Bacci Guitars Amrita Michael League Signature Fretless (pre-owned)

Bacci Amrita Michael League Signature — Fretless

Michael League’s Amrita

This is the Amrita Michael League Signature from Bacci, out of Tuscany, Italy. Basically, it’s Bruno Bacci’s collaboration with Michael League of Snarky Puppy, and it’s limited to just 40 pieces.

Above all, the Amrita came out of a multi-year search for a bass that, in League’s words, needed nothing changed. In fact, for me personally it’s one of the most distinctive basses in the modern boutique world. This one takes the same recipe and pulls the frets off. As a result, you get an ebony board under your fingers and a lot of vocal, sliding expression.

Woodworm-aged alder

What makes an Amrita an Amrita is the body. Specifically, it’s alder that’s been aged and bored through by woodworm. Bacci treats those tiny wormholes as natural tonal chambers. In other words, it looks like a solid body, but it breathes like a semi-hollow.

Therefore it’s light, airy and resonant in a way a plain plank of alder simply isn’t.

Body, Neck & Woods

Alder in thin nitro

The body is finished in thin nitrocellulose, because that lets the wood move and vibrate freely. Meanwhile, the wormholes left behind by the larvae act as tiny acoustic chambers throughout the body. As a result, the body is lighter, and you get that airy, percussive resonance. It’s full and warm. However, it has an openness most solid-body basses can’t touch.

Balkan flame maple neck

The neck is figured Balkan flame maple, bolt-on, finished in the same aged-tone nitro. Bacci’s build philosophy is all about locking the neck and body into frequency alignment. In fact, you feel it as sustain. The notes ring on, and I would say it almost sounds like there’s a touch of natural reverb in the bass itself.

Ebony fretless board

The fingerboard is ebony, unlined and fretless. Ebony is dense and hard, which means that a fretless gets its bite and clarity from it. For example, you get that glassy attack under the warmth.

Furthermore, it stands up to years of roundwound wear far better than softer boards. At the same time, against the warm, woody alder body, the ebony keeps the top end clear and detailed. Consequently, the mwah stays singing and doesn’t turn to mud.

Condition

Condition

This Amrita is in near-mint condition, close to how it left Bruno Bacci’s bench. However, the ebony board has a little string wear. Otherwise, the nitrocellulose finish, the hardware and the electronics all present clean, with no notable wear to call out.

Case and photos

It ships in its original Bacci hardshell case. In addition, as with any pre-owned bass, we’re happy to send detailed close-up photos or answer specific questions before you buy. Just reach out.

Electronics, Sound & Feel

Aguilar 4P-HOT split-coil

A single Aguilar AG 4P-HOT split-coil sits in the sweet spot. Basically, it’s the over-wound version of Aguilar’s 4P-60, with larger 6 mm pole pieces. As a result, you get hotter output, thick lows and a growly midrange. However, it still keeps all the dynamics in your right hand. On a fretless that midrange really matters, because that’s where the mwah lives.

Volume and tone, that’s it

Furthermore, the wiring is passive and refreshingly simple. In other words, it’s volume and tone, and nothing in the way. For example, roll the tone back and the Amrita does a convincing old-school P-bass thump. In contrast, open it up and the woodworm body and ebony board bring out an airy, detailed top that’s all its own.

Is that a lot of range for such a focused setup? Indeed it is.

What’s not to like?

In my opinion, this one’s for the player who wants something really rare under their hands. Specifically, it’s a fretless that’s warm and vocal but never woolly, and it’s light on the shoulder. Moreover, it’s built by one of the most original luthiers working today.

After all, there are only 40 Amritas in the world, and fretless ones are rarer still. Therefore, if that’s your kind of bass, my advice is to get in touch. So, what’s not to like?