Electric Upright Bass Database

Knutson Luthiery - messenger

• Vintage: 2001
• Number of Strings: 4
  • Double bass strings compatible
• Bowable: Yes
• Thumb Reference: E♭
• Balance While Playing: (8/10)

I bought a messenger bass from John Knutson about 9 years ago and it's been a terrific instrument. I've toured all of the U.S. and Europed with it and it is easy to travel with and sounds great through small or large amps. Soundmen I've met all love it. It's very easy to get a big round tone from it, even bowing.

I agree with Mr Sherman about the shorter string length. Given the chance to do it all again, would we? Could we? I certainly would pick the larger length, just to keep fingering consistent. But my messenger has gotten an unbelievable amount of use over the last few years and people always comment on how great it looks; the only thing that beats that is the sound. I understand Rick Barbera is now doing the bridges for John. I'm going to get mine upgraded with a Barbera Bridge very soon.

Nowadays I do a lot of wedding and club work where I keep the Messenger on a tripod (courtesy John Knutson; installed it myself and I am NOT handy) so I can switch quickly between my Fodera electric and the EUB.