AC Guitars Introduces Salace E Type Bass
AC Guitars has introduced a new modded version of their Salace bass called the AC Guitars Salace E Type. Made in collaboration with bassist Ewan Beck, the single cut design is available with a variety of options but is built with several goals in mind.
“The design goals with this particular bass where for an instrument that was equally comfortable and balanced on the strap and sitting,” luthier Alan Cringean explains. “Also the shape had to work as headless and headed. We were also looking to keep the weight as low as possible so made use of a Spruce body core and extensive carving on the upper bout. This while reducing the weight also helps the upper bout hug the body.”
The first Salace E Type built is a short scale six-string that features a flame koa top, spruce core, and mahogany back with black veneer separating each layer. The bolt-on neck is a 3-piece ash design with carbon reinforcement. Its cocobolo fretboard has a flat radius while the neck’s carve is asymmetrical for comfort in its full range.
Cringean fits the bass with a pair of his own FB humbuckers and an East Uni-Pre, though the ACG Dual Filter Modular preamp is also available. Hardware includes an ACG custom headpiece, ETS tuning and saddle units, and Dunlop Dual Design Straplocks. The finish is a satin lacquer, and the bass weighs in around 8.8 pounds.
As each AC Guitars bass is handmade to order in Scotland, many of the features can be customized. The AC Guitars Salace E Type is available for order now with prices staring around $2,750 USD.
AC Guitars Salace E Type Bass Specs:
| Construction: | Bolt-on (Set Neck Option Available) |
| Scale: | 31.5″ |
| Body: | Spruce Core, Mahogany Back |
| Top: | Flame Koa with black veneer |
| Neck: | 3-piece Ash with carbon reinforcement |
| Neck Profile: | Asymmetric |
| Fretboard: | Cocobolo |
| Fretboard Radius: | Flat |
| Headpiece: | ACG Custom Headpiece |
| Tuners: | ETS tuning and saddle unit |
| Other Hardware: | Dunlop Dual Design Straplocks. |
| Pickups: | ACG FB humbuckers |
| Electronics: | East Uni-Pre with the ACG DFM (Dual Filter Modular ) pre-amp also available. |
| Finish: | Satin lacquer |
| Weight: | 4Kg/8.8lb |
For more information:
AC Guitars
I’ve got $2,750 in my mattress for this bass,,, NOT .
Nice bass ,,,
Hi
Yes, I appreciate not everyone has this amount of money in order to buy a handmade custom instrument. However this is my livelyhood and I don’t have a large CNC equipped workshop to bang these out 10 a week they are built by hand by one person from start to finish. So I need to charge for my time and materials in order to run the business pay the bills and feed the family. I do offer the Standard Series basses which have fewer options and come at a lower price point.
Thanks for the positive comment as well it is aprreciated.
Alan
$2700 is a steal.
Alan I meant no disrespect , sorry if I offended you.
However it is a very nice bass , nice work you do.
Absolutely no offence taken we are good.
Hi Alan. Do you have any tonal clips? Also, is there a difference in tone between the headless and headed versions of this bass?
Hi
Ewan will be doing some sound clips just shortly. Not built a headed version of this shape but I have never built a headless and headed bass with the same woods so I don’t have anything to draw a reasonable comparison. So in short I can’t honestly say what the difference would be.
Hey Virgil, like Alan says, I should have some clips ready in a week or so. Just as a starter though, to my ear the tone has a bit more warmth and sweetness, I guess as a result of the shorter scale, but it doesn’t sacrifice any clarity. The low B is WAY better than it should be too, so I’ll be sure to feature on that during the clips too.
Just beautiful. I agree a sound or vid clip of sorts would help heaps. Always fancied a headless short scale five running E – C.
OK guys, here’s some very rough sound samples.
https://soundcloud.com/eudeboy/sets/acg-salace-sc-e-type-samples
I’ve tried to show the upper and lower register and the natural tone of the instrument.
The bass is still amazing by the way.
Nice sound Ewan , I like the tone , well done.
Thanks Mark!