eude

You won't be disappointed, the Krell looks cool and is really ergonomic too (much like all of Alan's designs). If you can stretch to it, go for the MC Series pickups too, they're are amazing. Can't wait to hear how you get on. I'm expecting another delivery from ACG Towers tomorrow Eude

Another vote for ACG here. Best basses I've ever played/owned, and I'm sure you could get something really special within your budget. ACG do carbon fibre reinforced necks and multi-laminates so you won't have any issues with stability. I know Alan has made a bass tuned an octave below low E which works perfectly too, so low C won't be a problem at all. Eude

Hey mate, I went from 34" to 36" to 34" during the first 14 years or so of playing to 33" for about 10 years and now I only play 31.5" basses. I wouldn't worry too much about muscle memory, with a bit of practice it'll become second nature. You might find that you'd rather replace your other basses with shorter scales too, as that's what happened to me If you are having issues with reach due to arthritis, I would go as short as you can. I'm not the biggest bloke and going shorter and then shorter again was an absolute revelation for me, and when the bass is built by someone who knows what they're doing, Alan at ACG would be my recommendation, there's really no loss in tone, only a fatter sound to the upper strings and register, which isn't exactly a negative side effect. Where are you based? If you can get to South Croydon, you're more than welcome to come try my basses out. Cheers, Eude

Ha ha, I certainly can't endorse such activities, but I certainly can doff my cap!

Actually, it's going to have an East Uni-pre 4k this one, and there is a switch, for Series/Parallel/Single Coil operation of the RFB pickup. Toast? I'm not sure, but often, the RFB pickups in Series are pokey enough to scorch a bran muffin at 10 paces... Eude

And only yesterday I got this one... So achingly close! Eude

I've been neglecting this thread terribly, sorry! A few weeks ago, I received these wonderful photos... Eude

I think that top wood is called Fractal Walnut. It's stunning too!

Absolutely! A Mike Lull 12 string?! Eude

I love my Newtone strings, I've used them for a few years now. I play 31.5" 6 string basses and they happily make me custom sets to my exact spec. They are wonderful strings, the best I've played. I have tried the LaBella ones and although they weren't bad, they ended up crazy expensive shipping from the US, and for the price I could've had two sets of custom Newtone strings which are better anyway. Eude

I love it when a plan comes together Eude

Delighted to be able to help dude, a lot of us on here are surprised at how this has gone down, it's not how Ashdown operate, I expect some heads may roll once this thread catches the attention of the high heid yins...

Mike of Zoot Basses and Purple Chilli cabs might be able to help you out?

Yup, this is most unlike Ashdown, perhaps they've got someone new on customer service who doesn't really understand how damaging this kind of stuff can be for their reputation. I hope someone else steps in a does the right thing. Eude

True, but with the price increases, the basses are getting into the same price brackets as other luthiers including some great UK based ones, when you go over the most basic specs, missing these details from spec sheets and using cheaper bits and bobs is not a good sign at all Hope it's not a sign of a new direction.

Yup, I used to use Black Beauties on all my basses, but they started to have some serious quality control issues, dead strings straight out of the packet, usually the B string, and they didn't last nearly as long as they used to. I'd try some other strings if I were you...

Another vote for Fusion bags here, awesome bits of kit

Gorgeous!

Another vote of confidence for Newtone strings here! I also used them in the 90's like BigRedX, as a result of the costs of 6 string bass sets here in the UK, for the cost of one set of DR's from The Bass Gallery, I could get two custom made sets from Newtone, and they were just as good! I stopped using them too, in favour of Warwick Red Labels, this is getting spooky! When I started playing 33" basses however, I wanted to get a better fit and Newtone came to the rescue, and haven't really used anything ever since. I now play 31.5" basses exclusively, and Newtone wind me a perfect set, 125 100 80 60 40 28 - wound on heavier cores to make them feel tighter, much like the same set on a 34" bass and they work amazingly well. I only wish they made flatwounds... I find that they last a long old time, as long as any other strings I've had, I always found Rotosounds dulled VERY quickly for me, but everyone is different and perhaps my sweat is kryptonite for Swing Bass strings. Eude

My god I love this bass! Absolutely gorgeous! Eude

You're on!

Fair enough dude. If I won the lottery, I'd have that custom Dolphin 6, I'd imagine it would cost something similar to your SC7!

I've had (pie in the sky) quotes through from Warwick in the past, and they seem pretty good to deal with and I've never heard any horror stories, it's just the prices that I can't get past! Warwick are completely flexible now on what they will build, which would make one of my dream basses finally possible (a 32" Dolphin 6 string with a Ziracote top), but their prices have more than doubled in recent years! I have to say, I would second EAD's suggestion of an ACG, even though you already have one, just think how many ACG's you could buy for £15,000! I know where my money would go Sorry if that wasn't really any help... Eude

It is a veneer yes, and I think you're right about it being cross cut, but Alan is the man to ask about that. Very chuffed with how this is turning out! Eude

Bit of progress Eude