One of my favorite things to do at NAMM shows and clinics is to plug in the new RockBass Streamer Standard and play it for the crowd. I then ask the audience if they can tell whether the bass comes with 2-band or 3-band active electronics. I let the debate go on for a while and then I give the surprising answer - the Streamer Standard is passive!
The audience usually will not believe me until I show them that there is no battery inside the bass…and even then I am sure some think I am pulling some sort of trick.
The truth is, the RockBass Streamer Standard has the best-sounding passive pickups I have ever heard or played. The MEC Soapbar pickups are full sounding and deep, with no noise. For players who like passive basses, but wish they had more punch and power, the Streamer Standard will quite simply blow your socks off.
The key to this bass' impressive sound may come from more than just the electronics. Much of the tone can probably be traced to the quality woods that are used in its construction. The Carolena wood, which makes up the body, has long been known for its deep lows and snappy highs. Best of all, Carolena is not a particularly heavy wood, making it a comfortable bass to play from the first set to the final encore.
The neck, which is made to Warwick's precise dimensions, is made of hand-selected maple, which is a familiar wood to all bass traditionalists. With the addition of a rosewood fingerboard, the neck on the Streamer Standard is a modern version of a trusted classic.
Finally, the RockBass is topped-off with a shimmering high polish finish. Available in either solid black or red stain, the gloss finish is as tough as it is beautiful. What makes the finish so durable and eye-catching is that it is applied in a very "old-school" manner. Numerous thin coats of finish are applied and repeatedly buffed down to a brilliant sheen. This process may take more time, but the results are well worth it!
From a player's point of view, the Streamer Standard is a great choice as a gigging bass. It balances perfectly on a strap and, as mentioned above, is not very heavy. The bass is easy to set up and is built to withstand the bumps and potholes that are ever-present on the road to success.
All of the words printed above do not mean much until you actually pick up and play a Streamer Standard for yourself. If you need help locating a RockBass dealer, you can either surf over to the listing of US dealers or you can email me at DaleT@danabgoods.com. Either way, if you are looking for a killer passive bass you owe it to yourself to play the new RockBass Streamer Standard.
©Copyright 2002 Warwick Gmbh/Dana B. Goods, Inc.
