If you had $1700 for a custom bass...

[MX5J6]

I just saw the Graphite KingBass. That is pretty awesome and looks a lot like what I'd want.

[hdracer]

Originally Posted by MX5J6

I just saw the Graphite KingBass. That is pretty awesome and looks a lot like what I'd want.

You better start saving then. Your $1700 will not even make a dent in the price of that bass.

[artfahie]

I'd get a Nash... vintage vibe, great set-up, and classic design.

[MX5J6]

Well I don't exactly understand VAT but without it and with sales tax its only about $2200. I figure it can't be more than $2500-$2600 at most with whatever VAT is exactly. Or am I wrong? I'm in California btw.

[Roy Vogt]

VAT=Value Added Tax, essentially sales tax. Status basses are built in the UK, but I'm sure there are some US dealers. I notice Bass Central is one:
http://www.basscentral.com/2003/status.shtml
If you are looking on the Status website, the prices may be in either Pounds Sterling or Euros, so they will be significantly more in US Dollars.

[SBsoundguy]

Valenti's are priced around that area right? I think I'd go that rout.

[MX5J6]

I forgot about that. Drats. Well I guess I better keep saving or get something else.

[hdracer]

Originally Posted by Roy Vogt

VAT=Value Added Tax, essentially sales tax. Status basses are built in the UK, but I'm sure there are some US dealers. I notice Bass Central is one:
http://www.basscentral.com/2003/status.shtml
If you are looking on the Status website, the prices may be in either Pounds Sterling or Euros, so they will be significantly more in US Dollars.

You know it is going to hurt when Bass Central says "Call for price"

[MX5J6]

I can't afford that. I guess I'll have to look for something else or save and get something custom but find the right deals on parts. Then maybe I can get something decent.

[kjpollo]

As far as custom builders go, I know Tom Clement can do a lot of what you're looking for and I even think he's done a couple of headless instruments. That being said, I'm not sure how much of an upcharge you'd be looking at for the headless option. Thats not a standard option that he lists on his webpage. According to his webpage, a fretless 5er starts out at $1675 and moves from there.
At that point you get a 2 piece body in one of his standard body shapes, a one piece maple neck with choice of 3 different fingerboard woods, 2 Bart or Nordy pickups with passive electronics and Hipshot Ultralite tuners and Hipshot Type A bridge.
And he has a nice catalog of standard body shapes to pick from. Im not familiar with the Fernandes bass you want to duplicate so IDK if any of his standards will work for you- you'll just have to check out his site.
But his most basic bass is right at the limit of your budget. If you really have your heart set on a headless design, I'm sure you'll have to save more $$ and you'd need to talk to Tom himself to find out what it'll cost you.

But he's a really pleasant guy to work with and he's a TB member himself.

[MX5J6]

Do you have a link to his site or his TB name?

[kjpollo]

His web address is:
http://www.clementbass.com/web/Home/...6/Default.aspx

If you search his gallery of previous builds, mine is #94 and its under "Classic Styles".

[mtandrews]

$1700 I'd buy a EBMM. But that's just me.

[JumboJack]

Carvin.

[mpdd]

my g&l sb-2 800 bucks, my g&l L2000 700 bucks, and you would still have 200 left over for a squier to play in hostile environments

[willbassyeah]

I would go with carvin

[jbybj]

I love my headless Clement.

Originally Posted by kjpollo

As far as custom builders go, I know Tom Clement can do a lot of what you're looking for and I even think he's done a couple of headless instruments. That being said, I'm not sure how much of an upcharge you'd be looking at for the headless option. Thats not a standard option that he lists on his webpage. According to his webpage, a fretless 5er starts out at $1675 and moves from there.
At that point you get a 2 piece body in one of his standard body shapes, a one piece maple neck with choice of 3 different fingerboard woods, 2 Bart or Nordy pickups with passive electronics and Hipshot Ultralite tuners and Hipshot Type A bridge.
And he has a nice catalog of standard body shapes to pick from. Im not familiar with the Fernandes bass you want to duplicate so IDK if any of his standards will work for you- you'll just have to check out his site.
But his most basic bass is right at the limit of your budget. If you really have your heart set on a headless design, I'm sure you'll have to save more $$ and you'd need to talk to Tom himself to find out what it'll cost you.

But he's a really pleasant guy to work with and he's a TB member himself.

[MX5J6]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll look into Tom Clement and some of the other bass suggestions made here. I'm gonna make a list of the ones I like best and then go from there. Keep making suggestions though. I need all the help I can get.

[Margus Alviste]

Build your own! Get the parts from Warmoth! Great parts, super quality! Totally custom!

[MX5J6]

I don't know how to solder so that wouldn't really work. Plus warmoth gets pretty expensive pretty fast. Though it'd still be cheaper than a lot of options.