Atelier Z Baby Z 4PJ Transparent Yellow 2012
Atelier Z Baby Z, yellow, made in Japan 2012. Atelier Z is a Tokyo based custom builder of guitars and basses, launching in 1989 under the care of luthier Kokichi “Johnny” Motohashi. They're most famous for their hyper-playable, modern Jazz Bass style offerings, and find considerable favour with the pro end of the market in Japan. I've been hoping to score a Baby Z for the shop for ages, so I was pleased to land this little cutie. The basic recipe is this: take the comfy, lightweight, super cute Mustang Bass body shape, but dial the woodwork in to an extremely high standard, give it some deluxe hardware some modern electronics with plenty of tonal options and punch, and voila... the Baby Z. There's two versions, one with a JJ pickup set and one with a P/J set. The electronics are well thought out: a volume for each pickup, and then a stacked control to boost, but not cut, treble and bass. A fun starting point is the P pickup alone: warm, vintage-style tones with a gorgeous plump bottom end and naturally short sustain. I also really enjoyed adding a little bit of the J pickup and boosting the bass a nudge, for a slightly more assertive take on that tone, or running just the J pickup and cranking the bass boost for some aggressive dirty rock sounds. It's a simple setup, but dang: there's heaps to play with there, and it's very easy to find sounds that make sense and feel great to play. Fender branded short scales tend to be a little more lo-fi, but this takes the best of those sounds and offers a whole bunch more. The neck is beautiful to play and the body is so light and balanced, it's a joy in the hands. The finish is called 'blonde', but to my eye it's a pretty rude bright yellow, with a bit of grain on show. I love it, it looks fantastic, especially with the matching headstock. If you want a short scale but can't manage the unrefined examples you've previously tried, this is your Baby.
Model: Atelier Z Baby Z 4PJ
Made: Japan, 2012
Serial: 050891
Finish: blonde (more like yellow), gloss poly
Body: alder, three piece
Neck: maple, rosewood fretboard, 30" scale, 38mm nut, 12" radius, slim C shape
Weight: 3.570kg
Mods: none
Pickups: Atelier Baby Z P/J split and single coils, active boost-only bass/treble EQ
Accessories: Atelier Z gig bag, basic docs
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has dimples on the end and borttom edge. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples and rub wear on the back only. The back has dimples around the string bushings, scuffs in the elbow area and some rub wear in the elbow area, top horn and middle of the body. The sides have scuffs in elbow area and near the jack and some dimples on the bottom horn. The front has scuffs around the jack and knobs, dimples in the elbow area and play wear on the guard and horns.
Overall: very good condition (8.5/10)
Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh 45/105 Moonshiners strings.
Fret life: 8/10, minor wear only