Gold Tone Micro Bass (M-Bass)

Gold Tone Micro Bass - Bass Micro Acoustic Guitar with Built-in Pickup, Preamp, and Onboard Electronic Tuner - w/gig bag (several models available)

We carried these cool "micro" basses a few years back, but they kind of fell off our radar for a bit. I have personally owned one of the 23" fretted models for several years, and in 2025 I've been using it pretty extensively in a theatrical stage production; and I've been enjoying playing it, so I thought it might be a good time to bring them back into the fold.

Miniaturized basses with synthetic strings are not new. It was back in the 1980's that Guild offered up the Ashbory bass - it was a very short scale fretless bass that used low-tension silicon strings to order to create a huge, almost "upright-like" tonal character. The Ashbory was quirky - the strings were sticky, the short scale was difficult to play in tune, the body was uncomfortable to play on your lap - but it was neat. Bob had (and Mark has now) one of the original Guild models, and Mark had one of the Fender-made reissue models (branded as a DeArmond) for a while.

There's been a nice market for big-sounding, very short-scaled instruments thanks to the efforts of a few ukulele companies, who have released several variants on what is now called the U-Bass a few years ago. Personally, I find the ukulele-based models to be uncomfortably small for my big, clumsy, bass-playing hands. The more diminutive basses can feel a bit too "toy-like" to some players, as well. There's almost no acoustic output, since the bass is small and the strings are pretty slack.

Here, thanks to Gold Tone, is yet another evolution of the concept. They've added two (or four!) crucial inches to the scale length, which - while it doesn't sound like much - really takes the instrument into a whole new level of playability. And it makes it seem more like a legitimate instrument and less "gimmicky." (The size of the 23" scale instrument is comparable to a "Baby Taylor" ¾ scale acoustic guitar, upon which it is "based", and the 25" scale gets quite close to the scale of a typical acoustic guitar.) The instruments are also finely crafted with the player in mind, with a top-side arm bevel and a rounded back - making for more comfortable play and a bigger acoustic sound (though you're still gonna need an amp for most every ensemble situation).

A built-in piezo pickup makes for a big, warm and woody amplified tone - and you can dial in a variety of timbres, from round and fat, to something with sharper definition, thanks to the onboard active preamp with bass and treble controls. And the built-in preamp also features an electronic tuner!

Both versions of the Microbass are available with either a fretted neck or a lined fretless. Both are quite easily played, with a short learning curve for the scale length. And the Aquila strings have a distinctively "thumpy" tone but have a nice firm feel so they don't get overly "floppy." And you can actually dial in some brighter detail with the onboard preamp.

But yes, while the M-Bass is designed as an "acoustic" instrument with a big sound when you plug in, its compact body means the unamplified sound is not generally loud enough to compete with other, full-sized instruments — it is not really designed for unplugged performance. You'll need to use, at minimum, a small, portable amp for ensemble play. It is definitely loud enough to privately "noodle around" on without an amp, though. And that's FUN!

Does it sound like an upright bass? Not really, but it's a lot closer to the URB "vibe" than your typical electrical bass. It's got a big, round, warm sound thanks to the unusual strings.

ALL Gold Tone instruments are fully set up for optimal play and sound in the Gold Tone HQ in Titusville, Florida. Ready-to-play right out of the box!

Specifications (Acoustic Models):

• Fretted or Lined Fretless option
• 23" or 25" Scale (depending on model chosen)
• Recommended Tuning: EADG (like standard electric or upright bass)
• 20 Frets with Cutaway
• Arched Back
• Lower Strap Pin Output Jack, and Upper Strap Pin on Neck
• Custom-Made Synthetic Strings by Aquila (other string options available)
• Nato Neck
• Mahogany Top
• Okoume Back and Sides
• Natural Finish
• Walnut Fingerboard
• Bone Nut (1-11/16")
• Custom die-cast Butterfly Bass-Style tuners
• Built-in Piezo Transducer w/ Electronic Tuner and Slide Control for Volume and EQ
• 23" scale model specifics:
  
  • 36" Total length (modeled after "Baby Taylor" Acoustic Guitar Dimensions)
  • 2.8 lbs
• 25" scale model specifics:
  
  • 39" Total length
  • 3.2 lbs
• Both Models INCLUDE Deluxe, Padded, Embroidered Gig Bag

Specifications (Solid Body Models):

• Fretted or Lined Fretless option
• 23" Scale
• Recommended Tuning: EADG (like standard electric or upright bass)
• 24 Frets with Cutaway
• Custom-Made Synthetic Strings by Aquila (other string options available)
• Mahogany Neck
• Mahogany Body
• Natural Satin Finish
• Rosewood Fingerboard
• Bone Nut (1-11/16")
• Custom die-cast Butterfly Bass-Style tuners
• Built-in Piezo Transducer w/ MBass Preamp
• INCLUDES Deluxe, Padded, Embroidered Gig Bag