The LightWave Custom Shop
The world's most cutting-edge guitars and basses now have a custom workshop to match. The new LightWave Custom Shop is run by master luthier Mark Garza of Garz Guitars, and supervised by Chris Willcox, founder of LightWave. Together, they are making heirloom quality instruments that combine the superior optical sound transmission of LightWave's pickups with the remarkable woodworking of one of America's finest guitar builders. Each instrument is fully handmade, one-at-a-time, in Northern California, crafted out of select tone woods, and meticulously shaped by hand and hand tools alone.
The Elusive SpaceBass
The first Custom Shop instrument is the highly sought-after SpaceBass. The SpaceBass is the brain-child of two legendary luthiers, Chris Willcox, founder of LightWave and Hatsukazu Fujitani, founder of TUNE Guitar Technology of Japan. After discovering the LightWave concept in a magazine, Hatsukazu sought out LightWave and eventually met Chris at the 1995 NAMM. They decided to collaborate and create an entirely new bass design to highlight the revolutionary LightWave pickup. After months of designing together in Japan, Willcox and Fujitani arrived at the exotic SpaceBass shape. It was a triumph of design for these two men. Four prototypes were hand-built in Japan by Fujitani, but withheld from the public. Shown periodically at trade shows and in magazines, the SpaceBass always gathered considerable interest, but was never offered for sale, no matter what the price. LightWave wanted to be sure the release of the instrument was at the right moment. After nearly a decade of refinement in LightWave technology, the SpaceBass is now ready for limited Custom Shop production.
A Bass for All Time and Space
The SpaceBass shape is dramatic, stunning and sensuous. It's compact body and long neck, curvaceous yet angular style, is unmistakable. Yet, it is one of the most comfortable basses you'll ever wrap your hands around. The long horn makes for near-perfect balance. The small body keeps the weight low, and allows you to dig-in to play the bass, without the bass playing you. The neck is based on a traditional profile and measurement, allowing you to feel instantly at home, even if your new home is considerably beyond where you currently reside.
Universal Tone, Waves of Light
While the looks tempt your eyes, it's what you hear that seals the deal. This might be the most phenomenal sounding bass ever produced. The LightWave Pickup was born to be wrapped in the SpaceBass, its tonewoods reborn in their response. You'll experience a sound that is pure wood and growl, fundamental and overtone, rich and cutting. At the same time, a slight variation in your touch, can take the SpaceBass to ‘60s thump, ‘80s slap, or the eclectic nature of present day music. As in all LightWave instruments, there is no hum, no buzz, no magnetic pull to offset, and always the most natural sustain. And if you choose, any string set can be used, from steel, to nickel, to bronze, to nylon – the optics produce the same output no matter what you select. That's why we call it the SpaceBass – it is an instrument for all time, and for every space.
