It is with both embarrassment and sadness that I put this bass up for sale.
When I asked Steve and Jill to make me a bass I was sure I would have it until they carted me away. I thought I would be playing until they pried my bass from my dead hands. However, I have not been playing much at all and have not been playing this bass at all.
This bass was custom made in 2009. I don't know whether he made any others like it.
It is a piece of woodworking art with a Macassar Ebony fingerboard
Below is the bass as described by the Azolas.
"Well, the NAMM show is now behind us. We did finish up the Ambassador in time for its debut there. It was met with raves ... which was very gratifying. It's a pretty special bass.
Which brings me to an idea you might want to consider ...
This particular instrument is basically the "next generation" of the bass you have commissioned Steve to build. You've seen how things tend to evolve here. There are a couple of things that are slightly different than what we discussed for you -
The shape is a bit different between the two models, as you can see in the attached photos. Maybe the new shape will appeal to you even more than what we had originally envisioned for you?
We discussed a Mahogany/Maple/Mahogany neck for your bass, but this Ambassador has a lightly figured Maple neck with a modern scroll that has figured Mahogany embellishments on its sides.
The fingerboard is Macassar Ebony with a bit of lighter color in it ... we actually had a lot of people comment specifically about the great feel and playability of the fingeboard and neck during the show.
The bass had gold tuners and Thomastik Spirocore strings on it for the show. The tuners can easily be changed, if you'd prefer black. I had Steve make a quick recording for me, so that I could send it to you. Then he decided to change the strings to the D'Addario Pizzicatos, so he could also record it with those for your listening pleasure and evaluation. He actually thinks there are some things he likes better about the way the bass responds with the Spirocores than with the Pizz strings. I'm sending both sound clips so you can see what *you* think. They will come in a separate email in a few minutes. Hopefully you have reasonable speakers you can listen through?
Here is a specification summary of this Ambassador -
Limited Edition hollow-body Ambassador (includes exotic wood upgrades) Tru-Acoustic piezo bridge pickup system with active 3-band EQ Mahogany knob plate Natural satin finish Hollow-body with proprietary double bass bar system and f-holes Figured Mahogany back and sides with figured Mahogany arc top (The top of the bass is "arced" gently to facilitate the desired vibratory
characteristics.)
Lightly figured Maple multi-piece tilt-adjust neck Optional modern scroll headstock with complementary figured Mahogany embellishments Macassar Ebony fingerboard (some light striping) 41" scale length (per Alan's measurement sent 11/04/08) NO position markers
** Optional D'Addario Pizzicato strings **
** Gold or black tuners **
Adjustable bout & endpin
Optional display / stage stand
Padded gig bag only (included)"
$3500 - I am in the San Jose Area. I prefer that a potential buyer play it first. If shipped Buyer pays shipping based on location
