Any idea what make this fretless bass is?

[Billy Bowman Music]

Hi everyone! We recently acquired a fretless bass, and can't make out the brand of it - I was wondering if anyone recognised it and could point us in the right direction to finding a little more out about it? Thanks so much!

[bloke_zero]

It's a beaut!

https://acguitars.co.uk/

[ezbass]

Paging @skelf

[LeftyJ]

Looks like it might be this one, to be specific:

G019 J Type Fretless 4 | AC Guitars

All the specs can be found with the 3 tabs underneath the pictures. 

Edited February 13, 2024 by LeftyJ

[Baloney Balderdash]

What a beautiful bass. 

[TheGreek]

...and amazing to play I bet.

[binky_bass]

It is indeed an ACG fretless bass (Alan Cringean Guitars) built by @skelf. He builds absolutely excellent instruments... I have 5 of his basses at the moment! 

 

How did you come across it if you don't mind me asking? You've got a very nice bass there. 

Edited February 13, 2024 by binky_bass

[skelf]

BBM has been in touch. 
 

Thanks guys. 

[eude]

@ead is this your old one?

[skelf]

It is. I have been in touch with him about it. 

[Mrbigstuff]

I’m assuming if the OP didn’t know what it was, they got it for a good price. 

[LeftyJ]

Now listed on BBM's site: 

Pre-owned ACG Graft Fretless Bass Handmade in Scotland (billybowmanmusic.co.uk)

[ead]

And now back in my hands.  At least it will be when it's delivered....

[eude]

  On 14/02/2024 at 14:35, ead said:

And now back in my hands.  At least it will be when it's delivered....

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That's brilliant my friend!

[ead]

  On 14/02/2024 at 22:16, eude said:

That's brilliant my friend!

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Yeah, it's been a search that has lasted at least 6 years and led me down many blind alleys.  So pleased to be able to have the bass back in the stable.

[Geek99]

  On 14/02/2024 at 22:19, ead said:

 

Yeah, it's been a search that has lasted at least 6 years and led me down many blind alleys.  So pleased to be able to have the bass back in the stable.

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You keep it in a stable ? It’s not a guitar, it deserves better than being p1ssed on by horses 

[ead]

  On 14/02/2024 at 22:45, Geek99 said:

You keep it in a stable ? It’s not a guitar, it deserves better than being p1ssed on by horses 

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I have applied for planning permission to have my basses in my office at home but She Who Must Be Feared And Obeyed has yet to sign it off so I have to sneak them in one at a time 

[eude]

What preamp is in it now @ead as it started out passive, seems to be some stacked knobage going on now?...

[ead]

  On 15/02/2024 at 17:06, eude said:

What preamp is in it now @ead as it started out passive, seems to be some stacked knobage going on now?...

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It's an Audere 4-band system that I got from the US a while back before they stopped exporting to the UK.   I think it was Vol/blend; bass/treble; hi mids/low mids.  But you could get a bass/low mids stack and a treble/high mids stack which has a certain logic to it and I can't recall what I ordered.  Once it lands back at ead towers I shall reacquaint myself with it.

 

It worked very nicely for that bass although in an ideal world I would have like the East system of an active/passive tone knob.  Maybe a preamp swap might happen.

[eude]

  On 15/02/2024 at 18:46, ead said:

 

It's an Audere 4-band system that I got from the US a while back before they stopped exporting to the UK.   I think it was Vol/blend; bass/treble; hi mids/low mids.  But you could get a bass/low mids stack and a treble/high mids stack which has a certain logic to it and I can't recall what I ordered.  Once it lands back at ead towers I shall reacquaint myself with it.

 

It worked very nicely for that bass although in an ideal world I would have like the East system of an active/passive tone knob.  Maybe a preamp swap might happen.

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Very cool.

Part of me hoped it might've been th now fabled SEQ and that you'd want to swap that out for something else...

Been trying to get my hands on one for a while!

[ead]

Yeah, I might keep my eyes peeled for an SEQ too.  I know where there is one in a bass I used to own (that may still be for sale), but whether the owner would be prepared to swap is another matter.

[bloke_zero]

SEQ?

[ead]

  On 16/02/2024 at 09:45, bloke_zero said:

SEQ?

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It's a stripped down filter pre-amp that ACG used to offer.  Vol/blend stack and two filter tone controls that you can tweak via internal pots.  Very cool and simple to use compared to the full-on filter preamps (which are excellent btw).

[Kowad]

  On 15/02/2024 at 07:36, ead said:

 

I have applied for planning permission to have my basses in my office at home but She Who Must Be Feared And Obeyed has yet to sign it off so I have to sneak them in one at a time 

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I divorced and got labradors, highly recommended.

 

(Note the puppy screen, I'm not sure whether or not it's a saving grace of my ex that she didn't chew any and all available sources of wood.)

 

[ead]

Back home now

 

Roundwounds () removed and TIs installed.  Most irritating of all I had to carefully reposition the knobs so that the little markers all pointed to 12 o'clock when everything centered and the volume on 11.  My OCD now satisfied.