Meridian Guitars Aural 5 Amara Ebony

Meridian Guitars Aural 5 — Amara Ebony

Handmade in Avezzano

Meridian Guitars is one man’s workshop in Avezzano, in Abruzzo east of Rome. There, Davide Cardone builds every instrument by hand. Moreover, he is unusually particular about his wood. In fact, Meridian works with stock that has been seasoning for 25 to 35 years.

However, on this bass that isn’t just a slogan. The spec sheet shows that the mahogany in the body was cut in 1982. Similarly, the maple in the neck was cut in 1986.

The Aural shape

The Aural is the most sculpted shape in the Meridian range. For example, it has a long upper horn, a deep cutaway and edges that flow all the way round. Furthermore, this one was finished in August 2026 and carries serial number 00566. Davide has also signed it on the back of the headstock.

In short, it’s a 34″ five-string with an Amara ebony top, Bartolini pickups and a John East preamp. In addition, it weighs just 3.9 kg.

Body, Neck & Woods

The body

The body is khaya mahogany, 38 mm thick, with a top of Amara ebony. Mahogany gives a bass a warm, round low end and a full, singing midrange. Because wood this old has had decades to settle, it’s also light, stable and very resonant.

The ebony top, on the other hand, adds what mahogany alone can lack. As a result, you get a firm, fast attack and clarity in the upper mids. Its dark and reddish brown stripes run the full length of the body. In addition, a pale accent line between top and body follows every curve.

Finally, the finish is a thin satin. Therefore the wood can move, and it feels like wood under your arm.

The neck

The neck is hard rock maple, bolted on, with a headstock faced in matching Amara ebony. Maple brings snap and a clear fundamental. Meanwhile, the bolt-on joint keeps notes punchy and quick off the string.

Likewise, the fingerboard is Amara ebony. It has 24 frets, a flat 16″ radius, oval inlays and aluminium side markers.

Zero fret and scale

At the top of the neck sits a zero fret with a carbon fibre nut behind it. Consequently, open strings ring off fret wire, just like fretted notes. Also, the first-fret action is set by the fret height instead of the nut slots.

The scale is 34″, so the reach feels familiar from the first note. Therefore any standard long-scale five-string set will fit. Furthermore, the low B gets its focus from the stiff maple neck, the ebony top and the old wood.

Electronics, Sound & Feel

Pickups

The pickups are a pair of Bartolini P2 dual coil soapbars. Bartolinis are known for a warm, smooth and very even voice. As a result, the low end stays tight, and there’s no harshness on top.

In addition, a three-way coil selector switches them between series, single coil and parallel. First, series is the thickest and loudest, with more low mids. Second, single coil is brighter and more articulate. Finally, parallel sits in between, open and clear.

Preamp

The preamp is a John East Uni-Pre, one of the most respected onboard preamps there is. You get volume, balance, bass and treble. Moreover, the mid control has its own frequency sweep.

Therefore you can move the mid band exactly where you need it. For example, go lower for body and punch, or higher for bite and definition. A treble boost switch also adds extra top for slap and chords.

Furthermore, the active/passive switch takes the preamp out of the circuit. Even then, you still have a passive tone control. As a result, you can play it flat and woody or shape it as much as the room demands.

Our take

The Hipshot A-style bridge and Ultralite tuners in black keep the weight down and the balance right. Consequently, at 3.9 kg this is an easy bass to wear for a whole evening.

In our view, the Aural is for the player who wants a true one-off from a small workshop. Above all, it has a warm, detailed, grown-up sound. Moreover, the electronics go from fat and vintage to modern and hi-fi. Finally, it comes with a Meridian ecologic leather gig bag and a certificate signed by Davide Cardone.