Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
"48th Street Custom Guitars" Club
- Thread starter BlountEdge
- Start date
I have a heavily modified Jazz bass that was originally a 48th Street Custom Guitar. I think the only original part left is the body, I replaced the neck with a Warmoth, pickups replaced with Bartolini's and replaced the bridge as well. I still think of it as a 48th St. Custom Guitar, I used to love going into that shop to see all the awesome artwork those guys did. I might still have the original neck in storage somewhere, if I can find it I'll post a pic.
I am not a bass player, but eagerly awaiting from an auction my Sunburst Strat copy from 48th St. Custom Guitars, NYC. Can I get an honorary membership?
I've been to 48th St CG twice; back in the late 90s and prolly just before they closed in 01. AWESOME stuff, loved the shop. Been doing quite a bit of research on them as well and claims seem to back-up that: These Japanese luthiers were BUILDING their OWN stuff from RAW wood upstairs. Even found posts from John Shur saying this as well as others.
In my reading; 48th St Custom Guitars WAS owned and operated by ESP. ESP is quite the conglomerate, besides founding and owning Musicians Institute LA, they also opened up Sunset Custom Guitars in LA. Later acquiring Schecter Guitars as well.
For a LONG TIME, in the 80's, their business in the US was supplying PARTS, much like Charvel, Boogie and Schecter did. ESP also OWNS their OWN lutherie school in Japan. The guys manning the assembly and builds in LA and NYC were ESP schooled and worked at ESP before coming here to NYC and LA.
48th St Custom Guitars was set up as; buy and sell Used and Vintage and as a showpiece for ESP. I'm sure that the "buy and sell" was also used as research for the luthiers upstairs; reverse engineer, create the specs and templates and then fax or send discs of the CADs to Japan.
One of the caveats that ESP Japan laid down to 48th was; everything produced HAS to be labeled: Made In Japan. Even though these guys were working and making a living in NYC and e n j o y i n g their new USA life.
No CNC machines upstairs. These guys were rough hewing stuff on sawing and sanding machines, but certainly hand guided and doing quite a bit of hand-work and finishing. Building custom work for Ron Wood, Vernon Reid, Metallica, George Lynch and Arlen Roth.
At some point, ESP parted ways and those left decided to make a go of it. Quietly making "working man's axes" for sub $1,000.00 (and certainly better than the equivalent from Fender) to... "How BIG do you dream and how much you got?" while remaining cheaper than going across the street (Rudy's) and getting a Pensa/ Pensa-Shur.
The strat I picked up off eBay would be one of their more "base price models" and prolly priced around $700. Maybe $800 because of the sunburst option: http://www.ebay.com/itm/48th-ST-Str...h=item1c2bd708c1&ssPageName=RSS:B:SHOP:US:101
Yea, $259.00 with FREE shipping.
It's a shame that the mediocre seems to rise whereas the hard-working get screwed.
Here are guys, whom came to this country and looked at the market and decided to make something BETTER and for something within a reasonable grasp of money. A NEW $700 "USA MADE" Strat is really meh. 48th were spraying nitro, you don't get nitro finishes from Fender until you step up to the $1,500 range and is prolly still carved up on a CNC machine. $2,500 is when someone actually takes a draw knife to your neck.
For UNDER $900, you could have a handmade guitar, sprayed with Nitro, from these guys.
These guitars and basses deserve some recognition and deserve to become... Wait a minute, they already are cool.
Have some "love to bestow" on my new purchase. Will update and post pics as interest deems. Cleanup, fretwork, check the electronics. Will add a Brass "base plate" from Lindy Fralin to the bridge pickup, assess the condition of the saddles. May replace with brass pieces. Clean the fretboard, crown and polish the frets. Lube the tuners. Add a switch to bring in the neck PU with the bridge PU, clean pots and switch. Oil-In-Paper cap. Replace the trem springs with Raw Vintage springs. Add a brass stop to the trem (these things don't do well on "float").
Would LOVE to have a friend of mine 'inlay" a vintage brass NYC Transit Token into the headstock, strictly for decorative. If ANYTHING would screw up and future value of... Doing that JUST MIGHT. But would be a cool look tough!
I've been to 48th St CG twice; back in the late 90s and prolly just before they closed in 01. AWESOME stuff, loved the shop. Been doing quite a bit of research on them as well and claims seem to back-up that: These Japanese luthiers were BUILDING their OWN stuff from RAW wood upstairs. Even found posts from John Shur saying this as well as others.
In my reading; 48th St Custom Guitars WAS owned and operated by ESP. ESP is quite the conglomerate, besides founding and owning Musicians Institute LA, they also opened up Sunset Custom Guitars in LA. Later acquiring Schecter Guitars as well.
For a LONG TIME, in the 80's, their business in the US was supplying PARTS, much like Charvel, Boogie and Schecter did. ESP also OWNS their OWN lutherie school in Japan. The guys manning the assembly and builds in LA and NYC were ESP schooled and worked at ESP before coming here to NYC and LA.
48th St Custom Guitars was set up as; buy and sell Used and Vintage and as a showpiece for ESP. I'm sure that the "buy and sell" was also used as research for the luthiers upstairs; reverse engineer, create the specs and templates and then fax or send discs of the CADs to Japan.
One of the caveats that ESP Japan laid down to 48th was; everything produced HAS to be labeled: Made In Japan. Even though these guys were working and making a living in NYC and e n j o y i n g their new USA life.
No CNC machines upstairs. These guys were rough hewing stuff on sawing and sanding machines, but certainly hand guided and doing quite a bit of hand-work and finishing. Building custom work for Ron Wood, Vernon Reid, Metallica, George Lynch and Arlen Roth.
At some point, ESP parted ways and those left decided to make a go of it. Quietly making "working man's axes" for sub $1,000.00 (and certainly better than the equivalent from Fender) to... "How BIG do you dream and how much you got?" while remaining cheaper than going across the street (Rudy's) and getting a Pensa/ Pensa-Shur.
The strat I picked up off eBay would be one of their more "base price models" and prolly priced around $700. Maybe $800 because of the sunburst option: http://www.ebay.com/itm/48th-ST-Str...h=item1c2bd708c1&ssPageName=RSS:B:SHOP:US:101
Yea, $259.00 with FREE shipping.
It's a shame that the mediocre seems to rise whereas the hard-working get screwed.
Here are guys, whom came to this country and looked at the market and decided to make something BETTER and for something within a reasonable grasp of money. A NEW $700 "USA MADE" Strat is really meh. 48th were spraying nitro, you don't get nitro finishes from Fender until you step up to the $1,500 range and is prolly still carved up on a CNC machine. $2,500 is when someone actually takes a draw knife to your neck.
For UNDER $900, you could have a handmade guitar, sprayed with Nitro, from these guys.
These guitars and basses deserve some recognition and deserve to become... Wait a minute, they already are cool.
Have some "love to bestow" on my new purchase. Will update and post pics as interest deems. Cleanup, fretwork, check the electronics. Will add a Brass "base plate" from Lindy Fralin to the bridge pickup, assess the condition of the saddles. May replace with brass pieces. Clean the fretboard, crown and polish the frets. Lube the tuners. Add a switch to bring in the neck PU with the bridge PU, clean pots and switch. Oil-In-Paper cap. Replace the trem springs with Raw Vintage springs. Add a brass stop to the trem (these things don't do well on "float").
Would LOVE to have a friend of mine 'inlay" a vintage brass NYC Transit Token into the headstock, strictly for decorative. If ANYTHING would screw up and future value of... Doing that JUST MIGHT. But would be a cool look tough!
As an eBay Associate, TalkBass may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
It used to look just like kjpollo's, except it had a rosewood fretboard with square pearloid inlays. I replaced the bridge with a Gotoh, the pickups are active Bartolini's, the neck is a Warmoth Canary P-Bass neck. I'm not sure it plays better than it used to, although I love the Warmoth neck, but I know it sounds better with the Bart active pickups.
Here's a really old, really bad picture of me and the old neck:
Just found you guys; looks like the last post was 4 months ago. In 1991, I was at the shop and bought myself a 40th bday present: a fretless, 48th St. Cust. Gtr. J-Bass. Still have it. Fabulous. Exactly like "founder" BlountEdge's bass (pix, from his post in 2010), except rosewood, fretless fingerboard. I was trying for the Jaco thing/sound for my amusement (I'm really a pianist/guitarist, but my band made me play bass cause a had one -- a '72 Fender Telecaster Bass -- still have that, too; but I was bored and wanted to try fretless). It was a great shop, and the guys there knew their sh-t. Frankly, the fretless don't get much, if any use, and I've considered selling it, but I don't think Ebay is the place b/c (as the sale referred to by member JDuB1970 indicates), the quality of the shop's product (truly custom shop) isn't appreciate and doesn't translate into their fair market value when selling. Anyone interested?
Just got this out last week and started playing it again, after 10 year. in its case. The bass was in the case; not me.
It's nice. I bought it from a friend about 20 years ago. I stopped playing it because it's heavy, and it kills my back, and I started playing Danelectros (actually a Jerry Jones Longhorm and a Danelectro 56).
But I've decided to suffer the pain sometimes, for rock'n'roll.
The cat couldn't care less.
It's nice. I bought it from a friend about 20 years ago. I stopped playing it because it's heavy, and it kills my back, and I started playing Danelectros (actually a Jerry Jones Longhorm and a Danelectro 56).
But I've decided to suffer the pain sometimes, for rock'n'roll.
The cat couldn't care less.
Has anyone else been watching the 48th St. P-bass that's been on eBay over and over recent? They keep relisting it at a lower price (currently $1295, I think).
I'm sure it's very nice, but...
I'd never sell mine, probably, even though I never play it, because I think I'd be lucky to get $200 for it, even though it's as nice as Fenders that go for the price this guy is trying to get.
I'm sure it's very nice, but...
I'd never sell mine, probably, even though I never play it, because I think I'd be lucky to get $200 for it, even though it's as nice as Fenders that go for the price this guy is trying to get.
Just received this example of a 48th Street Custom Jazz. It was made in 1987 but I’m not sure how I would ever check this.
Not sure about the original colour either as this has been refinished and reliced recently by RayGun relics in the Uk, they have done a lovey job. Saying that I have seen a picture of this bass on the internet finished in a flat blue colour, but I can’t believe that was ever done by the builder as the finish looks awful!
It plays like a dream and sounds wonderful so I may have found my new go to bass.
On a side note I was mid purchase of this bass whilst on a vacation in New York so I visited the shop where these basses were from (I think)
Cheers
Not sure about the original colour either as this has been refinished and reliced recently by RayGun relics in the Uk, they have done a lovey job. Saying that I have seen a picture of this bass on the internet finished in a flat blue colour, but I can’t believe that was ever done by the builder as the finish looks awful!
It plays like a dream and sounds wonderful so I may have found my new go to bass.
On a side note I was mid purchase of this bass whilst on a vacation in New York so I visited the shop where these basses were from (I think)
Cheers
Anyone remember that store “We Buy Guitars”?
I remember they had a guitar in the window for $50, tag said “comes with free garbage bag”
They were right next door to 48th St. Custom.
When they were open, looked a lot like that luggage store does in the pic above...
I remember they had a guitar in the window for $50, tag said “comes with free garbage bag”
They were right next door to 48th St. Custom.
When they were open, looked a lot like that luggage store does in the pic above...
I bought my G&L LB-100 there in 2002. I would never had bought (hadn't heard of) G&L, but played it at the store along with a bunch of beautiful basses and went home with this!
Nice.
Yours has a nicer bridge than mine. I'd change my bridge, but i don't play it much anymore. The bridge has sharp edges that regularly drew blood.
I can't find the listing. Do you "48th Street" or "48th Custom Guitars" in the headline?
I've been watching your auction.
I've never tried to sell mine, even though I don't play it, because I don't think I'd ever get what I think is really worth. I'd rather give it away. Kinda.
I agree with you most bass players underestimate this bass player is way better than anything I’ve ever owned Mexican USA I’ve had them all and this one plays like a dream it’s unfortunate that I have to get rid of it because of my issues I’m sure regret it
Maybe the only people who'd know what it is work at NYC collector's guitar stores. I don't know.
I’ve got a new entry for the club. I’m so stoked, I just recently picked this up off eBay, and it happened to be from another local here in the Tri-State area, not too far from 48th Street. Check this beauty out. Early 50’s Precision style (or Tele if you prefer the re-issue nomenclature) body, which is rumored to be ash. Maple neck, big fat C profile, like a Louisville slugger sawn if half. I think the pickups are Duncan. Push/pull knob above the standard volume/tone controls activates the neck pickup which is extremely hot, producing a noticeable and instant gain effect. Nice Badass bridge. The neck is stamped ESP on the back of the headstock, has the 48th Street logo on the front. Quite heavy, estimating 10.5-11 lbs. It thumps.This bass sounds killer, looks killer, a “street walking cheetah with a...” you get the picture. Any thoughts on age? Guessing late 80’s but Little is known about the origins. Thanks for checking it out.
I'm not sure when they started putting the 48th St name on them, rather than ESP. Mine is probably about 1990. I'm going to guess this is about then also?
Latest posts
-
-
-
Uber Eats class action lawsuit alleges their priority delivery is a scam- Latest: buldog5151bass
-
