Who do I choose to build me a bass?

[discreet]

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1401107959' post='2460082']
They're all just lumps of wood with magnets screwed to the front - it largely depends what you want it to say on the headstock for pose value.
[/quote]

Stop telling it like it is, you - can't a guy dream..?

[BetaFunk]

[quote name='JazzBassfreak' timestamp='1401020710' post='2459167']
I'm thinking boutique vibe, so maybe moving away from the Jazz bass side of things!
[/quote]
Expect lots of suggestions of the Jazz Bass kind.

Edited May 26, 2014 by BetaFunk

[JimH]

Don't forget Rob Green :-

[url="http://www.status-graphite.com/"]http://www.status-graphite.com/[/url]

#slightlybiasedthough

[Roland Rock]

[quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1401111572' post='2460129']

Expect lots of suggestions of the Jazz Bass kind.
[/quote]

Understandable

[quote name='JazzBassfreak' timestamp='1401021201' post='2459178']
Quite taken by contoured jazz style shapes like these
[/quote]

Edited May 26, 2014 by Roland Rock

[Jellyfish]

I've said this on a couple of topics about custom builders, but the best thing you can do is converse with several different builders and pick the one you want based on their feedback and discussion. That's the primary reason I trusted [b]Alpher Instruments[/b] with building my 'dream bass'.

What made them stand out for me was their passion for building my bass how I wanted; throwing me loads of ideas and inspiration in the process of simply toying with the idea of having them make my bass. You might not like the body shape that they use though as it's not very similar to the pictures you linked, but their build quality can't really be beaten and their electronics options are expansive. Throw them an e-mail at least.

[fiatcoupe432]

Alpher all the way!!!!

[ead]

[quote name='skelf' timestamp='1401100396' post='2459962']
First time I have been accused of having all my body shapes to Jazz like,normally I get asked to do something more traditional .
[/quote]

As a serial abuser of ACG J Type bodies I would observe that they are an excellent compromise between just making a Fender with a different logo and something too outlandish for the more conservative player. Plus they have excellent access to all 24 frets, are light and comfortable, and well balanced on the knee.

In Graft spec they are also great value for money.

[BetaFunk]

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1401112962' post='2460156']
Understandable
[/quote]
Absolutely. A Jazz Bass then.

[Cameronj279]

I have to say. I played the Uber ART recurve today and am seriously seriously impressed by it. feel, looks and sound it was the quite probably the perfect bass (although missing a string for me).

[BigRedX]

A (non-exhaustive) of UK-based luthiers:

[url=http://www.13guitarco.com]13 Guitar Co[/url]

[url=http://www.acguitars.co.uk/acg_admin/wordpress/]ACG[/url]

[url=https://www.facebook.com/alpherinstruments]Alpher Instruments[/url]

[url=http://www.anacondabasses.co.uk/#]Anaconda Basses[/url]

[url=http://www.mbwebs.co.uk/scrim/instruments.htm]Andrew Scrimshaw[/url]

[url=http://www.bravewoodguitars.co.uk/index.html]Bravewood[/url]

[url=http://www.brianeastwoodguitars.co.uk]Brian Eastwood[/url]

[url=http://www.burnsguitars.com]Burns[/url]

[url=http://www.cliftonbasses.co.uk]Clifton Bases & Guitars[/url]

[url=http://crimsonguitars.com]Crimson Guitars[/url]

[url=http://www.wilkesguitars.co.uk/index.htm]Doug Wilkes[/url]

[url=http://www.eccleshallguitars.co.uk/index.html]Eccelshall[/url]

[url=http://www.enfieldguitars.com]Enfield Guitars[/url]

[url=http://www.eversonguitars.com]Everson Guitars[/url]

[url=http://fret-king.com]Fret-King[/url]

[url=http://www.gbguitars.co.uk]GB Guitars[/url]

[url=http://www.gedgreen.co.uk]Ged Green[/url]

[url=http://www.gordonsmithguitars.com]Gordon Smith[/url]

[url=http://grahamparkerluthier.com]Graham Parker[/url]

[url=http://www.gusguitars.com]Gus Guitars[/url]

[url=http://www.purple-chili.com/iceni-zoot/#]Iceni Zoot[/url]

[url=http://jaydeecustomguitars.co.uk]Jaydee[/url]

[url=http://www.jchamiltonguitars.com]J C Hamilton[/url]

[url=http://jimfleetingguitars.com]Jim Fleeting[/url]

[url=http://www.johnbirchguitars.com/John_Birch_Guitars/Home.html]John Birch[/url]

[url=http://www.kifguitars.com]Kif Guitars[/url]

[url=http://www.kinkadeguitars.co.uk/acoustic-bass]Kincade Guitars[/url]

[url=http://www.lettsbasses.co.uk/root/jlettsbassesmain.html]Letts[/url]

[url=http://www.mansonguitarworks.com]Manson Guitar Works[/url]

[url=http://www.mcintyreguitars.com]McIntyre Guitars[/url]

[url=http://overwaterbasses.com]Overwater[/url]

[url=http://www.prguitars.co.uk]Paul Richardson Guitars[/url]

[url=http://www.ruachbassguitars.co.uk]Ruach[/url]

[url=http://www.rimcustomguitars.com]Rim Custom Guitars[/url]

[url=http://www.freewebs.com/rpbasses/]R P Basses[/url]

[url=http://www.seibass.com]Sei Bass[/url]

[url=http://www.shukerguitars.co.uk]Shuker Bass[/url]

[url=http://www.siggeryguitars.co.uk/index.html]Siggery[/url]

[url=http://www.simonleeguitars.com]Simon Lee Guitars[/url]

[url=http://www.squareoneguitars.com]Square One Guitars[/url]

[url=http://www.status-graphite.com]Status[/url]

[url=http://www.waghornguitars.com]Waghorn Guitars[/url]

[url=http://www.walbasses.co.uk]Wal[/url]

As other have said, go with someone who is already making something close in design to what you want. That way you're not being a beta tester for an unknown (to the luthier) design.

Also you don't need to know every little detail about what you want in terms of specifications. The right luthier for you will take your description of looks, sound and playability and turn it into the right bass for you.

Good luck!

[visog]

It's a good question to ask as ironically, for a serious 4-figure purchase, you're buying on trust and an aspiration where as in most other situations, you buy with the actual bass in your hand. So I'd firstly ask myself do I truly want/need a unique bass? Then research and go to the next Bass Show, the Bass Gallery and Bass Direct and try out as many of these customs as you can. Also A/B with them with the hi-end mass produced models. Yamaha and Ibanez may not have the cache of a customer built but they've got six-sigma QA (go look it up - it's basically martial arts applied to production systems) which makes for some wonderful basses. Finally, your builder will be you partner in this endeavour so find someone who you get on with and shares your vision.

Also, pick someone who's reasonably near to you so you can pop-in when build decisions are made. I went with Bernie Goodfellow who whilst making cracking basses, lives near the Antarctic (well Brighton).

... and then remember Jaco changed everything on a $90 second-hand mass-produced Jazz, albeit of good vintage.

Edited May 27, 2014 by visog

[ead]

The other place to drop into would be the Manchester Bass Lounge as Drew has basses by Alpha, Everson, and more ACGs (coming soon I think) as well as more standard fare so a good place to play a lot of different basses.

Loads of excellent advice here, specially about being sure what you want. I spent several months thinking carefully about what I wanted and spoke to two or three builders before settling on ACG (no regrets whatsoeverby the way, and have since been back for a few more of them). It's definitely important to have a good relationship and trust in your luthier of choice.