Edwards E-PB-83/LT, sunburst, made in Japan 2011. Edwards is the vintage style division of ESP Guitars, so they offer Fender and Gibson inspired designs with some modern functionalities and millimetre-perfect Japanese build quality. This is a take on the classic 50s style P-bass, so you get some vintage appointments: spiral saddle bridge, single ply guard, cloud-style tuners, mildly chunky neck with a maple board and a vintage tint and an alder body. You also get some modern touches: a great Seymour Duncan pickup with a coil-tap to run in series or parallel, tall frets and a flatter board and a nitro topcoat finish to give it that 'wears in quickly' feel. It's a great sounding bass: heaps of punch, rounded lows, warm snarly mids and a snappy treble, especially in parallel mode. The neck features some attractive tightly grained maple and feels very sturdy and slick in the hands, it's classy. This one is part of the 'Lacquer Touch' series, so the sunburst finish is blessed with a thin nitro topcoat. That lends it a certain slight cloudiness that reflects light a bit differently, which looks amazing up close in the flesh. This is beautifully made bass, it certainly creates confidence in the hands. To get a new Fender with these specs you'd be up for at least three times the cash, and just quietly, it probably wouldn't be better.

Model: Edwards 'Lacquer Touch' E-PB-83/LT
Made: Japan, 2011 (serial ED1120665)
Finish: two tone sunburst, nitro topcoat, single-ply white guard
Body: alder
Neck: maple inc board, 10" radius, 34" scale, 42mm nut, 50s C-shape
Weight: 4.375kg
Mods: tone capacitor replaced
Pickups: Seymour Duncan SPB-2 split single-coil, series/parallel via coil-tap
Case: basic non-original gig bag

Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has some minor marks on the end.  The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples on the back only. The back has no major marks, just some minor scuffs on the bottom horn and bottom corner and along the belly carve. The sides have a little bald patch near the rear strap pin and a dent in the elbow area, as well as some minor scuffs on the horns and near the jack. The front has no major marks, just some scuffs around the bridge and some play wear on the guard and top horn. Overall: very good condition (7.5/10).

Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. Frets have minor wear only; 8/10 for fret life left. All electrics tested and working properly. Set up with fresh 45/105 Moonshiners strings.