looking for info on ampeg's 1966-67 Devil Bass. I need to know wood fingerboard is made from. Thanks, Mike
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Ampeg Devil Bass question
- Thread starter Mike Mrozinski
- Start date
I told you that the fingerboard is African Ebony, but I don't know which specific sub-species it is beyond that. I doubt the guys at Ampeg in 1967 even knew. Back then, most ebony that was imported was just called Ebony that came from Africa. The distributors and buyers weren't fussy about all the different sub-species.
It's gotten a little bit strange. I guess I just never knew how many types of West African ebony existed.
From what I understand, there are over 200 sub-species of ebony. Maybe 40 of them have been commonly harvested and sold as "ebony". These days it's all pretty closely regulated and tracked and identified. Fifty years ago, it wasn't. Who knows where Ampeg bought their ebony? Probably from some hardwoods dealer in New Jersey, who got it from some distributor who bought it off a boat somewhere. Also, remember that Ampeg was not a big instrument manufacturer. Between 1959 and 1971, they only built maybe 8000 instruments. They weren't buying container loads of lumber like Fender.
I've examined, worked on, and restored over 200 of Ampeg's Horizontal Scroll Basses (including about 30 Devil Basses). Only a few came from the factory with rosewood and padauk fingerboards; all the others were ebony. And they were all what's commonly called West African Ebony (a group of sub-species). Very hard, very dark black, hardly any stripes. Any stripes I've seen were greyish, not brownish.
And that's probably the best answer that you are going to get from anyone. Back then, companies didn't do the insane level of documentation that we do today. And Dennis Kager is, as far as I know, the last living person who actually worked in the Ampeg instrument shop. All the company records from those days are long gone.
I've examined, worked on, and restored over 200 of Ampeg's Horizontal Scroll Basses (including about 30 Devil Basses). Only a few came from the factory with rosewood and padauk fingerboards; all the others were ebony. And they were all what's commonly called West African Ebony (a group of sub-species). Very hard, very dark black, hardly any stripes. Any stripes I've seen were greyish, not brownish.
And that's probably the best answer that you are going to get from anyone. Back then, companies didn't do the insane level of documentation that we do today. And Dennis Kager is, as far as I know, the last living person who actually worked in the Ampeg instrument shop. All the company records from those days are long gone.
Luckily, it made it through customs and I should have it in my hot little hands by this time tomorrow. Thanks for your help.
Dennis emailed me and basically said the same thing..."who knows".
That's why I got a little nervous. I could see someone in customs boring a hole in the neck to check the wood. Then off to a customs damaged goods auction.
Are you still collecting serial numbers?
Thanks, Mike
Dennis emailed me and basically said the same thing..."who knows".
That's why I got a little nervous. I could see someone in customs boring a hole in the neck to check the wood. Then off to a customs damaged goods auction.
Are you still collecting serial numbers?
Thanks, Mike
That's good news! Another Devil Bass has made it back home to the US. Yes, tell me the serial number when you get it. I may have some prior records on it. I've been keeping a database of known Ampegs since 1995.
If you're tracking scrolltops too, I've got AMUB1 #019 now, I forget, not sure if you caught the thread a while back (For Sale - AMPEG Fretless Scroll Head Bass (AMUB1 #019) '66).
I'd like to see a picture of the asymmetrical one.
Yesrs ago I saw one at the House of Guitars in Rochester, NY that was teal.
Someone along the way commented that they did that to a few, but I always thought it unlikely.
MIke
Yesrs ago I saw one at the House of Guitars in Rochester, NY that was teal.
Someone along the way commented that they did that to a few, but I always thought it unlikely.
MIke
If you're tracking scrolltops too, I've got AMUB1 #019 now, I forget, not sure if you caught the thread a while back (For Sale - AMPEG Fretless Scroll Head Bass (AMUB1 #019) '66).
Oh, yeah, I've got #019 in my database.
There's only one known picture of the infamous asymmetrical Devil Bass. All these years, I've been hoping it might eventually appear out of some closet, but it hasn't. I assume it's deceased, as are quite a few Devil Basses.
We know of one Devil Bass that was painted white at the factory, and one that was painted Teal, and one or two that were all black. They were made in late '66 or early '67 and appeared in some Ampeg promo pictures. All of the others in the production run (of about 100 total) were red/black sunburst. Most Devil Basses were repainted later in their lives, some in solid colors. There are maybe 15 Devil Basses around today, still in their original paint. I'd have to check my records, but I've personally restored/repainted about 15 of them to their original color scheme.
I have four Devil Basses here in my shop right now; two that I own and two here for restoration.
Welcome to the club, Camelspur! A very exclusive club. I estimate that only about 60 Devil Basses total still exist today.
In case you haven't seen them yet, there are two long threads here on TalkBass where we Ampeg Scroll Bass owners and fans hang out. About 130 pages of stories and pictures, including many Devil Basses. These two threads are the most complete resource of information on them in the world.
love of Ampeg and other Scroll Basses
love of Ampeg and other Scroll Basses, Part 2
Being a Devil Bass owner, you are automatically a Distinguished Fellow, and welcome any time.
