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

Another cracker! I remember back when this bass was made, seemed crazy to have a solid wenge body, but as with a lot of Alan's stuff, it just makes perfect sense once you see/play it Congrats on another lovely bass added to your collection mate. Cheers, Eude

[quote name='ped' timestamp='1509465704' post='3399150'] Now, I saw a lovely headless ACG at the bash, any ideas who owned it or what model it was?! [/quote] Aha! That was mine too, glad you liked it! It's a Salace SC E Type ([url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/272124-acg-salace-e-type/"]linkie here[/url]), and just like the fretless above, it's a 31.5" 6 string. Merton brought it, and my Krell SC E Type 5er (which is 33" scale and will be up for sale very very soon), along at Si's request so he could have another go before he ordered his custom ACG. Eude

[quote name='walbassist' timestamp='1509460624' post='3399085'] Stunning bass! I took the same picture with my two! [/quote] I can't lie, your shot inspired mine

This bass [size=6][b]REALLY[/b][/size] is the best bass I have ever played, never mind owned. I can't get enough of it! The craftsmanship is sublime and the sound is absolutely incredible! There's some kind of magic as a result of the wood combination, and the low B on this thing is ridiculous, especially considering it's 31.5" scale length! The top, I know very little about, the words "Fractal Birch" and an accompanying picture was all I needed to make my choose it for this bass. Alan at ACG seems to be able to get his hands on very unique materials, there's also Fractal Ebony, and Fractal Walnut too. Probably some kind of Voodoo I expect... There will definitely be some sound samples appearing as soon as I'm able... and more pics Eude

It's here, and it's absolutely incredible! Eude

Hot damn!

[quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1508702850' post='3393936'] Eerrmmmhhhgggddd Si [/quote] It's ridiculous isn't it! Eude