Kikuchi Guitars is a new high-brand by Yoshiyuki Kikuchi (and Okada International), who has earned the trust of many professional bassists, especially for his work with Sadowsky.
The first products were all one-off custom models, whereas the Hermes series is a mass-produced model with fixed specifications.
It may be a bit of a misnomer, but the Sadowsky Metroline of the Japanese-made era is the Hermes series, while the TYO is the custom model.
The design is based on the JB, one of the most established of the many basses designed by Kikuchi-san.
It is a refinement of his work to date, and has been put together to look more like a modern bass.
The body is made of alder and the fingerboard is rosewood, a classic choice.
While many Custom models have a chambered body, the Hermes Series basses are all solid-body.
Some people prefer a solid body (I personally prefer a solid body). (Personally, I preferred the solid body.)
The shape is dinky, not full-size.
This is one of the differences between this and the Three Dots that the company produces.
The PU is a split coil type, manufactured by DiMarzio.
This is also similar to the Sadowsky Metroline when it was made in Japan.
What makes it unique is that it is low noise and trebly.
Passive pickups for 5-string JBs often do not have the treble of a 4-string JB.
You won't find a shortage of such points here. Attractive.
The preamp is a custom type designed by EMG especially for this model.
It has a simple specification, boosting bass and treble only.
This fits perfectly as it should.
When boosted, the peak of the mid-range dip is exquisite and the bass seems to tighten up in a stylish way.
And yet it doesn't lose its bass-like character and retains a beautiful overtone feel.
The two-band EQ eloquently illustrates the meaning of boosting.
Controls are volume, balancer, tone (preamp bypass with push/pull SW) and treble/bass.
For this model, there is no control plate to make the most of the beautiful top wood.
The string height at shipping is low, but not as low as the Custom model, and its playing comfort is very good.
It is also comfortable for those who normally play Fender-style basses with a Fender-like setting.
The precision around the neck, which has always been particularly highly regarded, is excellent and its quality is well demonstrated.
The neck shape is a little flat and thin.
It also feels like a trendy shape for a 5-string JB in recent years.
One of the factors that makes the difference between a 4-string and a 5-string is the difference in neck mass.
The neck is thinner and narrower, and this design makes it feel less like a 5-string bass, in a good way.
It is characterised by an extremely fast, speedy playing feel.
Yet it has a sufficient amount of bass and a treble-rich, trebly sound with plenty of overtones.
This is a supreme bass made possible by Kikuchi's modern bass production.
Model : 4st or 5st
Body : Ash 2-Piece (Solid) or Alder 2-Piece (Solid)
Neck : Maple, Thin Matte Nitro
Fingerboard : Maple or Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius : 12″ (305R)
Nut Material: Tusq
Nut Width: 4st: 37mm, 5st: 46mm
Fret: 22F
Scale: 864mm (34″)
Bridge: 4st: Hipshot 20mm spacing, 5st: Hipshot 19mm spacing
Tuner: Hipshot License Ultra-Light
Pickups: 4st: DiMarzio 4HC in 60's Locations, 5st: DiMarzio 5HC in 60's Locations
Preamp: Kikuchi Guitars Original Preamp
Controls: Master Volume, Pickup Balancer, Passive Roll Off Tone (w/Pull Switch for Preamp Bypass), Treble/Bass Boost
Body Finish: Polyester
String: 4st: D'Addario .045 - .105, 5st: D'Addario .045 - .130T
Case: Original Semi Hardcase
Accessories: Original semi hardcase
Text: Shunsuke Saga
Inspection : Shinohara
With manufacturer's warranty
Ships in a sturdy cardboard box.
Also available for international shipping.
Contact Info
LINE : vwj2699r
email : info@bassick.jp
tel : 045 534 7133