Rothstein Guitars Custom 12-String Basses

Andy Rothstein of Rothstein Guitars from Woodbridge, New Jersey has built two custom Andromeda model 12-string basses. Both were designed in cooperation with Tony Senatore. A fretted 12-string bass was completed in 2005, with a fretless version the following year.

There are totally passive electronics, and they are set up for full stereo operation. Each pickup is directed to a separate output jack and has an independent volume control and 6-position varitone. A mono / stereo mini switch allows switching to mono mode when using one amp. Hand-wound Kent Armstrong pick-ups were included. Both basses are constructed of all USA-made components.

Fretless 12-string basses are rarely encountered, and to the best of our knowledge this bass is only the second fretless triple-strung 12-string bass ever built, the first being a Hamer B12L built for Mark Rowe in 1999. Currently less than 10 fretless 12’s are known to exist.

Rothstein Fretless Andromeda Specs

• Candy Apple Red Finish

• GHS Black Nylon Tape-wound strings for the fundamentals

• Custom Gold Plated Hamer bridge

• Custom Gold Plated Hamer tailpiece and Custom Gold Plated Gotoh tuners

• Kent Armstrong pick-ups, Stereo operation

• Passive electronics Birds-eye Maple Fingerboard with Epoxy Coating

• Ebony Binding, Bone Nut

• Weight: 11 1/2 lbs.

The Andromeda fretted bass is the first 12-string bass to incorporate the Buzz Feiten tuning system. A bone nut was used. This bass has a bolt-on neck. Tony Senatore writes, "I prefer the bolt-on sound--- it adds bottom to the 12, which tends to be a little bright."