Mattisson HL-6 Wenge TT Team Build

Mattisson HL-6 Wenge 33" True Temperament Team Built

Anders Mattisson has partnered with Swedish company True Temperament, known for their groundbreaking fret system. Through this collaboration, True Temperament has begun producing some of Mattisson’s bass models at their factory in Trollhättan, Sweden. These are known as “Team Built” instruments, where True Temperament’s skilled team handles production, while Anders Mattisson oversees the process to ensure craftsmanship and quality standards .

Anders Mattisson has been using True Temperament’s revolutionary intonation system for years, and the first model to emerge from this partnership was a brand-new 6-string Henrik Linder signature bass . This marks a new kind of OEM production, where Mattisson-designed basses are crafted at True Temperament’s facility under license, rather than being solely handmade by Anders himself. The result is that Mattisson can now offer instruments with True Temperament frets on a slightly larger scale—without compromising on quality.

The first and most notable is Henrik Linder’s HL-6 TT Team built— a 6-string bass developed for Dirty Loops bassist Henrik Linder. This model was the first joint project between Mattisson and True Temperament .

The Mattisson HL-6 features True Temperament’s signature frets for perfect intonation and is built at the True Temperament factory in Sweden . It comes with a 33” scale length (slightly shorter for faster playability), 24 True Temperament frets, EMG 45TW pickups, and a custom 3-band preamp developed by Mattisson together with Lars Langborg to meet Henrik’s tonal demands .

The choice of Wenge for the body and neck isn’t just about aesthetics (though, this bass looks like a piece of modern art). Wenge brings a tight, punchy low end with a clear, articulate top—perfect for players who demand note definition even when things get fast and furious. It’s got that natural growl when you dig in, but it stays polite enough for cleaner, more nuanced passages.

The neck is smooth as butter but with enough natural texture to keep your hand locked in during those wild runs. It’s a six-string that doesn’t feel like you’re wrestling a tree trunk—balanced, playable, and inviting.

One of the standout features of the HL6-bass is a unique neck joint that not only enhances ergonomics but also has a profound effect on the instrument’s tone and resonance.This isn’t just a design quirk—it’s a carefully thought-out construction method that reflects Mattisson’s deep understanding of how every part of a bass contributes to its overall sound.

Unlike standard bolt-on or set-neck designs, Mattisson’s neck joint features a smooth, sculpted transition between the neck and body. This carefully contoured connection maximizes wood-to-wood contact, allowing vibrations to flow freely between the neck and body.

By avoiding sharp angles or bulky heels, Anders ensures that the neck joint doesn’t act as a barrier to resonance. Instead, it becomes a conduit for sustain and tonal richness. The result is a bass that feels more alive—where every note benefits from enhanced sustain, improved harmonic content, and a balanced tonal response across the entire fretboard.

Originally, Anders introduced the neck to headstock detail purely as an aesthetic feature, complementing the way he constructs the transition area. On builds where contrasting woods are used between the neck and headstock, this detail provided a tasteful visual break. However, on instruments where the same wood is used throughout the neck and headstock, that visual purpose became secondary for Anders quickly discovered that this design offered more than just looks.

On certain builds, this added piece acts as a subtle vibration damper, which can actually help to increase sustain—a welcome bonus for players chasing rich, resonant tones.

The Mattisson Preamp is known for its neutral character. Where some preamps impose their own sonic fingerprint, Anders wanted something that would preserve the integrity of his carefully selected tonewoods, pickups, and construction techniques.

Think of it as a hi-fi extension of the bass itself—there when you need to sculpt your sound, but never masking the core tone of the instrument.

It delivers a clean, powerful output, making it perfect for both studio work and live settings where clarity and headroom are essential.