Bruce Johnson Short Scale SSB

saltymonkey · March 26, 2010, 03:21:05 PM

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.

Next to my short scale Decade.

chromium · March 26, 2010, 06:42:05 PM

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.

saltymonkey · March 26, 2010, 10:04:44 PM

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.

Pilgrim · March 27, 2010, 10:52:47 AM

That's different from anything - looks great!

saltymonkey · March 27, 2010, 11:08:18 AM

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.

gweimer · March 30, 2010, 08:36:40 AM

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?

saltymonkey · March 30, 2010, 08:52:35 AM

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.

JimmyBond8 · March 30, 2010, 09:42:05 AM

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.

Denis · March 30, 2010, 01:47:28 PM

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.

saltymonkey · March 30, 2010, 02:09:48 PM

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.

Rhythm N. Bliss · March 30, 2010, 02:20:49 PM

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.

jumbodbassman · 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

chromium · April 08, 2010, 02:59:07 PM

Quote from: jumbodbassman on April 08, 2010, 02:42:53 PM
and devil bass #1

Wow - I'd love to hear more about this one! Is he starting to build these?

Rhythm N. Bliss · April 09, 2010, 01:47:45 PM

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!

jumbodbassman · April 29, 2010, 03:01:51 PM

here are some pictures of my baby # 70 due by mid may???