Lots of woods and curves on a bass

[jms5-string]

I am thinking about ordering a custom built bass. It would be my first custom order. Although there is absolutely nothing wrong with the vintage looking basses (Fender Gibson etc) they are not what I like to see. I like it when the basses have lots of carving, curves and rare woods (call me an idiot but that's my taste ) I figure a good builder can build a good sounding bass wathever the looks are! So why not buy a bass that I like the looks of?

I know some builders from the Net but most of them do not build what I like. These do built what I like:

Carl Thompson [url="http://www.ctbasses.com/"]http://www.ctbasses.com/[/url]
CB basses [url="http://www.cbbasses.com/"]http://www.cbbasses.com/[/url]
Browne Basses [url="http://www.brownebasses.com/"]http://www.brownebasses.com/[/url]
Adamovic [url="http://www.adamovic.nl/"]http://www.adamovic.nl/[/url]

Does anybody have experience with ordering a custom bass from these builders
Are there more builders with similar designs? preferably in Europe!

Edited December 12, 2007 by jms5-string

[wotnwhy]

where are you based?

with the standards of luthiers nowadays, it makes sense to go with someone close to home, so you can be personally involved in the build. go talk to the luthier in person, look at and choose the woods in person etc. so if you tell us where you are we can bump up a list of makers for you



and welcome to the forums

[largo]

Jerzy Drozd is a Spanish bass builder that springs to mind,
or there's Rob who is Rim Custom basses (quite CT'ish with the tailpiece) who posts on here.
When I get the cash together I'm going for an Eshenbaugh J 5 style, possible built by the one and only Jon Shuker.
Good luck.

[jms5-string]

Thanks for the welcome wotnwhy! And you are right, meeting the person in person would be nice indeed. I live in The Netherlands and the only builder that I like from my country is Adamovic. I am planning to give him a visit soon. But before i do I want to see what the other options are in my "Neighbourhood". Uk is not so far away and it would be a good excuse to travel over the water and meet an English builder. I haven't been there for a while

I like the RIM basses, I did not know about him yet, the pics on this forum look great. Jerzy is nice but to far and not really what I'd like. The Shuker designs are beautifull but to 'standard' for what I had in mind.
thanks for the info

[wotnwhy]

oh wow, those Adamovic basses look lushous!

if your gonna stick close to home he looks like your top choice!
if you really want to visit the UK, then for the sort of style your going for, RIM would deffinitly be up to the job! he has some really exciting ideas and as you'll see on the forum, some rave reviews!

Jon (Shuker) comes in on a personal recomendation (i have a bass made by him), although you say the designs are too 'standard', he does whatever you ask of him and loves a challenge, but his best aspect is his virtual treasure trove of really fabulous woods! i'm pretty sure he also supplies other builders from time to time, so even if you don't go with him as the builder he may be good to find that special bit of wood (hey, that rhymes!)

another great UK luthier to look out for is Skelf at ACG guitars, he is also a regular on this forum [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showforum=47"]click here[/url]
his basses (for me) are some of the sexiest around, and he also has a very special preamp available for his basses. and again, a huge following and rave reviews.

hope this is of some help

[Lfalex v1.1]

I like the look of most of the Adamovic basses, too!

He seems to know what he's doing with his tonewoods.
Not that other luthiers don't, but I think I can see what he's trying to achieve with each instrument (And that he'd understand what Iwas looking for in an instrument)

[skelf]

I speak regularly with Nikola he is an excellent guy well worth getting in touch with.
Alan

[ARGH]

www.Jimfleetingguitars.com

Will go as mad as you want him to regarding design.
Give to him what you like and want,and he can draw a few ideas and see what you want..or like.
He built this for me

Edited December 14, 2007 by ARGH

[7string]

Just going to throw Sei Bass into the mix [url="http://www.seibass.com"]www.seibass.com[/url].

This is my Offset Flamboyant 7 string which has a lot of curves. The other Sei designs are 2 kinds of singlecut, the non-offset Flamboyant, the original and the limited-edition Millenium.











Close-up photos courtesy of London-based Graphic Designer, Gareth Jones

Edited December 14, 2007 by 7string

[Mr. Foxen]

Probably not what you are after but [url="http://www.wishbass.com/"]http://www.wishbass.com/[/url]

I love my Wishbass, I'll probably bring it to the meet up in Bristol.

Would seriously consider [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bass-Fretless-Five-String-Curly-Funky-Maple-Wishbass_W0QQitemZ130183339789QQihZ003QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD2VQQcmdZViewItem"]this[/url] if it wasn't a 5 string.

[BigRedX]

Do you not like [url="http://www.bas-extravaganza.nl/"]Bas-Extravaganza[/url]? There's a couple of CT influenced basses on there.

Alternatively have a trawl through the [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5525"]Weird & Wonderful Basses[/url] thread and see if there's anything there that takes your fancy.

[chris_b]

There is Chris Larkin in Ireland, Overwater in Carlisle, Zoot in Essex or get a secondhand WAL.

[thedontcarebear]

I ordered my ACG based on the same principle as you mentioned, any bass Alan builds should sound good, so I went completely for looks...

[GreeneKing]

Wood and curves?

I don't need many excuses to show you my ACG:

[jms5-string]

Thanks for all the info guys!
Some of the companies I did not know yet. And some lovely basses

I like ARGH's bass that has been made by Jim Fleeting a lot. I have a a little bit of a designer backround and I love it when a bass still looks awesome and cool without the use of AAAAA grade maple or a sunburst finish. Just simple woods, yummie I put Jim Fleeting on the list of¨builders I will definatly contact.

On the bad side: I wanted to use my christmas bonus for a bass but my house has a leek in the front wall which has to be repaired and will cost lots of money Hmm I have to wait for a couple of months. The good side is that I can think some more about what I really want. I feel like a kid in a candy store that can only buy one candy

[Thunderitter]

Lots of curves and wood: My WishBass Fantasy.

[pete.young]

[quote name='jms5-string' post='103298' date='Dec 12 2007, 03:25 PM']I live in The Netherlands[/quote]

Zoot Bass are probably the closest to you then - they're in Witham in Essex, which is not far from Harwich.

[EBS_freak]

[quote name='Thunderitter' post='364591' date='Dec 28 2008, 04:30 AM']Lots of curves and wood: My WishBass Fantasy.
[/quote]

Why??

[EBS_freak]

Just noticed Mark White on the Adamovic endorsee page - that's a blast from the past! Love the Spins!

[Thunderitter]

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='364720' date='Dec 28 2008, 06:33 AM']Why??[/quote]


Why what?

[BigRedX]

Don't listen to him Thunderitter. Mr Freak seems to have a problem with any bass that isn't a GB...

I on the other hand think that is probably the nicest Wishbass in existence...

[charic]

i think he may have been pointing out the random extra bit of wood in the control area.

[ped]

I think he smells of hot magnets

[ARGH]

[quote name='jms5-string' post='109316' date='Dec 25 2007, 08:54 PM']Thanks for all the info guys!
Some of the companies I did not know yet. And some lovely basses

I like ARGH's bass that has been made by Jim Fleeting a lot. I have a a little bit of a designer backround and I love it when a bass still looks awesome and cool without the use of AAAAA grade maple or a sunburst finish. Just simple woods, yummie I put Jim Fleeting on the list of¨builders I will definatly contact.

On the bad side: I wanted to use my christmas bonus for a bass but my house has a leek in the front wall which has to be repaired and will cost lots of money Hmm I have to wait for a couple of months. The good side is that I can think some more about what I really want. I feel like a kid in a candy store that can only buy one candy [/quote]
This is the front of my new Fleeting Headless,in my bodyshape (see the 9 string),its a 6 string,and made of Olivewood and Black Limba...with a few bits of other stuff at my request (Wooden knobs,single EMG P/U,matching 18v circuit).

Convincing isnt it.

[wotnwhy]

wow, blast from the past this thread!

well, i say 'blast from'. but more of a 'subtle reminder of'. wasn't the most exciting thread in the world.