Bacchus Handmade Series Woodline Ash 5, brown oil finish, made in Japan 2004-5. We love these Bacchus basses around here, and just about everyone who plays one in the shop falls in love too. Bacchus is part of the famed Deviser Group, a small-scale company building instruments by hand in Aska, Japan under the careful eye of master luthier Yasuo Momose. They're known for ludicrously high build quality and meticulous wood selection, and this is a great example on both counts. The neck is a combination of tightly grained quarter-sawn rock maple and dark as midnight ebony, carve din a modern C to D profile with a generous taper and finished in a slick oil and wax. It feels amazing in the hands: sturdy and straight, fast and easy to move on and perfectly spaced to balance comfort and accuracy. The body is two pieces proper high grade swamp ash, joined right in the centre... it's resonant, well  balanced and looks amazing. The brown oil finish is designed to fade and rub, similar to good denim, so there's some fun natural wear in the high contact areas which lend the bass a pragmatic aesthetic. The Bacchus original two piece bridge, headstock design and angled neck joint are designed to get the best resonance out of the  body across a broad frequency range, so that low-B string comes out sounding tight, thick and full. The tone is mammoth: huge weighty lows, rich and expressive mids and a top end that snarls or sings depending on your attack. Many passive J-style five strings come off sounding a little vague and flubbery, but this is brimming with tight, fat punch. These seldom pop up for sale outside Japan, so if you're after a five that absolutely kills, here's your shot!

Model: Bacchus Handmade Series Woodline Ash 5
Made: Japan, 2004-5, Aska workshop (serial 128306)
Finish: oil finish over brown stain
Body: ash, two-piece
Weight: 4.680kg
Neck: maple with ebony board, 12" radius, 34" scale, modern C-D shape neck
Mods: strap pins replaced
Pickups: Bacchus JB AL-V single coil x2
Case: none

Cosmetic condition notes: mild finish wear. The headstock has minor marks on the end and bottom edge. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, just rub wear and some minor scuffs on the back. The back has widespread light scuffs and surface scratches, no major marks though. The sides have minor dimples around the whole body, no major marks. The front has quite a few dimples around the bridge and in the elbow area, some rub wear and scuffs around the elbow area, scuffs near the jack and play wear on the guard and horns. Please note that these oil style finishes are designed to fade and wear, so that's all part of the aesthetic. Overall: good condition (7/10)

Playing condition notes: action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electrics tested and working properly. Frets have some minor wear but are looking great, 8/10 for life left. Set up with 45/130 strings.