WHY DO TRABEN BASSES HAVE THOSE BIG BRIDGES?A Traben Bass is easy to identify thanks to our bridges that are both large and distinctive. But why are those bridges so
big? Is it because they look cool? Indeed many people feel that they look cool, but that is not the real story. Long ago
bass players discovered that a heavier bridge improved tonal quality. At Traben, we took it a step further adding more
than weight. We added mass and bridge to body contact as we focused on maximizing sonic performance.
THE TRABEN CHALLENGEDOES A BIGGER BRIDGE CREATE BIGGER TONE?
DOES A BIGGER BRIDGE CREATE BIGGER TONE?We think so and players contact us constantly confirming that they think so, but we wanted to really put this claim
to the test. Under the supervision of a well respected studio producer we compared two Traben basses that were
exactly the same in every way, but the bridge. How did the larger Traben bridge impact the sustain? How about the
note definition? What about overall sound?
ADDED SUSTAIN?We tested the length that a single note sustained and
the strength of its sustain. Indeed the bass with the
bigger Traben bridge produced a substantially longer
sustain. The test was run through a Pro Tools studio
setup and the results captured graphically as well
as audibly. In the illustration to the left you can see
the length of the last note. Also notice the thickness
of the note which is nearly 50% stronger than the
performance of the bass with the regular bridge.
INCREASED NOTE DEFINITION?We all want to get clarity and well defined note
definition from our bass when we need it. How does
a bigger bridge perform in this area? Graphically,
you can see the strength of each note in the Pro
Tools screen shot to the left. Whether you are in a
live application or a studio situation, this increase in
sonic strength will help you cut through the other
instruments and clearly get your point across.
BETTER OVERALL SOUND?We think so, but that is not something that we can
illustrate in a Pro Tools interface that we are aware of.
We will leave the answer to that question up to you
and the rest of the bass world. We invite you to visit
your local Traben dealer to try one for yourself. See
the full Traben Challenge and hear the head to head
comparison for yourself:
www.TrabenBass.com/TrabenChallenge
ARRAY
SATI
N B
LAC
K W
ASH
Flam
e M
aple
SATI
N B
LAC
K
B
rid
ge:
....
......
Trib
al fl
ame
Sc
ale:
......
......
..34
” 4-
strin
g 3
5”5-
strin
g
C
ons
truc
tio
n: B
olt-
on
Pic
kup
s: ..
......
.Tra
ben
SM
Co
mb
o
hu
mb
ucke
r an
d s
oap
bar
Fr
etb
oar
d: .
.....
Ro
sew
oo
d
N
eck:
.....
......
...1-
pie
ce s
lab
map
le
Inla
y: ...
......
......
Ab
alo
ne d
ots
N
ut: .
......
......
...Sy
nthe
tic
4-StringTRAA4SBK .............. Satin BlackTRAA4SBW .............Black Wash
5-StringTRAA5SBK ........ Satin Black
E
lect
roni
cs: ..
..Tr
aben
T3
activ
e p
re-a
mp
Co
ntro
ls: .
......
.3-b
and
EQ
, vo
lum
e &
ble
nd
B
od
y: ...
......
......
Bas
swo
od
Top
: ....
......
......
.Fla
me
map
le (o
n SB
K)
4-StringTRAAL4S ..........Spalted Maple
5-StringTRAAL5S ........... Spalted MapleTRAAL5STRD ....... Spalted Red
SPALTED MAPLE
ARRAY LIMITED
Bridge: .............Tribal Flame Scale: .................34” 4-string 35” 5-string Construction: ...Bolt-on Pickups: ..............Traben SM Combo humbucker and soapbar Electronics: ........Traben T3 active pre-amp Controls: ............3-band EQ, volume & blend Body: ................. Basswood Top: ................... Spalted maple Fretboard: ........ Rosewood Neck ..................5-piece maple and walnut Nut: ...................Chrome plated brass
SPALTED RED
ARRAY NT
N
eck:................5-piece m
aple &
walnut
Inlay: ...............A
balo
ne diam
ond
s
and
Traben “T”
N
ut: ................Chro
me p
lated b
rass
E
lectronics: ....Trab
en T3 active pre-am
p
C
ontro
ls: ........3-band
EQ
, volum
e & b
lend
B
od
y: ...............Bassw
oo
d
Top
: .................Quilt m
aple
Fretb
oard
: ......Ro
sewo
od
B
ridg
e: ..........Tribal Flam
e
Scale: ..............34” four string
Co
nstruction: N
eck-throug
h
Pickup
s: .........Traben SM
Co
mb
o
hum
bucker and
soap
bar
4-StringTRAANT4BKF ............ Black Fade
BLA
CK
FAD
E
ARRAY SPECIAL
4-StringTRAAS4BKO ................ Black Out with black hardware
N
eck:
.....
......
...1-
pie
ce s
lab
map
le
Inla
y: ...
......
......
Ab
alo
ne d
ots
and
Tra
ben
“T”
N
ut: .
......
......
...B
rass
Spec
ial: .
......
......
.Bla
ck O
ut h
ard
war
e
E
lect
roni
cs: ..
..Tr
aben
T3
activ
e p
re-a
mp
Co
ntro
ls: .
......
.3-b
and
EQ
, vo
lum
e &
ble
nd
B
od
y: ...
......
......
Bas
swo
od
Fret
bo
ard
: ....
..R
ose
wo
od
B
rid
ge:
....
......
Trib
al F
lam
e
Scal
e: ...
......
.....
34”
four
str
ing
C
ons
truc
tio
n: B
olt-
on
Pic
kup
s: ..
......
.Tra
ben
SM
Co
mb
o
hu
mb
ucke
r an
d s
oap
bar
BLA
CK
OU
TW
ith B
lack
Har
dw
are
ARRAY ATTACK
Humbucker and J-style pickupswith RockfieldTM active pre-amp
BLACK BURL
4-StringTRAAA4BKB .............Black BurlTRAAA4G ..................... Granite
5-StringTRAAA5BKB .....Black Burl
Bridge: .............Tribal Flame Scale: .................34” 4-string 35” 5-string Construction: ...Bolt-on Pickups: ............Rockfield® humbucker and J-style Rockfield® Electronics: .......Rockfield® active pre-amp Controls: ...........3-band EQ, volume and blend Body: ................. Royal paulonia Top: ................... Burled maple Fretboard: ........ Rosewood Neck ..................5-piece maple and walnut Nut: ...................Chrome plated brass Special: .............Soft contoured body
GR
AN
ITE
BLA
CK
Chro
me H
ardw
are
AG
ED
WH
ITEA
ged
Bro
nze Hard
ware
4-StringTRAN4 BK .............................Gloss BlackTRAN4 AWH .......................Aged White
with aged bronze hardware
B
ridg
e: ..........Neo
Scale: ..............34” 4-string
Co
nstruction: B
olt-o
n
Pickup
s: .........Traben SB
Co
mb
o
2 so
apb
ar
E
lectronics: ....Trab
en T3 active pre-am
p
C
ontro
ls: ........3-band
EQ
, volum
e & b
lend
B
od
y: ...............Bassw
oo
d
Fretb
oard
: ......Ro
sewo
od
N
eck: ..............5-piece m
aple/w
alnut
Inlay: ...............Ab
alone d
ots
N
ut: ................Chro
me p
lated b
rass
Special: ..........A
ged
bro
nze hardw
are
on w
hite
NEO
NEO LIMITED
B
rid
ge:
....
......
Neo
Sc
ale:
......
......
..34
” 4-
strin
g 3
5” 5
-str
ing
Co
nstr
ucti
on:
Bo
lt-o
n
P
icku
ps:
.....
....T
rab
en S
B C
om
bo
2 so
apb
ar
N
eck:
.....
......
...5-
pie
ce m
aple
/wal
nut
In
lay:
......
......
...A
bal
one
do
ts
Nut
: ....
......
......
Chr
om
e p
late
d b
rass
Sp
ecia
l: ...
......
...B
lack
har
dw
are
on
spal
tbur
st
4-StringTRANL4S ..........Spalted MapleTRANL4SPBBK ...Spalted Burst
with black hardwareTRANL4ZW ............ Zebrawood
5-StringTRANL5S ......... Spalted MapleTRANL5SPBBK .Spalted Burst with black hardware
SPA
LTE
D B
UR
STW
ith B
lack
Har
dw
are
SPA
LTE
D M
APL
EW
ith C
hro
me
Har
dw
are
ZEB
RA
WO
OD
With
Chr
om
e H
ard
war
e
E
lect
roni
cs: ..
..Tr
aben
T3
activ
e p
re-a
mp
Co
ntro
ls: .
......
.3-b
and
EQ
, vo
lum
e &
ble
nd
B
od
y: ...
......
......
Bas
swo
od
Fret
bo
ard
: ....
..R
ose
wo
od
PHOENIX
BLACK SHADOW
4-StringTRAP4BRD ...............Blood Red TRAP4BKS ......... Black Shadow
5-StringTRAP5BRD ..............Blood Red TRAP5BKS ........Black Shadow
Bridge: .............Phoenix Flame Scale: .................34” 4-string 35” 5-string Construction: ...Bolt-on Pickups: ............Traben Custom Combo Humbucker & J-Bass style Electronics: .......Traben T3 active pre-amp Controls: ...........3-band EQ, volume & blend Body: ................. Basswood Top: ................... Quilt maple Fretboard: ........ Rosewood Neck ..................5-piece maple and walnut Nut: ...................Chrome plated brass Special: .............Phoenix Flame inlay
BLO
OD
RE
D
Another unique sonic enhancement found
in the Chaos bridge system is the careful
selection of metal combinations. While the
external bridge is cast from steel the internal
bridge is made out of aluminum. The addition
of aluminum to this system enhances the
low end.
In addition to pulling off the bigger bridge
tone with an apparently smaller bridge, the
Chaos system features many other unique
and important features. This includes locking
saddles for added tuning stability and better
sonic performance. Strings can be mounted
from the external bridge or through the
body. The added length of the strings when
run through the body gives the bass a
tighter feel and can be used for just the low
B-string on a five-string to balance out string
to string feel. Going beyond the bridge the
design team found some new sweet spots
to position the humbucking pickups, further
enhancing the instruments performance.
Sure, the Chaos does not look exactly like
its sibling series, but rest assured these
basses are every inch and ounce Traben.
If you were thinking something like that
than you really get it, when it comes to tone.
Indeed, we are committed to maximizing
sound and performance by using bridges
that have more mass and bridge to body
contact. Some players however wanted a
slightly more traditional appearance with
that bigger bridge performance.
To accomplish this, our design team had to
think a little outside of the box (or maybe
outside of the bridge).
Visually the Chaos collection sports a
bridge that while still larger than most
industry standard bridges, is smaller than
a typical Traben bridge. In fact, the Chaos
bridge provides the same mass as the
Phoenix series, which is Traben’s biggest big
bridge version. How the heck is that? We
hide that extra mass under the top mounted
bridge. We have added a special Internal
BridgeTM to provide added mass and bridge
to body contact. The external and internal
bridges are connected to each other as well
as the body to maximize performance.
THE CHAOS CONCEPT
If a bigger bridge provides a bigger tone, what is the deal with this new Traben Chaos?
Heavy cast steel external bridge Aluminum internal bridge
CHAOS
4-StringTRAC4SBW... Satin Black WashTRAC4BK ............... Gloss Black
5-StringTRAC5SBW... Satin Black WashTRAC5BK ................Gloss Black
SATI
N B
LAC
K W
ASH
Flam
e M
aple
GLO
SS B
LAC
K
Fr
etb
oar
d: .
.....
Ro
sew
oo
d
N
eck:
.....
......
...M
aple
In
lay:
......
......
...D
ots
N
ut: .
......
......
...Sy
nthe
tic
Sp
ecia
l: ...
......
.Bla
ck h
ard
war
e
B
rid
ge:
....
......
Cha
os
inte
rnal
brid
ge
Sc
ale:
......
......
..34
” 4-
strin
g 3
5” 5
-str
ing
Co
nstr
ucti
on:
Bo
lt-o
n
P
icku
ps:
.....
....2
Tra
ben
hum
buc
kers
E
lect
roni
cs: ..
...Tr
aben
T3
activ
e p
re-a
mp
C
ont
rols
: ....
.....
3-b
and
EQ
, vol
ume
and
5-w
ay s
witc
h
B
od
y: ...
......
......
Bas
swo
od
Top
: ....
......
......
.Fla
me
map
le (o
n SB
W)
CHAOS ATTACK
Fretb
oard
: ......Ro
sewo
od
Neck: ..............Slab
map
le
Inlay: ...............Ab
alone and
pearl
N
ut: ................Synthetic
Special: ..........B
lack hardw
are
B
ridg
e: ..........Chao
s internal brid
ge
Scale: ..............34” 4-string
35” 5-string
C
onstructio
n: Bo
lt-on
P
ickups: .........2 R
ockfield
® humb
uckers
E
lectronics: ....R
ockfield
® active pre-am
p
C
ontro
ls: .........3-band
EQ, volum
e and
5-w
ay switch
B
od
y: ...............Ro
yal paulo
nia
Top
: .................Burled
map
le
4-StringTRACA4BKB .............Black BurlTRACA4G ..................... Granite
5-StringTRACA5G .........Granite
GR
AN
ITE
BLA
CK
BU
RL
Humbuckers and RockfieldTM active pre-amp
4-StringTRACL4S ..............Spalted Maple
CHAOS LIMITED
Fr
etb
oar
d: .
.....
Ro
sew
oo
d
N
eck:
.....
......
...Sl
ab m
aple
In
lay:
......
......
...A
bal
one
do
ts
Nut
: ....
......
......
Chr
om
e p
late
d b
rass
B
rid
ge:
....
......
Cha
os
inte
rnal
brid
ge
Sc
ale:
......
......
..34
” 4-
strin
g
C
ons
truc
tio
n: B
olt-
on
Pic
kup
s: ..
......
..2
Ro
ckfie
ld® h
umb
ucke
rs
E
lect
roni
cs: ..
...A
ctiv
e 3-
ban
d p
re-a
mp
Co
ntro
ls: .
......
..3-
ban
d E
Q, v
olum
e an
d
5-
way
sw
itch
Bo
dy:
......
......
...B
assw
oo
d
To
p: .
......
......
....S
pal
ted
map
le
SPA
LTE
D M
APL
E
Humbuckers
WH
ISKE
Y BU
RL
Map
le Burl
Ro
sewo
od
fretbo
ard
4-StringTRACC4BV .............Black Vapor glossTRACC4WB ..........Whiskey Burl glossTRACC4BKW ........... Black Wash satin
5-StringTRACC5BV .......Black Vapor glossTRACC5WB ......Whiskey Burl glossTRACC5BKW ....Black Wash satin
Fretb
oard
: ......Ro
sewo
od
or
map
le on b
lack vapo
r only
N
eck: ..............Slab m
aple
N
ut: ................Synthetic
Special: ..........B
lack hardw
are
B
ridg
e: ..........Chao
s internal brid
ge
Scale: ..............34” 4-string
35” 5-string
C
onstructio
n: Bo
lt-on
P
ickups: .........2 R
ockfield
® humb
uckers
E
lectronics: ....A
guilar O
BP-3 p
re-amp
Co
ntrols: .........3-b
and EQ
, volume and
5-way sw
itch
Bo
dy: ...............Paulo
nia
Top
: .................Burled
map
le or q
uilt map
le
Humbuckers
OBP-3 active pre-amp
BLA
CK
VAPO
RM
aple B
urlM
aple fretb
oard
BLA
CK
WA
SHQ
uilt Map
leR
osew
oo
d fretb
oard
CHAOS CORE
GREG WEEKSSIGNATURE CHAOS
WEEKS’ BURL
4-StringTRAGW2 ................Weeks’ Burl
Humbuckers
OBP-3 active pre-amp
Bridge: ............... Chaos Internal BridgeTM
Scale: ................... 34” 4-string Construction: ..... Bolt-on Pickups: .............. 2 Rockfield® humbuckers Electronics: ......... Aguilar OBP-3 pre-amp Controls: ..............3-band EQ, volume, 3-way switch and mini toggle for coil tapping Body: ....................Basswood Top: ......................Figured maple Fretboard: ...........Rosewood Neck: ................... 5-piece maple and walnut Nut: ..................... Chrome plated brass Special: ............... Greg Weeks of The Red Chord Signature model
Holding down the low end for The Red Chord, bassist Greg Weeks can be seen and heard thundering away on his Signature Traben Bass.
The Red Chord is a grind-hardcore band from the north shore area of Massachusetts whose collective goal is to push the extremes of
aggressive music and to combine the best aspects of the hardcore, death, grind and metal genres. The Red Chord is on Metal Blade Records.
JOHN MOYERSIGNATURE HAVOC
5-StringTRAJMH5BV ............Black Vapor satin
Fretb
oard
: ......Ro
sewo
od
Neck: ..............Slab
map
le
Nut: ................B
one
Sp
ecial: ..........JM b
od
y shape w
ith
reversed
headsto
ck
B
ridg
e: ..........Chao
s internal brid
ge
Scale: ..............35” 5-string
Co
nstruction: B
olt-o
n
Pickup
s: .........2 Ro
ckfield® hum
buckers
E
lectronics: ....A
guilar O
BP-3 p
re-amp
Co
ntrols: .........3-b
and EQ
, volume and
5-way sw
itch
Bo
dy: ...............Paulo
nia
Top
: .................Burled
map
le
OBP-3 active pre-amp
BLA
CK
VAPO
RSatin o
n Burled
Map
le
Humbuckers
John Moyer of DisturbedTraben’s newest addition to its artist roster is also
one of our most notable. When the prominent hard rock band Disturbed hits the road, John can
be seen and heard laying down the foundation with his signature Traben Havoc Bass.
BOOTSY COLLINSSTAR BASS
Three OBP-3 active pre-ampsfor virtually endles tonal options
B
rid
ge:
....
......
Bo
ots
y St
ar
Scal
e: ...
......
.....
35”
5-st
ring
Co
nstr
ucti
on:
Set
nec
k
P
icku
ps:
.....
....5
Ro
ckfie
ld® F
at A
ss J
azz
E
lect
roni
cs: ..
..3
Ag
uila
r O
BP-
3 p
re-a
mp
s
Co
ntro
ls: .
......
..3
mas
ter
volu
mes
, 2 b
lend
s
co
ntro
l all
pic
kup
set
ting
s,
3-
ban
d E
Q fo
r sta
ndar
d
B
oots
ytro
nics
set
up
B
od
y: ...
......
......
Mah
og
any
Fr
etb
oar
d: .
.....
Ro
sew
oo
d
N
eck:
.....
......
...5-
pie
ce m
aple
and
wal
nut
N
ut: .
......
......
...C
hro
me
pla
ted
bra
ss
Sp
ecia
l: ...
......
.Sta
r co
ntro
l kno
bs
Fat Ass Jazz
Aerofunkaronics to the 5th level!Five pointed star, five Rockfield® pickups, the largest Bigger Bridge we’ve ever designed, three Aguilar® Amplification pre-amps and endless tone settings can only be found on the Bootsy Star Bass. From the funky mind of Bootsy, comes this over-the-top tone monster.
4-StringTRABZSTAR4 ...........Stardust White
STA
RD
UST
WH
ITE
BOOTSY COLLINSwww.bootsycollins.com
JOHN COOPERSKILLET
www.skillet.com
JOHN MOYERDISTURBED
www.disturbed1.com
TREVOR ERBTUBRING
www.tubring.com
DERRICK MURDOCKTONIGHTSHOWBAND
www.myspace.com/derrickmurdock
GREG WEEKSTHEREDCHORD
www.theredchord.com
CHRIS KELLSTHEAGONIST
www.theagonist.net
ERIC LANGOISCRYPTOPSY
www.cryptopsy.net
SEBASTEIN PICHEDESPISEDICON
www.despisedicon.com
JOHNNY DUNNKILLOLA
www.killola.com
MATT DIRITOPOPEVIL
www.popevil.com
FREEK BASSwww.freekbass.com
w w w . t r a b e n b a s s . c o m
2 6 1 3 3 U S H W Y 1 9 N o r t h , S u i t e 3 0 0 C l e a r w a t e r , F l o r i d a 3 3 7 6 3
7 2 7 - 7 9 3 - 0 0 7 9
©2008 Traben Bass Company
All information contained within this catalog is believed to be accurate; however, specifications are subject to change without notice.
Special thanks to Traben artists Greg Weeks of The Red Chord, Trevor Erb of Tub Ring and Tanner Owings of Indorphine
www.theredchord.com www.tubring.com www.indorphine.com