THE BASSMENT_BASS GUITAR REVIEWS
OVERWATER BY TANGLEWOOD STANDARD AND STANDARD PLUS BASSES
Overwater is one of the UK’s longest established and most highly regarded custom bass
manufacturers. Its Tanglewood volume-produced models have impressed us before - and
now there are two newcomers to the range at even better prices! Can the newcomers
really justify wearing the prestigious Overwater badge? Dan Veall finds out.
Back in issue five, we looked at something
unusual - a volume produced Overwater
bass. Overwater has an illustrious history of
offering handmade basses of the very highest
quality, stretching back to the 1970s, but
commissioning a range of instruments to
be made in the Far East is always a gamble
and some illustrious brands have come
horribly unstuck when they’ve tried it.
Not, we found, Overwater, whose strategy
of teaming-up with the highly regarded
Tanglewood acoustic company gave it
access to the best factories and a company
highly experienced at handling this sort of
operation. The Aspiration Deluxe got a top
score - but what happens when Overwater
and Tanglewood try to reach towards the
entry-level? Let’s find out!
From the start, the two newcomers looked
impressive as we took them from the
packaging and a closer inspection certainly
didn’t disappoint. I had the Standard
(passive) model on my lap first and was
impressed with both the set-up and the
finish. I accept that in order to keep the
price down, the bass cannot feature the
STANDARD
150
premium hardware of its boutique brethren,
but the hardware that is included is certainly
functional and rewards us with a usable tone
with no undue buzzes or rattles.
Speaking of tone, I spoke to Overwater’s
founder, Chris May, who told me that even
on this entry level instrument, the passive ‘J
style’ single coil pickups are custom wound
specifically for this model. A nice touch.
The passive electronics, featuring volume,
pan control and ‘treble roll-off’ tone control
all work as expected, with a smooth response
throughout each of their travels. Check
out the video for examples of the sounds
available from the bass. Plugged in the bass
has a great passive tone to it. Quite organic!
The metallic red finish is blemish free and
coats a poplar body on to which a one piece
maple neck is bolted. There’s a neat set
of mini Gotoh tuning keys and I love the
attention to detail which means that even
a budget Overwater bass has a matching
coloured headstock.
STANDARD PLUS
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We’re also treated to a full 24 fret neck with
a 19mm spacing and a 40mm nut width that
feels nice and slim and quick to navigate.
- Incidentally, both basses come fitted as
standard with Overwater’s own light gauge
nickel strings.
The ‘Standard’ model has some great
features, but Overwater felt that there was
an opportunity for another variant of the
Standard model to fit in before you get to the
Aspiration Elite, Deluxe, Artist, Classic J and
Contemporary models. That’s right! There
really is something for every four or five
string player in the range.
So next up in the Aspiration range is the
very tasteful metallic white ‘Standard Plus’.
This model features better components
and a totally different voice to that of the
‘Standard’ model - and for not a lot more
money! First of all we have the same poplar
body with a bolt on maple neck the main
differences being hardware related as the
electronics feature a John East ‘Aspiration’
active circuit paired up with the same
Aspiration passive soap bars that you’d find
in the company’s Deluxe series basses. The
active circuit is a two-band model featuring
bass and treble cut and boost as well as a
‘pull up’ bright switch on the volume control
should you need it. The neck has a rosewood
fret board again and we are treated to 24
Overwater by Tanglewood Standard and Standard Plus Basses
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high nickel silver
frets that are
much harder
than you will find
on cheaper mass
produced basses.
Chris May wanted
to make clear that
even with a price
conscious instrument,
he wants to see these
models, just like the
premium counterparts,
enjoying a long service life.
Good for him!
Out of the two instruments,
the Standard model
with the J pickups was
a joy, but plugging
in the Standard
Plus unleashed a
fantastic vibrant,
modern and
characteristic
tone. The
Overwater
Standard Plus
certainly does
a good job
of showing
up weaknesses
of other mass
produced
instruments at
the same price
point!
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THE BASSMENT_BASS GUITAR REVIEWS
I also really like that metallic white
finish too. It’s not a bright white,
more of a ‘hint of vintage’ in there.
Looks great under the studio lights.
Think I might like a white bass next
purchase! Classy!
It’s clear that the combination
of Overwater’s experience making
handmade basses for professionals and
Tanglewood’s ability to make mass
produced instruments to an uncommonly
high standard has been a success.
We are firmly in mainstream bass
territory here where there may be
bass beginners who simply haven’t
heard of Overwater and may
not realise that what they are
being offered is like finding a
Bentley for Ford money.
We can only hope that
retailers take them aside
and explain why these
basses shouldn’t be
confused with run of
the mill mass market
instruments. Price
notwithstanding, they are in
a different class - particularly
the Standard Plus!
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