This week we’re checking out the Schönitz Zett, a five-string acoustic bass guitar with some interesting build details. Luthier Jens Schönitz optimized the body for comfort and extra volume.
“My basses are characterized by a modified rib detail in place of the traditional ‘cutaway’ in order to maximized on the volume of the body. This allows the musician to comfortably reach the 24th fret (second octave),” the luthier explains. “The volume of the body allows for the development of lower frequencies. The construction of basses is designed to produce low tones in particular. In order to achieve these tones, the specific width of the ribs has been increased, the size of the soundhole has been reduced in order to deepen the resonance of the instrument body (the deepest resonance of the air capacity), and the soundhole has been moved to the left upper bow or in the rib.”
This Zett is built with cherry back and sides and a solid red cedar top, elegantly complemented by cocobolo binding. Schönitz continues the wood themes with a cherry neck topped with a pao ferro fingerboard with cocobolo and three-ply maple binding. Other features include a pao ferro bridge utilizing his free adjustable bridge saddle, a K&K transducer pickup, and a soundhole in the upper left bow.
