Who's the finest luthier in all of...um....luthiery?

[Funky Dunky]

So, money is no object - you can have your very own custom bass guitar, your way. Who do you trust to build you the perfect bass, and what gives him the edge? Who's the Michelangelo of luthiers?

[Machines]

Like anything, there is no best only personal preference.

Except Dean, they are crap.

[Funky Dunky]

Okay, who'd be your personal preference?

[ped]

Personally I'd never have a custom made for me.

[Funky Dunky]

Well, this has been a succesful thread!

[ped]

Hehe give it time!

[pete.young]

Andrew Guyton.

[Dood]

[quote name='pete.young' timestamp='1435599840' post='2810459']
Andrew Guyton.
[/quote]

Andy is a top top guy! Good call.

[tredders]

I'll join in.... If I was in the market, I'd be talking to Jon Shuker again.

If you're one of the few people left in England who I haven't bored with the details of my Shuker P bass, take a look in my sig

[Dood]

I've already had mine made, so I guess I'll just say it again - Jon Shuker of ShukerGuitars.co.uk The guy is just an incredible force to be reckoned with - and still way under charges for his work!

Sheldon Dingwall is right up the top of my list too. I like his ethos and ideas about bass design.

[JTUK]

Since it couldn't be too long distance, that would rule out the U.S guys.
a true custom instrument is built for YOU, IMO, so you'd be making quite a few visits to fine tune.


So my decision would be £3k for Martin Petersen to build me exactly what I wanted...or go with an Avella second-hand which would be 'stock'

[Mykesbass]

Well as Jon Shuker has already made me the bass I absolutely love I guess it would be him - perhaps one of his semi acoustics.

[philw]

I'd run straight to Paul Herman and order another Wal. It'd be an odd one though.

P

[Cameronj279]

I think if money was no object I'd go for a Carl Thompson. Although a Dingwall to my specs or a fan fret Über ACG would be on my list.

[ead]

I've only ever played some ACGs, an SeiBass and an Eve bass so probably not qualified to make that call given the number of quality luthiers out there. But I suspect that an Uber spec ACG would be pretty hard to beat on quality and value.

[mrtcat]

Think I'd go to Williamscott basses first to see what they could make for me. They're local and I'd like to see my cash support a local company. Plus their basses look lovely.

[TomRichards]

Jens Ritter. There is no competition right now. Frikkin' playable art masterpieces.

[White Cloud]

It's just an impossible question really... there are just so many masters of their craft out there nowadays.

I love Carl Thompson and Pete Hilton's work, however in real terms I wouldn't say that they are better at crafting instruments from wood than a plethora of others. For example I am super impressed with ACG's work here in Scotland - his work is among some of the UK's absolute finest

[TheKcrimsonKing]

I'd try to contact Jens Ritter, Crimson custom or Alembic, Either that or use my unlimited budget to do it myself.

[SubsonicSimpleton]

Money no object - it would have to be half a million quids worth of 400 year old Gasparo da Salo double bass awesomeness.

[AndyTravis]

Me personally, I'd go Wal. But just because I've always wanted my own Wal.

I admire Fodera and Alembic, but the handful I've played didn't inspire me to start saving.

I loved one Celinder I played, but haven't enjoyed the 2 others.
I wasn't bowled over by the NYC Sadowsky I played (it was nice, don't get me wrong...)

I liked my Jaydee, and my Status - just little niggles stopped me loving them.

But the Wal was just right - didn't have the funds at the time.

Might do soon.

[BigRedX]

It would very much depend on what I was after at the time of commissioning the build with regards to looks and sounds who I would pick...

However if I had unlimited money to spend and I had to spend it right now on a new bass it would be a very custom Gus 5-string fretless...

Or get Warwick to make me a 5-string Star Bass with a more elegantly shaped headstock than the "paddle" abomination they insist on using.

[LukeFRC]

one bass I saw up for sale and wished I had bought.... and then he stopped building.... remember that lake placid blue jazz that Prose Bass made? It was modelled on someone famous' bass that I forget. That was lush.

ACG über, Basslab, Ritter would all interest me not enough I actually would start saving.

I like jazz basses, I like the idea of them, the sound of them - if someone could make one I liked playing live then I'ld be happy.

[LukeFRC]

Steed - not prose - and here's a picture that bass gear still have....

Edited June 29, 2015 by LukeFRC

[BassBunny]

ACG for me. Got 2 and wouldn't say no to another.