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Double Bass Baby Bass megathread
- Thread starter nil
- Start date
You may want to check the Setup & Repair forum to find a luthier to help you out with this instrument.
Nice look!
Nice look!
I recently got an Ampeg Baby bass with the serial number 199 stamped in the headstock. I can only trace it's existence back about 20 years. Does anyone have a list of serial numbers and production dates for this instrument? I was told it is old and may actually be a Zorko bass. The body is plastic and sounds hollow as a Zorko would be rather than the foam-filled Ampeg design.
I just got hold of a 1966 Baby Bass - It is partially disassembled, so I haven't been able to play it yet but it appears to be in great shape - absolutely no seam separation and all original. I will report further when I get it up and running. Hopefully the electronics are cool.
Looking ahead a bit, I need a good padded gig bag for it. The Azola website has a phone number for JP Custom cases, which they recommend as a supplier, but otherwise I haven't been able to dig up any sources.
Any help would be appreciated.
Looking ahead a bit, I need a good padded gig bag for it. The Azola website has a phone number for JP Custom cases, which they recommend as a supplier, but otherwise I haven't been able to dig up any sources.
Any help would be appreciated.
obviously you have more money than i do. i play music nightly to support myself and pay a mortgage. i wish i could afford to buy a badass case but i cant. azola hasnt had any cases availbale for a long time anyway so even if i had 1000 for the case, there's none available.
so if anyone knows where i can get a sturdy roadcase for my baby, i would appreciate it greatly. if not, i will continue to tour without it, but please dont reply if you dont know. im not looking for opinions, im looking for a roadcase.
thanks
so if anyone knows where i can get a sturdy roadcase for my baby, i would appreciate it greatly. if not, i will continue to tour without it, but please dont reply if you dont know. im not looking for opinions, im looking for a roadcase.
thanks
I am having a gig bag made for the Baby by JP Custom Cases. I will report back when I get it, but based on the other cases that I saw in their shop, they do really good work. They are charging me $225 for it, which I feel is is fairly reasonable.
The bass is great, by the way. I will report in more detail later.
I appreciate the other suggestions!
The bass is great, by the way. I will report in more detail later.
I appreciate the other suggestions!
- Jul 3, 2007
- 1,380
- 1,036
- Disclosures
- Author of "Soul Fingers." I'm the Duck Dunn expert.
I'm not a luthier at all, but I have been wondering about making a solid body baby bass from a piece of wood rather than the foam interior. Has it been done? How hard would it be to carve that body?
Nick
Nick
correct me if I'm wrong, but unless you use a species of wood that is both extremely light and extremely strong, that is going to be one HEAVY bass.
- Jul 3, 2007
- 1,380
- 1,036
- Disclosures
- Author of "Soul Fingers." I'm the Duck Dunn expert.
- Jul 3, 2007
- 1,380
- 1,036
- Disclosures
- Author of "Soul Fingers." I'm the Duck Dunn expert.
I originally thought red oak because I know a place where I can get a piece big enough to carve the body out of one piece, but when the weight thing was mentioned, I started thinking about how heavy that might be. Ouch.
Nick
Nick
D
I'd check with Gallery Hardwoods [Larry Davis]-he does custom milling/sizing....be ware though-a huge piece would carry a price tag. Larry was really easy to work with each time that i ordered from him. If i build another bass guitar [or even attempt to build another bass guitar]-i will order from him again.
I've never played a baby bass, nor have i saw one in person so i don't know about exact dimensions. If you're willing to have a multi-piece body, i'd strongly consider alder-pretty cost effective wood & it's been heavily used in the bass guitar world.
I've never played a baby bass, nor have i saw one in person so i don't know about exact dimensions. If you're willing to have a multi-piece body, i'd strongly consider alder-pretty cost effective wood & it's been heavily used in the bass guitar world.
- Jul 3, 2007
- 1,380
- 1,036
- Disclosures
- Author of "Soul Fingers." I'm the Duck Dunn expert.
I don't think I would try this until I have a baby bass of my own. I would need a model, and I just couldn't do it without something right there to show it to me. However, I thought maybe if I did build one, I would eventually spend less than the 2,000 I would have to spend for a vintage bass or one of the copies, but both those ideas obviously go against each other. It'd be a nice way to save at least a little money and have an instrument I could call my own, but I still don't think it's a good idea without one right here with me.
Nick
Nick
You might check out this web page:
Link Removed
I have the Azola Bug Bass II and I love it. It is not too heavy and the sound is rich and full. It is extremely easy to transport. I bought it from Bass Central about 18 months ago for about $2300.00; or, just a bit over what you are planning to spend building one.
Link Removed
I have the Azola Bug Bass II and I love it. It is not too heavy and the sound is rich and full. It is extremely easy to transport. I bought it from Bass Central about 18 months ago for about $2300.00; or, just a bit over what you are planning to spend building one.
- Jul 3, 2007
- 1,380
- 1,036
- Disclosures
- Author of "Soul Fingers." I'm the Duck Dunn expert.
If I really get anything, it would be the Ampeg Baby Bass first. I REALLY like that sound, and that was the first electric upright I was introduced to when I got into salsa. I've just been wondering about the sound of a baby bass template with a solid wood body. The idea entered my head yesterday while in the shower.
I just found this, though:
http://www.bassplayer.com/article/ampeg-baby-bass/nov-07/32347
In this article:
The original prototype’s body was made of wood, but the Dopyera’s production instruments, sold as the Zorko Mini Bass, were made of fiberglass with a wooden frame. The Dopyeras manufactured these basses until 1962, when Ampeg’s Everett Hull purchased the design, and the Zorko bass became the Ampeg Baby Bass.
Now I'm curious about those prototypes and the Zorko bass. Goes to show how dangerous research can be.
Nick
I just found this, though:
http://www.bassplayer.com/article/ampeg-baby-bass/nov-07/32347
In this article:
The original prototype’s body was made of wood, but the Dopyera’s production instruments, sold as the Zorko Mini Bass, were made of fiberglass with a wooden frame. The Dopyeras manufactured these basses until 1962, when Ampeg’s Everett Hull purchased the design, and the Zorko bass became the Ampeg Baby Bass.
Now I'm curious about those prototypes and the Zorko bass. Goes to show how dangerous research can be.
Nick
To continue your time line I may be mistaken but I believe that Steve Azola obtained the rights to produce the Baby Bass after Ampeg discontinued production. Many of his current Azola models are what his imagination lead him to after the baby bass experience.
