Description

AC5-Signature

Transparent White Gloss Finish

Active with F Bass Preamp

Hum-Cancelling F Bass Stacked Single-Coil Pickup + Piezo

Chambered Maple Body with Spruce Top

28 Fret Gabon Ebony Fingerboard, 34.5″ Scale, 19mm

Ebony Bridge

8lbs 12 oz

F Bass Gig Bag Included

The AC-Signature fretless has been developed in collaboration with Alain Caron since the mid 1980’s. This series was inspired by Alain’s desire to have one fretless bass that could do it all—anything from acoustic to modern electric tones, a big clear voice to hold down a groove and an extended range fingerboard with easy access for soloing. Al often refers to playing fretless as a second language, so it was imperative that this instrument be highly expressive and sensitive to playing dynamics. This is achieved through our original semi-chambered design, procurement of premium lumber used in traditional upright bass builds, our handwound F Bass single-coil pickup, RMC Piezo saddle pickup system, and our natural & transparent F Bass preamp. This is a highly refined instrument and has been dubbed by our players as the “King of Fretless”!

Upright Inspiration & BIG Tone

Our AC’s are made with the same wood combination used in traditional upright basses and include: a lightly figured Maple semi-chambered body, Canadian Spruce top, Hardrock Canadian Maple neck, and dense Gabon Ebony for the handmade bridge and extended range 28 fret fingerboard. This combination offers a beautiful resonant tone that produces rich low end and midrange, a warm yet articulate high end, an attack that has each note blossoming to full volume with loads of that fretless “muah” expression, and an overall “woody” character.

We love a big bass sound though can’t stress enough that it has to be focused and controlled. That’s why our 5 & 6 string AC’s are made with a 34.5” scale length. This 0.5” scale length extension adds clarity to the low B while maintaining a thick and musical G & C. To control these lower frequencies even further, we string up our AC’s with custom F Bass exposed-cores made for us by LaBella. These exposed-core strings were developed in tandem with our AC’s and have been continually improved since their inception in the mid 1980’s. The steel core is completely exposed over the saddle for maximum contact producing excellent clarity, a clean fundamental, and piano-like sustain.

F Bass Stacked Single-Coil Pickup

Our pickup takes the Jazz Bass single-coil a few steps further. While the focus is still a strong midrange and clear high end, the overall tone is thicker, smoother, and with none of the grit or grain in the higher frequencies. To eliminate 60-cycle hum associated with traditional single-coils, simply pull up on the bridge pickup volume knob to engage hum-cancelling mode.

Piezo Saddle Pickup System

Each string sits over a RMC Piezo saddle element that’s installed in the handmade Ebony bridge. They’re controlled by a single volume knob and emphasize the bright and acoustic nature of the instrument. When fully dialled in, they showcase that classic string clack of an upright bass.

F Bass Preamp

Our preamps are handmade right here in Hamilton using discrete components (transistors, resistors, capacitors) rather than over-engineered IC chips. This helps us achieve a more open and transparent sound that allows the instrument to translate its inherent tone without colouration. Our 3-band preamp controls Bass Boost, Mid Boost, and Treble Boost. When all are set flat at 0, there is no perceivable difference from your passive tone. This makes for an extremely predictable and shape-able tool to explore tones or to simply cater to various gigging environments. The 9V pre has a low draw allowing for approximately 500 hours of play. Now if your battery happens to die in the middle of a gig—don’t fret!— you can pop up the tone control to engage passive mode.

Balance

Through careful design and consideration of each component’s weight (down to the ounce), we ensure perfect balance whether playing in the seated position or strapped in. Our treble horns are curved outwards, set further back into the body, and carved to match the curvature of the fretting hand. This allows for easier access to the end of the fingerboard and maximizes comfort in the seated position. Our AC’s are also made with a slightly extended bass horn to bring the first position in a little closer when playing with a strap.

Cosmetic Harmony

When putting so much effort into our design, finishes, and sourcing beautiful tone woods, the last thing we want is to disrupt that aesthetic flow with plastic. So we take the time to grain match pickup shells and backplate covers from the same wood used for the body. To continue this cosmetic harmony, our headstocks are also colour matched to the body or crafted with matching wood veneers for exotic topped builds.

SO 1879