binky_bass Posted April 12, 2023 Share Posted April 12, 2023 Evening all, Has anyone got any experience with Atelier basses? I have the opportunity to pick up an Atelier Z Beta 6/32, from the little I've heard, these are decent beasts hand made in Japan. Has anyone played one/own one? What's the verdict? Ta! Russ. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueMoon Posted April 13, 2023 Share Posted April 13, 2023 Go for it! Top draw quality instruments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeftyJ Posted April 13, 2023 Share Posted April 13, 2023 (edited) I own an Atelier Z Baby Z-4J, a shortscale 4-string with the basic shape of a Fender Mustang but with modern features - JJ pickups, active 2-band boost-only pre, titanium reinforcement rods (KTS Support) in the neck, quality hardware (Gotoh GB1 tuners and custom Hipshot B-style bridge with 16.5 mm spacing) and their trademark natural finish with plexi pickguard. It's a fantastic beast that plays and sounds fantastic and takes a ridiculously low action, even compared to my longscale basses. It sounds a lot tighter than you'd expect with the 30" scale, it's snappy, punchy, clear and defined. I love it, and there's only one other bass I would trade it for - the same model in reverse PJ! I believe the Baby Z model isn't handmade by Atelier Z themselves though, but rather a limited run built by Fujigen - as are all Atelier Z models with titanium reinforced necks. Atelier Z has two different ranges of Beta instruments: the Beta (high-end, handbuilt in their own workshop) and the Beta DLX (with KTS Support titanium reinforced necks, and quite a bit more affordable). You can tell them apart by looking for the KTS description in the neck specs. I don't know which series the 6/32 belongs to, and can't find it. I did a quick search and don't see this mentioned with the Beta 6/32, so I recon these are actually handbuilt by Atelier Z. Looks like a ton of fun at 32" scale! Edit: needed pics. Edited April 13, 2023 by LeftyJ 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pierreganseman Posted April 16, 2023 Share Posted April 16, 2023 can't go wrong with a Z Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulhauser Posted April 16, 2023 Share Posted April 16, 2023 Hey Russ, this one effectively put an end to my quest of a 5 string superjazz. I got this 5 years ago, still have it and still regard it as one of the finest crafted instruments I ever laid my hands upon Atelier Z M-265 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulhauser Posted April 17, 2023 Share Posted April 17, 2023 @binky_bass come to think of it I've written a NBD post here so it'll give you a better idea.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueMoon Posted April 17, 2023 Share Posted April 17, 2023 I liked my first M245 Custom so much, I’ve some how accumulated a few more Atelier Z’s. Gratuitous pic time: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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