A unique aspect of the ¾-size upright Billy Bass design—a cutaway treble bout that provides players handy access to the upper register—is easy to see. Less visible is its aesthetic appeal: let's call it the cool factor. A half dozen pierced teen psycho-billy musicians huddled around our review model agreed enthusiastically with a young friend who plucked the Billy Bass and gushed, "This is the coolest bass—ever!"

That appeal—fueled by the Billy Bass's black lacquer finish and white purfling—is matched by strong projection, likeable playability, a tight setup, (the low action on our review model's setup worked well for jazz, blues, and rockabilly), high-quality materials, and solid construction.

It's not the least expensive bass in the Palatino product line, but it is the coolest—an affordable instrument that commands respect.

Palatino Billy Bass VB-015-BK:

• Spruce top
• Maple back, sides, and neck
• Adjustable maple bridge
• Ebony fingerboard
• 24:1 geared, single-plate tuners
• Padded carrying bag
• Made in China; set up in the USA

Price: $1,499 (MSRP); $1,125 (street)