This week we check out the Willcox Saber SL, a bass that is set apart by its innovative Lightwave pickups. Originally built under the LightWave moniker, designer Chris Willcox created a separate guitar company to put out his instruments. Willcox invented the LightWave optical pickup and incorporates it into the Saber SL.
“The LightWave Optical Pickup System uses our patented infrared light technology to detect string vibrations,” the company explains. “The optical pickup is a proprietary type of transducer which utilizes an infrared emitter and an array of photodetectors for each string. The emitter casts a shadow of the string onto the photodetectors. As the string vibrates, the size and shape of the shadow changes accordingly and modulates a current which passes through the photodetectors. This current is the analog electrical signal which represents an accurate depiction of the vibrating string.”
Besides the optical pickup, the Saber SL has piezos in its bridge saddles. The company’s Icetone circuit allows for blending the two pickups together to create natural blend with natural high-frequency enhancement. Willcox also fits the bass with an active preamp with Master Volume, Bass Boost and Cut, Mids Boost and Cut, and Mid Sweep knobs. Finally, a Warm/Cool toggle switch gives broader tone shaping. Its whole system is powered by a rechargeable NiMH internal battery.
The Saber SL comes with four or five strings and is built with an alder body, a three-piece maple neck, and a rosewood fingerboard. It can also be made fretless, either lined or unlined.
For more, check out the Willcox Guitars website.
Willcox Guitars Saber SL Bass Photos:
