Review: Olinto Relic Bass

In the increasingly crowded world of high-end P-style basses, the Olinto is among the very best

Review: Olinto Relic Bass

In the increasingly crowded world of high-end P-style basses, the Olinto is among the very best

To some players, only a boutique custom-designed bass can serve as reliable evidence of a luthier’s vision and skill. For them, it’s only when a luthier executes on a singular vision for a bass design — and doesn’t merely emulate an existing one — that their true talent is on display. There’s some truth there, sure, but I tend to be more inclusive when it comes to judging bass builders. To me, it can be more impressive when a luthier takes a dead-simple existing design, like the Fender Precision, and configures it in such a way that it showcases their keen musical ear, attention to nuance and detail, and insightful ability to craft something delicious out of simple ingredients. Achieving aesthetic perfection without distracting gilding can be a display of true mastery, like when a Michelin-starred chef makes an omelet or Ray Brown walks a chorus of blues. The Olinto Relic P-style bass is like that perfect omelet. If you have a keen eye, you’re probably looking at it and
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