DURING THE RENAISSANCE, LEONARDO
da Vinci’s now famous drawing of the Vitruvian
Man, with his multiple arms and
legs spread wide in a circle, symbolized
symmetry, balance, and the perfect blend
of art and science. With this iconic image
as their logo, and perhaps inspiration, German
bass company Human Base keeps
da Vinci’s ideals alive through the design
of their instruments. Founded in 1997 by
Siggi Jager, Human Base typically offers
high-end custom basses in very limited
quantities. Their newest axe, the Roxy 4B,
lives up to these same Renaissance principles
by providing a well balanced instrument
that looks good, feels great, and
sounds fantastic, but at a more affordable
price.
THE BALANCE OF POWER
When I first picked up the bass, I immediately
appreciated its lightness and weight
distribution. No neck dive here, folks.
The Roxy B4 balanced perfectly on my
lap, and the contoured lightweight ash
body was ergonomically friendly and comfortable
against my body, whether I sat or
stood. In short, the B4 just felt good. It
looked good, too. My test model sported
a thin and smooth flat-black finish that
subtly showcased the ash body’s grain.
According to Human Base, the thinner
finish was not merely aesthetic; however,
it combats a heavier finish’s negative
impact on tone. The svelte maple neck
and rosewood fingerboard include a zero
fret, a welcome bonus for those of us who
like our open strings to closely mimic the
sound of fretted notes. The Roxy B4 was
solidly constructed. The neck joint was
tight, deep, and extended well into the
body. The control cavity was well shielded,
with tidy and efficient wiring. In every
way, the construction of the Roxy B4
demonstrated a careful attention to detail.
SINGLE, BUT NOT LONELY
By their very nature, single pickup instruments
are somewhat sonically limited, and
some bassists tend to shy away from them,
opting for more complicated and typically
more flexible electronics. Human Base
challenges the assumption that single
pickup design equals singular tone. The
Roxy B4 is equipped with a German-made
Delano oval shaped dual-coil pickup
(which includes a molded thumbrest)
designed for versatility. The Glockenklang
3-band preamp incorporates a series/parallel
switch for further versatility from the
single pickup.
Curious as to whether B4 could adequately
serve a variety of musical genres,
I set up a jam with a fellow guitarist and
put the instrument through a variety of
“style trials,” from funk to speed metal.
The bass performed well in each genre,
although it seemed most at home with
rock and funk tunes that required thick
bottom end and crisp, but not harsh, highs.
I was also pleased with the forceful growl
gained by rolling in some lows and slightly
boosting the mids. Most of the time, I preferred
to keep the pickup in series mode
because I liked the extra punch it provided,
but parallel mode worked well for
mellower blues and jazz. In the end, I was
pleased at how easily I could dial up a
variety of tones from this single pickup
bass.
The number of high-quality basses
available for under a thousand clams is
perpetually growing, and the Roxy B4 is
a nice addition to the world of affordable
but distinctive basses. Solid construction,
first-class German electronics, and sharp
looks make this bass a bargain for the
price. I doubt da Vinci had bass guitars
in mind when he sketched the Vitruvian
Man, but, since we’re talking about a guy
who conceptualized helicopters 400 years
before the first plane, who knows. Regardless,
I hope the ideals exemplified in his
drawing will continue to inspire more
basses like the Roxy B4.
HUMAN BASE ROXY B4
Street $899
Pros Comfortable, well-balanced bass with
dynamic electronics
Cons none
TECH SPECS
Weight 8.2 lbs
Made in Indonesia (assembled and set-up
in Orange, CA)
Warranty One year
Contact www.humanbaseusa.com