Solano Speed Shop 2025 969B-Coupe Ash Top Single Cut Bass

Solano Speed Shop 969B-Coupe — Ash Top, Cherry Body — 4-String Bass

Ok, here's the story on this one...

As soon as I saw this piece of Ash at Austin's Hardwood (Yay Austins, Santa Ana!) I knew something had to be done with it. The figuring was really intense, and there was nothing in the rack that looked anything close. The problem...? Heavy AF. So, instead of taking the whole stick, Austins was kind enough to lop off a 2ft slab at the end of what was a 10ft 8/4 stick. No way it's a full body at this weight. Even chambered it would have been a total pig, but was way too pretty to be hidden behind anything, so resawing for a couple nice tops seemed reasonable.

The design for this started with the 969B-Coupe single cut shape. This year I wanted to build in small series to see how I could design within a certain set of guardrails. Three or Four basses is each series, with similar basic specs like body shape, number of frets, and headstock shape. This was the first series started in late 2025, and completed early 2026.

I already had this beautiful piece of cherry in stock, and as soon as I saw it together with the ash, I knew where I wanted to go for the body.

A very cleanly grained and figured wenge fretboard on a muti-piece maple neck would be super stable for anyone who wants to travel with it. Just to make sure, it has a double adjustable truss rod with a spoke wheel adjuster, and a pair of carbon fiber rods. I bound it with the same maple as the neck, and included an ebony veneer line between the neck and binding. The black mother of pearl side dots are understated on purpose. I ended up on a 16" radius for the board. The pink mother of pearl dots were a late decision after my daughters talked me into tinting the grain fill for the ash with a pink pearl mica powder.

So, lets talk about that pink pearl grain fill. It worked out friggin awesome. My daughters are pretty much aces when it comes to making design decisions. It's not overwhelming, at all. It gives the grain a subtle warm pink-ish brown color with a slight pearlish pink tint all over. The photos here actually do a pretty good job of representing how you'll see it in real life.

The pickups are from Nordstrand and are my absolute favorite choice in this series. I will definitely be using them again, and encouraging clients to steer towards them when the application makes sense. What incredible tone. The Aguilar OBP-3 is a great addition, but completely clean when centered. Exactly what I was hoping for. The Nordstrand Big Splits do an amazing job before you even touch the preamp. When I do engage the OBP-3, it's predictable. The Tocos pots I used throughout give you a ton of feel under your fingers. The control you expect. The OBP can run on 9 or 18 volts. I opted for 18 after hearing feedback from users who seemed to get a lot out of the extra headroom.

I used an offcut of the ash to make the control cavity cover, also grain filled in the same manner as the top.

I use a five bolt attachment for the neck to the body and chose pink anodized aluminum ferrules to enhance the natural color of the cherry, and bring out a bit of the pink in the control cover. Control cover and pickups are secured with 3mm button head socket screws. The neck uses 5mm tapered head socket screws.

Current control knobs are black dome knobs for volume and blend, and rosewood on the preamp. As always, if you prefer a different knob, we can always chat about it before I ship. I use PureTone jacks on all of my basses and guitars. This bass includes a stereo version to manage the battery connection. Don't forget to unplug when you're done, or you kill the battery!

Other Hardware includes parts that are proven pretty much everywhere: a Hipshot A-style bridge and Gotoh tuners.

And now here's what the Ai had to say about it - and this is well after I reigned in the parts that were way over the top:

This Solano Speed Shop 969B-Coupe is a hand-built, 4-string bass that blends classic proportions with modern playability and serious tonal flexibility. Built with premium materials and pro-level components throughout, this is an instrument designed for players who demand both feel and sound without compromise.

The body pairs American cherry with a flamed ash top, separated by a single black veneer for subtle visual contrast. The result is a bass that’s resonant, balanced, and visually striking without being overdone. It’s elegant, not flashy.

The 34” scale, bolt-on maple neck features dual carbon fiber rods for long-term stability and consistency. A wenge fretboard with 24 frets delivers a smooth, fast feel with excellent note definition, while the comfortable classic C neck profile makes this bass easy to settle into whether you’re tracking in the studio or playing live.

Electronics are equally dialed in. A Nordstrand Big Split pickup feeds an Aguilar OBP-3 preamp, giving you everything from authoritative, vintage-leaning tones to modern clarity and punch. This setup excels in mix-ready articulation, making it a strong choice for session work, fusion, rock, funk, and anything that demands tonal range.

Hardware is rock-solid and road-worthy, featuring a Hipshot Type-A bridge and Gotoh tuners for reliable tuning stability and sustain.

This bass has been professionally set up and plays exactly as a high-end custom instrument should — fast, clean, and responsive across the entire fretboard.