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5-string fretted singlecut. $1k budget. Any thoughts?

A

alexbassguy

May 1, 2011
14
0
Northern CO
#1
Hey guys, been a longtime lurker and finally getting ready for my first big bass splurge in a long time. :hyper: I posted in the Basses section looking for advise on builders for a custom 5 fretted, and was told I should ask around over here and see if anyone could help me out. Basically I'm looking for something along the lines of a singlecut-design 5-string fretted, but with a VERY tight budget for a custom instument. Below is a design I did up that's my ideal, ultimate instrument, but I'm only really married to the general body shape, and I know that many options pictured will put it out of my price range (about a $1k budget over a month or two.) So I'm very flexible as far as everything else goes. I really like the singlecut body shape, as well as the large soapbar on the bridge. Thoughts? What could I expect for this price point, at least somewhat incorporating this body style? Anyone be willing to do something comparable in this range, or can think aof a good way to go about it?
5of8u9.gif

Now, I was primarily looking between five of the "budget" builders out there - Steve Wishnevsky of Wishbass, Kevin Siebold of Krappy Guitars, Tom Martinson of TLM, "Li" of Maxetone (eBay Chinese off-brander), and "Antoniotsai" of Vietnam. General response so far in that thread is "just buy something playable and cheap, save up and get a Clement" but I'm really intrigued to see if I can't find somebody who can do me up something crazy and cool for under a grand. I'm open to working the build however is easiest, like buying all components (even a neck, if a standalone neck-thru 5 can be found) and drop-shipping to the builder, incl woods if necessary; or possibly getting something basic started with one builder and then sending it to a refinisher to finish off, much like many do with their Wishbasses and TB user Thunderritter (AMAZING work, man!) I'm just trying to get a scope on the scene and see if there's anyone willing to help me out. I've looked around at much of ya'lls work, it's all really gorgeous, and please don't take my '$1k or under' attitude as any kind of a shot at any of you guys' building ability, it's just the price range I'm looking at. I'm sure there's no one on here who'd build for that cheap, but hey, worth a try I suppose... Thanks! :bassist:
 
#3
First off, I hope you have a double layered flame suit on, because what you are asking is a MAJOR insult to nearly every builder who frequents this forum. That's not a threat, just a fact. I'm not angry though, I realize how often folks try to think about this kind of thing but just don't realize what goes into designing, building and executing a bass from scratch.

If you start with the basic math of cost of cheap lumber and cheap components, you'll see that you're quickly up to a minimum of 250 bucks. If you then factor in a good 40 hours or so, even at a measly 10 bucks an hour, you're at 650. The finish will be a minimum of 100 for sandpaper and just oil. Any shiny finish will be at least 200 and likely even more. If the builder wants to make a profit, they are now limited to 150-200 bucks (assuming anyone was stupid enough to build for 10 bucks an hour) so there's your thousand bucks, not including a case, shipping or guarantees. And that's a bass with CRAP components. No builder is going to put their name and reputation on that and have it circulating out there.

You yourself would never be able to build it for this amount considering tool and supplies costs. I suggest reading this forum and others regarding costs to build an instrument. Your mileage may vary, and keep in mind, I'm not even pissed off about this. Some builders are going to give you a potent piece of their mind. Just a friendly forewarning...
 
#4
Thanks for the nice replies, guys, I wasn't sure what the response would be. Didn't know I had to go through the sticky, thanks for the heads-up. As far as flaming and such, let me PLEASE re-itorate, I am not trying to insult anyone at all! I've seen a lot of the work here and it's all beautiful, as I said in the last line of the OP I'm sure no one on here would do anything for that cheap, and that's not at all what I'm trying to say. I was merely looking for anyone who caters to the same category as Steve of Wishbass, or perhaps a newer builder looking for projects to cut teeth and make some money at the same time. I know how ridiculously difficult and time-consuming it is to build a bass, but when you see 'budget' builders advertising custom work at a similar price point, I figured I'd ask. Should I just remove the thread all together? I definitely don't want to start a flame war or insult anyone, I'm just trying to talk to people nicely about having a bass built in some capacity... sorry?
 
#5
I don't think this thread should be deleted, it's a good experience for many tire kickers to read this and think about the issue. Other builders will chime in, some will be pleasant like myself and my knuckleheaded friend, but others will try to cut your head off and fill your neck with multicolored sawdust, so just be ready.

And frankly, no disrespect to you, but caveating an insult with "i'm not trying to insult" isn't really going to fly. That's like walking up to a black guy and calling him a n and then saying "no insult intended".

Whether or not something is an insult is a matter of point of view, not much you can do about that... :D
 
#6
I don't want to enter into the discussion but for the record, I don't see anything wrong with asking - if people don't want do build it, they don't have to.

What I would say though is that you might be better off going to builder you respect and saying "this is my budget, I like X Y and Z, what do you suggest?". I had a very limited budget when I had some instruments built for me, and it's exactly what I did - now I couldn't be happier with them - are they exactly what I wanted? No. But they're better than what I would have got if I'd put a competent designer in budget and design constraints.
 
#7
Yea, Kinetic, that's a good point - that's essentially what I'm trying to do. OP has been edited to reflect this. Again, not trying to undercut anyone or insult or anything like that, I'm just asking. I know it can be done, the WishBass Club has many stunning basses that were put together for under a grand, I've just never gotten a straight report on Wishnevsky's fretwork, which is pretty crucial (to me at least). I'm super flexible, and could be down for many variations, just trying to get a general idea. Thanks again for everyone's nice replies, this is my second thread ever and I just joined last night simply to get feedback on this idea and join the community. :)
 
#9
Yes, that's been a prominent thought in my mind - having Steve build basically a rough, the neck/headstock and body, unfinished, and then buying all my own hardware and having another builder route the pups/control cav and fret it. I'd imagine Steve could do the blank for around $500 and the refinisher might charge.... $400 w/ parts supplied? I don't know, how much does a Wishbass refin/fretting usually cost?
 
#13
My 2 cents worth of experience says this:

The "rough" work (cutting the body, tapering and profiling the neck) is the easy part. Everything that happens after that is the hard/long/expensive part.

As for realistic pricing expectations....My current and first bass building project has $260 worth of wood and $475 worth of hardware and parts, and it's passive.
 
#14
Order a regular instrument from steve and you get a rough instrument. I know i may get some flak for saying this but you can probably pretty easily do a better build than steve without any previous experience. The only reaosn i say that is there have been countless poeple on here do it. Whats the point in starting out with a shotty product and really redoing it all yourself anyway.
 
#15
Thanks for everyone's input, and I should say, a decision has been made, I think a very wise one. I found a guy here in Fort Collins, CO by the name of Marty Miller - Miller Signature Basses - who does absolutely great work, his basses usually go for a bare minimum of $3k and he always goes completely all-out with his stuff (9-piece neck lam with 8-piece body lam, nothing but wenge, cocobolo, ambrosia maple, etc.). So I'm going to go ahead and do it! It's more than I was looking to spend, but now I KNOW this bass will be a fearsome piece of equipment. Who would want to see a build thread? :)
 
#16
And Fish, thanks, I love the design too, did it up in Serif DrawPlus. I can put you in contact with Marty if you're interested, I'm sure he'd be down to build two of 'em! It's going to be a 5-piece neck, 2-piece alder body with something gorgeous on top, active with 3-band EQ and blend. Going for that nice, dry, Janek Gwizdala-Metheny-jazz-guitar tone up high, Jacoesque burp down low.
 

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