Franz Bassguitars Merak 5 Spalted Alder LTD 2024
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Franz Bassguitars
Merak 5 Spalted Alder LTD 2024
Product Info
Article Number:
609758
Brand:
Franz Bassguitars
Model:
Merak 5 Spalted Alder LTD 2024
Category:
5-String Basses
Price:
$4,114.00
* Prices may vary. Check retailer for current pricing and availability.
The Merak 5 is a seriously refined instrument. The combination of the alder body, unique fingerboard, and Häussel pickups results in a warm, punchy tone with plenty of growl, especially when dialed into its passive mode. This bass is perfect for the discerning player seeking a high-end, versatile 5-string with a distinctive aesthetic.
Product Description
- Franz Bassguitars Merak 5 Spalted Alder LTD 2024
- 5-String Electric Bass
- 2024 Limited Run
- Body: European alder
- Top: Bush-hammered alder
- 3-Piece bolt-on neck: Maple with smoked oak stripes
- Fingerboard: European smoked eucalyptus
- Laterally offset 3 mm Mother of Pear Dot fingerboard inlays
- Neck finish: oiled and waxed
- Matching headstock (both sides)
- Scale: 864 mm (34")
- Nut width: 47 mm
- Pickup: 2 Häussel Jazzbucker humbuckers in ebony housing
- Bell sound active/passive 2-band electronics with passive tone diaphragm
- 2 Humbucker/single coil switches
- 1 Volume control with push/pull function for active/passive switching
- 1 Balance
- 1 bass and 1 treble control (dual pot)
- ETS 3D bridge with strings through body
- 19 mm string spacing
- Tone Schaller Light machine heads
- Black hardware
- Colour: Natural matt
- Includes case
- Made in Germany
PROS
- • European alder body offers exceptional resonance and sustain.
- • Häussel Jazzbucker humbuckers deliver a powerful, articulate tone.
- • Smoked eucalyptus fingerboard provides a unique feel and warmth.
- • Active/passive switching provides tonal flexibility for diverse genres.
CONS
- • Spalted alder bodies are visually unique, potentially limiting availability.
- • Premium-priced, making it a significant investment for many players.
- • 864 mm scale may feel slightly longer for players accustomed to shorter scales.
Product Video
Key Features
Body Material
European alder with spalted top
Neck Material
Maple with smoked oak stripes
Fingerboard
European smoked eucalyptus
Pickups
Häussel Jazzbucker humbuckers (ebony housing)
Scale Length
864 mm (34 in)
Frets
24, likely medium-jumbo profile
Strings
5-string, likely balanced nickel alloy
Weight
Approximately 9.5 - 11 lbs (4.3 - 5 kg) - alder is a dense wood
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Frequently Asked Questions
Active mode provides enhanced clarity and a broader frequency range, while passive mode delivers a warmer, more vintage-inspired sound with a more natural compression.
They are purely decorative, offering a subtle visual accent without luminescence – a design choice prioritizing elegance over practicality.
The offset promotes comfortable access to the higher frets, potentially benefitting players with larger hands, though it's a subtle ergonomic enhancement.
