eude

How short are we allowed to go here? I've recently acquired an amazing ACG Micro Bass, a 6 string based on the Reiver ChubstRR guitar. It's 26.5" scale, currently tuned E to F, but I'm going to try out B to C as down tuning has actually worked quote well, and that's with a 115 string... It's got a Flamed Maple top, and Quilted Maple back, hand coloured by Mrs ACG, on a White Limba body Bolt-on 5 piece Ash/Bubinga neck with a AI Maple fingerboard. Two FB humbucking pickups with an East Uni-pre preamp and Chrome Hipshot hardware. The look of it is something else, I given how different this instrument was going to be, I thought why not go a bit crazy and I absolutely love it! Cheers, Eude

I've got two Mi10 cabs, the predecessor to these ones, and with a powerful amp, they kick out a hell of lot of tone and power. A bit of compression is required to tame a low B a bit at volume to protect the speaker cones, but all in, they are fantastic bits of kit, and I expect these newer 1x10s will be even better! Enjoy! Eude

I know what you've done, so I can't play.😉 I owe you an email! Eude

That's one thing I was worried about with this as they're selling on Reverb, their own Shopify store and eBay all at the same time, and there's some crossover in the goods, sorry hear you've fallen fowl of that. Would they honour the price and hook you up with a new one? Eude

Drats. Who else is there? Picato? Are they even a thing now? Obviously Newtone can do the right length but they only do Roundwounds, right? I know Neil was interested in trying Flats but I don't know if he's anywhere near yet... Eude

How'd you get on? I've recently taken delivery of a 6 string ACG Micro Bass and I'm keen to know what other options might work string wise... Eude

I've had several 33" basses with a low B and there's not once been an issue. I now actually play 31.5" basses with a low B and again, no issues if the bass is designed and built cleverly. Eude

That looks wonderful!

I don't doubt that!

I was half way through writing something similar, but hearing it is much better proof. A longer scale is only part of the puzzle of a good low B, it's the easy bit to get right though. I play 31.5" basses with low B's and the B is playable and extremely musical. Is it as tight as a Dingwall 37" low B? Of course not. Would anyone really notice in a band context? I highly doubt it. Only the real scrutiny of isolation would allow you to compare the two, and I would argue that some would prefer the sound of a shorter B, the massive piano string sound isn't for everyone. Eude

Not sure if situations are improved with regards to guitar purchasing, but there's a few stock guitars ready to go >> http://reiverguitars.co.uk/clearance/ http://reiverguitars.co.uk/for-sale/

I'm a lucky lucky boy!

As I'm sure most of you could predict, being obsessed with ACG basses, the only guitars I own are from the same source. These are both "pre-Reiver", ACG's proper guitar brand, hence the ACG branding. I acquired an ACG Skelf Prototype from Alan at ACG a several years back, which is magnificent, really solid, as beautifully made as all his basses. It's a solid beast, with a sycamore body with a maple cap finished in 'Nessie green burst', maple/wenge neck and rosewood board. Here's a too many pics, but keep reading, I've got something REALLY special to follow... OK, so this one is an ACG Tchib and it's amazing, a real super strat. Super light, and super fast playing, swamp ash body with exquisite quilted maple top, flamed maple/wenge neck with a wenge fingerboard, and the whole thing finished in a rich rich purple. I love the Skelf guitar, and it's perfect for a 'workman like' guitarist like myself, but I had always longed for something a little bit lighter and faster. The Tchib is it! I think of the Skelf like a bit of a Les Paul/SG type chugger and the Tchib like a Jackson or ESP type beast. As amazing as these guitars are, it doesn't stop me coveting some of Alan's newer creations though... Apologies for the number of pictures, but hopefully if you got this far down the post you enjoyed them. Cheers, Eude

Gotcha, not a bad price for that kind of cab! I expect with it being custom he'd do it vertically rather than horizontally too? Might have to drop him a line later in the year. Eude

Very nice @franzbassist! Do you know if they'll make a 1x12 with a 6" driver and tweeter? I'm finding the website a little tricky to figure out... Eude

Now that I like, interested to hear how you get on... Eude

The shorter than usual scale and the narrow spacing will have helped too, but the flat board definitely plays an important part. It's a hell of a bass! Eude

https://www.fender.com/articles/tech-talk/what-is-fingerboard-radius Smaller radius for chords, flatter board for single notes, according to Fender anyway. As far as I'm aware picking hand technique hasn't been a factor in the decision, not denying it could play a part in some folks' playing though. I find that floating thumb technique, which I rely on as someone with small hands playing 6 string basses, makes much more sense on a flat board. Like I pointed out though, it's all up to the individual. Eude

Flat boards just make sense, to me at least. If you're used to an extremely radiused board, like on some older Fenders, or newer ones aping Fenders of old, it may feel odd, however you quickly get used to it. Radiused boards are a hangover from classical instruments like violas, when an arc made it easier to bow the strings separately. It was adopted on modern electric guitars, by Leo Fender I think, as it made it easier to play bar chords. If you look at classical guitars however, they're all flat. You can achieve a more consistent set up, especially on extended range basses, and also a more consistent attack to your playing. It's still one of those you say tomato, I say tomato things, but if given the choice I would always go flat now. Eude

I would agree very much with this. As a life long 6 string bass player, along with 5s and 4s, I still get niggled, less often now, about a 6 string bass not being a "real" bass. The same applies here, nothing is pointless, just because someone uses a different paint brush to you, it doesn't make their choice any less valid than yours.

I play 31.5" and 30.5" basses and Newtone very much keep me happy too. They'll make you anything you want, within reason and will try to meet your requirements with regards to strings tension, pliability, weight etc. There's a lot that can be done when things are all done by hand. They'll do Nickel, Steel, Round Core, Hex Core, Tapered, Exposed Cares, but they don't do flats yet, however I have bugged them about it for a while, so you never know, they could be on the cards in the future. Eude

This little Mi10 cab would go great with that head >> I've got two Mi10 cabs and they're brilliant wee things! Even better, if you can find one of these >> Eude

I don't think there'll be any issue with versatility or tone on offer, it just won't be all that loud. Class D has come a long way since those amps, and still has a long way to go yet I think, but for home use, and smaller gigs I think it'd be pretty good. Remember, the max load is 8 ohms, so you'll only be able to hook up one 8 ohm cab, but it puts out it max wattage at 8 ohms. For the money, I'd have an Ashdown over any of those others, especially the TC! Eude