Normandy

The Normandy bass was born from a rocker’s love of classic basses and the smooth, unique sound of aluminum streaming from the strings. In 2007, Jim Normandy started Normandy Guitars, the company that would make the world’s first production aluminum archtop. After 15 prototypes, the Normandy was created.

Because of various tonal qualities and different grades of aluminum, it took time to get the right tone and sound until the specific design and the internal bracing was perfected. Now, with a patent pending since 2005, the final product is available for purchase and has gone from a dream to a solid contender in the bass manufacturing world.

The American-made instruments are manufactured and hand-riveted in Salem, Oregon. Known for their sustainable qualities and warm tones, these lightweight aluminum electric basses are an instant classic. Normandy Guitars ensures the quality by hand-picking every component. Each bass takes several months to finish. Discoveries like making their own overwound pick-ups for a high output that mimic that 1950’s sound set them apart from the average wooden instrument. These quality components combined with the aluminum body allow for an incredible sound with greater sustain.

The Normandy bass pays homage to the classic Gibson and Gretsch, with a different material that allows notes to ring longer and clearer. Keeping costs low while maintaining quality has been a goal of Jim’s from day one. Early Normandy fans expected the bass to cost between $5,000 and $6,000, but affordability was key to Normandy from the start. Normandy basses cost much less, less than most top-tier wooden-body electric basses.

The Normandy bass is made out of specially selected aluminum, resulting in sustain qualities that are better and have been touted as far superior to the traditional wooden bodied basses. “The purity and length of time a single, plucked note can ring out clean and true are far superior... this is important to most bass players” says Normandy.

Chek out the Normandy web site here, review the instruments below and then come in and play them for yourself.

Click on an item below for detailed pics and descriptions.