Gold Tone ME-Bass 23-Inch Scale Electric MicroBass with Gig Bag

There are instruments that surprise you the moment you plug them in, and the Gold Tone ME-Bass is absolutely one of them. At 23 inches of scale length and only 5.5 pounds, this single-cutaway solid-body electric MicroBass looks like it belongs in an overhead bin — but once you engage that active MBass preamp and dial in the treble and bass boost controls, the sound that comes out is genuinely big. I’ve had decades of experience helping players find the right bass voice for their situation, and the ME-Bass fills a real gap: it’s the instrument you grab when you need legitimate bass tone without the bulk, the weight, or the shoulder fatigue of a full-scale instrument. Songwriters, travel musicians, ukulele players who want to add bass to a small ensemble, kids getting started on bass, and anyone performing in tight spaces will all find something to love here.

What makes the ME-Bass genuinely clever is the engineering Gold Tone put into the bridge. The long-throw adjustable string compensation system lets you change the effective scale length to accommodate both the included Aquila MicroBass Thunderblack rubber/polymer strings and conventional steel strings — that kind of flexibility is rare at any price point. The mahogany body, neck, and top deliver warm fundamental tone without a lot of extraneous brightness, and the rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays across 24 frets gives you a smooth, comfortable playing surface. Butterfly-style bass tuners keep things in tune reliably, the bone nut is cut at 1-11/16 inches, and a two-way adjustable truss rod means the neck can be dialed in precisely for whatever string set you choose. Black hardware throughout gives the natural satin finish a clean, understated look. This is a well-thought-out instrument, not a novelty.

Each instrument receives a professional setup at Gold Tone’s factory in Titusville, Florida before it ships to you. At $629.99 this is a serious little instrument, and it deserves to arrive playing its best right out of the box.

Why Buy From Banjo Warehouse

Banjo Warehouse is an authorized Gold Tone dealer, which means every instrument we sell carries the full manufacturer warranty and comes backed by a real relationship with the people who build them. I’ve been in the stringed instrument business for more than 45 years — I co-own Watch & Learn in Atlanta, I wrote Banjo Primer (the top-rated beginner banjo method on the market), and I co-designed the Gold Tone OB-Standard, so when I say I know Gold Tone’s instruments from the inside out, I mean it literally. We carry Gold Tone because I believe in what they build, not because it’s convenient. Financing is available through PayPal Pay in 4, Afterpay, and 3, 6, 12, or 24-month plans — no late fees — so you can get the instrument you actually want without waiting.

Gold Tone ME-Bass Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use regular steel bass strings on the ME-Bass instead of the polymer strings?

Yes — that’s exactly what the specially engineered long-throw adjustable bridge is designed to allow. You can adjust the string compensation to suit either the included Aquila Thunderblack rubber/polymer strings or conventional steel strings, giving you meaningful flexibility in tone and feel. Just keep in mind that the 23-inch scale means you’ll want strings specifically designed for short-scale bass; standard long-scale steel strings will not tension or intonate correctly.

Is the ME-Bass loud enough to play with other instruments without an amp?

The ME-Bass is an electric instrument and is designed to be played amplified. Unplugged volume is minimal — similar to any solid-body electric. Through an amp, a small bass combo, or even a PA with a direct box, the active piezo preamp with bass and treble boost produces a genuinely full, present bass tone that sits well in a mix. For quiet practice unplugged it’s quite manageable, but for performing or playing alongside other musicians you’ll want to plug in.

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