AC Guitars Announces RetroB Basses

[TalkBass]

Alan Cringean of AC Guitars is giving a nod to the past with his new RetroB line of bass guitars. Alan wanted to design an instrument that was "a clear nod to the past, had a comfortable aesthetic being familiar on the eye, but retained modern sensibilities and features while still being recognisable as an ACG instrument".

"On top of the overall look the instrument would follow a more traditional construction method and pallet of woods. Alder and Swamp Ash body, Figured Maple tops with or without colours,one piece necks ,a first for ACG, 22 fret Rosewood and Maple finger boards. They will also feature what are standard on all ACG instruments, East Tone UK electronics, ACG B Series pickups and carbon reinforced necks. Currently available in 4/5 string with a J pickup configuration and P single pickup version.

"So a radical bass for ACG in that it is conventional in most aspects, with the admission we are all standing on the shoulders of those that brought the bass guitar into this world. "

AC Guitars | Website for AC Guitars

 

[two fingers]

Yowzuh! That satin violin style finish is beautiful

 

[pudgychef]

Interesting take on P and J basses..

 

[BrentSimons]

Alan Cringean of AC Guitars is giving a nod to the past with his new RetroB line of bass guitars. Alan wanted to design an instrument that was "a clear nod to the past, had a comfortable aesthetic being familiar on the eye, but retained modern sensibilities and features while still being recognisable as an ACG instrument".

"On top of the overall look the instrument would follow a more traditional construction method and pallet of woods. Alder and Swamp Ash body, Figured Maple tops with or without colours,one piece necks ,a first for ACG, 22 fret Rosewood and Maple finger boards. They will also feature what are standard on all ACG instruments, East Tone UK electronics, ACG B Series pickups and carbon reinforced necks. Currently available in 4/5 string with a J pickup configuration and P single pickup version.

"So a radical bass for ACG in that it is conventional in most aspects, with the admission we are all standing on the shoulders of those that brought the bass guitar into this world. "

AC Guitars | Website for AC Guitars


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Wow! those are beautiful.
Brent

 

[Daz JP]

He does make some superb instruments. Really top notch and so beautiful. There's quite the following on Basschat on our side of the pond.

 

[bunkie]

Gorgeous bass, but it looks like they forgot something to me. I couldn't live with this. Looks incomplete to me.

 

[hondo4life]

Never heard of this company, but everything on their/his website is beautiful. I suppose I will never afford one.

 

[smperry]

Gorgeous bass, but it looks like they forgot something to me. I couldn't live with this. Looks incomplete to me.

It's intentional I'm sure. It's a spoke wheel to adjust the truss rod (also used by EBMM and others). It's easier to adjust from here than from the headstock. Great feature, not an oversight!

 

[beaglesandbass]

It's intentional I'm sure. It's a spoke wheel to adjust the truss rod (also used by EBMM and others). It's easier to adjust from here than from the headstock. Great feature, not an oversight!

Agreed, I prefer them at the base of the neck

 

[pica]

I couldn't find any prices on his website. Just a £600 deposit.

 

[kodiakblair]

@pica

It varies with the spec but Alan's creations start about £1800,same price as a mass produced Fender Elite. Not a lot of money for a very high quality hand build bass. Reports I'm hearing from the London Bass Guitar show this weekend is his order book will again be filling up fast

 

[Daz JP]

Yep - he uses super versatile filter preamps too: you can get pretty much any tone you want if you spec it right.

 

[cnltb]

I don't like the colour at all!
All else is ok.

 

[Skelf]

Hi
Thanks for the positive comments guys really appreciated.

I have always used the spoke wheel just makes more sense to me from an adjustment point of view and removes the need to remove more wood from the headstock end of the neck.

The colour can be whatever you want providing I can do it.


New website in the works which will have full pricing details. The RetroB basses will have a very limited set of options and because of that a pretty much fixed price. The 4/5 string single pickup version will be £1875 with the dual pickup 4/5 version being £1975.

Alan

 

[Kirk Bryant]

Sweet! These prices are quite reasonable for a hand made bass with high end components. I'd rather have this than a fender at this price point. And I love fender basses, heck I own 11 of them. That two PU version is sexy as heck. Make that in a Trans-blue and it would look sick.

 

[Skelf]

Thanks Kirk.

Alan

 

[bruce bennett]

Interesting take on P and J basses..

I was thinking "it looks like a Tobias".. but what do I know.

 

[pudgychef]

I was thinking "it looks like a Tobias".. but what do I know.

I based that on PU placement and the stated design intent of paying homage to those traditional designs...
Finish, definitely not F inspired

 

[strost]

Saw this on the website. Hubba hubba.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Scoopbass]

I own the first Retro B out of Alan's workshop, the four string sunburst pictured in the OP above (plus another 13 ACG basses and 1 guitar). The bass is everything that you would hope it to be. No handbuilt instrument is going to be inexpensive but Alan's match the prices of some factory made instruments from the likes of Warwick and Fender to name but two, so they're incredible value for money.