Special Edition Build Off - Ampeg AEB lookalike

[Englishman]

All righty then, we are calling this one done! Plays and sounds great, touch neck heavy as I suspected it would be.


Wilkinson tuners, Bartolini Ric replacement bridge pickup (new one).
Electrics: bone simple 500k volume and tone.
Neck and headstock; Maple
Fretboard: Ebony with maple dots.
Pickguard: Walnut.
9.2 pounds(!)

Got some prettier chrome screws coming but I'm too lazy to wait for them.
Big thanks to @Bruce Johnson for all the info.

 

[ctmullins]

Sweet! So glad you made that walnut pickguard work.

 

[Dark Horse]

Fantastic work !!!

how do you like the Bart/rick pickup ? I’m considering one for a future build

 

[Bruce Johnson]

Yes, nice job! I warned you early on that these Scroll Basses have a lot of unique problems that you have to figure out. But you slugged through them and found solutions.

My only criticism is that you left many of the curved lines lumpy and mis-shapen. You should have taken the extra time with a file, smoothing and fairing the curves, making them true and blended. On a bass like this which is all curved lines and edges, you've got to make them look nice. I assume that you were just in too much of a hurry to get it painted and done.

 

[Englishman]

Yes, nice job! I warned you early on that these Scroll Basses have a lot of unique problems that you have to figure out. But you slugged through them and found solutions.

My only criticism is that you left many of the curved lines lumpy and mis-shapen. You should have taken the extra time with a file, smoothing and fairing the curves, making them true and blended. On a bass like this which is all curved lines and edges, you've got to make them look nice. I assume that you were just in too much of a hurry to get it painted and done.

I'm afraid it was the combination of lockdown, financial stress and the fact that it's not a build for a customer that contributed to that. I'll use it on stage where it will look OK from the audience, but there's really no excuse for not taking the time to get it right. Been pretty 'distracted' lately.

 

[Englishman]

Quickie vid from rehearsal to prove it works. Everybody loved the look and the sound.

 

[Englishman]

Fantastic work !!!

how do you like the Bart/rick pickup ? I’m considering one for a future build

I got to try it out at the studio and it sounds really good. Nice and quiet too.