7string

Cheers, Eude. I'm on a lunchbreak at the moment, more playing later. It's an amazing looking bass, but it's still subtle. The closer you look, the more detail you see. I'm indeed one happy punter and Alan has done an simply incredible job What it does show as well is the links that Alan has with his suppliers. This not only means great materials and hardware, but bespoke pickups and preamp as well. Couple the background work that makes these elements available with Alan's ever-increasing skills as a luthier makes something that defines ACG basses.... ...and in the bass world getting your own definable character is a difficult thing to do.

Yes, but you have amps and speakers

Thanks everyone. Today I will mostly be trying to find my way around the 9's fretboard and controls... [quote name='Brave Sir Robin' post='394997' date='Jan 29 2009, 10:01 PM']christ it's as big as the door! Looks kick ass though. congrats![/quote] It's nearly as big as the door... It fits in a regulation Hiscox case, so it's not overly-big. Alan had to customise the case by (ahem) "gently persuading" the foam neck cushion to be lower and flatter in shape. [quote name='clauster' post='394965' date='Jan 29 2009, 09:30 PM']That is one beautiful bass. I so want an ACG (but with just the usual 4 strings lol)[/quote] Have a look in the ACG part of Basschat in the "Affiliates" section. There's a whole load of great wood which Alan has in stock or arriving soon. We put the 9 up against a 4 and there is such a huge difference that it's just funny. I'll still be playing my 4 strings though!!

[quote name='doctor_of_the_bass' post='395039' date='Jan 29 2009, 11:04 PM']Well done sir! Again, not a massive fan of erbs (used to be many years ago as a yoof!) but that is a stunning piece - love the fingerboard! What strings are you using? Look like the old Superwounds![/quote] Thanks. The fingerboard is so great. It looks rough, but is baby-butt smooth Strings come from S.I.T. in the USA, they're one of the only companies that package 9 string sets. I did have some luck finding that Dean Markley guitar strings were long enough for the 34" scale 7 string, but with the extra scale length here they might not work. Not a problem to get strings anyway. [quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='395042' date='Jan 29 2009, 11:08 PM']Again, as a sixer I could cope with this, but it has three strings too many for me to handle Lovely looking bass, though. Stunning woods as well. Congrats! Rich.[/quote] Larry at Gallery Hardwoods supplied the top and the fingerboard and the 'brother' fingerboard to this one is on an ACG 4 string headless which is in the "Build Diary" section. Alan and Larry have a great understanding which is great for ACG's customers. There's a selection of woods and fingerboards in the ACG part of Basschat under "Affiliates". I'd love the 'alien' box elder on a Finn 5 string, but my buying days are over for the foreseeable future. The jump from a 7 to a 9 really isn't that bad and I'm sure that you would be able to handle 9 strings not problem at all. There's no real magic to it (I could say that there are only certain, incredibly skilled players can play the 9, but I'd be lyin' through me teef ).

That would be great

[quote name='overwater#1' post='392332' date='Jan 27 2009, 12:32 AM']The bass arrived lunch time today anyway! I'm absolutely made up with it, as to me as an Overwater enthusiast you could say, it is extremely special in my eyes, and I feel extremely lucky to own her! It belonged to fellow forum member 'Woodster', and Chris was kind enough to sell me the bass, which I am massively greatful for, as I know it was a special bass for him too! Chris W is an absolute true friend, and it has been the best experience being able to purchase one of his basses also!! I will get some pictures done soonish if anyone interested in seeing some here? Not sure if people still are now...?? Shes a Progress Elite model, not sure of exact age, but is the very first 7 string Overwater made, Sycamore body (some nice figure) with stunning flamed Ash front and back facings, 3 piece maple through neck, gold Schaller hardware and Overwater bridge. Pics can't do the bass justice at all, as with any bass, seeing a bass in the flesh, the figure and true beauty of the timbers and the construction just jump out, and look just awesome! I'm going to contact Chris May for more details on the bass, but she plays like a dream! Absolutely phenomenal! I am going to trip up to Carlisle sometime and probably have the action adjusted on my Progress 6 to match the 7, as this one is fantastic! Chris said 'touch sensitive' and I feel that definitely sums up the playability and action, its unbelievable! The sound is definately a nice Progress bass signature sound, although a bit more hi-fi perhaps than my 6.. still lovely, warm and fat tone, and a lower register to die for! Lovely even tone across the neck, trying to think of more things to say to sum up how awesome it is! Anyway, sorry if this has been a bit boring, but this thread is merely me expressing my passion for a phenomenal bass, that in my books is extremely special and means a huge amount to me! Here's some of the pics that Chris W sent me anyway, which he did a great job of... and i'l try to get some myself, although I need to get a new 'bass family' pic... Thankyou very much for showing interest anyway! Best wishes, Matt [/quote] Nice to see another 7 string bass on Basschat The guys at Overwater make great instruments and it sounds like you've found a real peach.

Yup, definitely worth the wait Putting the spec together was a real two-way process. It's an amazing instrument. Thoroughly enjoyed the whole process and I would recommend ACG to anyone looking for a quality bass.

Here's the ACG 9 string which I collected today: Basic Specs: 9 strings 35" scale Swamp ash body with mahogany top and wenge accent Mahogany headstock facing with a wenge backplate Maple/wenge neck with wenge transition plate Bookmatched, acrylicised, spalted maple fingerboard Hipshot hardware. piezo in bridge ACG pickups and EQ-01 preamp Serial/Parallel switching Neck or Piezo switch Low battery indicator This is the result of many, many hours on Alan's (ACG) part and to him I extend my sincerest thanks and congratulations on producing such a fine instrument. These aren't the greatest pics, but hopefully they will give an idea of how great this ERB is!!

Thanks for all the kind words about the bass. [quote name='BigRedX' post='394811' date='Jan 29 2009, 06:55 PM']Wow! And I was thinking how quickly this one came together compared with your Sei.[/quote] From absolute beginning to end it was about the same. The consultation process which produced the spec was a lot longer as we had to decided on each part of the spec. As Sei basses have been honed over 15+ years, some of the spec is already set. [quote name='~tl' post='394843' date='Jan 29 2009, 07:32 PM']Oooof. Every one of these threads makes me one step closer to picking up the phone and making a call to Moffat... Congratulations. That's one fine looking bass! Don't know if I could handle that many strings though [/quote] After this experience of ordering an ACG bass, I wouldn't hesitate in recommending them. [quote name='Rodders' post='394854' date='Jan 29 2009, 07:42 PM']Thats is really nice What's the neck radius and string spacing?[/quote] The fingerboard is flat, so there is no radius. String spacing is tricky as the lower strings are so thick. I think the spacing is about 17mm.

Today I drove the 60 miles to Moffat to collect a bass which Alan and I first discussed at the end of 2006. After many e-mails, and a few months of throwing ideas back and forth, we came up with the spec which has evolved into this instrument. Basic Specs: 9 strings 35" scale Swamp ash body with mahogany top and wenge accent Mahogany headstock facing with a wenge backplate Maple/wenge neck with wenge transition plate Bookmatched, acrylicised, spalted maple fingerboard Hipshot hardware. piezo in bridge ACG pickups and EQ-01 preamp Serial/Parallel switching Neck or Piezo switch Low battery indicator This is the result of many, many hours on Alan's (ACG) part and to him I extend my sincerest thanks and congratulations on producing such a fine instrument. These aren't the greatest pics, but hopefully they will give an idea of how great this ERB is!!

I forgot that we had a new light fitting in the hall that can turn the place into a mini Wembley These aren't the greatest pics, but hopefully they will give an idea of how great this ERB is!! A great way to end a build diary

The first pictures..... I'll get some more photos taken very soon. I collected this bass from Alan at lunchtime and it is absolutely awesome. The mahogany top has the great 'v' figuring and the bookmatched, acrylised, spalted maple fingerboard is amazing to look at and super-smooth to play. The 'v' shaped grain is also on the headstock and the black hardware completes the look. This ERB is no lightweight at just under 12lbs, but it's still light compared to my 14lb Conklin GT7. On the back is swamp ash, with a wenge plate accenting the body/neck join. The maple and wenge neck leads to a wenge backplate on the headstock, giving a different look from the front. Back on the front of the body are the controls for the ACG EQ-01 preamp, series/parallel switches for each pickup, low battery indicator and a selector between the bridge pickup and piezo elements in the bridge. This ERB plays exceptionally well. The action is low and the low profile of the neck enhances the playing experience. I've only really have the chance to dabble with the bass so far, but it's serious fun. 'Regular' bass lines sound really round and full and notes further up the scale have a timbre all of their own. It doesn't sound like an electric guitar because of the scale length. Keep the debate for/against ERB's for another day, this is a beautifully sculptured ERB. The ingredients of design and materials have been blended to create something incredibly special indeed. Something unmistakably ACG. Huge thanks go to Alan at ACG for fielding all my (sometimes very strange) ideas for this bass and for creating an amazing instrument. Extended thanks also go to Larry at Gallery Hardwoods for supplying the woods and fingerboard for this project.

Blimey!! That's one really smart bass. Awesome.

Is it a Wishbass :wacko:

Once my piggy bank recovers a fair bit (and I can find/trust someone in Glasgow to stick a hole in my Sei) I'll definitely put one in there.

Yup, incredibly excited doesn't really cover it I've got to admit that it's taken a certain amount of willpower to not send Alan an e-mail to see how it was coming along. One of the great advantages of being in Glasgow is that I'm only an hour or so away from Moffat. The last time I saw the bass it was in the middle of being lacquered and it really did look amazing. Really looking forward to seeing it, playing the first notes and hearing what comes out. I have a whole bunch of stuff to wade through as I'm getting used to playing it. Unfortunately, I still have Open University stuff to do as well but the thought of playing the 9 will speed me through the studying and essay writing. It's going to be a long road ahead (and I don't just mean the dull expanse of the M74).

I'll bring: Sei 7 string James Tyler 4 string Conklin GT7 (de-fretted) ACG Recurve 9 string Dean Rhapsody 12 string

Received an e-mail this evening, which I read after a night figuring out the Addicted Drums demo. [size=5][b]First 6 words "Hi Mark, the bass is ready"[/b][/size] [size=6]YUP, IT'S READY !! [/size] Needless to say, I'm really, really excited about this. I have a couple of pics which Alan descibed as "not very good". But he's going to get some more in daylight (I would say sunshine, but this is Scotland). There's going to be a [b]lot[/b] of practising going on over the next few weeks. I'll write some more when I've collect the bass and played it a little. Huge thanks must go to Alan for making this mad, mad ERB a reality....

Wonderful looking bass

Great rig I'm so glad that I have nothing to do with amps otherwise that rig would make me feel really inadequate

It's different and it's luverly. Looks superb. Congrats on a great bass.

They want a 3D design as well. I've forwarded the page to a mate of mine who loves that kind of stuff.

Great catch Hope they deliver it to you sooner than 3 months.

Quite haunting. Unusual to see a fretless guitar as well.

Great set of basses I have to admit to having a soft sport for the '51 RI's. The Attitude looks great, what a find with the plastic still on it