Pulling the trigger on a custom bass... - Page 2

Randyt · #21 12-04-2012, 04:14 PM

Im reading your post and i feel that you are not really stuck on Clement as a builder as much as your are stuck on ... going to make the wrong decision on your bass particulars/specifications??...I could be wrong?..This is a big investment.!!
one thing I find about guys that buy custom basses (some ..not all) they buy generic custom basses, maybe just different tops??...anytime Ive bought a custom bass Ive jumped in with two feet..fully committed to the build..be part of the build process etc.
Like Brad said...talk to the builder get a good line of communication...build YOUR bass!!...build it as if you will never sell it...like I said earlier..Ive seen guys buy custom but get 19mm bridge spacing knowing dam well they rather play a 17mm...but its easier to sell a 19mm because it is more main stream...this way you wont have any excuses...you said you know what you want, that will help! ...will you have buyer Remorse?..I cant answer that .
Also, I would call Clement and chat...maybe he has a client list ...that he can forward you and you can hook up and play one of his customer's basses???

Good Luck!!

Lunchbox4u_6 · #22 12-05-2012, 02:45 AM

I never buy a bass intending to sell it. When I buy one I plan on keeping it forever, so I'm not approaching it that way. I guess maybe I'm worried that it won't live up to my expectations, and not because Tom doesn't do great work, but because I'm not sure what to expect.

Having never played one, I don't know what the specific characteristics Tom's basses have over other basses. Also, this is not my first custom bass, I have a Warrior that I got as a graduation gift when I was 17 years old. I think the difference is that now I'm older, oh and it's my money this time around!

Really I posted this thread because I'm in Ireland right now, away from my music community in Dallas and I needed away to reach out to that community and get a feeling for how other players see this type of situation.

droopman · #23 12-05-2012, 05:47 AM

Dude, I agree with your wife. You buy the bass sight unseen and you may HATE. I believe a custom bass is the worst possible investment, ok except a boat! If and when I buy one it has to fit me like a glove because I'm going to keep it until I die.

SoVeryTired · #24 12-05-2012, 05:55 AM

I've got my first custom nearing completion, from ACG. I became aware of Alan's work through TB from enthusiastic owners of his basses and from his own posts. After a couple of years of playing and trying lots of basses I know what I want at this point from a bass, and I know it doesn't exist as an affordable production model.

My comfort in ordering a custom came from knowing what I want, finding a builder that could meet those requirements within my budget, being able to hear from plenty of satisfied customers, lots of gallery pictures and some sound clips... and yes, accepting a little bit of risk. But it's a small calculated risk. I could have reduced that risk even further by trying to arrange to play some other ACGs but I was happy to take the plunge. I'll be able to confirm it was worth it very shortly.

kjpollo · #25 12-05-2012, 08:40 AM

I did exactly what the OP is afraid of- I ordered a custom from Tom after finding one of his "spec" basses on eBay. I emailed him complimenting him on what I saw and within a couple of months I had placed an order!!!
I got the bass a few months later and it never fails to impress- me or people who see/hear it.

I couldnt be happier with the bass. Tom made me an absolute keeper-slightly thicker neck, outrageous variety of woods used in construction (SEVEN types!) and it sounds awesome. The ONLY thing I wish I did differently would have been to get a by-passable preamp so I could run it passive but thats on me, not him. He asked about that during the ordering process and I said I wanted full-on active.

I would dearly love to order another one but finances will not allow it at the present time. But I'm definitely an advocate for Tom and his work.

That said, it is definitely a leap of faith to order something sight unseen. You might love it, you might hate it. I was fortunate that I love mine.

IMO, IME, YMMV, etc.

DwaynieAD · #26 12-05-2012, 08:57 AM

know exactly what you want
communicate that with the builder
if the builder is worth his salt he will tell you whether he can pull of what you are looking for and if he is able, he will pull off what you're looking for.

Lunchbox4u_6 · #27 12-05-2012, 09:14 AM

After reading your responses and spending some more time thinking about it, I'm taking a pass on a Clement bass for the time being. The bass I have in my head as 2 specific features that Tom has said he can't do, and I think that may be why I'm conflicted over it. It isn't exactly wanted I wanted when I decided to go custom, so in a way I'm compromising. I don't want to compromise.

Don't hear me say that a bass from Tom is a compromise, that's certainly not true. It's just not the way I should go since I want something he can't do. If I buy it now and it's not exactly what I want then I'll just want another one in a little while.

Thanks for your help guys. I'll let you know what I end up getting, but it looks like I'm going to go with a builder I've purchased from in the past, a instrument I've had for nearly 15 years and love to death. It just means a little more time putting money back since it's going to cost me more the 2x what Tom was going to charge me.

Again, thanks guys...that's why I'm a member of this community.

SoVeryTired · #28 12-05-2012, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lunchbox4u_6

After reading your responses and spending some more time thinking about it, I'm taking a pass on a Clement bass for the time being. The bass I have in my head as 2 specific features that Tom has said he can't do, and I think that may be why I'm conflicted over it. It isn't exactly wanted I wanted when I decided to go custom, so in a way I'm compromising. I don't want to compromise.

I hear you. For a first bass from a builder, you want to be sure that it ticks all the features on your list. If you already had one, you'd have a certain amount of trust in that builder and would maybe be flexible.

For example, I designed a bass in my head that had certain must-have features, taking the best of my MTD Kingston 5er and my Squier P Special. I really wanted a 5-string passive P/J 24-fret asymmetric neck, with spacing not too far off 19mm. Of the options in the ACG Graft range, all of these were ticked - 18mm spacing was fine, and asymmetric neck profile is standard - except for the P pickup. (Note that the Graft series is the entry-level, not-quite-anything-goes range - loads of options but not full custom.) The options were single coil or humbucker. I e-mailed Alan to get his opinions on how close his humbuckers could get to the split-coil sound. He offered split-coil as a slight upgrade and all my requirements were met. If he'd said "you can try a humbucker, and it'll be close but not quite", I think I'd probably have made the same decision as you and put the idea on hold.

Bassmanbob · #29 12-05-2012, 09:48 AM

Last year, after drooling over Cliff Bordwell's work for the previous nine years, I ordered a CB Bass sight unseen. Fortunately for me, I live a two hour drive from him. During my wait, I was trying to decide what scale length I wanted. He had recently built two 32" basses: a 5 and a 6. He allowed me to visit him to get the feel for those two 32" basses. It sold me on the shorter scale. I had already been sold on his work, but it just confirmed my desire for one of his basses.

I just took delivery of it yesterday and it's great. I've never tried one of the Clement basses, but I've been told they are top quality as well. Go ahead and do it!

Lastly... if you are so concerned with spending a lot of money on an expensive bass, why not consider flying to one of them? If you can get a plane ticket for $250- 350, then rent a car for $50 for the day, it may be a great investment. I'm not sure where Tom's shop is, but perhaps you could incorporate a family vacation into the trip. Of course, that is if Tom would allow you to visit.

I went and visited the Roscoe guitar shop during a vacation to the North Carolina mountains. It wasn't why we went to NC, but it was one of the highlights of the trip for me!

kjpollo · #30 12-05-2012, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lunchbox4u_6

After reading your responses and spending some more time thinking about it, I'm taking a pass on a Clement bass for the time being. The bass I have in my head as 2 specific features that Tom has said he can't do, and I think that may be why I'm conflicted over it. It isn't exactly wanted I wanted when I decided to go custom, so in a way I'm compromising. I don't want to compromise.

Don't hear me say that a bass from Tom is a compromise, that's certainly not true. It's just not the way I should go since I want something he can't do. If I buy it now and it's not exactly what I want then I'll just want another one in a little while.

Thanks for your help guys. I'll let you know what I end up getting, but it looks like I'm going to go with a builder I've purchased from in the past, a instrument I've had for nearly 15 years and love to death. It just means a little more time putting money back since it's going to cost me more the 2x what Tom was going to charge me.

Again, thanks guys...that's why I'm a member of this community.

I bet one of the things you want is a neck thru build. I know he doesnt do them.

And I also agree that when you are ordering a custom, you should get things built "your way". If a given custom builder does not do something that you insist on in your build, you should look elsewhere.

Brad Johnson · #31 12-05-2012, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kjpollo

I bet one of the things you want is a neck thru build. I know he doesnt do them.

I wondered what the two things were, figured that might be one of them.

With his builds I haven't seen where it's necessary... unencumbered upper fret access is doable and the bass I had sustained well too. The two main benchmarks of neckthroughs IMO IME other than esthetics. But we want what we want so if that's important to the OP, I can see where it would be a dealbreaker.

kjpollo · #32 12-05-2012, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassmanbob

Last year, after drooling over Cliff Bordwell's work for the previous nine years, I ordered a CB Bass sight unseen. Fortunately for me, I live a two hour drive from him. During my wait, I was trying to decide what scale length I wanted. He had recently built two 32" basses: a 5 and a 6. He allowed me to visit him to get the feel for those two 32" basses. It sold me on the shorter scale. I had already been sold on his work, but it just confirmed my desire for one of his basses.

I just took delivery of it yesterday and it's great. I've never tried one of the Clement basses, but I've been told they are top quality as well. Go ahead and do it!

Lastly... if you are so concerned with spending a lot of money on an expensive bass, why not consider flying to one of them? If you can get a plane ticket for $250- 350, then rent a car for $50 for the day, it may be a great investment. I'm not sure where Tom's shop is, but perhaps you could incorporate a family vacation into the trip. Of course, that is if Tom would allow you to visit.

I went and visited the Roscoe guitar shop during a vacation to the North Carolina mountains. It wasn't why we went to NC, but it was one of the highlights of the trip for me!

Tom's also in Florida -Deland, IIRC

droopman · #33 12-05-2012, 11:25 AM

Get new pickups for a bass you already have, maybe a new per-amp. Wow, you have a custom bass for 500 bucks.

Lunchbox4u_6 · #34 12-06-2012, 05:44 AM

Neckthrough was not one of the things on my list. I wanted wood square inlay's, which Tom doesn't do and I wanted the headstock to match the body, which Tom also does not do.

Randyt · #35 12-06-2012, 03:28 PM

Lunchbox...Have you looked at a FBass at all>???George can build you anything you wish!

tjclem · #36 12-07-2012, 12:12 PM

What about Roscoe?

Brad Johnson · #37 12-10-2012, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lunchbox4u_6

I never buy a bass intending to sell it. When I buy one I plan on keeping it forever, so I'm not approaching it that way. I guess maybe I'm worried that it won't live up to my expectations, and not because Tom doesn't do great work, but because I'm not sure what to expect.

Having never played one, I don't know what the specific characteristics Tom's basses have over other basses. Also, this is not my first custom bass, I have a Warrior that I got as a graduation gift when I was 17 years old. I think the difference is that now I'm older, oh and it's my money this time around!

Really I posted this thread because I'm in Ireland right now, away from my music community in Dallas and I needed away to reach out to that community and get a feeling for how other players see this type of situation.

Lots of people go into purchases with the same mindset and intent and then life happens. I've lost track of how many folks here on TB alone have gone from "I don't care about resale value" to "Why won't people buy my bass that I now need or want to sell?". I always consider it with a major purchase like this. At a minimum it softens the blow should it come later on.

I buy basses I've never played before but I have a real familiarity with the market and keep all factors in mind when doing so. So if I find a blowout deal on a bass with good resale value and activity it's far less of a risk than going full boat on a bass practically no one else is looking for.

What exactly are you looking for in a custom build and what's your budget?

SteveC · #38 12-10-2012, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Johnson

I've lost track of how many folks here on TB alone have gone from "I don't care about resale value" to "Why won't people buy my bass that I now need or want to sell?". I always consider it with a major purchase like this.

I think it's just smart to consider resale. Basses, cars, your house, etc. None of these type of possessions are forever.

kjpollo · #39 12-10-2012, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lunchbox4u_6

Neckthrough was not one of the things on my list. I wanted wood square inlay's, which Tom doesn't do and I wanted the headstock to match the body, which Tom also does not do.

Right- he doesnt do any kind of neck inlays at all. And I also asked him about a matching headstock veneer when I got mine. But the headstock veneer wasnt a dealbreaker for me. It just popped into my head at some point during the ordering process and when he said he didnt offer it, it didnt matter to me. But thats just me!

two fingers · #40 12-10-2012, 12:50 PM

Well here's the first thing that popped into my head. If you love the feel of your basses, why don't you have your custom built to feel like one of those? In other words, give the builder the neck specs of your favorite. Then it will feel a lot like what you love anyway? Problem solved. I bet you could even send the builder a bass and tell him to get measurements from it. He could probably measure more precisely than you anyway. (Just saying that he does it for a living and probably has it down to a science.) I would never just order a bass and say "go nuts" and build it however you think is best. I would at least have to have some input, or it wouldn't be FOR ME.