Hello!
I’m Oda, the Bass specialist at TCGAKKI!
TCGAKKI is now carrying “16 Bass Guitars,” a line created by professional bassist Ichiro Fujitani!
Mr. Fujitani is not only a professional bassist active in numerous performances but also shares his knowledge with many bassists through his YouTube channel, “16 Bass Lesson,” and private lessons.
He is also a player who continues to explore and study a wide variety of Bass guitars every day.
In fact, he previously featured TCGAKKI in one of his videos, and we’ve had a connection ever since.
It is Mr. Fujitani who founded 16 Bass Guitars.
The brand’s concept is
“to deliver truly great Basses to as many bassists as possible.”
What struck me when I actually played them was that, while I could sense a deep understanding of vintage Basses, he is by no means solely focused on vintage models.
While the rich tone and unique character of vintage basses are certainly appealing, they aren’t necessarily the best choice for today’s music scene.
16 Bass Guitars is characterized by its ability to retain the best aspects of vintage basses while crafting a sound that’s easy to work with in a live setting!
Since we’ll be carrying these models, we spoke with Mr. Fujitani in detail—please check out the video at the top of this post!
Here are the two models we’ll be carrying!
JIMINY JB Contemporary Model
This is a JB-style model.
While it features classic specs—an alder body and rosewood fingerboard—the sound is balanced with a very modern sensibility.
It has ample low-end presence, yet the low-midrange is tight.
It gives the impression that its core tone comes through clearly even within a band ensemble.
The controls—a master volume and a pickup balancer—are a bit unconventional, but the setup is actually quite simple.
They’re intuitive to use and seem easy to handle during live performances.
By shifting the balance toward the front pickup, you can achieve a fat, Precision-like tone, so I felt it was a versatile instrument capable of handling a wide range of performance situations with just one guitar.
JIMINY PB Zenith
This is a PB-style model.
It features the characteristic power of a Precision Bass, while boasting a low end that doesn’t bloat unnecessarily and a well-defined midrange.
The neck features a 38mm nut width, offering a slimmer feel than a standard PB.
Another appealing feature is its high playability, allowing even Jazz Bass users to switch to it without feeling any discomfort.
“I like Precision Basses, but sometimes I find them a bit tricky to handle.”
This is definitely a guitar we’d recommend to anyone who feels that way.
TCGAKKI is the only place in Tokyo where you can try it out!
Please come by and try it out for yourself!