Description
The WL5-ASH feels distinctly high end with few indicators of its mid-price point. The blue stain finish over white ash body is stunning. Bacchus achieves this amazing feat through strict quality control oversight by Japanese master luthiers and stringent selection of high-quality materials. This bass weighs in at 10.74 pounds.
Bacchus makes incredible necks, and the neck on this WL5-ASH is just another example. It has a fantastically smooth satin finish, gorgeous figuring in the flame maple, and very comfortable and quick D-shaped profile. If you are not familiar with roasted maple, the wood is heated at high temperatures to volatilize the moisture and oils in the wood, thereby increasing its rigidity. The resulting sound is a rich, organic sound with a vintage-like tone that is reminiscent of an instrument that has aged its sound with time and usage. It’s also stunningly beautiful. Fret finishing is excellent for this price point, with no evidence of rough edges or fretboard marring.
The bridge is high quality, and similar in design to a Gotoh 201B, with solid mass and plenty of adjustability. The bass has a great, resonant tone unplugged, which is always a good sign. The Bacchus pickups offer a good representation of the sound of this instrument, with clarity, focus, and good extension down to the lowest notes. There is a pleasing balance of bass, mids, and treble, perhaps leaning slightly towards a brighter modern tone. The bridge pickup has detail, punch, and growl without getting too much honk. The neck pickup is full without too much boominess or flabbiness. For added versatility and more girth, pull up the tone knob for “Turbo mode”, putting the pickups in series for a humbucker-like sound. While Turbo is engaged, the neck pickup volume control dictates the volume of the whole system, and the bridge pickup volume control is bypassed.
Please note that this guitar is in fantastic condition overall with protective plastic still on the pickguard and chrome control plate. Signs of wear are minor, and not noticeable without close inspection. I have attempted to highlight any wear in the photos. There are some dents on the very top of the headstock, a scuff on the top back of the headstock, surface scratches and tiny dents on the back of the neck. and a dent on the side of the neck. None affects playability or function of the instrument. I did not notice them at all while playing to test setup and electronics. On the body, there are minor surface scratches on the bottom between the strap button and control cavity (not noticeable from the front). There are minor surface scratches or buckle rash on the back. None of the body scratches are deep or through the urethane finish and could probably be polished out if you are so inclined. There are some scratches on the neck plate.
The WL5 offers incredible value and will arrive ready to rock out of the box. It has been inspected and set up, including cleaning, string replacement, truss rod adjustment, intonation, and string height adjustment upon arrival. This bass has been set up with medium-low action with no buzzing. There is minimal to no fret wear, and the truss rod has plenty of adjustment room. The original Bacchus gig bag, tools, and Certificate of Authenticity are included.
Ask any questions you may have prior to purchase, I’m happy to provide any details I have. I want to make your purchase experience as enjoyable as possible, and never sell any instruments I wouldn’t be proud to add to my personal collection. I take extra care in selection, cleaning, setup, photography, description, packing, and shipping every instrument as if it were my own. I want to ensure you receive the instrument as expected and it’s ready to enjoy for years to come. Upon purchase, please allow up to 2-3 business days for final inspection, packing, and shipping.
Serial Number: GI07580
Year of Manufacture: 2020
Country of Manufacture: Indonesia
Body: White Ash
Neck: Roasted Maple
Fingerboard: Roasted Maple
Nut: GraphTech TUSQ XL
Bridge: Bacchus JB bridge w/ brass saddle
Tuners: Opengear
Fret: Nickel Silver
Pickup: Bacchus Original JB set
Control: 2 Vol, 1 Tone (Pull-up = turbo switch)
Scale: 34inch
Width at Nut: 46.0mm
Finish: Urethane
Accessories: Gig Bag, Allen Wrench, Certificate of Authenticity
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