Carrigan Scroll Basses

[DiabolusInMusic]

I was doing a search on you-know-who and in the images, this fella came up. Anyone familiar with them/got on?

Carrigan Basses

They've been around a few years now. I reached out about having a build done in 2017~ but he only does neck-thru's. You will find some solid reviews and some great prices. I have not laid my hands on any of his work though. His communication was prompt and professional though.

 

[Acoustic356]

I was doing a search on you-know-who and in the images, this fella came up. Anyone familiar with them/got on?

Carrigan Basses

I owned a Carrigan about 6 years ago. He has been around for a while building out of Huntsville, Al if I recall correctly. It was a quality build, he stands behind his work.

I enjoyed the bass, kept it for a few years until I decided not to go short scale anymore. Mine was 32” scale…

 

[pingvuiini]

There are quite a few luthiers building basses which might be described as being inspired by Carl's designs, though people have been incorporating scrolls into guitar/bass designs for decades.

1. Carl Thompson, 2. Carrigan, 3. Xylem, 4, Pachyderm, 5. Mr. Claypool. (While he does like to dress up, I don't think he's ever gone full Elizabethan courtier. )

Ken Bebensee has some scroll designs as well:

 

[Durham52]

I built a few Scroll guitars back in the late 70's, they were quite popular then, neck thru, 'Hippie sandwich' types... The poor quality pic is of my first one circa 1978.

I'd seen pictures of a few examples made many years before that, like this Multivox/Premier from the 1960's.

Ed Roman 'Abstract' scroll type

Kelvin Daly does scroll types with particularly intricate carving

Carved scroll types aren't to everyone's taste, but then neither are metal flake finishes, 3 tone sunbursts with tort, pointy metal types, or FSO's. (Though FSO's have always had a scroll based component....)

 

[Rip Van Dan]

One of the biggest problems with a bass like that is you'd have to wear something like this while playing it.
View attachment 4650507

Don't forget the big Ostrich Feather in the Cap!

 

[BAG]

This bass looks spectacular.... and unless Mr Claypool is enormous that bass is rather small. Who makes it?

 

[BAG]

My first thought when you say "scroll bass" is all the unfortunate people who paid a certain Darrin Huff for a bass up to 20 years ago and still have not received their bass.

 

[Gunga Din]

I built a few Scroll guitars back in the late 70's, they were quite popular then, neck thru, 'Hippie sandwich' types... The poor quality pic is of my first one circa 1978.
View attachment 4651126


I'd seen pictures of a few examples made many years before that, like this Multivox/Premier from the 1960's.
View attachment 4651125

Ed Roman 'Abstract' scroll type
View attachment 4651128

Kelvin Daly does scroll types with particularly intricate carving
View attachment 4651129

Carved scroll types aren't to everyone's taste, but then neither are metal flake finishes, 3 tone sunbursts with tort, pointy metal types, or FSO's. (Though FSO's have always had a scroll based component....)

View attachment 4651137

The Roman looks like a Ritter knock-off.

Love, love the Daly!!

Addition: his website has some whacky designs!

 

[Gunga Din]

Link to website

Standard Prices

Double Cut Four String - Starting Price $1,275.00
Double Cut Five String - Starting Price $1,375.00
Single Cut Four String -Starting Price $1,275.00
Single Cut Five String -Starting Price $1,375.00
Modern and Classic Scroll Four String- Starting Price $1,275.00
Modern and Classic Scroll Five String- Starting Price $1,375.00


Standard pricing includes: Hipshot Kick-Ass 3D bridge, Gotoh tuners, and passive Kent Armstrong pickups.

Scale lengths offered are: 30", 32", 34", and 35"

Pretty reasonable. How much were the Huffs?

 

[Rocket Queen]

There are quite a few luthiers building basses which might be described as being inspired by Carl's designs, though people have been incorporating scrolls into guitar/bass designs for decades.

There's also this example (Steve McDonald):

From this Reverb listing:
Steve Mcdonald Short Scale 30in 5 string | Reverb

 

[bassgod76]

I’ve owned a Carrigan since 2017.
I love its unique character, ease of playability, and it’s a head turner.

I did a detailed review on mine, and it was objective.

 

[BassFalcon]

View attachment 4651351

This bass looks spectacular.... and unless Mr Claypool is enormous that bass is rather small. Who makes it?

I believe that’s a Pachyderm bass.

 

[blindeddie]

i have one. and it is my main bass. my number one. i have had it for several years now, maybe 7 or 8 years? and i will never sell it. i love this bass above all others. this is not coming from a guy with a new bass he's excited about. i still love it, after all these years, even more than ever. i was able to spec out all points for a totally custom build. they are unique because he carves each one of them by hand. there may be inconsistencies from one to another but mine is absolutely perfect. i'd like to get another. i've never been able to try a real Carl Thompson, so i can't say if they are that level of quality but they are also not the same price. AND you don't have to be on a waiting list. also, Les Claypool said something like, Carl builds you what he wants to build and you just let him do his thing... no thanks. i want mine to be specific to my needs. again, not saying this is CT quality, i honestly don't have a point of reference, but this is an

incredible bass at an incredible price. love my Carrigan

 

[bassgod76]

i have one. and it is my main bass. my number one. i have had it for several years now, maybe 7 or 8 years? and i will never sell it. i love this bass above all others. this is not coming from a guy with a new bass he's excited about. i still love it, after all these years, even more than ever. i was able to spec out all points for a totally custom build. they are unique because he carves each one of them by hand. there may be inconsistencies from one to another but mine is absolutely perfect. i'd like to get another. i've never been able to try a real Carl Thompson, so i can't say if they are that level of quality but they are also not the same price. AND you don't have to be on a waiting list. also, Les Claypool said something like, Carl builds you what he wants to build and you just let him do his thing... no thanks. i want mine to be specific to my needs. again, not saying this is CT quality, i honestly don't have a point of reference, but this is an View attachment 5066472 incredible bass at an incredible price. love my Carrigan

I wonder if he builds them anymore? His FB page has had no activity since January 2022. I played mine at church today. It is such a fantastic pick, when I’m feeling the modern hi-fi bass vibe.

 

[Acoustic356]

I wonder if he builds them anymore? His FB page has had no activity since January 2022. I played mine at church today. It is such a fantastic pick, when I’m feeling the modern hi-fi bass vibe.

View attachment 5249757

He's not building at the moment.

 

[bassgod76]

He's not building at the moment.

I hope he’s okay

 

[Acoustic356]

I hope he’s okay

He's okay. He has a family to take care of and being a one man bass shop isn't the easiest way to do it. He's concentrating on family and his day job.

 

[ab2112]

He's okay. He has a family to take care of and being a one man bass shop isn't the easiest way to do it. He's concentrating on family and his day job.

Is this current as of January 31, 2024?

 

[bassgod76]

I’m considering selling mine. Great bass, but I don’t really play 4 strings, anymore.