Light Wave Basses

*While attempting to stay current, we intentionally leave many basses up even after selling them in order to act as "catalogue" pieces to show various models, wood and finish options that are available. 

The LightWave Optical Pickup System uses LightWave System's patented infrared light technology to sense string vibration: the first and only of its kind for electric string instruments. Unlike conventional pickups that interfere with string vibration, the LightWave Optical Pickup 'sees' the vibration of the string without affecting string motion in any way. The Optical Pickup System was developed by LightWave Systems in order to create a non-intrusive, absolutely transparent pickup that allows a range of sound from the purest, most natural sound of the string to the most aggressive sound imaginable with the addition of EQ or signal processing. The key is that the Pickup System harnesses the pure power of light to deliver the accurate, full-range sound of the string.

The Voice of the String™

What you will hear is extraordinary: the sound of the strings, the sound of the instrument, and most importantly, the sound of your playing. You will notice a whole new sensitivity in the interaction between your fingers, the strings, and the instrument that will create a new palette of subtle nuances and unique tonalities. Playing multi-string chords, tight intervals, complex voicings and harmonics on your LightWave bass will be a revelation. You will hear an openness, transparency and dimensionality unlike anything you have previously experienced.

Long, Natural Sustain

Since the Optical Pickup System does not interact with the strings and because it is capable of much greater sensitivity, the strings will sustain much longer. In fact, the Optical Pickup will read string vibration for its full duration, fading in a pure, linear fashion into silence, without an abrupt ending or distorted artifacts. The decay rate is totally natural like the pedal sustain of a grand piano.