Orange Glenn Hughes Signature O Bass – Purple

The Orange Glenn Hughes Signature O Bass in Purple takes Orange's distinctive retro-inspired bass design and gives it a specification created around one of British rock's most recognisable bass players and vocalists.

Finished in unmistakable Deep Purple with eye-catching chequerboard detailing, this signature model upgrades the O Bass formula with a Seymour Duncan SPB-1 split-coil pickup. Positioned closer to the bridge than on a traditional P-style bass, it delivers a tighter low end, pronounced midrange and plenty of definition for everything from warm fingerstyle lines to aggressive pick-driven rock tones.

A lightweight okoumé body, satin-finished maple neck, purpleheart fingerboard, full 34-inch scale and simple passive Volume and Tone controls keep the playing experience refreshingly direct. A padded Orange gig bag and alternative black scratchplate are also included.

At A Glance

Feature	Details
Brand	Orange
Model	Glenn Hughes Signature O Bass
Finish	Deep Purple
Configuration	4-string electric bass
Body	Okoumé
Neck	Maple, bolt-on
Fingerboard	Purpleheart
Scale Length	34" / 864mm
Pickup	Seymour Duncan SPB-1 split-coil
Electronics	Passive
Controls	Master Volume, Master Tone
Included	Padded Orange gig bag and alternative black scratchplate
Main Appeal	Signature styling with punchy Seymour Duncan split-coil tone
Best For	Rock, hard rock, blues, soul, indie, alternative and recording

What's Included?

• Orange Glenn Hughes Signature O Bass in Deep Purple

• Padded black gig bag with printed Orange logo

• Alternative black 3-ply scratchplate

Fair Deal Quality Control Assessment

Every bass guitar leaving Fair Deal Music is checked by our team before dispatch.

For the Glenn Hughes O Bass, we pay particular attention to general playability, neck condition and relief, fret response, tuning stability, bridge and hardware operation, pickup output, Volume and Tone controls and overall instrument functionality.

This gives you the additional reassurance of buying your new bass from an experienced independent music retailer with a knowledgeable team available before and after your purchase.

Service / Setup Work

This Orange Glenn Hughes Signature O Bass will be checked and set up before leaving Fair Deal Music.

Our team checks its general playability and setup so the instrument is ready to enjoy when it reaches you.

As with any guitar or bass transported by courier, minor setup movement can occur because timber naturally responds to changes in temperature and humidity during transit. Allowing the instrument to acclimatise after delivery is always recommended before making unnecessary adjustments.

Why Choose The Orange Glenn Hughes O Bass?

Seymour Duncan SPB-1 Pickup

The signature Purple model uses a Seymour Duncan SPB-1 split-coil pickup, giving it a classic passive bass foundation with strong low mids, clarity and plenty of authority.

Orange positions the pickup closer to the bridge than a conventional P-style layout, helping create a tighter and more pronounced midrange character.

Simple Passive Controls

One Master Volume and one Master Tone control keep operation intentionally straightforward.

Rather than spending time balancing multiple pickups or adjusting active EQ, you can concentrate on playing dynamics, technique and your amplifier settings.

Full 34-Inch Scale

The 864mm / 34-inch scale length gives the Glenn Hughes O Bass the familiar tension and low-frequency response associated with traditional long-scale bass guitars.

Distinctive Deep Purple Styling

The signature model immediately stands apart thanks to its Deep Purple body and headstock treatment with chequerboard purfling.

It manages to reference Glenn Hughes and his Deep Purple history without sacrificing the unmistakably unconventional appearance of the original Orange O Bass.

Comfortable Offset Body

The okoumé body combines Orange's distinctive offset styling with a relatively lightweight construction designed to remain comfortable when standing or seated.

Orange Glenn Hughes O Bass Compared With Popular Alternatives

Glenn Hughes Signature O Bass vs Standard Orange O Bass

The standard O Bass provides the fundamental Orange design with its custom-wound split-coil pickup. The Glenn Hughes Signature version is the stronger choice if you want the Seymour Duncan SPB-1 upgrade, signature Deep Purple styling and chequerboard detailing.

Glenn Hughes O Bass vs Fender Precision Bass

A Precision Bass remains the natural choice for players wanting one of the industry's most established traditional bass designs. The Orange offers a different interpretation of the split-coil concept, with its more unusual offset body and bridge-shifted pickup placement producing a more individual look and response.

Glenn Hughes O Bass vs Squier Classic Vibe Precision Bass

A Classic Vibe Precision makes sense if your priority is traditional vintage-inspired P-style design. The Glenn Hughes O Bass is better suited to someone who likes that fundamental passive split-coil simplicity but wants something far less conventional visually.

Glenn Hughes O Bass vs A Two-Pickup Jazz-Style Bass

A Jazz-style bass provides more pickup blending possibilities and a broader range of onboard combinations. The O Bass deliberately takes the opposite approach: one strong pickup voice, two controls and very little standing between the player and the amplifier.

Who Is The Orange Glenn Hughes O Bass For?

The Glenn Hughes O Bass is particularly well suited to bassists who want a straightforward passive instrument with considerably more personality than a conventional P-style design.

It is a strong choice for:

• Rock and hard-rock bassists

• Deep Purple and Glenn Hughes fans

• Blues-rock players

• Pick players looking for strong attack

• Fingerstyle bassists wanting clear passive tone

• Soul and classic-rock musicians

• Indie and alternative players

• Bassists who prefer simple one-pickup instruments

• Guitarists moving into bass

• Players looking for a distinctive stage instrument

Looking for advice on choosing the right bass guitar, bass amplifier or complete bass rig? Our experienced team of musicians can help by phone, online or in-store.

Suitable Genres And Playing Styles

Classic rock and hard rock: The focused split-coil response works particularly well when the bass needs to remain audible underneath overdriven electric guitars.

Blues and blues-rock: Rolling the Tone control back allows you to move towards a rounder, warmer response while retaining the fundamental punch of the Seymour Duncan pickup.

Soul: The simple passive circuit makes it easy to soften the top end for warmer, more traditional bass sounds.

Indie and punk: Open the Tone control and use a pick for a more attacking sound with plenty of midrange definition.

Alternative and heavier music: The O Bass's focused midrange can work especially well alongside overdrive and fuzz, where a loose or excessively bass-heavy signal can quickly disappear in a dense mix.

Why Is The O Bass Pickup Closer To The Bridge?

Moving a bass pickup closer towards the bridge changes the balance of frequencies captured from the vibrating string. Compared with a split-coil placed in the traditional Precision-style position, the response becomes more focused, with tighter lows and greater emphasis on the mids and attack of each note.

That design decision gives the Glenn Hughes O Bass more of its own identity. It retains the simplicity and fundamental character players expect from a passive split-coil bass while providing additional presence that can help it remain clear in a busy rock mix.

Story & Context

Glenn Hughes has occupied a unique place in British rock history as both a powerful vocalist and a distinctive bass player. After establishing himself with Trapeze, Hughes joined Deep Purple in 1973, contributing both bass and vocals during one of the band's most adventurous periods.

His career subsequently moved through solo work and numerous collaborations, including Black Country Communion, while his long association with Orange eventually resulted in dedicated signature equipment.

The Glenn Hughes Signature O Bass connects that history directly to the instrument. The Deep Purple finish and chequerboard detailing provide the visual connection, while the upgraded Seymour Duncan SPB-1 and Orange's distinctive pickup positioning make the differences genuinely functional rather than purely cosmetic.

Compatibility & Recommended Pairings

Bass Amplifiers

The passive O Bass can be connected to any conventional bass amplifier using a standard ¼-inch instrument cable.

It works equally well with compact practice combos and professional head-and-cab systems.

Orange Crush Bass Amps

Orange's Crush Bass range makes a natural partner, particularly for players who want an uncomplicated complete Orange setup.

The Glenn Hughes Signature Crush Bass 50 is the obvious thematic pairing for anyone looking to create a dedicated Glenn Hughes-inspired rig.

Effects Pedals

Compression, overdrive, fuzz, octave and modulation effects can all be used normally.

The O Bass's focused passive sound can be particularly effective with overdrive and fuzz because its clean fundamental remains well defined.

Strings

The standard specification uses .045–.105 strings, a familiar long-scale bass gauge offering a useful balance between tension and playability.

Technical Specifications

Specification	Orange Glenn Hughes Signature O Bass
Product Type	4-string electric bass guitar
Signature Artist	Glenn Hughes
Construction	Bolt-on
Body	Okoumé
Neck	Maple
Neck Finish	Satin
Truss Rod	Dual action
Fingerboard	Purpleheart
Scale Length	864mm / 34"
Fingerboard Radius	400mm
Nut Width	43mm
Pickup	Seymour Duncan SPB-1 split-coil
Pickup Position	Shifted towards bridge
Electronics	Passive
Controls	Master Volume, Master Tone
Bridge	Nickel top-loading 4-saddle
Tuners	Open gear
String Gauge	.045–.105
Manufacturer Listed Weight	3.9kg / 8.6lb
Finish	Deep Purple
Detailing	Chequerboard purfling
Included Case	Padded black Orange gig bag
Additional Included Item	Alternative black 3-ply scratchplate
UPC	5060299178663

Power Requirements

The Orange Glenn Hughes O Bass uses passive electronics, so no battery is required.

Connect it to a bass amplifier, audio interface, DI box or compatible effects setup using a standard ¼-inch instrument cable.

The passive design makes day-to-day ownership particularly straightforward, with no onboard battery to replace or monitor.

Fair Deal Music Verdict

★★★★★ 5/5

The Orange Glenn Hughes Signature O Bass gets the important part of a signature instrument right: the differences are not limited to a new colour.

The Seymour Duncan SPB-1 gives the Purple model a proven split-coil pickup, while Orange's unusual pickup positioning adds extra focus and midrange character. Combine that with the lightweight offset body, full 34-inch scale and stripped-back passive electronics and you have a bass that is distinctive without becoming difficult or overly specialised.

The Deep Purple finish and chequerboard detailing simply make an already unusual instrument even harder to mistake for anything else.

Best suited for: Rock and blues-rock bassists who want a straightforward passive bass with plenty of visual and tonal personality.

Main benefit: Strong, defined split-coil bass tone from an uncomplicated one-pickup design.

Value proposition: Combines Orange's distinctive O Bass platform with a Seymour Duncan pickup, signature detailing and useful included accessories.

Standout feature: The bridge-shifted Seymour Duncan SPB-1 split-coil pickup.

Customers usually upgrade from: Entry-level passive basses when they want improved hardware, a stronger pickup specification and a more individual instrument.

Most commonly paired with: A quality bass amplifier, compression or overdrive pedal and a reliable instrument cable.

Our tip: Use the Tone control more than you might expect. Fully open brings out the O Bass's attack and midrange bite, while rolling it back can move the same instrument towards much smoother vintage-style sounds.

Showroom feedback: The Glenn Hughes O Bass makes particular sense for players attracted to traditional passive bass simplicity but bored of seeing the same familiar body shapes. It feels straightforward to play while looking anything but conventional.

Why Buy From Fair Deal Music?

When you buy from Fair Deal Music, you're choosing one of the UK's most established, independent family run music retailers since 1987.

Our Birmingham showroom has helped generations of musicians find the right bass guitars, amplifiers and equipment, backed by a knowledgeable musician-led team who understand the products we sell.

When you shop with Fair Deal Music, you can buy with confidence thanks to:

• Expert advice from knowledgeable musicians

• Carefully checked new, used, pre-owned and ex-display equipment

• Competitive prices on leading music brands

• Secure UK-wide delivery

• Flexible finance options available, subject to status

• Friendly support before and after your purchase

• Secure online ordering

• A large Birmingham showroom

• Decades of experience with both new and pre-owned musical equipment

Whether you're buying your first serious bass, looking for a distinctive stage instrument or adding something different to an established collection, we're happy to help you make the right choice.

Trade In. Trade Up. Save More.

Thinking about upgrading? Your next piece of gear could cost less than you think.

We're always happy to consider part exchanges and trade-ins on a wide range of musical instruments and equipment. Whether you're looking to upgrade your guitar, bass, keyboard, amplifier, drum kit or studio gear, your existing equipment could help reduce the cost of your next purchase.

Simply get in touch with our team for a no-obligation valuation, and we'll be happy to discuss the options available.

It's an easy way to unlock the value of the gear you no longer use while making your next instrument even more affordable.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is different about the Glenn Hughes O Bass compared with the standard O Bass?

The Purple Glenn Hughes Signature model upgrades the pickup to a Seymour Duncan SPB-1 and adds the distinctive Deep Purple finish with chequerboard detailing. The core offset O Bass concept and simple passive control layout remain.

Is the Glenn Hughes O Bass active or passive?

It is completely passive, using one Master Volume and one Master Tone control. No battery is required.

Is it a full-scale bass?

Yes. It has a traditional 34-inch / 864mm scale length, giving it the string tension and feel expected from a full-size long-scale bass.

Is the O Bass suitable for playing with a pick?

Yes. The pickup's more bridgeward positioning produces plenty of note attack and midrange definition, making it particularly effective for rock, punk and alternative pick playing.

Can I use the Glenn Hughes O Bass for soul and blues?

Yes. Rolling the passive Tone control back softens the top end and creates a rounder response well suited to warmer blues, soul and vintage-inspired bass parts.

Would this bass suit a beginner?

Yes. The simple two-control electronics make it easy to understand, although it is a full 34-inch scale instrument. It is particularly attractive for a beginner who wants an instrument they can continue using well beyond the early stages of learning.

Can I use effects with the O Bass?

Yes. It works normally with bass compression, overdrive, fuzz, octave, modulation and other effects. Its defined midrange makes it particularly well suited to driven bass sounds.

What is the advantage of the Seymour Duncan SPB-1?

The SPB-1 is designed around classic passive split-coil bass character, providing strong fundamentals, full lows and clear mids. In the O Bass, its unusual positioning gives that familiar pickup concept a more focused Orange voice.

Does it require a battery?

No. The electronics are passive, so the instrument works without a battery.

What amplifier would suit the Glenn Hughes O Bass?

It will work with any suitable bass amplifier. Orange Crush Bass combos are logical partners for home and rehearsal use, while larger bass heads and cabinets make sense for professional live setups.

Final Buying Advice

The Orange Glenn Hughes Signature O Bass in Purple is an excellent choice for bassists who like the simplicity of classic passive instruments but want something with a much stronger individual identity.

Its okoumé body, satin maple neck, purpleheart fingerboard, full 34-inch scale and Seymour Duncan SPB-1 pickup provide a straightforward and highly usable foundation, while Orange's custom pickup positioning adds extra definition and midrange presence.

The Deep Purple finish, chequerboard detailing, padded Orange gig bag and alternative scratchplate complete a signature model that offers genuine functional differences alongside its unmistakable appearance.

For rock, hard rock, blues, soul, indie and alternative bass players, the Glenn Hughes O Bass delivers plenty of character without complicating the playing experience.