BassLab
Encyclopedia
The company BassLab produces stringed instruments, mainly basses and guitars, and also some versions of the Chapman Stick
and a viola model for Ned Steinberger
. Each instrument is crafted of a mixed material, "Tunable Mixed Composite".
The company was founded by the physicist Heiko Hoepfinger in Kassel
, Germany
. Every instrument is still hand-crafted in Germany. The products are distributed in Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
) in 2001. Since then, BassLab has been represented at several trade shows and has been introduced in different international magazines. Although BassLab sells instruments all over the world, the instrument are hand-crafted in the point of origin. Today there are four basic bass models and three guitar models. BassLab also builds sticks for Emmett Chapman
, violas for Ned Steinberger
, and electronics in cooperation with Richter Electronics.
In contrast to traditional carbon/graphite composites, "Tunable Mixed Composite" does not have the reputation of sounding sterile. The composite can be adjusted to the wishes of the clients. Long sustain
, fast sound production, and the typical sound of hollowed instruments are just a few of the several specifications offered by BassLab.
Chapman Stick
The Chapman Stick is an electric musical instrument devised by Emmett Chapman in the early 1970s. A member of the guitar family, the Chapman Stick usually has ten or twelve individually tuned strings and has been used on music recordings to play bass lines, melody lines, chords or textures...
and a viola model for Ned Steinberger
Ned Steinberger
Ned Steinberger is an American creator of innovative musical instruments. He is most notable for his design of guitars and basses without a traditional headstock, which are called Steinberger instruments...
. Each instrument is crafted of a mixed material, "Tunable Mixed Composite".
The company was founded by the physicist Heiko Hoepfinger in Kassel
Kassel
Kassel is a town located on the Fulda River in northern Hesse, Germany. It is the administrative seat of the Kassel Regierungsbezirk and the Kreis of the same name and has approximately 195,000 inhabitants.- History :...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Every instrument is still hand-crafted in Germany. The products are distributed in Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
History
In 1992, Heiko Hoepfinger started his first experiments to build a bass of a special mixed synthetic resin which he called "Tunable Mixed Composite". In late 1993 the first well-functioning instrument had been built, and the first public appearance of BassLab was at the Frankfurt Musikmesse (GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
) in 2001. Since then, BassLab has been represented at several trade shows and has been introduced in different international magazines. Although BassLab sells instruments all over the world, the instrument are hand-crafted in the point of origin. Today there are four basic bass models and three guitar models. BassLab also builds sticks for Emmett Chapman
Emmett Chapman
Emmett Chapman is a jazz musician best known as the inventor of the Chapman Stick and maker of Chapman Stick family of instruments.Originally a guitarist, Chapman began recording and performing beginning in the late 1960s...
, violas for Ned Steinberger
Ned Steinberger
Ned Steinberger is an American creator of innovative musical instruments. He is most notable for his design of guitars and basses without a traditional headstock, which are called Steinberger instruments...
, and electronics in cooperation with Richter Electronics.
Instruments
The composite used produces instruments with high stability, very low weight, and impassiveness to humidity and temperature changes. The instruments are made in a single piece and are hollow throughout, with no internal bracing. The composite is not poured into a mold and not forced out. Therefore, the manufacturing process allows high ergonomic flexibility. BassLab instruments can be built almost any design asked.In contrast to traditional carbon/graphite composites, "Tunable Mixed Composite" does not have the reputation of sounding sterile. The composite can be adjusted to the wishes of the clients. Long sustain
Sustain
In music, sustain is a parameter of musical sound over time. As its name implies, it denotes the period of time during which the sound remains before it becomes inaudible, or silent.Additionally, sustain is the third of the four segments in an ADSR envelope...
, fast sound production, and the typical sound of hollowed instruments are just a few of the several specifications offered by BassLab.