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Adam Yauch aka MCA's "Ampeg Bass"

amos

amos

Oct 23, 2003
1,692
8
40
SE Portland Oregon
#1
I recently saw the Beastie Boys concert film "Awesome! I... Shot That" and during the part where the beasties play the instrumentals, they do this cool close up edited shot with effects that cleary shows a jazz bass with a large "Ampeg" on it. Did Fender make some sort of special jazz bass for Ampeg, or vice-versa? Also, in the band commentary, they talk about that shot in the movie, and mention Adam's "Ampeg Bass". What's this all about? Did Ampeg ever make bass guitars? Also, it was vintage-looking in the film.

cheers,
-amos
 
#2
Ampeg was making electric basses back as early as 1962 (and invented maybe the first electric bass pickup in 1946). Do a search (here and on Google) for "Ampeg baby bass". They are famous, and well-liked even today for their thumpy percussive sound.
 
#3
Ampeg made 2 basses that were "fenderish" in shape. The Big Stud and the Little Stud (one pup model of the Big Stud). The biggest cosmetic difference is that the headstocks are 2x2 instead of 4 on one side.

GG_Dec07-01.jpg
 
#6
I've seen the Beasties live and on video and I think that they might be referring to one of the ampeg scroll headstock basses when talking about it - sorry I don't know the model name. Fretless, scroll headstock, vaguely jaguar/jazzmaster shaped body with f-holes going right through the solid body. MCA plays one a lot as far as I can tell. Don't know about one that looks like a J though, and I haven't seen the film you're talking about.

Steve
 
#10
I have played a "Big Stud", and it was a terrible bass. Heavy, awkward, weak tone. I've always wanted to try one of the scroll basses though. Bruce Johnson is the guy who remakes them, and his website is xstrange.com. He never responded to a couple of emails I sent him a year or two ago, though, so I don't know what he's up to currently.
 
#11
SteveMcB said:
I've seen the Beasties live and on video and I think that they might be referring to one of the ampeg scroll headstock basses when talking about it - sorry I don't know the model name. Fretless, scroll headstock, vaguely jaguar/jazzmaster shaped body with f-holes going right through the solid body. MCA plays one a lot as far as I can tell. Don't know about one that looks like a J though, and I haven't seen the film you're talking about.

Steve
Click to expand...

I think you are right about it looking more like a jaguar/jazzmaster, I just saw "Jazz" on the head (is that what that part of the bass is called? where the tuning forks and writing are?)

When you say headstock, is that in the name of the bass, or are you referring to a part of a bass? Cause the "Ampeg" is actually written on the body of the bass, geographically above the neck, I think. I'm going to watch it again though, and see if I can see more details. Thanks for all the replies everyone!

-amos
 
#18
scroll basses rule but are limited in sound. the second type (amb) had a humbucker in the p position and sounded more like fenders. the originals aub/aeb, are meant to sound like a double bass. love mine. bruce johnson Xstrange is building me a new one. CAN'T WAIT TO USE IT LIVE AT A NICE BLUES GIG.......
there are some cheaper knock offs that are around also Eastwood cureently available and Series 10 on ebay (about 10-15 years old) both are OK at best but neither has a SCROLL TOP.
jim
 

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