I finally got my hands on an alpineguitars Precision Bass—a used one that I had been hoping to find for quite some time.
One day, a staff member at Oguchi Gakki contacted me and said that a used alpineguitars Precision Bass was coming in. I went to the store to try it out, and after playing it, I decided to buy it.
I had actually played an alpineguitars Precision Bass owned by an acquaintance before. I was impressed not only by its sound, but also by its excellent body balance and neck shape. Ever since then, I had been thinking that I would love to own one if a used example ever came up for sale.
So today, I’d like to introduce the alpineguitars Precision Bass that I just added to my collection.
Honestly, this bass is in excellent condition, and it is simply a lot of fun to play. I was also surprised by how well an alder-bodied Precision Bass can cut through.
About alpineguitars
I previously mentioned alpineguitars when I wrote about a Stratocaster I had ordered, but I’d like to introduce the brand again here.
Momose has recently changed its headstock shape on its current models. Before that change, however, the company announced that production of the previous specification would be discontinued.
This led a guitar specialist at Oguchi Gakki to have a new brand produced using the same manufacturing process as Momose.
You can find more information about alpineguitars at the following page:
I also wrote about the Stratocaster I ordered in this article:
alpineguitars Precision Bass Specifications
Basically, this Precision Bass was built to the specifications of the Momose MPB-STD/R grade at the time.
According to the previous owner/store information, the wiring materials and capacitor had been replaced and upgraded during maintenance.
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Body | 2-piece Alder |
| Neck | Maple |
| Fingerboard | Indian Rosewood |
| Finish | Top Lacquer |
| Pickup | Yuta? (details unknown) |
| Body Color | Lake Placid Blue |
The specification information is based on the information available for this particular used instrument, so some details—especially the pickup—are still unknown.
First Impressions
As I mentioned at the beginning, I was slightly concerned about how an alder-bodied Precision Bass would sound compared with an ash-bodied Precision Bass.
However, after actually playing it, that concern turned out to be completely unnecessary.
The bass has no problem cutting through at all. In fact, it has excellent clarity and presence.
It was also professionally adjusted after I tried it at the store, so by the time I brought it home, it felt and sounded even better.
After getting home, I compared it directly with my Bacchus Precision Bass, which has an ash body.
I previously wrote about that Bacchus bass here:
alpineguitars vs. Bacchus
In terms of weight, I feel that the alpineguitars is slightly heavier than my Bacchus Precision Bass.
I haven’t actually weighed it, so I can’t say this with complete accuracy, but it certainly isn’t excessively heavy, and the overall balance is very good.
The difference in tone was more interesting.
The Bacchus has a warm and spacious sound. However, some of that openness can make the sound feel slightly less focused.
The alpineguitars, on the other hand, has a thicker and more focused sound. The notes feel like they have more substance and body, while the bass remains well balanced from the high end all the way down to the low end.
Another thing I really like is how naturally the notes come out.
I don’t feel like I have to force the instrument to get the sound I want. I can simply play it, and the bass responds naturally.
It is genuinely easy and enjoyable to play.
To be honest, after playing the alpineguitars, I’ve been wondering how I should approach my Bacchus from now on.
It’s a very good bass, though!
Conclusion
The alpineguitars has the characteristic sound of a Precision Bass, but it also has excellent balance and a very natural response. That’s what makes it so comfortable and satisfying to play.
Compared with my Jazz Bass, I also find the alpineguitars very easy to play. I even made a quick recording to compare the sound, and the result was exactly what I had hoped for.
Now that I have this Precision Bass, my collection includes an alpineguitars Stratocaster, Precision Bass, and acoustic guitar.
I also own a Momose Les Paul, so I now have four instruments that could make an interesting combination for future recordings and videos.
I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of sounds I can create with them.
日本語版 : alpineguitars Precision Bass｜念願だったプレシジョンベース