Bacci Guitars Marleo V 32" Palladium Radiance (pre-owned)

Bacci Marleo V 32" — Palladium Radiance

Bacci Marleo V 32″: handmade in Tuscany

This is the Marleo V 32″ from Bacci Guitars, out of Tuscany, Italy. Above all, Bacci Guitars is Bruno Bacci’s workshop, and every bass that leaves it is built by hand. Basically, the Marleo is their take on a modern bolt-on bass.

For example, you get a sculpted offset body and a carbon fibre pickguard. In addition, there’s a brass bridge Bacci makes for this model only.

A five-string with a 32″ scale

This one is a five-string with a 32″ scale. In other words, it’s a medium-scale five-string, and you don’t see many of those, that’s for sure.

Meanwhile, the colour is Palladium Radiance, a warm metallic grey that changes with the light. Moreover, it still has its Bacci case and the signed certificate of authenticity.

Body, Neck & Woods

The Bacci Marleo bass: alder body

The first thing I notice is how compact this Bacci Marleo V 32″ feels on the strap. Indeed, the body is alder in a thin nitrocellulose finish. Because alder gives you a balanced, even sound with a solid midrange, it’s a really good base for the P and MM pickups.

The Palladium Radiance finish has a fine metallic flake in it. Therefore it looks silver in daylight and more champagne under stage lights. On the back, the body is carved deep where it meets your ribs, which is really comfortable.

Figured maple neck and ebony fingerboard

Similarly, the neck is figured maple with lovely flame from the headstock to the heel. It has an aged-tone nitro finish, which means it feels smooth and natural in the hand instead of sticky.

Furthermore, it’s bolted on with six screws through a Bacci neck plate. As a result, you get a firm joint and a quick, punchy attack.

The fingerboard is ebony with 22 frets, a 12″ radius and diamond inlays. Because ebony is hard and dense, it’s quick. Consequently, the notes speak fast and clearly, and you get a nice, focused top end.

Why 32 inches matters

The 32″ scale is two inches shorter than a standard bass. For that reason, the frets sit closer together, so wide stretches and low positions are much easier on the hand.

In addition, the shorter scale gives the notes a round, warm bloom. However, the low B has a little less tension than on a 34″ bass. Therefore, for me personally, a lighter touch suits it best.

Condition

A Bacci Marleo bass in really good condition

This Bacci Marleo V 32″ is in really good condition. In fact, the finish, the neck and the hardware all look clean, and the bass plays as it should.

It comes with the Bacci hardshell case and the original certificate of authenticity. Furthermore, the serial number on the neck plate is 120BM500029, and it matches the certificate. As always, we’re happy to send close-up photos or answer questions before you buy.

Electronics, Sound & Feel

Nordstrand P and MM

On this Bacci Marleo V 32″, the pickups are a Nordstrand split-coil P at the neck and a Nordstrand MM humbucker at the bridge. First of all, the P gives you the big, round thump.

The MM, on the other hand, adds the snap and bite you know from the classic MM sound. Blend the two, and you get a full, modern tone with a lot of information in it.

Nordstrand 3-band preamp

Furthermore, the preamp is a Nordstrand 3-band. You have volume, blend and a tone control, and then you have stacked bass and treble and a mid control.

In addition, if you pull the mid knob, the mid frequency moves between 400 and 800 Hz. Likewise, pulling the volume knob switches the bass between active and passive.

So you get a lot of range without getting lost. For example, the P alone in passive with the tone rolled back is pure old-school. Meanwhile, the MM in active with a bit of mids is perfect for slap and funk.

What’s not to like?

In short, we really dig this Bacci Marleo V 32″. In my opinion, it’s for the player who wants a five-string that’s easy on the hands, with a handmade Italian build and a flexible P/MM voice.

Finally, it weighs 4.07 kg and ships in its Bacci case. So, what’s not to like?