Ultra J5 Essence (Honey Burst)

Review of the Anaconda Ultra Essence J5 Bass - to be updated after I have tried with the band, but these are my interim thoughts, and ramblings. I miss old style bass magazine reviews. With the information on the internet, you quickly realise it is often cut and pasted from the manufacturer’s website / press release, often with little or no editing. It feels like reading a dry and biased view of the product. I grew up on reviews in the Bassist magazine, where they were never critical, but you could read between the lines. 

The Ultra Essence is a bolt on Jazz style 5 string. The body is Alder, and the neck is maple, reinforced with carbon fibre, with a 20” radius Indian laurel fretboard, with pearloid inlays. The black hardware feature tuners by Gotoh Lightweight RES-O-LITE, both smooth tuning and light. The 5 string neck is 48mm wide at the nut, and the other end of the 21 frets and 34.5” scale length are Sung II Monorail saddles, which are spaced at 19mm for all models. The factory fitted strings are D’Addario Nickels. 

The electronics are an in house designed hum-cancelling AC5-TN pickup, the AC3-TZ preamp is new for 2023. Working from the neck end of the bass, it features a stacked volume and passive tone (works in active too), a pickup blend, mid, stacked bass and treble. Apart from the volume and passive tone they all have centre detents. The preamp is comprehensive, the mid control is a push / pull pot, which changes the centre frequency between 250 and 800Hz, there is a gain pot to adjust the output level (I left it alone). There are cost options of a bright switch and battery life indicator. 

Despite my introduction, that was from Anaconda’s website, because I wanted to get the details right, but from now on is my personal views on this bass. I first tried an Anaconda bass in May 2022, it was the last of the previous batch Andrew Taylor-Cummings had made. He is easy to talk to, and we reassuringly established we had a number of mutual acquaintances in the bass building business over the last 40 years. I liked that bass and I decided to order one, but there was a snag. The basic instrument is made overseas before Andrew completes the final set up and quality control for shipping, however the overseas company was changing, and a number of design and cosmetic changes were being introduced. This meant the delivery took quite a while, was it worth the wait?  

I had wanted a Daphne Blue bass with maple neck, but during the ordering process I “got confused” and ended up going for a very vibrant yellow to red sunburst over a flame maple type finish. Known as “Honeyburst”, with matching headstock, it really stands out. First impressions are it is well made. The website quotes a weight of 4.0 to 4.4kg, mine was pretty much in the middle at about 9.25lbs. The neck has changed subtly from the previous version, it feels wide, but shallow for a Jazz bass. Frets are well finished, and no sharp fret ends, the back features a satin finish. It is not heavy, and balances well. 

Acoustically it is resonant and bright. Plugging in confirms this, with a clear and articulate tone. The extra 0.5” scale length and carbon reinforcing probably add to the sustain and clarity. The active electronics are switchable, and in “passive mode” the bass sounds even across the strings and up and down the neck. Panning between the pickups gives the variation of tones you would expect, while the passive tone takes the edge off the new strings, without making it sound dull. The active circuit really opens things up. Old-time reviewers would often say to be careful boosting the controls, especially the bass, and here the cut and boost range is substantial. I was not sure I would need the switchable mid frequency, but with it pushed in, a little cut combined with a bass and treble boost gave a super scooped tone. Moving towards the bridge pick up, pulling the mid out and boosting the higher frequency gave that mid-range hump beloved of fast finger players. On top of that the passive tone can be used to smooth out the top end in active mode too. I see that being really helpful to avoid having to fiddle with the active tones mid song. Getting used to the circuit you really appreciate it has a really significant effect, it needs relatively little movement of the control to start changing things. Like all good circuits it feels fairly intuitive, the core sound is good but can be adjusted easily by slight tweaks of the different controls. I compared circuit noise levels with class leading units, this wasn’t too scientific as it depends on the pickups too, but the AC3-TZ preamp is as good as the best. If it was available for sale, I would probably put it in at least one of my basses.

The Ultra Essence reminds me of jazz funk / gospel basses with those deep lows, and bright high ends. The neck profile reinforces that, it is easy for me to play a bit faster for slap style yet it is not a one trick pony. I am not sure how this will fit in a rockier setting, but adding mid / lo warmth is a lot easier than getting definition from a bass / pickup that are lacking.  I really like this bass, I have yet to play it in a band, what sounds good solo doesn’t always sit in a band mix, but I already like the character of this bass. Playing on my own chords and harmonics ring out really well. The low B is clear and focussed and well matched for volume and tone with the other strings. 

On the subject of fitting in, there are a number of high end and volume brands operating in this price range, using a mixture of offshore manufacturing with market-based design and finishing. I think this competes pretty well, I briefly looked at a “bright” signature model from one of the big names, and I think while it is good, it gave the impression of being mass produced and the hardware perhaps not quite so well chosen. The price comparison was very close. 

Any criticisms? Not really, I adjusted the action very slightly down at the bridge (personal taste), the master volume was slightly “scratchy” at first, but is sorting itself out with use. The bass looks stunning and at this price point the spec is pretty much nailed down. In an ideal world I would have gone for a maple fretboard with black dot markers, but that level of customisation is not available at this price point.  At the time of “going to press” this bass costs £1330.1 with a gig bag, and in my opinion, sounds like a bass costing more.

And on Bass Review by Jon Farr 19/10/2023

Ultra J Essence Press Release appears in Bass Musician Magazine : October 15th 2019

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Bass Guitar Magazine Review: November 2019

Issue 174

Anaconda Ultra J Essence

"A seriously great bass, how have they done it for the price?" 

Plus: Lightweight, power tones.

Minus: Extras add to the cost, but at the player's discretion.

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Bass Guitar Magazine - April 2019.

Anaconda Basses features in Bass Guitar Magazine.

Click to see article by Hywel Davies. 

Following an interview at Winter NAMM 2019, Music & Trades Retailer Magazine featured Anaconda Basses in their "New Class 2019" section of their March 2019 Publication. Page 60.

Summary

"Anaconda Basses has received plenty of attention from the U.K. market since the company’s inception, consistently receiving ten-out-of-ten reviews from Bass Guitar Magazine for both sound quality and build quality, and even winning Best Fretted Bass of 2018 in the 1000 to 2000 pound category in the magazine’s January issue" 

Click for full article

Bass Guitar Magazine - January 2019, Issue 164.

Proud to have won the, Best Fretted Bass Award 2018 (£1000-£2500) category.

Anaconda Ultra J4E-Elite

"Another fine example from the Anaconda stable, with high-quality spec and tones to die for. Did we mention its near-perfect playability?" 

Bass Guitar Magazine Review: October 2018

Anaconda Ultra J4E Elite

"A real show stopper.  As much of a ‘steal’ as a £2200 bass can be." 

Pros: Excellent tone range and component quality.

Cons: Nothing.

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Bass Guitar Magazine Review: February 2018, Issue 152

Anaconda Ultra J6E Elite

"Superb build; state-of-the-art tones.  A breathtaking instrument that will supply a lifetime of bass tones." 

Build Quality: 10/10

Sound Quality: 10/10 

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Bass Guitar Magazine Review: October 2017

Anaconda Tribute J5E Elite

Verdict:

"A fine instrument in every respect and a joy to play." 

Pros: Stunning looks, fabulous sounds and tones..

Cons: Nothing.

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Bass Guitar Magazine Review: January 2017

Issue 139

Anaconda Crusher CXZ5F Zenith

"Immaculately presented bass, huge tonal pallette, amazing comfort and playability.  A hugely rewarding bass experience.  Buy and enjoy." 

Build Quality: 10/10

Sound Quality: 9/10 

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Bass Guitar Magazine Review: October 2015

Anaconda Crusher CXE5 Elite

"Immaculately presented bass, huge tonal pallette, amazing comfort and playability.  A hugely rewarding bass experience.  Buy and enjoy." 

Build Quality: 10/10

Sound Quality: 10/10 

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Anaconda Constrictor CSE5 Elite

"Thunderous five-string display.  Astounding playability and sonic performance.  A truly impressive bass: eye-catching construction with great features. Extremely desirable." 

Build Quality: 10/10

Sound Quality: 10/10 

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"If you’re looking for a relatively affordable custom instrument stacked with options with great sound and highly playable design, then Anaconda should be high on your list of UK-made basses to check out." 

Jazzwise Magazine..

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