Prototype for Meshell Ndegeocello Reverend Fellowship Bass guitar: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This is the official prototype of the Meshell Ndegeocello Reverend Fellowship Bass guitar played by Meshell Ndegeocello in her 2014 tours of Japan and Europe.

Guitar (.1): The guitar has a satin black body with a unique shape, a chrome bridge, output jack, volume/tone knob, and tuners; satin black pickups; a black plastic scratchguard; a dark brown rosewood neck with inlayed faux mother-of-pearl; reverse headstock; metal frets; and metal strings with a blue coating in the headstock area. Although there are two guitar strap buttons on the top left edge of the guitar and the bottom edge below the bridge of the guitar, this guitar does not have a strap. Handwritten notation in silver marker on the back of the headstock that reads, ZSG #17380.

Case (.2): A black, PVC “leatherette” Kaces III Brand Gig Bag (model KLB20) used by Ndegeocello to store/transport the bass guitar. The case has a foam padded interior covered in black polyester, padded backpack straps, a quited grip handle with velco closure, and a large, diagonal accessory pocket with a hidden zipper.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 2014
• Designed by: Meshell Ndegeocello, American, born 1968
• Used by: Meshell Ndegeocello, American, born 1968
• Manufactured by: Reverend Musical Instruments, American, founded 1996
• Manufactured by: Ace Products Group, American, founded 1983
• Type: electric guitars
• Type: musical instruments
• Medium: Guitar (.1): korina (wood), chrome, rosewood, walnut, graphite, metal, and plastic;
• Medium: Case (.2): polyvinyl chloride, polyester, and plastic
• Dimensions: guitar (.1): 46 1/2 × 13 × 2 3/4 in. (118.1 × 33 × 7 cm)
• Dimensions: case (.2): 49 × 17 11/16 × 4 1/2 in. (124.5 × 44.9 × 11.4 cm)
• Place made: South Korea, Asia
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Funk (Music)
• Topic: Jazz (Music)
• Topic: Neo-Soul (Music)
• Topic: Rock and roll (Music)
• Topic: Soul (Music)
• Object number: 2015.8.1-.2
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Meshell Ndegeocello
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: No Known Copyright Restrictions Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.