Epiphone Basitar

The Epiphone Basitar is a hybrid instrument based on the Epiphone SG-400 body, strung with two heavy bass strings to create a bass-guitar crossover that occupies a unique sonic territory. Chris Ballew of the Presidents of the United States of America adopted the basitar as his primary instrument, stripping away four of the six strings and restringing with heavy bass gauges to create the low-end foundation for songs like Lump, Peaches, and Kitty. The instrument's shorter guitar-scale neck and SG body produce a punchier, more aggressive tone than a standard four-string bass, with the reduced string count forcing Ballew to develop a percussive, rhythmic playing style that defined POTUSA's sound. The basitar concept was central to the band's stripped-down trio approach, where unconventional instrumentation — two strings on bass, three on guitar — created a deliberately incomplete sound that listeners found irresistible. Ballew's invention of the basitar setup remains one of alternative rock's most creative equipment innovations.