British Basses

[Lozz196]

Or Ashdown, just started their range which got pretty decent reviews in Bass Guitar Mag a couple of issues back.

[Skybone]

What about JD Guitars in Birmingham?

Everson Basses in Cumbria.

Crimson Guitars.

Edited June 13, 2020 by Skybone

[BassBunny]

1 hour ago, lurksalot said:

I don’t see that Gordon Smith have been mentioned yet ?

Are they still making basses? They did launch a range in collaboration with The Great British Bass Lounge, but not sure it came to much.

[toneknob]

12 hours ago, pineweasel said:

I’d be checking out the Wilcock short scales

https://www.wilcocklondon.com

I bought a Fender Mustang JMJ and the very next day saw Tim Lefebvre playing a Wilcock at the Vortex, and ended up chatting with him and Mr Wilcock in the interval. Wished I'd waited a day or two now (and had an extra £500 or so, mind you)

[stewblack]

29 minutes ago, toneknob said:

I bought a Fender Mustang JMJ and the very next day saw Tim Lefebvre playing a Wilcock at the Vortex, and ended up chatting with him and Mr Wilcock in the interval. Wished I'd waited a day or two now (and had an extra £500 or so, mind you)

Damn, that's a beautiful little collection of instruments. Out of my price range and too nice for the places I play! But they look really good. 

[inthedoghouse]

9 hours ago, lurksalot said:

I don’t see that Gordon Smith have been mentioned yet ?

I know they made a few back in the day but I don't think they' do basses.  I remember going to their workshop, not much more than a large shed at the bottom of a garden, to collect something for our local guitar shop n the 70s.  Their guitars are wonderful 🙂

 

[fleabag]

Never seen a GS bass, but their guitars are fab, as doggy in the house mentioned

[inthedoghouse]

12 minutes ago, inthedoghouse said:

I know they made a few back in the day but I don't think they' do basses.  I remember going to their workshop, not much more than a large shed at the bottom of a garden, to collect something for our local guitar shop n the 70s.  Their guitars are wonderful 🙂

 

There's a GS bass up for grabs on eBay right now

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rare-Gordy-Gordon-Smith-Blueshift-Deluxe-UK-Bass-1982-Red-Excellent-and-Set-up/324175722764?hash=item4b7a60f90c:g:O2YAAOSwFbFeyaDM

 

[4000]

33 minutes ago, inthedoghouse said:

I know they made a few back in the day but I don't think they' do basses.  I remember going to their workshop, not much more than a large shed at the bottom of a garden, to collect something for our local guitar shop n the 70s.  Their guitars are wonderful 🙂

 

They did a new range just a few years ago, they sold them at the Great British Bass Lounge. No idea if they still do them. 

[fleabag]

1 hour ago, inthedoghouse said:

There's a GS bass up for grabs on eBay right now

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rare-Gordy-Gordon-Smith-Blueshift-Deluxe-UK-Bass-1982-Red-Excellent-and-Set-up/324175722764?hash=item4b7a60f90c:g:O2YAAOSwFbFeyaDM

 

I like that.

It reminds , a little bit , of a Gibson

[inthedoghouse]

1 hour ago, 4000 said:

They did a new range just a few years ago, they sold them at the Great British Bass Lounge. No idea if they still do them. 

Yes, I looked them up after I saw this thread  - they did a Gryphon bass and one that looked a bit like an SG

And there's this old thread from BC

And Talkbass
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/gordon-smith-gryphon-bass.994500/

 

Edited June 13, 2020 by inthedoghouse

[lurksalot]

47 minutes ago, inthedoghouse said:

Yes, I looked them up after I saw this thread  - they did a Gryphon bass and one that looked a bit like an SG

 

I have one that looks a bit like an SG 

[ricksterphil]

On 12/06/2020 at 17:53, CameronJ said:

Jon Shuker will do builds as simple or as exotic as you like.

Same goes for ACG although none of his body shapes aren’t Fender copies, if that’s what you’re after.

What’s your budget range?

I've played a Shaker, excellent bass and very light.

[itu]

I remember someone making basses that had something not neck-through nor set-neck, but the neck was going to the bridge or similar.

[Painy]

@Dolando makes some beautiful instruments. 

https://www.dolancustomguitars.co.uk/

Edited June 13, 2020 by Painy

[itu]

It was Patrick Eggle, and I found a nice set of stuff here:

http://jacaranda-music.com/UKGuitars.html

[kodiakblair]

3 hours ago, inthedoghouse said:

There's a GS bass up for grabs on eBay right now

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rare-Gordy-Gordon-Smith-Blueshift-Deluxe-UK-Bass-1982-Red-Excellent-and-Set-up/324175722764?hash=item4b7a60f90c:g:O2YAAOSwFbFeyaDM

 

Wonder what the pickups are,they're different than the soapbars in my Gordy.

[fleabag]

55 minutes ago, Painy said:

@Dolando makes some beautiful instruments. 

https://www.dolancustomguitars.co.uk/

None of his gallery photos work.

[Painy]

Just now, fleabag said:

None of his gallery photos work.

A few examples here.

[fleabag]

Thanks, yes they do look  brill

[dmccombe7]

18 hours ago, merello said:

McIntyre in Edinburgh makes cool basses

+1 Chris did some work for me on my Warwick Thumb and gave me a shot of one of his own basses and i was very pleased indeed.

Knows his stuff.

Dave

[dmccombe7]

Obviously some of the well known luthiers basses will be a lot cheaper 2nd hand if that's an option for you. I've seen some Overwaters go for silly money on BC. No idea why they don't sell for more on the 2nd hand market. I have 2 Overwaters and they are fantastic basses. Quite a clean sound tho and maybe not what you are looking for from a PJ style bass.

2nd hand ACG basses are worth a look too

WAL are still silly money 2nd hand but they arent PJ anyway

Dave

Edited June 13, 2020 by dmccombe7

[molecule]

I cannot see any basses on the current Gordon Smith website.

[BigRedX]

On 12/06/2020 at 17:16, wateroftyne said:

(More subtle relic'ing is available)

https://classicandcoolguitars.co.uk/limelight-custom-gallery/

Are the bodies and necks that Limelight use actually made in the UK?

The OP says they want a P/J bass, does that mean a traditional design or anything with a P/J pickup configuration?

[wateroftyne]

10 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

Are the bodies and necks that Limelight use actually made in the UK?

The OP says they want a P/J bass, does that mean a traditional design or anything with a P/J pickup configuration?

The bodies are made in the UK, the necks are US (I think?). As for your second question, I don't know.