Recommended Custom Bass Builders

[cLepto-bass]

My apologies if this thread already exists, I did try looking but couldnt find anything.

I am just wondering if there is a list of custom bass builders on this site, if not could one be started? I am thinking of commisioning someone to build my dream bass but would love to know if anyone comes highly regarded and respected.


Anyhelp you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[EBS_freak]

[quote name='uzzell' post='797553' date='Apr 6 2010, 02:03 PM']My apologies if this thread already exists, I did try looking but couldnt find anything.

I am just wondering if there is a list of custom bass builders on this site, if not could one be started? I am thinking of commisioning someone to build my dream bass but would love to know if anyone comes highly regarded and respected.


Anyhelp you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.[/quote]

It's only a matter of time before those immortal words are predictably uttered.

[tombboy]

Erm.... Jon Shuker?

[Bigwan]

Sei, [b]Shuker[/b], Overwater, GB, ACG, RIM, Simnett... take your pick. I will bow to no sponsor. Sniff...

[Toasted]

Just make sure you play as many different basses as you can to find out what you like and dont like before you order.

[Bigwan]

[quote name='Toasted' post='797596' date='Apr 6 2010, 02:37 PM']Just make sure you play as many different basses as you can to find out what you like and dont like before you order.[/quote]
+1 to that.

And when Jon tells you 6 months expect 9 at least! Worth the wait in the end!

[BigRedX]

If you're happy to stick with UK luthiers try one of these:

[url="http://www.acguitars.co.uk/index.php"]ACG[/url]
[url="http://www.eccleshallguitars.co.uk/"]Eccleshall[/url]
[url="http://www.enfieldguitars.com/"]Enfield[/url]
[url="http://www.fret-king.com/greenlabel_series.htm"]Fret-King Green Label[/url]
[url="http://www.gbguitars.co.uk/"]GB[/url]
[url="http://www.gusguitars.com/"]Gus[/url]
[url="http://www.jaydeeguitars.com/"]Jaydee[/url]
[url="http://www.jimfleetingguitars.com/"]Jim Fleeting[/url]
[url="http://homepage.ntlworld.com/john.carling1/"]John Birch[/url]
[url="http://www.lodestoneguitars.com/"]Lodestone[/url]
[url="http://www.mansonguitars.co.uk/"]Manson[/url]
[url="http://www.overwaterbasses.com/"]Overwater[/url]
[url="http://www.rimcustombasses.co.uk/"]RIM[/url]
[url="http://www.seibass.com/"]Sei[/url]
[url="http://www.shukerguitars.co.uk/index.htm"]Shuker[/url]
[url="http://www.simonleeguitars.com/"]Simon Lee[/url]
[url="http://www.status-graphite.com/"]Status[/url]
[url="http://www.streetguitars.co.uk/"]Street Guitars[/url]
[url="http://www.walbass.co.uk/"]Wal[/url]
[url="http://www.zootbass.co.uk/1.html"]Zoot[/url]

Of course with the power of the internet the world is your oyster. If you have the time and want to look further afield for your ideal luthier, then work your way through [url="http://www.bas-extravaganza.nl/?page=links&catID=1"]this list[/url]. It's not entirely up to date, and therefore some of the links don't work anymore, but it should provide sufficient possibilities for most people.

[purpleblob]

There was a similar thread - not strictly a "recommended custom bass builders" but nevertheless a list of custom builders - hope this helps.

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=22419"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=22419[/url]

EDIT: Oh and here [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=26654"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=26654[/url]

Edited April 6, 2010 by purpleblob

[Bigwan]

There's also Siggery if you like the Sadowsky vibe, or McIntyre (ex-Gallery so had a hand in a few Sei basses too).

Edited April 6, 2010 by Bigwan

[Soliloquy]

It depends on what bass you want. Most have models that they'll build you a variation of, Sei do the Flamboyant etc, JD does the Mark King and so on.

If you want truly custom then that narrows the field somewhat.

Try these for truly 'custom' [url="http://www.crimsonguitars.com/"]http://www.crimsonguitars.com/[/url]

[purpleblob]

[quote name='Soliloquy' post='797615' date='Apr 6 2010, 02:50 PM']If you want truly custom then that narrows the field somewhat.[/quote]

Good point - If you're wanting to design the whole bass yourself, i.e. the shape etc. then you'll need to discard a fair few of the "custom" builders. Wal, Jaydee, I think Sei for example do their own shapes and tend to stick to those and it's more a case of you being able to choose from a lot of options as opposed to creating everything from scratch.

[Conan]

A couple of Northern ones just in case....!

[url="http://www.frankusherguitars.co.uk/"]http://www.frankusherguitars.co.uk/[/url] [url="http://www.jxgguitars.com/"]http://www.jxgguitars.com/[/url]

Much smaller scale operations, so more flexible and easy to work with possibly?

[thunderbird13]

[quote name='Bigwan' post='797609' date='Apr 6 2010, 02:43 PM']There's also Siggery if you like the Sadowsky vibe, or McIntyre (ex-Gallery so had a hand in a few Sei basses too).[/quote]


Chris McIntyre actually spent 12 years making Sei bases .He's the only luther I've been to so its hard to compare but I was very impressed with his work and his general down to earth attitute

[flippyfloop]

Check out
www.steedbasses.co.uk

[andyonbass]

[quote name='Toasted' post='797596' date='Apr 6 2010, 02:37 PM']Just make sure you play as many different basses as you can to find out what you like and dont like before you order.[/quote]

+1

I'm just up the road from you, I think, and if you want to try out an ACG, you're welcome to pop over and try one of mine

[Sarah5string]

I'd recommend Simnett, as he's a mate of mine, but he also does bloody good work

[alanbass1]

I had my 'dream' bass built from a custom builder back in '05 and was completely dissappointed with the experience and end result - so much so that I offloaded the bass at a massive loss. Just a cautionary tale as unless you are after something that is just not available new or secondhand you are taking a risk that the end product turns out how you imagine it to sound/play/feel

[Conan]

[quote name='alanbass1' post='797885' date='Apr 6 2010, 06:50 PM']I had my 'dream' bass built from a custom builder back in '05 and was completely dissappointed with the experience and end result - so much so that I offloaded the bass at a massive loss.[/quote]

Care to name and shame? Or explain why it was so disappointing?

Just interested. Quite a lot of guys on here talk about their "dream" basses as being the mutt's nuts, so would be interesting to hear another viewpoint!

[cLepto-bass]

Wow! Thanks for all the advice people, much appreciated.

What I am about to say might upset or annoy some people but here goes. - What are the chances of having a bass built that follows the outline of a traditional Jazz Bass perhaps even with same headstock but including various personal requirements? Of course one could buy a Fender but they dont do an option for what I have in mind and even if they did I feel Fender's build quality is debatable.

I understand that this is an odd request. Any further info would be great.

Thanks again.

[EBS_freak]

[quote name='uzzell' post='797959' date='Apr 6 2010, 08:02 PM']Wow! Thanks for all the advice people, much appreciated.

What I am about to say might upset or annoy some people but here goes. - What are the chances of having a bass built that follows the outline of a traditional Jazz Bass perhaps even with same headstock but including various personal requirements? Of course one could buy a Fender but they dont do an option for what I have in mind and even if they did I feel Fender's build quality is debatable.

I understand that this is an odd request. Any further info would be great.

Thanks again.[/quote]

What sort of personal requirements are you looking for? If you are looking for a non Fender jazz, there is bound to be an off the shelf custom jazz from an established "custom shop" that will meet your needs.

Edited April 6, 2010 by EBS_freak

[cLepto-bass]

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='797960' date='Apr 6 2010, 08:06 PM']What sort of personal requirements are you looking for? If you are looking for a non Fender jazz, there is bound to be an off the shelf custom jazz from an established "custom shop" that will meet your needs.[/quote]

A few details to play with:

5 String Jazz shape (tuned E-C)
Natural Oil Ash body
Maple undotted neck
Decent 9v pre amp
Unsure on pickups yet but likely to be Jazz variation (maybe Delano)

I am aware of sites such as Warmoth etc but I have no idea on how to construct such an item. I know this request seems like one of those 'splitting hair moments' but it is a real ambition to have the Jazz I really want.

[EBS_freak]

[quote name='uzzell' post='797974' date='Apr 6 2010, 08:19 PM']A few details to play with:

5 String Jazz shape (tuned E-C)
Natural Oil Ash body
Maple undotted neck
Decent 9v pre amp
Unsure on pickups yet but likely to be Jazz variation (maybe Delano)

I am aware of sites such as Warmoth etc but I have no idea on how to construct such an item. I know this request seems like one of those 'splitting hair moments' but it is a real ambition to have the Jazz I really want.[/quote]

This immediately springs to mind...

[url="http://www.nordstrandguitars.com/instruments.html#vj"]http://www.nordstrandguitars.com/instruments.html#vj[/url]

and I'm sure that the undotted neck wouldn't be a problem for these -

[url="http://www.sandberg-guitars.de"]http://www.sandberg-guitars.de[/url]

There are loads of luthiers out there doing the bread and butter J. Sei, Shuker, RIM for starters... GB for a derivative J with some crazy electronics...

It all depends on your budget really but your requirements don't really scream that custom at the moment!

Edited April 6, 2010 by EBS_freak

[purpleblob]

[quote name='uzzell' post='797974' date='Apr 6 2010, 08:19 PM']A few details to play with:

5 String Jazz shape (tuned E-C)
Natural Oil Ash body
Maple undotted neck
Decent 9v pre amp
Unsure on pickups yet but likely to be Jazz variation (maybe Delano)

I am aware of sites such as Warmoth etc but I have no idea on how to construct such an item. I know this request seems like one of those 'splitting hair moments' but it is a real ambition to have the Jazz I really want.[/quote]

Well a fair few luthiers do the Jazz body shape. You could have a chat with Martin Peterson at Sei headquarters or several others, I'm sure, could accomodate you.

EDIT: For full disclosure, I have two Sei jazz basses (fretted and fretless) neither were built for me so I cannot comment on that side of things (i.e. the custom build). I bought both from The Gallery and both are tuned E-C, the latest being a maple necked beauty. They are really lovely instruments, so would highly recommend the quality of the Sei guys work.

Edited April 6, 2010 by purpleblob

[Platypus]

[quote name='alanbass1' post='797885' date='Apr 6 2010, 06:50 PM']I had my 'dream' bass built from a custom builder back in '05 and was completely dissappointed with the experience and end result - so much so that I offloaded the bass at a massive loss. Just a cautionary tale as unless you are after something that is just not available new or secondhand you are taking a risk that the end product turns out how you imagine it to sound/play/feel[/quote]


Ouch! That happening would be my greatest fear....

[yorks5stringer]

Jim Fleeting had a nice Bass with an oiled body and Delano pickups that he has built for Michael Johnson, ex Miles Davis, at the Yor-Bash the other week. I know he will build anything to a customers spec.