TUNE Japan TWXT-4 Tremolo Bass - 2000s - Locking Tuners - Neck-Thru - Active - Whammy Bar - MIJ - 4-String Bass - Natural Walnut

The TWXT Tremolo series was the top-of-the-line model for the boutique Japanese manufacturer Tune Guitar Maniac and was offered in 4, 5, 6, and 8-String double course configurations.

Designed in the early 90s, it included nearly every feature a bass could offer at the time, with the most standout being the Tune-designed Convertible Action Tremolo (C.A.T System), which adds the unique and fun ability to utilize a whammy bar on a bass guitar!

The C.A.T differs from other bass tremolos by using a spring claw and floating bridge system, similar to a Stratocaster tremolo. This design allows for a smoother range of motion and feel, with the added ability to disengage the tremolo for each string individually.

Another unique feature is the inclusion of locking tuners, which are very common on electric guitars but are essentially never seen on basses. These provide significantly more stable tuning, and have the added bonus of making string changes much quicker and easier, as winding is no longer required.

Further specs include an 18v Yasu Gap-1 Pre-amp which powers two Tune Humbuckers, Dunlop StrapLoks, a titanium and graphite reinforced truss rod, brass nut, and woods consisting of Walnut, Maple and Ebony with a hand rubbed oil finish and a natural feel.

These were handmade to order and are now discontinued due to the locking tuners no longer being in production. Making these basses extremely rare, with an even smaller fraction finding their way to America. They originally retailed for around $5000 USD adjusted for inflation.

These are my favorite models of basses and have been my main for quite a while now, they play, sound and feel like no other due to the combination of features that you can't find anywhere else. They're comfortable, relatively lightweight, perfectly balanced, and setup like a dream as all Japanese Tune basses leave with a full PLEK procedure, and once you get the bridge dialed in the locking tuners hold tuning for weeks at a time even with extreme whammy use.

This one here is in a very good overall condition, with some signs of use and slight fading around where your hands often sit or rub against the finish. It is otherwise extremely clean for a TWXT, as basically every other one of these I find are either missing the caps on the knobs, the logo on the headstock, critical parts of the tremolo system which prevent use of it, or simply have significantly more wear along the finish.

The only real flaw on this one is the tremolo arm and attaching bolt, which are unoriginal and were replaced at some point. The arm sits somewhat loosely, but I find it still functions perfectly well even with extreme use, but it may be worth contacting Tune for a replacement if you'd prefer the original arm.

The playability of it is of course, extremely good, the action gets as low as you want it to and is currently around 2.0mm, the neck is straight and all of the hardware including the truss rod functions perfectly and is happy to adjust to your needs.

This is one of my personal basses and will be in active use during listing unlike most I have for sale, so there may be very minor amounts of additional wear added, but I will take extreme care of it as I do with all of my basses :)

Will be shipped in a hardshell case.