Ashdown - The Saint Artisan Aegean Flame

The Ashdown The Saint Artisan Aegean Flame, a 4-string electric bass, feels like an instrument that’s already been well-played: a bolt-on, C-shaped neck made from torrefied maple that glides under the palm, extended by a fingerboard crafted from the same torrefied maple. The 34-inch (864 mm) scale length and 13.78-inch (350 mm) fingerboard radius guide the fingers towards the top of the neck, where optimised access to the higher notes allows for unobstructed play across the fretboard. Twenty stainless steel frets and a 38 mm nut ensure a crisp feel from the very first notes.

Under the fingers, the flamed maple top plays with the light in the Aegean Flame colourway, a gloss finish applied to a 40 mm-thick solid poplar body. The double-cutaway shape balances the instrument equally well when worn at the waist or mounted on a microphone stand.

In the PJ configuration, an Alnico V P-Bass pickup at the neck and an Alnico V J-Bass pickup at the bridge are hand-wired to create a passive electronics system that remains true to the original signal. Two volume controls, one tone control and a dedicated blend control for the J-Bass pickup, fitted with CTS potentiometers, shape the balance between a round bass response and punchy mid-range.

The fixed vintage-style bridge, with copper saddles, and the vintage 18:1 ratio tuners, both with a chrome finish, ensure the instrument stays in tune, supported by a double-action truss rod to adjust the neck’s curvature. The instrument is fitted with a set of D’Addario XL165 strings in 45-105 gauge and comes with a gig bag to protect the top whilst on the move.