Is this normal?.....

[stitchbass]

Well I am getting a custom bass built and am using a luthier who happens to be fairly local but specialises in guitars. He is a great guy who really treats his customers well, fixed up my fretless nice and had a look at all my basses for no charge and quickly corrected set-up problems etc in front of me.

I told him my plan for the body a while ago, a Wal shape, and got him pictures and everything and brought them in to the shop and he just got out a piece of carboard and goes, plan it on that, and then draw it on a piece of plywood that we can use as a template. I am no artist and I fear I will mess this up, I thought I was paying him to do my bass?!

Is this what other luthier's would do, or would they design the body simply by me saying, ''this particular Wal shape'' and showing them a few pictures.....?

Thanks in advance.....

[wilser]

Usually the builder is supposed to help you get what you want. I don't know if he has his standard models or not, but some builders will not do custom shapes for you, you have to choose from what they offer, others will allow you to choose almost anything. Talk to him about that, try to get him to understand what you expect from him. It also depends a lot on what he's charging you for getting this instrument build ...also, he might not be comfortable copying an existing shape, especially something as readily identifiable as a Wal bass.

[spudmaster34]

My guess would be:

He dosn't like copying other's designs. If you bring him a sketch, he can say "The customer brought me a sketch." and thus remove the blame of copying from himself

[Musiclogic]

That's a crock....he's letting his arrogance get in the way of taking care of the customer. IMNSHO

I have had customers bring in pics of basses they want, I take the pic to Kinko's, get it enlarged to the correct size, and make the template.

This should be of regular order for a custom shop. Build what the customer wants.

[Rodent]

for me, it would depend on what is agreed upon for the project. if I am 'designing' a custom body, then I can do it for a fee or the customer can provide it if they are comfortable with it.

I can say that to date, every customer has opted for me to do the body design vs them supplying it

all the best,

R

[HELLonWheels187]

I think he just wants something to work off of. You give him the shape you want and he will be the one to fix up the shape and make exactly how you want it.