AZOLA BASSES Handcrafted in California, USA: OUR CUSTOMERS SPEAK (Cont'd)
OUR CUSTOMERS SPEAK (Cont'd)
We've been flooded with very gratifying customer correspondence, and had to start some new pages on the website to include it all! Thanks everyone for your warm response to our basses. It is truly our customers around the world that make this endeavour worthwhile.
Adam M. in NYC about the wedding gift his wonderful new wife gave him ... a EuroCoustic Baby Bass from Bass Northwest -
"Dear Jill (and Steve), I received the Baby yesterday. What a beauty! Sorry I didn't write yesterday. I simply haven't had time to put her down. The bass is absolutely incredible! Plays and sounds amazing! Thank you so much for everything! I also really appreciated the stand. I'll take some pics when I have a chance."
*************************************** Victor & Victoria M. in Madison, WI about their Lightning Bug -
"We just spoke to you on the phone...and we're still amazed, elated, very content...I know Victor is overjoyed! Thanks again for such craftsmanship and skill, it's beautiful!"
and later ...
"Hi Azola, I haven't forgotten you. I have been busy. I just finished a tour with AL Dimeola. The whole group is happy with the sound of the Ltg Bug, especially Al. He loves the strong clear sound. In general, it's brilliant, as well as very versatile for the different styles and genres that I like to play.I hope you're well.I keep in touch. Take care." Victor Miranda Bass player Al Dimeola
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Yunior T. in NYC about the new fiberglass flight case for his special Acoustic Baby Bass -
"Hi Jill & Steve, I am in Paris at the moment and the case is working good. It is being through rough times already and is holding down steady like it should. I will call you in the end of the month when I get back with a full report. Thank so much - everything worked smooth receiving the case in NY."
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Ian in Canada about his Lightning Bug from Club Bass (from his email to Club Bass proprietor, Dave Freeman) -
"Hey Dave, Just a quick note to let you know that I did use the Azola Lightning Bug on the gig Saturday night. It shook the house!!!! The fellas were a little apprehensive at my choice of bringing only one bass to the gig...they shut up shortly after the first tune in soundcheck. This bass feels great, making the switch from horizontal to vertical is a breeze...the onboard preamp gives me the flexibility to tweak the sound on the fly (unheard of on a doghouse). The bottom end makes notes blossom at just the right time and the mid and top give me some speak and shimmer value.
Please feel free to send along my kudos to Stephen and Jill Azola for making this instrument. I feel like it was made just for me !!!!!
Finally, thanks to you for bringing them up here, and letting me know they arrived!"
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Andy E. in NY about his Lightning Bug -
"Hi Jill, It's been a while, and the little Lightning Bug is doing very well!! I get nothing but praise for my sound with it in a variety of settings. I don't know how far you folks are from San Jose, but I will be there performing with Bobby Sanabria and Ascensión on Aug. 6. I have played some fesivals with him in Wisconsin and in Ohio so far this summer. Everybody is digging this bass!!"
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Debra A. in Australia about her Floating Top Lightning Bug (special 39" scale length "Lady Bug") -
"How's things at Rancho Bajo?? 100% happy customer here. Even though at times the twins do make it impossible to think about the bass...I have had some time to spend with it since it arrived, and I've done a bunch of gigs too. What a little ripper!! Very very happy.
The sound is just great...perfect for Brazilian music. I always found that the double bass was beautiful for Bossa Nova, but Samba needed more of an electric punch. This is the best of both worlds with the acoustic warmth and the electric punch all in one.
My partner(James), who I play Brazilian music with, is very happy with the clarity of this instrument. He keeps saying after every few tunes, "What a sound". It sounds more acoustic than I thought it would, and it cuts the room no worries. A couple of the gigs were real testers for the little bass. One being a very noisy bar with a drummer, and the other a room filled with glass..also very noisy - bathroom style...no worries here...she cut the room...what a relief. I wish I had this bass a couple of years ago when I was doing a lot of playing with this loud drummer who always had to be louder than everyone. I always refused to turn up too much because it would kill the acoustic sound, and probably feed back also...ended up with tendenitis and many trips to the physio for fighting the sound...not anymore...so yes...very happy with the sound.
I am still getting used to the 39" scale ... but only in terms of breaking the habit of over stretching. I love the neck...it fits me perfectly. I feel I can play things without the struggle I'm used to, like octaves from the D to E string...thanks heaps for that suggestion...spot on.
We keep having a laugh when we see the instrument in the case - "I can't believe there is a double bass in there!!" We are heading over to Portugal this April, relieved we will put the bass through luggage...so much hassle otherwise, and pretty expensive too.
It's a lot easier now to get around here too. The twins now have the back seats, so we were putting the double bass over the top of everything, and the bridge sat against the roof of the car???! ouch...a bit nerve racking...so before every gig I had to re-align the bridge. I'm really appreciating this compact little bass.
Everything has been so well thought about. The action neck tilt is so nifty.
Every gig someone asks me what is this instrument. They usually look pretty puzzled when I say it's a double bass. "It's evolution", I tell them. Please keep populating the world with these beautiful Azola basses...as I'm sure you will. Thank you once again."
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Jack H. in WA about his EuroCoustic BugBass -
"Today I played my new Azola bass with my big band for the first time. All the musicians were very interested in it and were impressed with its quality workmanship, authentic sound and power--especially on the low end. It balanced out nicely by using my amp to attenuate the lower frequencies. Everyone approved of it joining the band."
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Viktor K. in TN about his EuroCoustic BugBass -
"I have used the bass on some live shows specifically with an artist I produced named Jason White. It has repeatedly received great comments."
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Tim F. in FL about his used BugBass -
"While visiting my grand children in Northern Virginia, I visited some local music shops and found a used BugBass that was on consignment at a vintage instrument store. A rare occurrence to find any used EUB. I ended up buying it four weeks later and had them ship it to me via UPS. I've had it about two weeks and have not touched any of my Fender Precisions since. I originally thought that I would add an electric bass pickup but have found that there is absolutely no need. It's perfect just the way it is. It's been over thirty years since I've played an upright due to the transportation issues with that size of instrument and the Bug Bass fits the bill very well. I hope to someday have a carved Azola but for now the BugBass is perfect. Even though I did not buy it new, I wanted you to know that I consider it a fine instrument and perfect for backing up acoustic acts in our area. Thanks for making such a fine instrument."
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Ron W. in WI about his used BugBass -
"First of all I must tell you my BugBass has become my musical heart and soul. I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoy playing this instrument! Listeners always come up and tell me how great it sounds and how unique it looks! It works perfect for the type of blues our band plays. The bass is a workhorse and has never let me down. Thank you very much! The band I primarily play with is called Oozin' Blooze. We play mostly in southeastern Wisconsin and northeast Illinois. Thanks again!"
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Eric B. in So Cal about his 5-string Lightning Bug -
"I was home for most of last week, and I played the bass everyday and think it sounds amazing. I've already used it on a couple of sessions and it sounded great. The shorter scale (39") definitely helps. It didn't take me long at all to adjust. I'm still a work in progress but it's coming fast. The tour that we did in Japan was in support of Keiko's record that came out there. The same record will come out here in the States in March so we will be performing those tunes again and I will integrate the bass at that point. In the meantime I've put the word out and I've been getting several calls for sessions so the bass will get a lot use. By the way, I ran into Richies Goods with Manhattan Transfer and he was playing this same bass. It sounded really good and he played it all night. Thanks again for your efforts in getting this done for me. I hope you're doing well and Happy Thanksgiving!"
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Jon H. in HI about his Ltg Bug -
"Hi Jill & Steve, I received the bass last night. What a great instrument, thank you both! Aloha."
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Alec H. in So Cal about his Ltg Bug -
"Hello Jill, I want to thank you and Steve for the amazing work and craftsmanship of not only the bass, but the process of getting it. You both were kind and understanding through the entire time, which is a true testament to your dedication and love of the business. The bass has gone over with tremendous success, not only being played in the school's jazz band and my jazz combo, but also in orchestra. It sounds wonderful being bowed as well as being plucked. The three band equalizer has been wonderful. I have been able to change the sound of the instrument to suit my needs for sweet ringing notes to the deep growl in funk. While the sound has turned many ears, the shape and size of the instrument have been widely discussed among friends and audience members. At our last concert, a man who plays bass for a jazz group out of Newport Beach asked me where I got the bass. I told him about Azola and gave him a business card.
Thank you both again for the amazing work and dedication and I hope to come back to you in my future as my need for instrumentation grows and stems out."
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Billy D. in SC about his BugBass (when he needed a replacement part for it) -
"Hi - I love and play my bug live about 4 nights a week. Have been doing so since I bought it in 1997."
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Jeffrey K. in So Cal about his EuroCoustic Baby Bass -
"Just a quick note. I got to record in Cello studios over the weekend. This is the same place they recorded "Pet Sounds" and numerous other hits (Mamas and the Papas, Frank Sinatra, Elton John, Red Hot Chili Pepers, Fiona Apple, etc.......). From what I hear, this is one of the best studios there is. Anyway, we recorded live to tape (no digital). The engineer remarked that the Baby sounded great. He was amazed because in his experience he has had to play with the sound quite a bit when using electric uprights. He didn't have to do anything to the sound (aside from normal compression). I don't have a copy of the stuff we did yet, but I'll get you a copy when I get one. Hope all is well. "
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Rudi S. in Germany about his Floating Top Ltg Bug -
"Hello from Munich - Last Thursday morning my new bass arrived safely at its new home. It took me only a few minutes to feel comfortable with it. Its neck feels quite close to my accoustic upright. On Saturday I had already my first gig with it and I was totally satisfied from the sound and the playability. I have not found any dead spots along the neck, and the balance is very even. Also the wood and finish, very accurate work, everything looks wonderful. Thank you for your work and care! "
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Ken H. in So Cal about his BugBass II -
"I am so delighted with my BugBass. I have become a pretty good player so I get lots of calls. I play in three groups regularly and get some calls for casual work. The musicians I work with love the sound of the bass and I get lots of comments and compliments from those who hear our groups. With all of this work my mechanics and sight reading have improved a great deal. Thanks again Steve for building such a marvelous instrument. "
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Barry J. in London about his EuroCoustic Baby Bass -
"Well what can I say...thank you very much indeed, my new Babe is absolutely beautiful! I'm very pleased with the gig bag and the stand too. And it was an excellent packing job! Thanks, Steve, for setting everything up so that I just had to 'tune-up and take off!'. I think that you should be very proud of designing and developing an instrument which combines so well the traditional crafts with modern practicality. It's obvious that a lot of thought and care goes into your work. As you know, as a '62 Fender Precision Bass player, I don't have a lot of experience with uprights but right from the start it really has nice feel to it. I havn't got a bow as yet but pizzicato it sounds great for practice and it packs a real punch through my practice amp! Finally, I would like to thank you for your excellent personal service. I have read so many comments now about how the Azolas look after their customers and I would totally agree with them. Its been really nice to chat and experience that personal contact. So, take care both of you."
And a bit later ...
"I just wanted to add a note to my e-mail of yesterday and say how much I like the acoustic tone of my Babe. I was playing last night and I realised that this is the tone I was trying to find years ago when I bought my first bass guitars. My first 'good' guitar was a Gibson EB0 which had a very bassy sound - you know the sound where you can not actually hear the individual notes but rather feel them in your chest! I changed to a Fender to get a punchier sound where you can hear the individual notes. The Baby has just the sound I was trying to emulate - clear, punchy and really nice! I just need to learn to play it now!! Thanks again."
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Jane W. in Boston about her Lightning Bug -
"I'm playing my Azola in a Haitian band (bandleader Gifrants) with whom I got to go to Miami a few times, and a few salsa bands...including my first concert-type gig at the Regattabar here in Boston with Hector Cuevas and The Boston Latin Band. The other musicians really dug my Azola bass! When I went to PASIC 2003 in Kentucky to perform (not on bass), it was great to be able to take my Azola along so I could keep practicing every day. Thanks again ... I love my Azola bass and would recommend it to anyone."
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Jim K. in IL about his EuroCoustic Baby -
"I just got it out of the box and it is the most beautiful instrument I've ever laid my hands on. Thanks so much for making this possible. I'll be in touch in a week or so after I've had a chance to really get to know the new addition to our family. Thanks again for everything."
and later ...
"I just wanted to let you know I sent XXX an email and told him how much I enjoy my EuroCoustic Bass. I don't think I've touched one of my other basses since I got the my EuroCoustic. How are things going in your part of the world? Great I hope. Thanks again for the wonderful bass, I know my search is over for the perfect bass."
************************************** Derran C. in SF, CA about his pre-owned Acoustic Baby Bass (special Chubby Jackson model) -
"Hi Jill,
All I can say is WOW, WOW and WOW!!! It looks far more beautiful than I anticipated! Thank you so much for everything. Also thank Steve for his incredible craftsmanship. I cannot believe it!!! I just opened it and now I will plug it in and listen to it through my amp. I would also like to comment on your fine job of securing it. UNBELIEVABLE!!!
I will be contacting you by phone as well to let you know how it sounds.
Have a great day and thanks for all your hard work and patience in putting this deal together."
and later ...
"I actually began playing it more today and you were right... the sound is so real! I played it for my wife and even she agreed that the sound is truly authentic! I will cherish this instrument for a long time. It is most definitely a work of art.
I am happy to know that we were able to collaborate and help someone out during hard times. It's so amazing how in such a short time, this instrument has already created a wonderful history for itself. If I EVER decide part with it, YOU will be the first to know.
Once again, thanks so much for the great customer service you have provided. And thank Steve for sharing his incredible talent in the form of such finely crafted instruments (masterpieces)."
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John P. in NY about his Floating Top Ltg Bug -
"Hi Jill, I received the bass, travel case and gig bag today. The bass is wonderful. The craftsmanship again is superb. The sound is incredible and it feels very good in my hands. The new pickup system has even more and better flexibility than the old one. Keep up the research and new ideas!!!!!!
You were right, the 41 inch string length is not a problem, in fact it is better for my smallish hands. The travel case is perfect and it will be much easier to lug around. Now, I'll have to go somewhere just to try it out."
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Yunior C. about his custom "Chubby Jackson Model" Acoustic Baby Bass -
"Hi Steve and Jill, I am at the moment in Paris with Lila Downs' group for a day. We played already in Italy and Denmark, and the bass is playing and sounding beautiful. I am always amazed with the clarity of the sound. It defines every note perfectly. I will be on tour until mid-August this time. I will be performing for a west coast tour in October, so I will let you know ahead of time our schedule. I will call you when I am back in town. Thanks again for the time and the work."
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Michael B. in Vermont about his BugBass II -
"I've just got to say that the European tour with Mitch Woods and the Rocket 88's went great. 22 festivals/clubs in 25 days. 22 different bass amps, 22 different soundmen, and my BugBass came through every time!! Not only did it sound great, but its sheer elegance and beauty was the envy of every bassist I met on the festival circuit. Thanks so much for the great instrument!! I'll send pics, and when the live record comes out on Blind Pig, I'll send one of those along too."
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Mario L. in So Cal about his used MiniBass and re-issue Baby -
"To Jill & Steve (the parents I wish I had) -
I'm writing to thank you for accepting me and my friends to your house and shop in San Diego. I had such a good time meeting you and Steve (my hero) in person. It was an unforgettable day. When I saw Steve come out of his workshop, I was in such awe that I couln't stop smiling. I really want to thank you guys for being so kind and easy to get along with, and for fixing my basses on the spot. I thought I would have to leave the basses there for over 2 months, but Steve just went ahead and fixed both of them right away. The basses couldn't have sounded better, and when people see them they can't stop talking about how beautiful they look and how great they sound. When people ask about the Baby Bass I let them know that even though it says Ampeg on the headstock, they shouldn't forget that Steve's mind is the one who made and re-issued them. Once again, thank you two for being the best, and for making the best basses in the world. Thank you and we'll keep in touch.
With Admiration, Mario"
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Greg S. in CT about his BugBass -
"I have owned my Bugbass with the Iced Tea finish for probably 4 years now....and love it. You have a big cheerleader out here. My Bug plays a fair part in my gigs with the Furry Alligators - we are an Acid Jazz / Funk / Bluegrass / Neo-Hippie / Heinz 57 train wreck with a small but loyal following ... sort of a Jerry Garcia meets Lou Rawls thing but without the acid trips and violins."
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Don J. in Nashville about his special BugBass -
"Hey guys, I am on the road with Riverdance again. This time for 11 weeks and have the Bugbass out for the tapdance part of the show. The band and dancers really like the sound . Just keeping in touch. "
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Steve O. in IL about his BugBass -
"My BugBass is the coolest instrument I've ever owned. Thanks again for everything."
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Tim M. in NJ about his BugBass -
"I have been playing my BugBass on the "Traditional Jazz Festival Circuit" for 4 years now. Without exception, every festival sound tech has commented on the quality of the sound, the evenness of the tone from top to bottom and the simplicity of the design. I just wanted to take a second to drop a line to say thank you all at Azola for making my life easier without sacrificing any of the quality I have in my acoustic bass.
Furthermore, the design of the Bug and the hard case have made traveling a snap even in these "nightmarish" travel times we are living in. The case, stand and bass meet all of the standards for checked baggage without having to pay for oversized/overweight baggage. The festival directors love it too!! The bass has been to festivals in Mammoth Lakes, CA; Sun Valley, ID; Sisters, OR; Davenport IA; Sarasota, FL; New Orleans, LA; and many others. I was used at the George W. Bush inauguration in 2001, a tribute concert to bassist Bob Haggert in 1999, on several of the Mississippi River Boats, and is used regularly with The Bob Crosby Bobcats, Guy Lombardo's Royal Canadians with Al Pierson and throughout the New York Metropolitan area on a regular basis. Without fail, people dig the sound of this instrument!!! Keep up the great work."
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A.J. Outlaw about his used Azola Jazzman -
"Hi guys ... I emailed you a week or so back inquiring about an Azola Jazzman bass on ebay for sale. My interest at that point was whether I could purchase a similar instrument, with electronics tailored specifically to my personal taste. Your reply indicated that while this is / was certainly possible, I might be better suited to attempt to win the bid on the bass on ebay. I did, in fact, win the auction. The bass arrived today, at which point I gave it a quick inspection, replaced the 9-volt batteries, installed a new set of Elixir polyweb strings, & tweaked the string height & intonation.
The bottom line is this: I'm now semi-retired, playing weekend gigs only, having escaped from the rigors of "the road", and have owned & played many "boutique level" basses over the years, to include several Modulus, Zon, Alembic, Music Man, etc, etc. This Jazzman instantly and totally blows them ALL away in overall quality, tone, playability & creature - comfort! My biggest regret right now is that I didn't discover your products years ago!Many thanks to you for gently "steering me" onto this great instrument!"
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Jeffrey K. in So Cal about his EuroCoustic Baby -
"I had a couple of gigs on the weekend. The new bass was awesome. Besides the sound, everyone complimented on the appearance. It really is a beautiful bass. Also, it plays wonderfully. Another player in town here kept saying (over and over) how beautiful and perfectly set up the neck was. I'd have to agree with him. Sound wise, the thing is a monster. The low notes are thunderous and distinct, and the sound is even all across the fingerboard. I just wanted to say thanks again for everything. I really love the bass."
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David G. in CA about his Nouveau -
"The Nouveau is doing fine. My buddies that I sit in with on their "acoustic gigs", LOVE IT! They say "Man that bass sounds HUGE...PHAT!" Not to mention, a nice looker too."
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Craig R. in CA about his used Floating Top BugBass -
"Thank you so much for the custom bout; what a wonderful surprise to find this in my mailbox! It does indeed do the trick for me, and I can't think of any way to make it better. Works great standing - I have complete easy access to all the strings with the bow, and the position behind the bass is more natural for me for pizz, too, since that is how I play my acoustic. Sitting (I usually sit on a stool for performances, I'm not as young as I used to be.), also feels natural - but then I have to support the left side of the bass with my knee - the same as I do with my acoustic! Please thank Steve for the great job he did, and for taking the time to make such a beautiful piece. I will certainly add this to my comments when I tell people about your great service. (I already have, actually, and everybody just goes "wow".) The bass has been getting a lot of use now, and one sax player who had never seen an electric upright (and called it a "contraption", though not in a derogatory way), admitted he liked the sound. In fact, I haven't heard a negative comment yet. I'm very pleased. Thanks again, for everything."
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Denny H. in SC about his BugBass -
"I am the owner of a Bug Bass in Myrtle Beach, SC and will be in your area on Monday 9/23/02. I would very much appreciate a tour of your factory on that day because I don't get to the West coast often. I would also like to add that I use my Bug Bass for just about every gig and have tried several others but none came close to the over all sound and feel. Thanks!"
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Kevin K. in CT about his Nouveau -
"The bass arrived & WOW!!! It's beautiful (and the gig bag isn't bad either). I have only had a short session with it plugged in, but it plays great. Well worth the wait. Thanks for all the personal attention to this instrument."
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Chad C. in TX anbout his used BugBass -
"I have to say for my first upright, this thing is so easy to play!! I have had it for a whole 36 hours, and I had band rehearsal last night and actually substituted the Bug for my electric ... and it sounded GOOD!! "
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Eric R. in NY about his 5-string Floating Top BugBass -
"I'm a professional bassist, based in NY, who's been playing a Floating Top BugBass for 3 years. It's become my main axe, even though I also play double bass, and 6-string bass guitar. I play it exclusively on my band, Gutbucket's release "InsomniacsDream" on Knitting Factory Records. I've also used it for performing and recording with other NYC based bands such as The Suckers and The Dan Neustadt Group. Along with my BugBass being featured on Gutbucket's next release, scheduled for November, I use it exclusively on tour. Gutbucket has toured the US and Europe. We will be returning to Europe this summer to play several jazz festivals, and again in November to promote our next record. I very much enjoy the quality of my Azola BugBass. Frequently, audience members inquire about my bass, and we get a fair share of musician audience members."
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Ron B. in WI about his Scarab -
"I've looked this bass over pretty close, and my compliments to you both. It is really well done. Even more important, it sounds and plays just great. The set up and feel are virtually the same as my acoustic string bass, and the sound is excellent. Any trepidation I had about ordering this without ever seeing or playing one is long gone. If you need any references, I'd be happy to oblige. And if and when I get to San Diego again, I would love to get a chance to visit and see the workshop."
