- Description
- More
- Features
- Specs
- Humidity Care
*These are stock photos. Actual color and pattern may vary.
Inspired by the iconic designs of Fender electric guitars, California Player acoustics evoke the west coast spirit of adventure and freedom, inviting musicians to explore their individual creativity and disrupt the status quo.
Bold, eye-catching and unique, California Series instruments make no compromises balancing effortless playability, superior sound, and standout style for those who aspire to play something different.
- CASE/GIG BAG: Deluxe Gig Bag included.
Crafted with an X-braced solid spruce top and sapele back and sides, the compact mid-sized auditorium body of the Kingman Bass produces a deep, punchy, and articulate tone and features a cutaway for convenient access to the upper frets.
The bound nato neck is elegantly appointed with block inlays and is designed with a slim "C"-shaped Jazz Bass® profile, an easy-to-play short 30" scale length, comfortable 1.5" nut width, and a 4-in-line headstock for a distinctive look born from Fender's electric bass DNA.
Other notable details include open-gear vintage-style tuning machines for smooth, accurate tuning, a GraphTech® NuBone® nut and saddle for focused fundamental tone, and a Fishman® Presys preamp system that allows detailed fine-tuning of the bass's amplified sound when performing or recording.
UNIQUE FENDER BODY SHAPE
A refined and modernized evolution of the historical 1960s model, the Newporter is a proprietary Fender design whose mid-size shape and versatile voice is well-suited for many musical styles and players.
SOLID SPRUCE TOP
An acoustic guitar-™s top is a key contributing component to its production of tone, and a solid top provides optimal resonance, volume and dynamic range. Spruce is a popular wood choice for its clear articulation, nuanced character and tonal versatility.
FISHMAN PREAMP SYSTEM
With a pure acoustic voice, the onboard Fishman® Presys bass electronics provide robust tonal controls allowing players to fine-tune their EQ, a phase control for combatting feedback, and onboard tuner for convenient on-the-fly adjustment.
JAZZ BASS NECK PROFILE
Inspired by Fender electric basses, the Kingman Bass features a supremely playable slim Jazz Bass neck profile with a 1.5" nut width and smooth rounded fingerboard edges for exceptional hand comfortable.
WALNUT FINGERBOARD AND BRIDGE
With its pleasingly dark look, smooth feel and vibrant tonal character, walnut is a premium hardwood for acoustic guitar bridges and fingerboards.
DELUXE GIG BAG
With comfortable padded backpack straps, durable outer material, and multiple pockets, the included deluxe gig bag provides the perfect balance of ample storage, road-worthy protection, and portability.
- General
- SERIES: California
- ORIENTATION: Right-Hand
- COLOR: Shaded Edge Burst
- COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: ID
- Neck
- HEADSTOCK: Precision Bass®
- NECK MATERIAL: Nato
- NECK FINISH: Satin Urethane
- NECK SHAPE: Slim "C"
- FINGERBOARD RADIUS: 12" (305 mm)
- FINGERBOARD MATERIAL: Walnut
- POSITION INLAYS: Pearloid Block
- NUMBER OF FRETS: 20
- TRUSS ROD: Modern Heel Adjust
- TRUSS ROD NUT: 4 mm Hex
- STRING NUT: Graph Tech® NuBone
- NUT WIDTH: 1.5" (38.1 mm)
- NUT MATERIAL: Graph Tech® NuBone
- Body
- BODY: Solid Spruce Top with Laminated Sapele Back and Sides
- BODY FINISH: Gloss Poly
- BODY SHAPE: Auditorium
- BODY TOP: Solid Sitka Spruce
- BODY BINDING: Aged White
- BODY BACK: Sapele
- BODY SIDES: Sapele
- BODY MATERIAL: Solid Spruce Top with Laminated Sapele Back and Sides
- CUTAWAY: Yes
- BRACING: Scalloped X
- ROSETTE: 2-Ring B/W/B
- Hardware
- BRIDGE: Modern Viking
- BRIDGE PINS: Aged White with Black Dots
- PICKGUARD: 3-Ply Black
- HARDWARE FINISH: Nickel
- TUNING MACHINES: Open-Back Geared
- STRINGS: Fender® 8060 Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Bass (.045-.100 Gauges), P/N 0738060400
- STRAP BUTTONS: Vintage-Style
- Electronics
- CONTROLS: Volume, Bass, Mid, Treble, Notch, Brilliance, Phase, Integrated Electronic Tuner with On/Off Switch, Low Battery Indicator Light
- SPECIAL ELECTRONICS: Fishman® Presys Plus, Side-Mounted Preamp with Built-In Electronic Tuner
- Measurements
- DIMENSIONS: 8.10x18.60x51.00 IN
- SHIPPING WEIGHT: 14.25 LB
- FRET SIZE: 2mm
- SCALE LENGTH: 30.3" (770 mm)
Acoustic guitars and ukulele are made of wood, and wood is sensitive to changes in climate. Shifts in temperature or relative humidity can affect your instrument in multiple ways, some of which can lead to costly repairs if you’re not careful. Solid woods in particular are especially prone to the effects of climate fluctuation. For example, extended exposure to low relative humidity (below 40% RH) can dry out the wood, causing it to shrink and run the risk of cracking. Similarly, excessive humidity can cause the wood to absorb moisture and swell, potentially causing other problems. Without adequate humidity control (especially in drier local climates), acoustic instruments can crack and their necks can warp, causing problems with fretting, intonation and playability.
So how do you prevent this kind of damage? Easy: by keeping your guitars and ukulele properly humidified (ideally between 40-60% RH). The easiest way to do this is by storing your instruments in a case with a case two-way humidifier inside. A two-way humidifier will slowly absorb or release moisture inside your case, maintaining humidity to help ensure your instrument doesn’t suffer damage. Using a digital hygrometer can help you monitor humidity levels around your instrument.
Symptoms of a dry acoustic instrument:
- Low action. Strings are very close to the fretboard.
- Hump on the fretboard where the neck joins the body.
- Sunken top across the soundboard between bridge and fingerboard.
- The back of instrument looks very flat when it is dried out.
- Sharp fret ends extend beyond the edge of the fretboard.
- The plane of the neck angle on a dry instrument hits above the top of the bridge.
Symptoms of a wet acoustic instrument:
- High action. Strings that are unusually high off the fretboard, making it difficult to play.
- Unusually swollen top
- Unusual warp on the top, back or both at the end-block
- Improper neck angle. Sighting the neck to the bridge, the frets will appear to hit below the bridge.
The D’Addario Two-Way Humidification System
Using patented technology, the D’Addario Two-Way Humidification System features disposable, moisture-filled packets with a breathable membrane that provides two-way humidity control, meaning it can either release or absorb moisture to consistently maintain a predetermined relative humidity (RH) level of 45-50 percent.
Music Nomad Humilele Ukulele Humidifier
Music Nomad the leader in equipment care products, has developed an easy to use, no mess, and low maintenance Ukulele humidifier. The Humilele rests securely on top of the strings to safely and evenly hydrate your Ukulele to avoid these problems.
Final Notes on Humidity Control
To monitor the amount of humidity your instrument is receiving, we recommend the purchase of a digital hygrometer, a device that gauges and provides a read-out of humidity levels. It can be kept in the room where you store your instruments, or, better yet, in a central location inside the instrument case, preferably Velcro’d to the outside of the accessories compartment (facing the heel). The optimal range for your guitars and ukulele is 45-55% RH.