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ACG 9 STRING!!
- Thread starter 7string
- Start date
Here's the latest from the ACG workshop.
Here's the fingerboard glued onto the neck and fretted with a large amount of fretwire....
This ERB is looking better and better with every update
Here's the fingerboard glued onto the neck and fretted with a large amount of fretwire....
This ERB is looking better and better with every update
I'm really, really pleased with how the instrument is turning out.
Alan described the construction of the fingerboard as "a challenge". It's definately a challenge he has won though.
No ETA at the moment, but I'm not worried about that at all. These things take time and I know that if Alan has a problem then he'll just give me a call or an e-mail. To be honest, we really took our time getting the spec together and so (hopefully!) we've got any problems covered.
I think that sorting a spec is the hard work which goes unseen before the construction can start. With a spec as initially complex as the 9 was, it did take a few months overall to fully complete the specification and this was work which Alan had to do after he was done building basses for the day.
As you know, the research for a new custom build can be fun for us as customers as we only have to think about what our bass is going to be like. Alan, like all luthiers, has to change mentality from bass to bass in order to make sure that each customer is getting exactly what they want. Sorting out specs and getting in tune with each customer is a skill which definately goes unnoticed, but one which is central to the success of today's bass builders.
Alan described the construction of the fingerboard as "a challenge". It's definately a challenge he has won though.
No ETA at the moment, but I'm not worried about that at all. These things take time and I know that if Alan has a problem then he'll just give me a call or an e-mail. To be honest, we really took our time getting the spec together and so (hopefully!) we've got any problems covered.
I think that sorting a spec is the hard work which goes unseen before the construction can start. With a spec as initially complex as the 9 was, it did take a few months overall to fully complete the specification and this was work which Alan had to do after he was done building basses for the day.
As you know, the research for a new custom build can be fun for us as customers as we only have to think about what our bass is going to be like. Alan, like all luthiers, has to change mentality from bass to bass in order to make sure that each customer is getting exactly what they want. Sorting out specs and getting in tune with each customer is a skill which definately goes unnoticed, but one which is central to the success of today's bass builders.
Things are coming along quite nicely. Here's the headstock....
…and a shot of the entire neck
The tuners aren't the actual ones that are going to be used (the proper ones will be black) but it gives the idea
Alan asked me if it was OK to angle the tuners back towards the body (which it was). This has two effects. Firstly, it makes the tuners easier to reach and also shortens the overall length of the headstock to improve the overall balance of the bass.
I'm really pleased with the overall look of the headstock and the v-shaped grain of the mahogany running down the middle. This headstock is different from ACG 9 No.1 and goes to show the attention to detail which Alan brings to all the instruments he builds. The designs of the basses aren't set in stone and if a change can be made for the better then it'll be changed.
This constant development of bass design is a real testament to Alan's passion and commitment towards building his instruments.
…and a shot of the entire neck
The tuners aren't the actual ones that are going to be used (the proper ones will be black) but it gives the idea
Alan asked me if it was OK to angle the tuners back towards the body (which it was). This has two effects. Firstly, it makes the tuners easier to reach and also shortens the overall length of the headstock to improve the overall balance of the bass.
I'm really pleased with the overall look of the headstock and the v-shaped grain of the mahogany running down the middle. This headstock is different from ACG 9 No.1 and goes to show the attention to detail which Alan brings to all the instruments he builds. The designs of the basses aren't set in stone and if a change can be made for the better then it'll be changed.
This constant development of bass design is a real testament to Alan's passion and commitment towards building his instruments.
- Dec 21, 2007
- 15,222
- 45,010
- Disclosures
- Lark in the Morning Instructional Videos; Audix Microphones
No, ERB's are alive 'n' kicking (at least in my house anyway).
More info on ACG can be found at www.acguitars.co.uk
More info on ACG can be found at www.acguitars.co.uk
I've got to admit that it's turning out to be quite an amazing ERB. There's a lot of very busy figuring to the woods, but they're going to blend together excellently.
I spent a lot of time deciding whether to go for a 9 as it involved selling a few instruments, including my double bass which was a blast to play and a very hard thing for me to part with.. Once I'd made the decision though, it was all systems go!
I contacted a few luthiers, but commissioned Alan as I believed he could create something very, very special indeed. Every step of the process to make ACG9 No.2 a reality has been so enjoyable, with e-mails going back and forth for the spec.
Since the build has started though (and as I've mentioned before) it definately is not a case of there's a spec so that's that. The spec's been more of a guide and we've had a few conversations about little details which might or might not need altering, so it's been a very dynamic process.
Add that to the fact the every progress photo has been quite mind-blowing and I really can't be happier with it all
I spent a lot of time deciding whether to go for a 9 as it involved selling a few instruments, including my double bass which was a blast to play and a very hard thing for me to part with.. Once I'd made the decision though, it was all systems go!
I contacted a few luthiers, but commissioned Alan as I believed he could create something very, very special indeed. Every step of the process to make ACG9 No.2 a reality has been so enjoyable, with e-mails going back and forth for the spec.
Since the build has started though (and as I've mentioned before) it definately is not a case of there's a spec so that's that. The spec's been more of a guide and we've had a few conversations about little details which might or might not need altering, so it's been a very dynamic process.
Add that to the fact the every progress photo has been quite mind-blowing and I really can't be happier with it all
Yesterday, I went to see Alan to finalise the electronics and control layout on the 9.
Alan has built a 4 string fretless bass which uses an ACG magnetic pickup and piezo pickups from a Hipshot bridge. These signals then run into the ACG-01 filter preamp. I have to say that this combination was mightily impressive !! This could be one of the only basses around which has a piezo pickup running through a filter preamp.
I've already mentioned on here (and on other threads) just how powerful the ACG filter preamp is and in combination with a piezo pickup it really is amazingly flexible. There is no harsh clack-clack sound from the piezo, the filter-based preamp takes care of that, so you end up with a really rich and round bottom end. Using this in combination with the magnetic pickup and using extremes, you can set a really cutting trebley sound with the magnetic and a dub/reggae sound with the piezo and blend between the two sounds which are the polar opposites of each other. This bass really did have sounds for all occasions.
On the 9, we've decided to go with 2 magnetic pickups, the bridge one is in the larger housing and a narrower neck pickup. ACG pickups have different magnets for each position: ceramic in the bridge and an alnico in the neck, giving a combination of punchiness and roundness. I'll quickly say here that these are not custom magnets for the 9, the different magnet materials are offered as standard on all of Alan's basses.
Each pickup will have series/parallel switching, but there will be a third switch to flick between the bridge and piezo pickups. This means that I can run the piezos through the ACG-pre instead of just adding a plain, unshaped piezo signal to the magnetic pickups. Not being able to shape the piezo output might even mean that it's OK at best and unusuable at worst. Being able to shape the piezo signal and then blend it in with the neck pickup is going to give the bass more flexibility. In this mode, I could even have the piezo or the neck pickup on it's own, shaped with the ACG-01 pre.
It's one of those things which is easier to see than it is to write about. In a nutshell, is effectively a 3 pickup bass (neck, bridge, piezo) with a switch between pickups 2 & 3. The two signals being used go through the ACG-01 pre and can be merged together by the blend pot.
Now that the control layout has been finalised, Alan can finish the body and drill some holes. This is easier said than done as the body has to be carefully routed so the neck can be glued on. Set-necks ain't easy!!
I took some pics, but unfortunately left the proper camera at home so these are from my mobile phone. Needless to say, I really couldn't be happier with the way the instrument is turning out.
On this pic, you might be able to get an idea of the colour of the finished bass.
Here's the body sandwich and again, you might be able to get an idea of the final colour.
Here's a suggestion of the finished layout.
Here's the neck and fingerboard. When I looked at it, I thought it was going to feel rough but it's really smooth and well on it's way to being it's final texture.
Alan has built a 4 string fretless bass which uses an ACG magnetic pickup and piezo pickups from a Hipshot bridge. These signals then run into the ACG-01 filter preamp. I have to say that this combination was mightily impressive !! This could be one of the only basses around which has a piezo pickup running through a filter preamp.
I've already mentioned on here (and on other threads) just how powerful the ACG filter preamp is and in combination with a piezo pickup it really is amazingly flexible. There is no harsh clack-clack sound from the piezo, the filter-based preamp takes care of that, so you end up with a really rich and round bottom end. Using this in combination with the magnetic pickup and using extremes, you can set a really cutting trebley sound with the magnetic and a dub/reggae sound with the piezo and blend between the two sounds which are the polar opposites of each other. This bass really did have sounds for all occasions.
On the 9, we've decided to go with 2 magnetic pickups, the bridge one is in the larger housing and a narrower neck pickup. ACG pickups have different magnets for each position: ceramic in the bridge and an alnico in the neck, giving a combination of punchiness and roundness. I'll quickly say here that these are not custom magnets for the 9, the different magnet materials are offered as standard on all of Alan's basses.
Each pickup will have series/parallel switching, but there will be a third switch to flick between the bridge and piezo pickups. This means that I can run the piezos through the ACG-pre instead of just adding a plain, unshaped piezo signal to the magnetic pickups. Not being able to shape the piezo output might even mean that it's OK at best and unusuable at worst. Being able to shape the piezo signal and then blend it in with the neck pickup is going to give the bass more flexibility. In this mode, I could even have the piezo or the neck pickup on it's own, shaped with the ACG-01 pre.
It's one of those things which is easier to see than it is to write about. In a nutshell, is effectively a 3 pickup bass (neck, bridge, piezo) with a switch between pickups 2 & 3. The two signals being used go through the ACG-01 pre and can be merged together by the blend pot.
Now that the control layout has been finalised, Alan can finish the body and drill some holes. This is easier said than done as the body has to be carefully routed so the neck can be glued on. Set-necks ain't easy!!
I took some pics, but unfortunately left the proper camera at home so these are from my mobile phone. Needless to say, I really couldn't be happier with the way the instrument is turning out.
On this pic, you might be able to get an idea of the colour of the finished bass.
Here's the body sandwich and again, you might be able to get an idea of the final colour.
Here's a suggestion of the finished layout.
Here's the neck and fingerboard. When I looked at it, I thought it was going to feel rough but it's really smooth and well on it's way to being it's final texture.
I received the latest photos earlier this evening.
I was just blown away with the way the grain of the mahogany arcs outwards. It just looks amazing and will look even better when it gets it's shiny suit on
I was just blown away with the way the grain of the mahogany arcs outwards. It just looks amazing and will look even better when it gets it's shiny suit on
9 STRING!!!!
I contimplated a Conklin for a good while. I love the way they
look, I just don't have 5 grand to put out on one.
Anyway, "Time To Walk The Plank Matey" !
Good Luck and ENJOY!!
I contimplated a Conklin for a good while. I love the way they
look, I just don't have 5 grand to put out on one.
Anyway, "Time To Walk The Plank Matey" !
Good Luck and ENJOY!!
