Dammann Custom Basses Releases LightWave Vertical Bass
 October 13, 2000Integrating LightWave System's revolutionary optical pickup system, Dammann Custom Basses had developed the Dammann-LightWave Verticle Bass. Featuring an upright design, Dammann Basses has uniquely designed the bass to hang almost upright.
The merits of this feature are numerous. The left hand is comfortably able to reach across the face of the neck and the thumb of the left hand functions as a pivot behind the neck. This left hand position is a principle of classical guitar and double bass technique. It expands the player's ability to get around on the neck once the player is familiar with the hand position. Playing a six string bass in this vertical design becomes a more easily mastered proposition because you can comfortably reach the low strings across the face of a wide fingerboard when your thumb is behind the neck.
All previous styles of playing are easily adaptable to the vertical bass, but additional styles grow out of the possibilities that this design affords. Chording, cross-picking with the fingers and many other styles are possible. Many variations of tapping and percussive techniques are simple when your wrist is supported by the sculpted arm rest.
Dammann's Verticle Bass features the LightWave's (www.lightwave-systems.com) bridge-mounted, optical pickup system which emits beams of infrared light to convert string motion into an electronic signal. The pickup's design captures a solid fundamental and far more overtones than were previously possible with traditional pickups. The pickup's analog technology delivers deep, undistorted response beyond the lowest playable bass notes. Each string is equipped with its own pickup, piezo and independent gain. From outrageous ripping rock tones, to deep, gutsy blues and acoustic tones, the pickup system is extremely versatile and brings out more of the player's style and the instrument's inherent qualities.
The Dammann basses have monster sustain which is attributable to the powerful Lightwave pickup system in combination with the through-the-body necks. The exotic basses are crafted of walnut and cherry and are 34" scale, with 24 medium jumbo frets. The necks are braced by a two-way adjustable truss rods and two graphite reinforcement bars. They also feature a 15" radius ebony fingerboard. For more information, visit their web site at www.dammannbasses.com. | 
