Keanu Reeves introduces novel bass guitar design with Fender

Actor Keanu Reeves, known for his roles in films such as The Matrix and John Wick, has teamed up with Fender to introduce a custom bass guitar, showcased in Fender’s Dream Factory video series. The bass, designed by luthier David Brown, features a wiring innovation dubbed “the Keanu wiring,” a new venture for Fender’s P-Bass series.

The bass merges traditional and modern elements, with a body shaped after the P Bass Ultra and a neck that echoes the feel of Reeves’ own 1965 P Bass. This model is equipped with a five-bolt neck joint and a 21-fret P Bass neck, specifically shaped to meet Reeves’ specifications.

Discussing the bass’s circuitry, Reeves said, “I was thinking about doing a split tone control. So a PJ setup, but then I’d have a separate tone [control] for the single and then the split. I hear that hasn’t been done before.” This led to the inception of “the Keanu wiring,” which integrates a Master Volume, a Blend for the neck and bridge pickups, and a dual stack knob for independent tone control of each pickup.

The bass’s finish is notably thoughtful. It predominantly displays a Three-Tone Sunburst, but with a layer of Shell Pink beneath the black part of the burst. This means that as the instrument is played more frequently, the pink will start to peek through, visually marking its journey.

Luthier David Brown shared his thoughts on the project: “It’s very simple, it looks stock. He’s the first person that thought of this electronic setup and I’m going to use it in the future.”

Reeves continues to pursue his passion for music through his involvement with his band Dogstar, which first released albums in 1996 and 2000. The band reunited to release a new album in 2022, titled Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees, marking their return to the music scene after a hiatus.