❌SOLD❌ Azola Lightning Bug Upright Electric Bass, 2009

Azola Lightning Bug Basses – and other Azola Electric Upright Basses or EUB’s – were built from 2001 at the Azola shop in California until Azola ceased production in 2010. Azola started building in 1994 with a rebuild of the classic Ampeg Baby Bass.

While putting together his Baby Bass prototype, Azola thoughtfully approached Ampeg for authorization. The results were positive – not only was Ampeg supportive, but when they decided to formally re-issue the classic Baby Bass, they asked Azola to build them!

Unfortunately, Azola Basses closed in 2010 for personal reasons and by 2015, Steve Azola was selling off the last of his production stock, templates and tools. He has returned to his previous craft of automotive restoration.

Supplied with a separate chromed metal stand as well as a support post, the Azola Lightning Bug is built with an Ash body, bolt-on Maple neck and in this case, an Indian Rosewood fingerboard with dot position markers. There is a bit of custom hardware – the tailpiece and support post mounts are cast metal. Tuners are open-gear Grover models. A piezo pickup system is fed to rear-mounted controls and 9v battery access.

Not pictured but included is a folding, chromed tube stand allowing the bass to stand fully upright.

These basses are very well made, and were one of the very few Made in USA electric uprights after Ampeg stopped building the Baby Bass. They are an excellent and hard to find alternative to acoustic upright basses

Most of the EUB models available now are made by NS Design – the NS standing for Ned Steinberger – a US design, manufactured in the Czech Republic, or by Yamaha in Japan.

The original Lightning Bug case, made by SKB, is included and is in excellent condition. This solid but lightweight case has two handles, one on the side and one at the head end, and built-in wheels at the tail end.