Anyone seen this bass before..., or got one... ?

thijs · July 04, 2009, 09:21:03 AM

Very recently I could add to my collection, a bass which was on my wishlist a long time. I knew the Scroll guitar series from Epiphone (Prince played one) and knew that they made just ONE bass within it: The Double Scroll. It took me about a half year to find it somewere in the world. Finaly succeeded in Texas. The axe is from 1976, in superb condition and original.
It's got two splitcoil humbuckers and a toil cap switch.

They are so rarely seen, I was wandering if someone could come up with some more information. There's very little on the internet.
The only serious info is this: http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=190270840&albumId=130452

Here's all the sound possibility's:
Bridge pup single http://www.showracer.nl/Bassen/Scroll/bs.wav
Bridge pup humbuck http://www.showracer.nl/Bassen/Scroll/bh.wav
Both singel http://www.showracer.nl/Bassen/Scroll/nbs.wav
Both humbuck http://www.showracer.nl/Bassen/Scroll/nbh.wav
Neck single http://www.showracer.nl/Bassen/Scroll/ns.wav
Neck humbuck http://www.showracer.nl/Bassen/Scroll/nh.wav

Here's some pic's:

Dave W · July 04, 2009, 09:31:55 AM

Uwe has one, you can see it on the wall in the pic on page 5 of the "Found a Ripper, decisions, decisions" thread. I don't remember him ever saying much about it, so no idea what information he might have on it.

uwe · July 04, 2009, 10:06:22 AM

I think it sounds a bit like a Grabber, middish and overdriven, not a hifi bass, but a rocker. Even though it is a long scale (I never measured though!), it sounds a little like it was a medium scale. It was the first bass model with which Epi tried to distance itself from the cheap image it had gained in the early seventies. Made in the same plant where another Jap brand (I forgot the name, not a large one) also made these types of scroll instruments.

What else do you want to know, son?

I think you know more than me, I didn't even know it was called "Double Scroll", thanks!

Do you like it?

Uwe

thijs · July 04, 2009, 10:19:14 AM

Quote from: uwe on July 04, 2009, 10:06:22 AM
I think it sounds a bit like a Grabber, middish and overdriven, not a hifi bass, but a rocker. Even though it is a long scale (I never measured though!), it sounds a little like it was a medium scale. It was the first bass model with which Epi tried to distance itself from the cheap image it had gained in the early seventies. Made in the same plant where another Jap brand (I forgot the name, not a large one) also made these types of scroll instruments.

What else do you want to know, son? I think you know more than me, I didn't even know it was called "Double Scroll", thanks!

Do you like it?

Uwe

I like her... just because it's one of a kind... no follow up's or mod's, just this one and that's special to me. Also the fact that there aren't to many around... Hey, that I'd like to know: how many were made in production?

Basvarken · July 04, 2009, 04:00:52 PM

Like I said on that Dutch forum, I think it's way cool Thijs.
Uwe is right it, it doesn't really sound like a long scale.
And the bridge pickup almost sounds distorted by itself. I bet it sounds killer through an all tube amp.

I like the both pups in single mode very much too. It sounds real vintagy. (whatever that means

)

uwe · July 05, 2009, 02:48:58 AM

I have no idea how many were made. Judging from how rarely you see them, not more than a few hundred probably.

Chris P. · July 05, 2009, 04:35:17 AM

Nice score, Thijs! I'll listen to the sounds leter.

Freuds_Cat · July 05, 2009, 05:16:58 AM

Uwe, are you saying it could have come out of the same factory in Japan as, possibly an Ibanez 2609B (Black Eagle)?

Specs:

Body: Mahogany
Neck: 4 string , Maple Neck, Maple Fretboard with Black Inlays.
Peghead: "F" Hole
Pickups: 2 Super Bass Pickups.
Controls: 2 Volumes,1 Tone
Scale 33.5"
US List $350.00

uwe · July 05, 2009, 06:20:59 AM

So the sale is slightly less than long scale, but a bit more than a Ric? My ears did not deceive me.

It wasn't Ibanez, I would have remembered them. Some short-lived brand that was known for its scroll stuff and employed the Epi factory (or vice versa). Vantage?

SKATE RAT · July 05, 2009, 06:26:07 AM

kinda looks like a Westbury "Track II" ? Westbury,Westone & Vantage were all from the same factory

Freuds_Cat · July 05, 2009, 07:49:44 AM

Antoria?

Vantage was Matsumoku (Aria)

Dave W · July 05, 2009, 11:27:42 AM

IIRC Epis were made by Matsumoku back then, no reason to believe this was made elsewhere.