the bulk of players.
The LG has a neck that tends to be associated with Floyd tremolo setups. The neck is just a bit thinner than conventional and is finished in a satin oil type finish. Fast and will not slow down from friction or heat from stage lights. The LG does have a nice feeling neck. Even very accomplished players like the feel of the neck. The VX series set neck guitars are bound necks that are just a bit thicker. As far as set necks go the VX is a medium to medium thin neck.
The basses employ a nice, upper scale, solid bridge. It is a top load bridge so string change is nice and easy. The LG uses an overseas Floyd that is upgraded with a steel plate. The best Floyd is the Original Floyd Rose, but the cost is high. There are a ton of Floyd "copies", some not so good. This is a decent Floyd and the plate is stronger so there will be limited were against the studs verus cheaper Floyds. The VX guitars use a nicely made tuneomatic style bridge. We have used good hardware instead of dropping down to the lower cost hardware options.
Wilkinson
Tuning Machines
Made to tighter tolerances and specs using better quality metals and plating;
the feel, stability, precision and quality of the Wilkinson tuner is the
upper end of the import quality and found on many USA made instruments.
The combination of good bridges, necks, and tuners help in giving you
an instrument that can hold its tune.
The EPiB series comes in a top quality pro gig bag. Check out these feaures: it has a lot of space in the outside storage pockets; the material is very heavy and dense with heavy, rigid padding; protection of the interior lining at the headstock from the ends of the strings; very heavy duty zippers; 2 handles; and a pair of well-padded shoulder straps. Maybe best of all, the bag does not open along the bottom so the bass won't fall out if the zipper fails or if you forget to zip it up!
The EPiN and guitars come in a hardshell case.
2324 Pinehurst Dr. Unit B Middleton, WI 53562
Email | Ph: 877-716-0000