NBD: ACG RetroB 5/32

[Merton]

This has been on the cards pretty much since I first discovered ACG 11 odd years ago. It was @eude’s Finn 4 which first drew me to @skelf’s basses and very soon after that I saw a Holly-topped Finn. I’ve been hooked since the first bass I bought, and for a long time had a Holly-topped Finn in my wishlist. It almost became a reality about 5 years ago but I never got beyond the “annoying Alan” phase. Fast forward to last year, an ebony Finn which Alan shared on socials made me hatch a cunning plan for a yin/yang pair of basses - one holly, one ebony. Specs were developed, plans were hatched, then I had to be sensible and drop one of the two. Naturally I kept the holly plan as it has been on the list since day one, and the shape changed from Finn to RetroB. Thus this spec was born and a deposit was paid last July. Today the 5 string bass of my dreams was delivered. She sounds as good as she looks, and I’m over the moon 😎

 

So, the specs:

Limba body, bloodwood accent, holly top

3pc Ash neck with ultra slim profile, ebony fingerboard with bloodwood blocks, 30” radius 

3+2 headstock with holly facing and limba rear veneer

50mm RFB in bridge, 50mm OPB in neck

Passive vol/tone/blend with coil select switch for RFB

Black hardware

17mm bridge spacing (Hipshot A)

Gotoh resolute tuners

 

Honestly couldn’t be happier at this point, I am looking forward to getting her out in the wild with Katy Hurt next month 🤠

First 3 pics are from my “unboxing”, the rest are Alan’s:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited Thursday at 20:13 by Merton
Smelling pistakes

[Hellzero]

Very nice, with a touch of class.

[AlexDelores]

Very, very nice! I met Alan & his wife at the Bass Show and they were lovely. 
 

Tried a 32” 5er and it was superb! 
 

Enjoy! 

[Stuart1982]

Absolutely beautiful mate 👍🏻👍🏻

[ead]

Oooof, beautiful.

[80Hz]

Some very interesting wood choices there (at least in my limited experience).

 

The holly is unique, but it’s the ash neck which has really caught my

eye!

 

A very handsome bass overall. Looking forward to a report once you’ve settled in with it.

[Merton]

16 minutes ago, 80Hz said:

Some very interesting wood choices there (at least in my limited experience).

 

The holly is unique, but it’s the ash neck which has really caught my

eye!

 

A very handsome bass overall. Looking forward to a report once you’ve settled in with it.

Alan has an excellent supply of ash for necks - this will be my third! I find it gives a deeper and more rounded tone than maple, then combined with the ebony you get a beautiful rich harmonic content across the octaves.

Will try to do a demo soon 🤓

[asingardenof]

Beeyooteefool!

[JoeEvans]

Stunning bass!