Trusted bass enthusiast Gregor Fris recently sat down with the newly released ZVA 5 bass.

Gregor’s well-established channel, BassTheWorld, has amassed a large following over the years. His expertise in low-frequency sound has allowed him to carve out a niche, enabling fellow musicians to explore the intricacies of bass instruments from around the world. He also opens his platform to other accomplished bassists to test instruments alongside him, which speaks to his inclusive nature. We were ecstatic to hear that he was interested in checking out the ZVA 5 bass, our latest innovation. The review opens with a groovy demonstration of the Sunburst Gloss ZVA by one of Fris’s colleagues, Lars Lehmann. Stellar B-roll shots pan over the instrument’s components, highlighting its features in various ways.

Fris then dives into the specifications, leaving no detail overlooked. After discussing the alder body construction, he focuses on the bolt-on neck, which is equipped with 21 frets, a rosewood fingerboard, a 34.5" scale length, and a Duracon nut for optimal performance. He also highlights the highly functional installation of a zero fret system at the top of the neck, which provides unmatched intonation. The zero fret design ensures precise setup and consistency, delivering ideal string height and tuning stability. The ZVA’s modern C-shaped neck allows easy access to the entire fretboard while maintaining perfect comfort. On the hardware side, the nickel components, including the machine heads and string-through bridge, are manufactured by Gotoh.

Fris places significant emphasis on the Vola JS5-N neck and Vola JS5-B bridge pickups, paired with a Vola ATR-I Active 3-band EQ and a mini switch for smooth transitions between passive and active modes. These pickups offer an impressive range of clarity and punch, balancing low-end depth with strong mid and high frequencies. Gregor was clearly impressed by their performance. Lars then takes us on a sonic exploration of the different pickup positions, using various techniques to highlight any tonal nuances. Switching from bridge pickup to neck pickup, and testing out the active EQ system, it became apparent that the tonal range of this bass is extensive. A standout moment in the demo was a reverb-driven chordal section, a rare and delightful addition in bass demonstrations.

We are incredibly grateful to Gregor and Lars for the fantastic review and tone demonstration. They are doing great work for the music community, and we wish them continued success. If you’d like to watch the video, you can find it HERE.