Sago Seed Kotetsu Baritone White 2015
Sago Seed Kotetsu model, white, made in China 2015. I've been eyeing this model off in Japan for ages now, and eventually, my curiosity got the better of me: I had to get one to see what it was like. Seed is the offshore-made affordable line owned by high end custom builders Sago, who make incredible stuff in the A$5-10k bracket. This is the signature model for Machiya, guitarist in J-rock outfit Wagakki Band. It's a pretty mental idea: the neck is 33" long and has twenty nine frets. Machiya usually tunes B to B with light strings and often uses a capo at fret five, which turns the guitar back into an almost reasonable 24.75" scale, twenty four fret affair in a standard tuning. You can take the capo off, and there's your baritone notes again: thicc. The neck side-dots are designed to help you along with this kind of approach. But... we couldn't resist setting this up with 12-62 strings in Bass VI-style E-E tuning. It holds that tuning just fine, and the bridge, nut and tuners are much easier to get along with than the Squier Bass VI model in my opinion. It sounds mental: the rumbling low end is super addictive, and you can play stuff on this that's not really possible on a regular bass or a regular guitar. The offset body, German carve and white finish look super fly too. I'm happy to admit this is proper bonkers. But hey... we're all mad here, right?
Model: Sago Seed Kotetsu
Made: China, 2015 approx
Serial: W0246
Finish: white, gloss poly
Body: basswood
Neck: maple, rosewood fretboard, 839/33" scale, 12" radius, 29 frets
Weight: 3.640kg
Mods: none
Pickups: rails humbucker, ST-style single coil, P-90 style single coil
Accessories: none
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has dimples on the end. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor rub wear on the back only. The back has has minor scuffs on the top horn, elbow area and along the back edge. The sides have minor dimples on both horns, in the elbow area and near the jack. The front has minor chips near the knobs and back edge, dimples on the bottom horn, a dent on the top edge up from neck pickup and some play wear on the horns.
Overall: very good condition (8/10)
Playing condition notes: action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh 12/62 Ernie Ball strings.
Fret Life: 8/10, minor wear only