Ampeg "Big Stud"

[northern_dirt]

Anyone have any experience with this big piece of wood before?

[northern_dirt]

No one?

[StevenO]

I've never even seen one before. I like it though.

[northern_dirt]

I've never even seen one before. I like it though.

I need a bass... and Im such a vintage whore
When I saw this going for a reasonable price
I had to inquire here about it..

[del]

I've played one - and it's guitar counterpart, too.

This is an alright bass: short scale as I recall (I'd guess 30", but I'm not sure), bolt on neck, two pickups, imported in the 70s (probably) with the Ampeg badge tacked on... wysiwyg.  The body is probably multiply, but also of the era when that was common in many imported guitars and many of those have stood the test of time.  The one I played was in worse condition, but still sounded and played fine.  It was a little flat and thumpy sounding, but quite usable.  I think it would fuzz up nicely.

Finally, the one pictured here looks freaking great, so if you need an inexpensive solidbody bass, I'd go for it.

As long as it is structurally sound, the likely worst case would be that you'd want to put in new pickups.  My guess is that some single-coil t-bass pickups could be manipulated into the existing pickup covers to retain the uber-cool look and improve the sound.

These p'ups (from Curtis Novack who is here on the off's) might do the trick if need be:
http://www.curtisnovak.com/pickups/tb-v.shtml
http://www.curtisnovak.com/pickups/tb-hc.shtml

hope this helps.

del

[Dave]

I've never even seen one before. I like it though.

I need a bass... and Im such a vintage whore
When I saw this going for a reasonable price
I had to inquire here about it..

$350 on Toronto Craigslist?

The funny part is last week, it was $250.

[shadowplay]

very cool and sort of manly imo.  Though the Big Stud text requires a man comfortable with himself    Love the ampeg logo and the backwoods prototype fenderishness but it's somehow still got its own tip.

The Jah Wobble style Ampeg with the through body f-holes is also really cool.

Amazing bargain price too wish it was closer to me.

[northern_dirt]

I've never even seen one before. I like it though.

I need a bass... and Im such a vintage whore
When I saw this going for a reasonable price
I had to inquire here about it..

$350 on Toronto Craigslist?

The funny part is last week, it was $250.

Its been on there for a while..
I never saw it at $250.. I did see it at $500, then $400.. now $350

[mezcalhead]

the Big Stud text requires a man comfortable with himself

n_d is that man!

It was a little flat and thumpy sounding, but quite usable.

Yeah, the body looks modelled on a Tele bass and they're quite flat and thumpy as well, at least mine is. I guess the big humbucker they have doesn't help that though.

Is there another pickup under that second guard?

[Thesmellofrain]

it looks amazing. no idea how it sounds but I friggin love the way it looks