There was something different in Stanley Clarke's sound at this time. Yes indeed I appreciate Jaco's riffs but at the same time I was very amazed by Stanley's sounding presence: the simultaneous deep low frequencies and clear crispy high treble. It was in the end of the 70's at this time we were not able to think about an "active" revolution. The young Music Man® Sting Ray Bass already in the circuit was still under heavy controversy!
During this time some others were running over and what I was earring was just a bi-amplified active bass sound. Today these advanced technologies seem to come as standard features but we had to wait until the 80's when the English brand Trace Elliot® began to offer it.
In the early 80's Ibanez also introduced the "Musician Series" MC-924/940 (and even the MC-980; first commercial 8 strings). Top of the Musician range the MC were offered one of the first three-bands on-board graphic EQ. Unfortunately this model could not reach more success that a Japanese product could wish...
The Africa range keeps the best from these great basses with the add of several decades of research and development... and it's also the frame on witch I first tested (during early summer 1987) my first prototypes of double JB pickups, appearing so strange at this time, but today commonly known as the "Twin JB". That's what we use to call a masterpiece!

Global specification Africa "Long Scale" model:

• Laminated through-neck, 24 frets fingerboard, 34" scale
• Body woods upon version or demand
• Tuners and hardware upon demand
• Traditional bridge or single string
• Large choice of pickups

Some of the most current options:

• Large choice of woods, matching plates and/or pickups covers
• Others scales upon demand
• Large choice of inlays
• Luminescent or LEDS markers

 

Global specification Africa II "Tenor" and "Piccolo":

• Laminated through-neck, 24 frets fingerboard
• 30" scale for Tenor and 28" for Piccolo
• Body woods upon version or demand
• Tuners and hardware upon demand
• Traditional bridge or single string
• Large choice of pickups

Some of the most current options:

• Large choice of woods, matching plates and/or pickups covers
• Others scales upon demand
• Large choice of inlays
• Luminescent or LEDS markers

 

The Africa range I & II comes in 4,5 and 6 strings (and even more...), fretted or fretless versions. Note that the Africa-I shape is particularly suitable for multi-strings versions (five or more...) regarding that it may offer a better weight blend. Standard features are:

• Laminated through-neck, 22 or 24 frets fingerboard with compound radius
• Width at nut, strings pitch and radius value are upon requirements
• Large choice of body woods, neck and fingerboard
• Large choice of pickup set
• Luminescent dots markers
• Hardware finishes upon requirements

Many others customs features are possible unpon your wishes... or your budget:

• Sandwich "top & back" luxury wood wings
• Facing pickups covers and electronic cavity plates
• Others scales and neck shapes
• LEDs markers: fixed colour or RGB multicolour with RF remote controller

... and even everything youy could suggest.

Average delivery time: 3 to 6 monthes upon the sheddule and workshop charge.