ACG Finished Work.

[Skelf]

A few pics of my most recent finished work.


Fretless 4 Finn prototype. First bass to have a piezo bridge feeding one of the lowpass filters in the pre-amp and the RFB feeding the other. This allows full EQ of the piezo and blending of the piezo and magnetic pickup.

Recurve 4 with Black Limba body Splated Beech top and an acrylic impregnated finger board.

[Skelf]

The owner picked up this bass today.


First 4 string single cut.
Amboyna top mahogany core with a flame sycamore back. 5 piece maple/mac ebony neck with an Ebony finger board. 2 RFB with the ACG EQ01 pre-amp.

[kesslari]

Beautiful work, Alan.

[Skelf]

Thanks very much.


This bass just delivered today.

4 piece wenge/bubinga body. 7 piece maple/wenge neck with an Acrylic impregnated Ziracote finger board.
ACG EQ01 pre-amp with 18 volt supply, ACG FB pickups with coil switching,low battery indicator.
Hipshot Type A Ultralites and Schaller straplocks.
Finish lacquer.

[mikezimmerman]

Both basses are stunning, Alan. I particularly like the back on the Harlot 4--love the way the light sycamore and maple look against the darker mahogany core and the black/ebony accents!

Mike

[Skelf]

Thanks Mike.
Very pleased with the back of the Harlot and will certainly try that wood combination again.

Alan

[CTbass&birdsong]

Beautiful basses...can you pm me a build price list?

[Skelf]

Blackheart Sassafras top with a white limba body.
Purpleheart/wenge /flame sycamore neck with acrylic impregnated Zebrano finger board. Zebrano knobs made by THG.
SB and FB narrow format passive electronics volume 4 way rotary switch used to combine the picks. This gives you bridge/bridge/neck in series?bridge/neck in parallel/neck.
Second rotary switch is for coil switching in the neck pickup.
A good range of sounds are produced with this set up.

[mikezimmerman]

Very elegant wood combination on that one, Alan. The blackheart sassafras is an unfamiliar wood, but the figure is very striking and the color blends very well with the zebrano and white korina. The zebrano knobs reinforce that, then the purpleheart gives a splash of contrasting color. Cool!

Since you almost never use your pickups without a preamp, what are your impressions of the passive setup on this one?

Mike

[Skelf]

Mike
This is my first ever passive bass being a firm believer in active basses. I was really quite pleased with it. Again first time I have used my own pickups without the filter pre-amp,I have always been happy with the pickups they work well with the pre-amp and I now know why. They are very nice in a passive set particularly the SB single coil. I have just used them in a inventory bass and I really liked them they work just as well in the passive set up. I will be recommending them without on reservations they sound great and are really quiet. The switch in the bass I have used before and also really like it. It is the Dingwall switch and is a great piece of kit. It gives you 4 distinct sounds without any need for a tone control. So in short I am pleased with the passive set up from a sound point of view but it would still be my preference to use my own pre-amp as it greatly extends the range of sounds you can get from the bass.
Cheers
Alan

[Skelf]

Body core in Swamp Ash with a Mahogany top.
7 piece Wenge/Maple neck with a book matched Acrylic impregnated Spalted Maple finger board.
2 ACG FB pickups with coil switching and a Hipshot A Type bridge with piezo saddles.
Bridge pickup and piezo are switchable before the feed into the lowpass filter on the ACG EQ01 pre=amp. This allows the bass to be set up as bridge pickup and neck pickup or piezo and neck pickup. Full EQ of the piezo is allowed with his set up and blending between the piezo on the neck pickup.

Body core in Swamp Ash with a Mahogany top.
7 piece Wenge/Maple neck with a book matched Acrylic impregnated Spalted Maple finger board.
2 ACG FB pickups with coil switching and a Hipshot A Type bridge with piezo saddles.
Bridge pickup and piezo are switchable before the feed into the lowpass filter on the ACG EQ01 pre=amp. This allows the bass to be set up as bridge pickup and neck pickup or piezo and neck pickup. Full EQ of the piezo is allowed with his set up and blending between the piezo on the neck pickup.
East low battery indicator.

[lespaulmarshall]

Beautiful work mate. I really enjoyed looking at these pictures

[beelzelboss]

those are B-E-A-utiful...

That last one is what a 9 string? (sorry been looking at the screen for a while and the lines just turn into bluriness. can't really tell) That is incredible! Is it a short scale to? (or maybe it just seems that way because its so much wider than a standard)

WOW!

Craig

[Skelf]

Thanks guys.
Yes 9 string 35" scale. As you suspected the size of the body makes the neck look a bit shorter than you would normally expect.
Alan

[Skelf]

Just out the door today.
Very pleased with this bass. I have always liked headless basses so was very pleased to get the chance to build this one. Dave has been great to work with and it has been a real joint effort.

Spec
Camphor Burl top and back with a Flame Sycamore body. Bubinga/Flame maple neck with a bookmatched Acrylic Impregnated Spalted Maple finger board. The fingerboard and the Camphor both came from Larry at Gallery Hardwoods.
Custom 15 mm string spacing ETS bridge/tuners and ABM headpiece.
ACG SB pickups and the EQ01 pre-amp.
Oil finish.

[mikezimmerman]

Beautiful! It's interesting that the oil finish came out as shiny as it did, but it looks great with those woods.

Mike

[Skelf]

Mike
I went looking for something that would give the Camphor a bit more protection as it is quiet soft. I found an oil which was described as a hard wax oil which is specifically used on floors. It sets harder than the usual oil I use so I think that is why it has buffed up a bit more than usual. I also put some wax on it as the last part of the finishing. It is not quiet as shiny as the pictures suggest and I am pretty happy with the new oil and will use it again. Next oil finish will be on ebony and wenge so back to the usual oil for that as there are no worries about any of it being as soft as the camphor.
Alan

[david_l_perry]

OK...just got back from the band rehearsal......and first chance to crank my new headless up...

Alan...its a monster....

I was so concerned about getting the tone I like with this new bass....

As soon as I plugged in I obtained one of the best and most articulate bass tones I have ever had the pleasure of working with......I know this sounds like a huge statement, but honestly, its just an enormous sounding bass.

I cannot explain the relief I felt. The bass plays like a dream, but most importantly it feels so comfortable and familiar, massively in part to the work Alan did to obtain the narrow string spacing of my Status, and measurements he took of the fingerboard.

I have been playing the same Custom made Status Empathy 5 string for the last 10years, and another 5 string status series II (with the same neck and spacing) for several years before that. I am one of those guys who does not change basses often, and am very comfortable with what I have, and how it should sound. I knew the bass would play well, but the sound was THE biggest concern for me, ......but damn what a massive sounding instrument he has created.....The single coils are fantastic, and very quite (other than the enormous sound of bass twangy goodness....)

When I got in from work today I got the Status out and expected (and quite rightly so) to feel 'more at home'....It took me less than a few seconds to instantly recognise that the Harlot has grabbed me and wont let go.

Alan....I salute you sir.....you have one very, very happy customer...unfortunately one who ain't likely to buy another bass for another 10 years...

Dave 'damn I'm happy' Perry

[BigHands]

That fret board is rediculous.. in a good way! Absolutly stunning!

[Skelf]

Larry does produce some excellent materials which I am fortunate enough to get my hands on.

Alan