I came across this beautiful Bruce Johnson short scale SSB for sale this week. And bought it. I'm officially broke now but wow this thing is great. A P bass wishes it could growl like this. It arrived today and I've only played it for about about an hour or so but I'm really glad I bought it. I don't know how many of these Bruce has made but the seller told me he thought only five. This one is serial #5. According to Bruce's website it's an white ash body and it has a beautiful ebony board. Really racy and effortless to play. 1 5/8" at the nut, nice and thin front to back. Here's some pics.
(http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn3/saltymonkey/DSC02818.jpg)
Next to my short scale Decade.
(http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn3/saltymonkey/DSC02823.jpg)
(http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn3/saltymonkey/DSC02822.jpg)
Cool! Where on Earth did you find that? Never seen one outside of his website, and it didn't sound like he made very many of them.
It popped up in the TB classifieds. I really couldn't afford it. I just bought a Bachbird and a Jackson Tbird. But I knew I would never see another for sale so I sucked it up and bought it. For once I had good timing. The only downside is that something had to go. I really love the Bach so the Jackson is now going to another loving home.
That's different from anything - looks great!
One of the most awesome things about it is that by putting the string anchors on the very edge of the body the bass uses regular 34" scale strings even though it's a 30 1/2" scale. That to me is genius.
Very cool. I always wondered what those sounded like. If I hadn't done the Scroll bass, and knowing how long it takes to get one, I might have ordered one. At this point, I'm also broke and have put my one last project on hold.
Anyone interested in an Epiphone Newport? :mrgreen:
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.
I'm very jealous. I'm such a sucker for short-scales and this hybrid caught my attention from the moment I first saw it.
Congrats on the awesome find.
You should record it some time so me and others can lust after the sound. ;D
The headstock (sort of muscularized Dolphin type from a Silvertone) will grow on me but I LOVE that body! Looks like a much stylized Victory. Congrats, you got a pretty one.
Thanks Denis. I'm not too fond of the headstock either. I like the paddle type headstock on the original Ampeg SSB much better. Bruce has two Ampegs pictured on his site. But he says that he hated the original style so redesigned it. His attention to detail is quite impressive though. I love the custom machined bridge, nut and string anchors. The neck feels fantastic. The upper output jack is direct from the pickup bypassing the preamp which would be cool if you were running two heads.
Bruce is a genius! Congratulations!!! That is a very special beauty!
I'm in line for a Scroll. Should have her in a year or so.
I'm thinking of a "Moonburst"--Black & Blue...fretless.
He also made a lefty bridge & nut for my '53 Gibson to flip it for me. 8)
i am awaiting scroll # 70 in the traditional colors.....
and devil bass #1
we should all get on Bruce and convince him to build the SSB again. It looks great. Just love the color contrast. i think it has a duncan p-bass quarter pounder in it which withthe placement explains a punchier pbass sound. I WANT ONE
Quote from: jumbodbassman on April 08, 2010, 02:42:53 PM
and devil bass #1
(http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k125/0chromium0/forums/smilies/jawdrop.gif)
Wow - I'd love to hear more about this one! Is he starting to build these?
Quote from: jumbodbassman on April 08, 2010, 02:42:53 PM
i am awaiting scroll # 70 in the traditional colors.....
and devil bass #1
we should all get on Bruce and convince him to build the SSB again. It looks great. Just love the color contrast. i think it has a duncan p-bass quarter pounder in it which withthe placement explains a punchier pbass sound. I WANT ONE
W E L C O M E, jumboD!
here are some pictures of my baby # 70 due by mid may???
Quote from: jumbodbassman on April 29, 2010, 03:01:51 PM
here are some pictures of my baby # 70 due by mid may???
He sent you pictures in progress?!?!? Man, I feel neglected. Of course, I was supposed to be getting #67, but got #66 when an order got cancelled. You realize that I got #66 almost a year ago.
he is really slow. i feel sorry for the guys after us like rhythm N bliss. he may wait for 2 years at the rate Bruce is going. i ordered this one in 2007 and my devil bass in March 2003.
g man - is yours fixed yet or still giving you problems.....
"good things come to those who wait" - maybe my parents were right ;-))))
Bruce says i will get the devil bass maybe by year end.... NAH !!!!
I haven't really done anything about it for now. I can still use it, but can't blend the pickups. It's pretty dang sweet straight into the amp. I mean, that's where all the real work gets done anyway. Just ask Nikki Sixx.
I missed this thread.. Great basses!!
GWEIMER - got some more pics
Quote from: jumbodbassman on May 04, 2010, 12:04:59 PM
GWEIMER - got some more pics
Nice!! Won't be TOO long before I'll be seeing my lefty Scroll get made!
hope for a cancellation. he is only making about 6-8 a year. usually only 2 at a time..
I took my Scroll with me for recording last night. DAYUM! It's probably the cleanest recording bass I've ever used. I'll post sound links once we get them up. I just knew that the bass would be perfect for doing STP songs. :thumbsup:
send him the balance of the money and got another picture just now. kind of like a family album ))))
YEAH! Mighty purty 8)
FINALLY!!!! my AEB-2 is finished and was shipped out last night. Should show up maybe friday. A Bachbird last friday and this bass this friday. My 11 year old graduated elementary school today and my middle kid graduates HS on friday. Not a bad week....I think i will buy a lottery ticket on the way home. Actually with 2 soon to be in college and my GAS i need to buy lottery tickets every week.
So here are some pics Bruce sent me last night.
(http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac102/desantisjn/other%20brands%20-/bjohnson1.jpg)
(http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac102/desantisjn/other%20brands%20-/bjohnson2.jpg)
(http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac102/desantisjn/other%20brands%20-/bjohnson3.jpg)
and some shoots of bass without the pickguard and his version of the mystery pickup..
(http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac102/desantisjn/other%20brands%20-/bjohnson4.jpg)
(http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac102/desantisjn/other%20brands%20-/bjohnson6.jpg)
(http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac102/desantisjn/other%20brands%20-/bjohnson5.jpg)
WOW! That is so cool. What number did you get? Yours is exactly like my #66. Of course, I never asked for progress pics. Maybe I should have, although when I learned the whole story behind mine, I'm sure that Bruce is happy I didn't. I need to get mine fixed. Right now, I'm just running the M pickup direct, because I can't blend the 2 pickups.
# 70. If you look closely at the plates around the p pup it is actually stamped. Can't wait to get her in my hands. the action looks really low in the pictures. I actually prefer it on the higher side but with this radius and the tension from the flats this may be what the doctor ordered... Bruce is the extreme in the Extremely Strange......
the eagle has landed. few small issues i need to work out. sounds like nothing else in the world. very cool. thinking i should have gone fretless but.....
(http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac102/desantisjn/AMPEG%20STUFF/aeb2a.jpg)
(http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac102/desantisjn/AMPEG%20STUFF/aeb2d.jpg)
(http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac102/desantisjn/AMPEG%20STUFF/aeb2f.jpg)
(http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac102/desantisjn/AMPEG%20STUFF/aeb2c.jpg)
love the paint on the inside.....
The FIRST words that come to mind when I see those pix are: "...lust in my heart..."
beautiful... truly beautiful...
You could always order another neck and have the best of both...
I actually asked him about that and he wasn't that receptive. I have a Devil bass he is supposed to start a prototype on in the next year or so and i can make that one fretless or maybe i will have more influence then....
here is a soundlink he sent me a while ago that explains the pickups. hopefully this works..
http://www.xstrange.com/AUB-2.mp3
Quote from: jumbodbassman on July 01, 2010, 01:25:11 PM
the eagle has landed. few small issues i need to work out. sounds like nothing else in the world. very cool. thinking i should have gone fretless but.....
(http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac102/desantisjn/AMPEG%20STUFF/aeb2a.jpg)
(http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac102/desantisjn/AMPEG%20STUFF/aeb2d.jpg)
(http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac102/desantisjn/AMPEG%20STUFF/aeb2f.jpg)
(http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac102/desantisjn/AMPEG%20STUFF/aeb2c.jpg)
love the paint on the inside.....
YEAH! Gorgeous, man! Post some sound clips, willya?
Gotta start thinking about paying mine off....