De Gier Bebop 5 Moss Green Relic
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When you first lay eyes on the De Gier Bebop 5 Relic, it’s like being transported to a different era. The relic finish looks authentic—not overdone, but just the right amount of wear to give it that “played-in” vibe. It has the mojo of an old-school Jazz Bass but with a 5-string modern twist. If you’re into instruments that feel like they’ve already got stories to tell, this one speaks volumes right out of the case.
The craftsmanship on the Bebop 5 is where De Gier really flexes its expertise. The bass is hand-built, using carefully selected tonewoods. This Bebop 5 has an alder paired with a maple neck for that punchy and clear resonance we all crave. De Gier’s neck profiles are famously comfortable; it’s fast but still gives you something to hold onto, which is key for those extended sessions.
When you combine a rosewood fretboard with an alder body and a maple neck, you’re creating a classic tonal cocktail that has been a cornerstone of bass design for decades. Each wood brings its own unique qualities to the table, and together, they form a well-balanced sound that works for a wide range of styles and genres.
Alder is known for being a tonally balanced wood. It doesn’t have any extreme spikes in any particular frequency range, making it a great neutral base for your tone. Alder offers a solid, punchy low end without being overly boomy, and the mids are rich and present, which helps the bass cut through in a mix. The highs are clear and articulate but not harsh, so your tone stays smooth and well-rounded.
Low-end: Punchy and defined, not overly boomy.
Midrange: Slightly pronounced, which is great for a bass that needs to be heard clearly in the mix.
Highs: Clean and smooth, without too much bite.
The alder body sets the stage for an overall balanced sound, providing the framework for the warmth of the rosewood fretboard and the brightness of the maple neck.
Maple necks are known for their bright and snappy tone. Maple is a dense, hard wood, which means it transfers string vibration efficiently, giving you more sustain and a fast attack. When you play a bass with a maple neck, you’ll notice that notes tend to have more bite and definition, especially in the upper frequencies.
Attack: Fast and snappy.
Clarity: High-end clarity, giving you a bright, punchy response.
Sustain: Maple’s density helps with sustain, keeping notes ringing out longer.
With a maple neck, you get a crisp, defined sound, especially in the higher frequencies, which balances out the naturally warmer tones of the rosewood fretboard. The maple also ensures that the bass feels responsive, giving you that “immediate” attack when you pluck the strings.
Now, when you bring the rosewood fretboard into this equation, you add a layer of warmth and richness to the mix. Rosewood naturally tames some of the brightness from the maple neck, rounding off the sharp edges in the upper frequencies and bringing more depth to the low mids. This results in a sound that is warm, full, and balanced but still retains the clarity and articulation from the maple.
Warmth: Rosewood softens the attack a bit, giving you a more rounded, mellow tone.
Depth: It emphasizes the low-mids, adding a richness to the sound that complements the alder body.
Articulation: The highs are still present, but they have a smoother, less aggressive character compared to an all-maple setup.
The combination of these three woods—alder body, maple neck, and rosewood fretboard—is a classic formula for a reason.
Low-end: The alder body provides a solid, punchy foundation, while the rosewood fretboard adds warmth and depth. Together, they give you a bass tone that’s full and rich in the low end without getting too boomy. The lows feel controlled but satisfying, making this combination perfect for styles like funk, rock, or jazz where a solid low-end presence is key.
Mids: This is where this combo really shines. Alder’s natural midrange emphasis, combined with the warmth of rosewood, creates a rich, present midrange that’s perfect for cutting through the mix. The maple neck adds just enough clarity to keep those mids articulate, so whether you’re playing fingerstyle grooves or slapping, every note is clear and punchy.
Highs: The maple neck keeps the highs clear and crisp, while the rosewood fretboard smooths them out, making sure they’re not too harsh. You’ll still get plenty of articulation and snap from your playing, but it won’t be brittle or overly bright. This is ideal for players who want clarity in their tone but don’t want the highs to dominate.
The craftsmanship and the aesthetics of this bass are just amazing
Plugging this bass in, you quickly realize it’s more than just good looks. The Bebop 5 deliver a fantastic dynamic range. You get that classic ’60s Jazz Bass growl in the bridge position, but with modern clarity that cuts through in any mix. The low B string is a standout—tight, punchy, and not muddy at all.
The Bebop 5 feels lightweight but still carries enough weight for sustain and presence in the tone. This is crucial when you’re on stage or in the studio, where clarity and punch are non-negotiable.
This bass plays like butter. The string spacing is wide enough for slap players to dig in, but tight enough for fingerstyle or fast runs. De Gier clearly took care to make this a versatile player’s bass. The action is typically set low, but not so low that you lose dynamics—it’s perfect for both finesse and heavy-handed techniques.
The Bebop 5 shines in the low-mids, which gives it that warm, punchy presence. Mids are articulate and not overly scooped, and the highs are crisp without being harsh. One of the reasons for that are the Fralin Jazz 5 Single-coils
The Fralin Jazz 5 Single-Coil pickups are for players who demand that classic Jazz Bass sound but need the versatility and extra low-end from a 5-string. If you’ve ever played a bass with Fralins, you know they don’t mess around when it comes to tone. These pickups are all about giving you that vintage, articulate sound with just the right amount of modern edge—perfect for players who want clarity and punch across all five strings. You can dial in everything from a fat, round Motown-style tone to a more aggressive slap tone in the higher register. Lindy Fralin is known for winding pickups the old-fashioned way—by hand, with a meticulous eye for detail. The Jazz 5 Single-Coils are wound using the same philosophy that’s made Fralin a go-to for pros: balance, dynamic range, and vintage-inspired warmth. Each pickup is built with Alnico V magnets, which give you that classic, bright response and dynamic sensitivity that works beautifully for all styles of players . These magnets are key to the tight low-end and articulate mids, as well as that signature Jazz Bass top-end “zing” without sounding too harsh.
For tone geeks: With the tone rolled off, you get a deep, warm thump perfect for R&B or jazz gigs. Crank it up, and you’re in funk/rock territory with plenty of bite and articulation.
The De Gier Bebop 5 Relic is an instrument that perfectly blends vintage aesthetics with modern performance. It’s a bass that not only looks like it’s been gigged for years but plays like a top-tier modern instrument. Whether you’re looking for that retro vibe with five-string versatility or a high-quality, road-ready bass that sounds as good as it looks, the Bebop 5 Relic is a fantastic choice.
If you’re into the combination of vintage style with modern reliability and playability, the Bebop 5 Relic should be high on your list. It’s a premium instrument, but it justifies its price with incredible build quality, attention to detail, and superb sound.
The Fatboost is an active, yet subtle bass boost designed to maintain the original passive sound as closely as possible. Activated by a switch, it delivers up to 12dB of low-frequency boost (typically set to 4dB by default). The circuit is ultra-low noise, making your passive tone feel instantly more powerful and fuller. In the off position, the system is true bypass, providing a 100% passive sound. You can also fine-tune the boost level to your preference via a trimmer pot located at the back.
Specs
Body
- Body Wood
- Alder
- Colors
- Moss Green Relic
Neck
- Neck Wood
- Maple Aged Finish
- Fingerboard
- Rosewood
- Neck Shape
- Medium C
- Scale
- 34"
- Fingerboard Inlay
- Dots
- Frets
- 21
- Fingerboard Radius
- 7.25″ to 12″
- Nut Width:
- 46mm
- Strings
- 5
- HeadStock
- Matched
- Tuning
- Standard
Weight
- Weight
- 4.19Kg
Electronics
- Knobs
- Volume, Volume, Dual-tone and Fatboost
- Fatboost
- The De Gier/Vanderkley Fatboost is an active but subtle bass boost. It is designed to keep the sound as close as possible to the original passive sound. The boost is activated by a switch and gives you a maximum of 12dB boost of low frequencies. (We set it at about 4dB standard). It is ultra low noise. The result is as if your passive sound grew up intstantly. In the off position it is true bypass for a 100% passive sound.
- Pickup
- Fralin Pickups
Hardware
- Pickguard
- Aged White
- Gig Bag
- De Gier