I emailed Bruce about the bass. He got right back to me. He did in fact only build five. Mine, the fifth one was completed in 2001 and the only one to change hands. He said he still gets a lot of inquiries and requests for them but has no time to build them due to the demand for the Scroll Tops. I'd really like to have one of those too and since buying this may get on that very long list. It came to me with a set of DR rounds on it but is screaming for flats. I'm not all that great at describing tone but it treads in the same area as a P. It is much punchier with way more growl though than either of the two Ps I have owned including a '62. It's really warm and definitely gets a wow from me every time I plug it in. I'm really happy with it.