MARUSZCZYK basses / BACCHUS basses - Any feedback / advice?

David Sutkin

David Sutkin

“Bass Upfront” Founder
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Apr 20, 2017
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#1
If anybody here on TB has experience with either of these 2 basses or manufacturers, can you give me some feedback on whether they are actually as awesome as they sound on the Youtube videos that are posted?

It's virtually impossible to find a retailer to try one out here in the NYC Metro area. I don't even think they have a retailer anywhere in the US actually.

I've been looking at these 2 basses for a long time now and I'm really leaning towards the
Maruszczyk ELWOOD 4A ABSOLUTION BASS - (Made in Poland)







AND / OR

BACCHUS basses (Japan) - The black oil stain look with matching headstock, the clear pickgaurd and beautiful inlays make this a really beautiful bass (IMO). The Youtube videos for these basses also have them sounding amazing.

upload_2017-4-30_8-52-31.png



Anybody have experience with either of these? - Thanks
 

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#2
BK bassist said:
If anybody here on TB has experience with either of these 2 basses or manufacturers, can you give me some feedback on whether they are actually as awesome as they sound on the Youtube videos that are posted?

It's virtually impossible to find a retailer to try one out here in the NYC Metro area. I don't even think they have a retailer anywhere in the US actually.

I've been looking at these 2 basses for a long time now and I'm really leaning towards the
Maruszczyk ELWOOD 4A ABSOLUTION BASS - (Made in Poland)







AND / OR

BACCHUS basses (Japan) - The black oil stain look with matching headstock, the clear pickgaurd and beautiful inlays make this a really beautiful bass (IMO). The Youtube videos for these basses also have them sounding amazing.

View attachment 1120763


Anybody have experience with either of these? - Thanks
Click to expand...

I've got a Mensinger "Joker" bass which is unlikely to be of interest to you....

I suggest doing a search on this site using Maruszczyk as the subject and ticking the "Titles Only" box.....

You'll find a lot of stuff.....:thumbsup:....

Can't help with the Bacchus stuff....Sorry....
 
#3
Fat Freddy said:
I've got a Mensinger "Joker" bass which is unlikely to be of interest to you....
Click to expand...

Freddy, thanks for this ..... it led me to this video and NOW I HAVE TO stay home to learn this bass transcription of "No Quarter" .... WOW, is that sweet!!!! - BIG thanks!!!

FYI - Skip to 4:08 to go right to the cover

 
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#4
BK bassist said:
Freddy, thanks for this ..... it led me to this video and NOW I HAVE TO stay home to learn this bass transcription of "No Quarter" .... WOW, is that sweet!!!! - BIG thanks!!!

FYI - Skip to 4:08 to go right to the cover

Click to expand...

It was that very video (and Adrian's rendition of "No Quarter") that made me decide to buy a Joker in the first place.....:D
 
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#5
Fat Freddy said:
BK bassist said:
Freddy, thanks for this ..... it led me to this video and NOW I HAVE TO stay home to learn this bass transcription of "No Quarter" .... WOW, is that sweet!!!! - BIG thanks!!!

FYI - Skip to 4:08 to go right to the cover

Click to expand...

It was that very video (and Adrian's rendition of "No Quarter") that made me decide to buy a Joker in the first place.....:D
Click to expand...

Just curious.... how much was it?
 
#9
I don't have experience of Bacchus, but I own 3 Maruszczyk basses. I find them really well made and cheap for what you get. The best part is that pretty much you can specify anything you want, with some various options adding little (or nothing sometimes!) to the final cost.
My first one was a pretty standard Jake (Precision shape) with a P and a double J pickup. I specified glossy lacquered neck finish, and the neck dimensions/profile (I like them a bit bigger than their stock ones). The cost was only about £50 more than a standard one, and I think that was just because of the lacquered neck.
It's a beast.
Then I went for a more custom Jake, with a single Delano P pickup reversed and closer to the bridge, I added a nice bridge and tuners, tinted lacquered neck, and my band logo on the headstock... it was a bit more expensive but not much. Again, neck profile/size was specified by me, with big side fret makers... and they nailed it. It's also my lightest bass at around 7.3lbs, without neck dive, just beautiful.
Finally, a few months ago, I decided I wanted a Jazz... but I never liked the big Jazz body and thin neck. So again, based on their Jake model, I specified essentially a Jazz on a Precision configuration, with very nice see-through textured finish, tinted lacquered neck (dimensions again indicated by me), big side fret markers and no markers at all on the top... It again weighs at around 7.5lbs
Every single one of those ended up costing less than a USA Fender, and I think they're better made. They come standard with a decent gigbag, very nice wide padded leather strap, the usual tools, and the last one came with Schaller straplocks too that I didn't specify (I removed them as I use the 'Grolsch beer bottle' rubber rings).
9-10 weeks from order to delivery...

If you have any alteration you might like to a standard model, just ask. They will do almost anything, I find.

If I decide to finally get a 5-string Stingray with 19mm spacing... I know where I'll get one now.
 
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#10
mcnach said:
I don't have experience of Bacchus, but I own 3 Maruszczyk basses. I find them really well made and cheap for what you get. The best part is that pretty much you can specify anything you want, with some various options adding little (or nothing sometimes!) to the final cost.
My first one was a pretty standard Jake (Precision shape) with a P and a double J pickup. I specified glossy lacquered neck finish, and the neck dimensions/profile (I like them a bit bigger than their stock ones). The cost was only about £50 more than a standard one, and I think that was just because of the lacquered neck.
It's a beast.
Then I went for a more custom Jake, with a single Delano P pickup reversed and closer to the bridge, I added a nice bridge and tuners, tinted lacquered neck, and my band logo on the headstock... it was a bit more expensive but not much. Again, neck profile/size was specified by me, with big side fret makers... and they nailed it. It's also my lightest bass at around 7.3lbs, without neck dive, just beautiful.
Finally, a few months ago, I decided I wanted a Jazz... but I never liked the big Jazz body and thin neck. So again, based on their Jake model, I specified essentially a Jazz on a Precision configuration, with very nice see-through textured finish, tinted lacquered neck (dimensions again indicated by me), big side fret markers and no markers at all on the top... It again weighs at around 7.5lbs
Every single one of those ended up costing less than a USA Fender, and I think they're better made. They come standard with a decent gigbag, very nice wide padded leather strap, the usual tools, and the last one came with Schaller straplocks too that I didn't specify (I removed them as I use the 'Grolsch beer bottle' rubber rings).
9-10 weeks from order to delivery...

If you have any alteration you might like to a standard model, just ask. They will do almost anything, I find.

If I decide to finally get a 5-string Stingray with 19mm spacing... I know where I'll get one now.
Click to expand...
Thank you very much, I had a feeling I was going to get good feedback about them.

Thanks for taking the time to write this post, cheers!
 
#13
Hi,

Never tried a Maruszczyk but I own a Bacchus 5er, the one in my avatar. I bought it while visiting Japan (couldn't miss the opportunity :D). I tried a few in shops, including the higher end models Woodline MIJ and settled for mine, an HJB5 handmade in Philippines (so the global series I think). Love it, that's the best jazz I ever played. Note the finish was not stunning though: there were some sharp frets that I took care of myself. However, I am pretty sure the finish on MIJ Bacchus would be stellar.

Cheers,
 
#14
mcnach said:
I don't have experience of Bacchus, but I own 3 Maruszczyk basses. I find them really well made and cheap for what you get. The best part is that pretty much you can specify anything you want, with some various options adding little (or nothing sometimes!) to the final cost.
My first one was a pretty standard Jake (Precision shape) with a P and a double J pickup. I specified glossy lacquered neck finish, and the neck dimensions/profile (I like them a bit bigger than their stock ones). The cost was only about £50 more than a standard one, and I think that was just because of the lacquered neck.
It's a beast.
Then I went for a more custom Jake, with a single Delano P pickup reversed and closer to the bridge, I added a nice bridge and tuners, tinted lacquered neck, and my band logo on the headstock... it was a bit more expensive but not much. Again, neck profile/size was specified by me, with big side fret makers... and they nailed it. It's also my lightest bass at around 7.3lbs, without neck dive, just beautiful.
Finally, a few months ago, I decided I wanted a Jazz... but I never liked the big Jazz body and thin neck. So again, based on their Jake model, I specified essentially a Jazz on a Precision configuration, with very nice see-through textured finish, tinted lacquered neck (dimensions again indicated by me), big side fret markers and no markers at all on the top... It again weighs at around 7.5lbs
Every single one of those ended up costing less than a USA Fender, and I think they're better made. They come standard with a decent gigbag, very nice wide padded leather strap, the usual tools, and the last one came with Schaller straplocks too that I didn't specify (I removed them as I use the 'Grolsch beer bottle' rubber rings).
9-10 weeks from order to delivery...

If you have any alteration you might like to a standard model, just ask. They will do almost anything, I find.

If I decide to finally get a 5-string Stingray with 19mm spacing... I know where I'll get one now.
Click to expand...
Pics???
 
#15
Here's the one I have my eye on ..... she's a beauty.

The see through / clear pickgaurd compliments the beautiful oil stained body and the block inlays in the neck are sweet too.

There's a few youtube videos of cats playing these and they sound great..... I'm just not sure how heavily processed the audio is.

upload_2017-4-30_18-38-50.png


 
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#19
I played a few Maruszczyk... they really give you a lot for the price. I played an Elwood and it sounded very good, much better than any Fender in a relatively close price range.
I also played (I think) a couple of Frogs or maybe a Frong and a Paddock? Not sure... but they sounded nice, felt nice, looked nice. Not a lover of "colored" basses but for the price I thought they were amazing.
I remember one of them had maybe Bassculture pickups, the other one had Maruszczyk pickups, I think... I liked them both, maybe the Bassculture pickups a bit less.
 
#20
A wee heads up for dealing with Adrian at Maruszczyk. He runs a small shop and English isn't his native tongue so expect short some would say abrupt answers to any questions. This is not a criticism,it's just the way he works. Customer service is a whole lot different here in Europe so don't take it personally.

His basses are great BTW :thumbsup:
 
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