The Custom Collection Element 5R bass is an upgraded version of the standard Custom Collection bass guitars, featuring a Roasted Maple neck and head, Pau Ferro fretboard, and a striking Buckeye Burl top over the lightweight Indonesian Mahogany body. The body still has all the comfort features like the arm and belly cut you have come to expect from Michael Kelly.
The impact of a bridge on the performance of a bass guitar is something that people too often underestimate. In fact, the bridge is key to many aspects of tone and we gave it the full respect that it deserves. Michael Kelly uses a solid molded bridge with tight slots for each fully-adjustable saddle, a big enhancement on its own. Under that bridge is an aluminum tone block, adding sustain and attack. Since it is aluminum, it does not add weight to the bass, but has a similar sonic impact to using a heavy bridge. Michael Kelly calls this bridge-and-internal-block combination the MK Stealth Attack Bridge System.
In addition to the upgraded neck and Stealth Attack Bridge System, this guitar includes an Element Active Circuit electronics, utilizing a push/pull volume pot to switch from active to passive modes. Michael Kelly also added a pickup blend knob in place of the 3 way toggle switch, giving you loads more control over your tones. Add to that separate bass and treble controls, and Rockfield 5SW pickups that are specially voiced for the Element basses, and you have a super comfortable, lightweight, highly playable
and fully controlled tone monster.
Specs:
Top: Buckeye Burl
Body: Lightweight Indonesian Mahogany
Construction: Bolt On
Neck: Roasted Maple
Fretboard: Pau Ferro
Fretboard Radius: 9.5" (241 mm)
Number of Frets: 21
Inlays: Dots
Headstock: Roasted Maple
Scale Length: 35"
Truss Rod Type: Dual Action
Neck Width: 12th Fret = 68 mm
21st Fret: 77 mm
Neck Thickness: 1st Fret = 20 mm
12th Fret: 23.5mm
Nut Material: Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 44.75 mm
Boutique Mod: Full Control Mod: Master Volume with Push/Pull for Active/Passive switching, Pickup Blend, Bass, Treble
Electronics: Element Active Circuit
Neck Pickup: Rockfield 5SW (voiced specifically for the Element Bass)
Bridge Pickup: Rockfield 5SW (voiced specifically for the Element Bass)
Hardware Finish: Black
Tuning Keys: MK Diecast
Bridge Type: MK Stealth Attack Bridge System
