FuruSamples has released FuruBass-JB1965 Lite, a free vintage Jazz Bass library for the full version of Kontakt.
The library is based on a real 1965 Fender Jazz Bass, sampled using the recording setup of Takahiro Furukawa, the bassist, composer, and producer behind FuruSamples.
The important thing to note right away is that this is the Lite version of FuruBass-JB1965, not the full paid library. The free edition includes the fingerstyle articulation library and the BaMix tone, which blends the DI and amp signals into a more finished bass sound. It also requires the full version of Kontakt.
The full FuruBass-JB1965 library adds pick and slap performances, Line and Amp tone options, the complete articulation system, and removes the Lite version’s time limitation. The full version is currently listed at $39 on the FuruSamples website.
Even with those limitations, the free Lite version offers solid bass sounds. It is designed as a load-and-play Kontakt instrument with no key switches or complicated menus, so you can program bass parts without stopping to manage a large articulation map.
The Lite version includes alternating index and middle finger picking for more natural repeated notes, velocity-based slide-ups, ghost notes, string touch noises, and multiple glissando variations. You can also use the sustain pedal (MIDI CC64) to switch into Mono and Legato behavior for more realistic connected notes.
FuruSamples also sent me a recent Real Bass vs MIDI Bass video, and it is worth watching if you want to hear how realistic this kind of programming can get.
The video compares real bass and MIDI bass using similar phrasing and playing approaches, including fingerstyle, slap, and pick examples.
Just remember that slap and pick are part of the full FuruBass-JB1965 library, not the free Lite version. The older sound demo on the Lite page also showcases the full version, while the Lite download itself is limited to fingerstyle and the BaMix tone.
There are a couple of other limitations to know about. After 20 minutes of use, the Lite interface becomes greyed out, and a periodic voice reminder announces “FuruBass-JB1965 Lite.” That makes it more of a free usable intro to the full instrument than an unrestricted free bass library.
But good free bass libraries are still rare, so I’m sharing them here anyway. You can still render your bassline to audio before the time limit hits and treat it as a regular bass guitar recording in your DAW.
Also, the license allows use in music productions, including commercial releases.
FuruBass-JB1965 Lite requires the full version of Native Instruments Kontakt 5.8.1 or later on macOS or Windows. It is not compatible with the free Kontakt Player, and there are currently no SFZ or Decent Sampler versions.
Download: FuruSamples FuruBass-JB1965 Lite (FREE)
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Last Updated on May 30, 2026 by Tomislav Zlatic.
