For Sale: 1980s AMPEG AEB-1 Scroll Bass - Reissue/Prototype 
Well... I never really expected to sell this, but I'm getting to the point where I play the same three or four basses all the time, keep a few others around that have a really unique voice (or are a special breed- fretless, 8string, etc...), and I'm finding that the rest end up sitting around lookin' pretty. The sad thing is - they are REALLY nice basses that should be getting played. I just sold my old Ovation Magnum-I here for this same reason, and now its time for the Ampeg to find a home where it'll get some use!
This is a very strange beast. According to Bruce Johnson (who apparently also has one like this) this was a short-lived attempt at a AEB-1 reissue that was sponsored by St. Louis Music (owners of Ampeg at the time) back in the mid-1980s. Here's a copy of some correspondence between Bruce and I regarding this bass:
>Hello Bruce,
>
>I'm writing in hopes that you might have some insights into the origins of a particular AEB/AMB-hybrid-style scroll bass that I am hoping to acquire. Here is a link to some photos of the bass:
>
>[broken link removed]
>
>The seller of this bass claims that it is a 90s Ampeg reissue. I'm aware of the basses w/Turner pickups that you crafted for distribution and sale thru SLM - and this does not look like one of those to me. I'm not aware of any other scroll basses being built or distributed by SLM.
>
>Thank you in advance for your time, and any info you might be able to offer.
>
>Kindest Regards,
>Joe
>
>
>
Hello Joe;
Thanks for writing! This is actually a rare instrument here in the US. It's not one of mine, nor is it an original '60's Ampeg. This is one of the Japanese clones, which were made by one of the large Japanese instrument manufacturers (I forget which one) around 1985 under license from St. Louis Music. They were to be sold only in Japan, so only a few have made it to the US. I have one, in the all-black finish, in my own collection. I bought it from SLM around 1997; it was one of a couple of prototypes that had been sent to SLM for approval. This red/black one
that you're thinking of buying is probably another one of the prototypes that wound up being sold off through an employee. I don't know how many were made and sold in Japan; probably just a few hundred. I think the license was only for one year.
Please pass this info along to the owner. I don't want him to be selling it while misrepresenting it as one of my AEB-2's. He's welcome to contact me if he has any questions, but what I've described above is about all I know. In the mid '90's, the folks at SLM had very little records or memory of the deal.
Bruce Johnson
Johnson's Extremely Strange Musical Instrument Co.
119 W. Linden Ave.
Burbank, CA 91502 USA
818-955-8152 shop phone
www.xstrange.com
xstrange@earthlink.net
So there you have it. In all the years I've been watching for scroll basses, I've never seen another one of these for sale. So if indeed a few hundred were produced, I have yet to see one on the market. I'd really appreciate any info if anyone here has seen another floating around!
My rationale for buying the bass was this:
1) I wanted a scroll bass because they make me all
2) The original AEB-1s have pretty beefy necks (and I like skinny necks), and then there's the whole mystery pickup thing. Wasn't sure I'd find that very useful, and I really hate to chop up an old one in order to put a conventional magnetic pickup in there.
3) The AMB-1s that featured a more conventional magnetic pickup are pretty scarce, and there's the still the issue with the neck profile
4) Bruce's basses are gorgeous, but there's the added cost (rightfully so) and wait time
5) Then there was this bass! It had a lovely fast, slender neck, STUNNING fit and finish, a more usable pickup arrangement (compared with the old AEBs) - and at a cost that was a little easier for me to absorb compared to one of Bruce's creations.
...and so I chose this bass.
It unfortunately had been designed around an active setup that sounded very.... 80s. It had a sort of scooped-mids "slapper tone" to it. Being that I wanted to actually play the bass, I removed that active setup, and rewired it using a new Rio Grande Pitbull pickup (fit the bass' pickup cavity perfectly) with vol/tone and push/pull coil tap (new pots, high quality braided wiring). It sounds AMAZING now - growly, and not unlike an old P-bass with something extra. All the original wiring harness and pickup is still intact and preserved, and could be installed again if desired (nooooo). I will include it with the bass.
The bass is constructed of maple. The neck has a stunning flame to it, and the body is built just like the old ones (3-piece top with back laminate)... but better. Instead of a 1/4" plywood back, this bass features a 1/4" maple back. It has the exquisite detailed routing inside the F-holes, and the finish is expertly done. The scroll headstock is also highly detailed, and doesn't utilize plastic inserts like the originals. Its all maple, and the finish (and burst!) even extends inside the scroll!
There are a couple of scratches on the back (in the finish only), and some minor dings and chips on the headstock, and a few very minor divets on the neck. Fingerboard and frets are in great shape.
The bass weighs 9.2 pounds, is a 34" scale, and the neck is 1 9/16" at the nut with a shallow C profile - the neck absolutely smokes! This bass can be vintage or modern, loves fingerstyle or slap, balances well with my Levi straps, and its comfy to gig and play for extended durations.
There is a rugged, padded gig bag included that is apparently original, and even has the Ampeg logo screened on the front of it. Kinda looks like a modernized version of the 60s ones but in a tough black canvas. I forgot to photograph the gig bag, but will do so and add some pics later...
No longer for sale, but enjoy the pics! 
. There are no markings, serial number, dates, etc... Not even in the neck pocket:
