Photo credit: Leanne Bowes
Cream Guitars - Revolver Bass Review
Approaching the Cream Guitars booth at NAMM is an other-worldy visual experience. Anyone that’s attended in the last couple of years can relate– the sparkling glitter, the neon, the pink mannequins, the gold plates– it’s a feast for the eyes, and a total departure from the monotony of the convention. And sure, this is show biz, looks matter! But how do their instruments sound? This year, I was lucky enough to take home the Revolver Bass and try it out.
Who is Cream Guitars?
Cream Guitars is a Mexican company based in Monterrey. Their CEO Luis Ortiz set out to break the rules of the traditional guitar, and you can tell with just a quick glance that he has succeeded in doing so visually. Cream’s finishes and body designs are truly nothing like those of its competitors. The body shapes are unique, but what’s even more captivating are the finishes that almost appear 3D. Many have designs made out of real glitter, real flowers, or even toys underneath a layer of epoxy.
The Bass
I am reviewing the Revolver Bass in the Emoji finish.
Initial Thoughts
This bass is gorgeous. It’s so fun and bright, just looking at it makes me smile. The vibe is flowery and cute, which is a perfect addition to my mostly morose and monotone collection of basses. I can’t wait to get this on stage and get some reactions, it’s truly one-of-a-kind.
Putting the bass on, it’s a little heavier than I’m used to. Each of the instruments in the Cream Guitars family varies in weight depending on the shape, style, hardware and details. The Revolver bass with the Emoji finish weighs in at 10.2lbs. For reference, I’m used to playing a 9lb bass. However, the weight is bearable, especially if you’re switching out instruments for different songs or playing a short set.
Soundcheck
This bass came with Seymour Duncan Heavy Weather jazz bass pickups. If you know anything about me– you know I’m a P-Bass girl through and through. So I will admit, these pickups lack the signature P punch I usually look for when doing sound design for gigs. That being said, Seymour Duncan always provides consistency, so if you’re looking for that j-bass style sound, you will absolutely get it from this bass! Objectively speaking, this bass with the Heavy Weather pickups is great for funk, fusion and rock. They provide a vintage voice, but the tone is also bright and hot. You’ll get a lot of woody tones from this bass, and can even get some clean growl. The rosewood fretboard also contributes to some warmth in the tone.
Another thing I noticed right away in playing this bass was some buzz in the headstock, which I believe is coming from the attachment of the clear detail with the “Cream” logo attached to the
wood. I imagine this attachment is meant to increase resonance, but it could require occasional maintenance in the form of tightening screws to prevent buzz.
Long Story Short
Sonically, this bass is pretty good for anyone looking to get warm woody tones, but you can get those tones at a much cheaper price point elsewhere. However, with the Cream Guitars Revolver Bass, you’ll also get a stunning one-of-a-kind instrument that is also a conversation starter.
Guitar Thrills Broadcast
A RECAP OF WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED
