Although many argue that the bass guitar was perfected 75 years ago, modern innovation has brought us some of the most spectacular instruments in history. Case in point: the Marleaux Spock.
Hand-built in Germany, the bass’s gorgeous curves and perfect craftsmanship make it a beauty to behold, and it sounds as good as it looks.
Of the model’s many striking features, the top is the first to draw your attention. “Marleaux Logic Mesh” is a new material developed by luthier Gerald Marleaux in collaboration with Clausthal-Zellerfeld Technical University.
“This transparent material, unique to bass building and never used before, has tremendous strength and, most importantly, sounds sensational!” The Marleaux website explains. “The ‘Marleaux Logic Mesh’ top allows for a variety of aesthetic visions to be realized for customers. However, it’s not just the appearance that speaks for this unusual concept, as the SPOCK model also impresses with its exceptionally low weight.”
The mesh sits atop a three-piece ash frame that is open in the back, accounting for the Spock’s light weight. We got our hands on Spock #14, which weighed in just under 7 pounds and balanced nicely despite the wisp of a body. The mesh was a “Space Green,” although Marleaux can customize the color and design of the Logic Mesh.
The Spock’s medium 32-inch scale makes the neck feel instantly approachable, while its 28 frets still give you plenty of range, even if the very top end requires a bit of a reach
Speaking of tone, Marleaux fits the bass with a dual-coil pickup that can be toggled between parallel, series, and single coil settings by way of a mini-switch. Each setting has its own tonal quality. Series offers a fuller, thicker tone that I gravitated towards, while the parallel mode offered more of a snappy tone. The single-coil mode offered further clarity without thinning out. Add to that a three-band EQ, and you have a ton of sound options out of a single pickup bass. The controls are mounted to the frame on the interior of the body, which is less convenient than the norm, but it does keep the artistic quality in tact.
Although it can be sculpted in many ways, the bass has a unique character that’s clear, round, and even across the fingerboard. You can hear a Spock in action in this great demo by Bass Bonedo:
Other features include a custom bridge, Schaller tuners, and matte lacquered finish.
Although the design feels like it’s been beamed in from the future, the Marleaux Spock does what every good bass should do: it lets the music speak. For players who crave cutting-edge innovation without sacrificing tone and soul, this is an instrument that proves there’s plenty of unexplored space in the bass universe.
Marleaux Bass Guitars Spock Bass Photos:
