Features
  • Ovangkol Top on Mahogany Wings with Maple Core : The luxurious aesthetics of Ovangkol consisting of cinnamon-brown with darker streaks of color is hard to resist. Known as a great overall tone wood, Ovangkol shares similar tone characteristics as Rosewood and Bubinga with a slightly fuller midrange and a top end that’s not quite bright sounding, but the strategically placed maple in the center makes up for the missing highs. The combination of Ovangkol top and Maple core, together with warmer sounding Mahogany wings provides a perfect mixture of balanced tone.

  • Bartolini MK-1 Pickups : The trademark Bartolini sound is preserved in the MK-1 while providing outstanding sound quality and value. The MK-1 delivers plenty of punchy and warm mids along with transparent and brilliant highs for a superbly balanced sound.

  • Markbass MB-1 Preamp : The Markbass MB-1 preamp provides a very natural and transparent boost that does not color the organic nature or resonance of the instrument’s woods. The combination of crystal clarity and natural warmth exudes a passive feel with smooth lows, full-bodied mids, and bell-like highs.

  • MetalCraft M Bridge : The solid high-mass MetalCraft M bridge was developed with more focus on ease-of-use and greater tone transfer. Depending on the thickness of the strings the dual string loading system allows the strings to be loaded either through the body or from the top to find the best optimal string tension resulting in enhanced sustain greater playability and focused sound. Another big improvement for the tone transfer is the deep individual slots that hold the saddles rock-tight preventing any unwanted movement and allows string vibrations to correctly transfer to the body. MetalCraft M4 & M5 now come with string spacing of 19mm (M4) and 0.750” (18mm) (M5).

  • Canadian Hard Maple Neck : The stiffness and strength of Canadian Hard Maple neck not only provides stability but contributes punch and brilliance to the overall tone of the instrument.

  • Ergonomic Body Shape : A rounder body shape is applied for the iconic unified look that the premium Artisan Series are known for also providing much better ergonomic comfort.

Why We Love This
  • Clarity Across All Strings: Bassists consistently appreciate how the low B string stays tight and articulate, even in a full band mix. Whether grooving or soloing, the C5 Plus offers crystal-clear note separation across the fretboard.

  • Organic Feel and Elegant Finish: The open pore ovangkol top isn't just visually striking—it also gives players a more natural, tactile connection with the instrument. The wood grain breathes, giving the bass a raw, earthy vibe that resonates both sonically and visually.

  • Sound Sculpting Made Simple: The Markbass 3-band EQ lets players dial in punchy mids, deep lows, or crisp highs with ease. Many describe it as studio-ready tone control that adapts to multiple genres and setups on the fly.

  • Comfort That Lasts Through the Long Sets: From its lightweight mahogany body to its well-balanced neck, this bass is designed for fatigue-free playing. Whether on stage or in the studio, users report that it “melts into the body” during long sessions.

Customer Reviews