INSTRUMENT SPECS
Model Name: 969B-Coupe
Serial Number:
Completion Date: January 2026
BODY
Body Style / Shape: Single Cut
Body Wood(s): Mahogany
Top Wood: Wenge
Back Wood:
Construction: Bolt-on
Veneers / Laminations: Oak
Chambering (if any): Upper bout
Finish: Tru-Oil
Color / Stain Notes:
NECK
Neck Wood(s): Figured Maple
Neck Construction: Single Piece
Carbon Rods: 2
Truss Rod: Double Adjustable with Spokewheel at Heel
Neck Profile: Classic C
Scale Length: 34″
Nut Width: 1.5″
Number of Frets: 24
Fretboard Wood: Pale Moon Ebony
Fretboard Radius: 16″
Fretwire Size / Type: Nickel Silver from StewMac
Nut Material: Bone
Headstock Type: 2+2
Neck Finish: Satin Tru-Oil
HARDWARE
Bridge: StewMac Solid Brass
Tuners: Gold Solano Y-Key
Hardware Color / Material: Gold
Strap Buttons: Black D’Addario
Pickguard (if any):
ELECTRONICS
Pickup Configuration: HH
Pickup Models: Delano SBC4 HE/S-E Wide Range pickups
Preamp / EQ: Aguilar OBP-3
Controls: Volume, Blend, Hi, Mid (with 400-800MHz switch), Low. Pickup Switches:
Switching / Coil Options: Parallel/single coil/Series.
Output Jack Type / Location: PureTone Stereo Jack on Front
Shielding Type: Copper Foil
SETUP SPECS
String Gauge: 45-100 Light
Tuning: EADG
Neck Relief: .05
Action (12th fret): 3.5/64
Pickup Height:
WEIGHT & BALANCE
Total Weight:
Balance Notes:
BUILD NOTES / STORY
This bass was a few months in the making. I wasn’t sure about the Pale moon ebony fretboard at first – this was my first experience with it. I have used Ebony for years, but this pale moon variety, and it’s intricate personality, made me pause a few times. My worries were unfounded however, and it was clear that I’d made the right choice as soon as I fit the neck to the body for the first time and saw the Pale Moon really embedded against the Wenge top. I was hopeful that it would come together (and that I hadn’t just turned all this beautiful wood into kindling), but that moment really sealed it for me.
This bass took so long that it was the first neck and body made in this Series (969B-Coupe Single Cut), but it was the last that I completed of the three…mostly due to the occasional pause. The other was the weight – loaded up for the show it comes in between 9 and 10 lubbs, so not exactly light. I chambered the upper bout and have a generous e-cavity, but this particular piece of Mahogany is beautiful, but denser than other boards I’ve used. Again, my fears were a bit overblown – the weight feels balanced, both on the knee and strap, and the resonance and sustain from the combo of this dense piece of mahogany and beautiful wenge top, that it’s worth a little extra heft.
I love doing the wiring on my guitars and basses. A carryover from my favorite task when I was building race cars. The two resistors you see on the microswitch eliminate the “click” noise when switching between the 800MHz and 400MHz Low Range. I chose the Aguilar OBP-3 due to my experience with them on the Ash top 969B-Coupe, as well as feedback from other builders and players. All commented on how well the Aguilar plays nice with most anything you attach it to, but I hear nothing but good stuff as far as their reliability. I was excited to try them with these Delano Wide Range pickups and could not be happier. Tons of tonal possibilities from a solid pair of humbuckers – this was the first bass that, while I was doing it’s initial tests through a Katana 210, I was worried I’d blow the windows out of my office.
Some of my favorite details on this bass include the purple anodized cup washers I used on the neck bolts. I like the hint of color from those, as well as using the turquoise powder on the imperfections in the body. I prefer to highlight nature rather than conceal it, when I can. I also live the fretboard binding. I included a black and white veneer at the base of it and used a simple small white side dot marker – which I realize just now I don’t have a photo of…I’ll get that fixed.
Some people are going really crazy over the gold volume knob! I dig it, but maybe that’s just me. I’ll happily swap that out before it ships if you prefer a black volume knob.
Finally, all of my new basses will ship with a Brass nut, including this one. Currently has a bone nut installed, but I’ve recently switched my process and hear/feel things I really like, so there we go.
My wish is for you to look at this bass in your room/studio, and it calls you to play. And for it to be comfortable and fun enough that you can’t put it down.
Additional Images
