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a question for custom bass owners

Ian the bassist

Ian the bassist

Sep 15, 2009
426
11
Dublin, Ireland
#1
I just wanted to ask from people who have more experience. Is a custom bass from a dedicated luthier the way to go for perfection? I have certain ideas that I want implemented and I think it could be the best bass I've ever or will ever play, but will it be that much better for the price? I own a Warwick streamer jazzman and it is brilliant, closest to perfection I have owned, but the cut off to the frets annoy me as well as the height of the strings from the body, even at super low action, it makes double thumb harder than a bass where your thumb goes through to less height from the body, if that makes sense. Any good experiences from people out there? Or do you prefer to just get a factory issue bass?
 
#3
You can modify a stock bass or have one made for you by a great luthier, but in the end it's not about getting what you think you want. I've bought two luthier-made basses, and both were great. And I've had stock basses that I've modified and quite happily played. Each experience of each bass is different. It's great to have a cool bass that fits what you're doing. It's also cool to adapt to the bass you have.
 
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#5
Going the custom route is the best way to get as close as possible to what you desire in a bass. Some things to remember.

1. Do your homework. Know what you want and stick to it. It's practically impossible for builders to change certain things mid build so have all your specs in concrete before hand.
2. Listen to the luthier's suggestions. It's likely they've been doing this for a while. They can give knowledgeable advice if you're unsure.
3. Have patience.
 
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#7
Baird6869 said:
It is the best possible route to go only if you know exactly what you want IME.... Body wood, fingerboard wood, string spacing, neck profile, electronics and pickups, etc.
Click to expand...

...and (IMO) those details aren't available on an existing (non-custom) instrument.

I love my custom instruments and have no regrets at all...but a lot of people have thought they knew what they wanted, ordered a custom bass, and sold it soon afterwards because it wasn't what they wanted.
 
#8
At this point I'd definitely be just another statistic in that sense. I'm still very much in the "I don't know what I don't know" stage of things, so to me it makes the most sense to start with a good reliable stock platform and sort out what I like or dislike about it, and if possible make the modifications or trade up until I get a clearer picture of where I'm heading.

A custom built instrument from a skilled craftsman should be sure to be an excellent work, just be careful you don't end up with a great instrument for someone else!
 
#9
I cheated. I got the body and neck from Warmoth (not at the same time), and the component parts from different sources, and then I had a luthier put it together, set it up, and PLEK it. That allowed me to spread out the expense of a custom instrument over most of a year. There was some risk involved -- the neck I got was bubinga with a wenge fretboard, and I didn't have any experience with either of those woods, but I love the feel of them.

Just throwing it out there as an option.
 
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#10
I have a couple customs that I don't use anymore, but because my tastes have changed, not because they're not any good. However, I've seen folks order customs only to hate them. Seen them order them and love them as well. But sometimes, folks have ideas for custom basses that either they think they want it and really don't, or the luthier misinterprets, or whatever. The story of Anthony Jackson's custom Carl Thompson 6-string is a great one. He wanted a certain string spacing at the nut, and Carl made it with that string spacing all the way down the neck and the strings ended up super narrow by the bridge.
 
#11
Talk to your luthier about building left-handed as well. Everything about the build is reversed and can slow someone down a bit. Imagine especially trying to finish a build to perfection when you can't really play the bass yourself. A modest up-charge might be in order. A luthier who hasn't done a few lefties might not be the right person for the job.
 
#12
Do you have basic carpentry skills? I'm serious, if you are at all project oriented and like challenges it's really fulfilling to create your own unique instrument. Or if that's too big a jump, you can have a luthier make a neck to your specs and you can make the body etc. There's a universe of related information on line to help including tb's very own Luthiers Corner where people are doing builds from 1st time basic to super sophisticated. A consideration anyway.
 
#13
I think the best way to design a custom instrument is to spend alot of time with several other instruments first and find what you like and don't like about each one and how each of these things effects your playing, warmoth parts are a great way to try different woods, pickup routs, necks...ect. without spending the money for a full blown custom, the craftsmanship is top notch and they have some beautiful woods to choose from for fretboards and laminate tops. if you can paint it or do an oil finish yourself that will save you a few hundred $$ and it leaves the option of doing your own mods to the body before finishing.
im not shure about warwick but im pretty shure spector will build you a custom ns2 with a lowerd fretboard and your choice of pickup rout and body wood.
 
#14
gpx1200 said:
I think the best way to design a custom instrument is to spend alot of time with several other instruments first and find what you like and don't like about each one and how each of these things effects your playing, warmoth parts are a great way to try different woods, pickup routs, necks...ect. without spending the money for a full blown custom, the craftsmanship is top notch and they have some beautiful woods to choose from for fretboards and laminate tops. if you can paint it or do an oil finish yourself that will save you a few hundred $$ and it leaves the option of doing your own mods to the body before finishing.
im not shure about warwick but im pretty shure spector will build you a custom ns2 with a lowerd fretboard and your choice of pickup rout and body wood.
Click to expand...

Ian the bassist said:
Also I'm a left handed bassist in Ireland, even the best music stores here are dreadful for lefty basses, so trying stuff out is a lot harder, usually have to wait for second hand stuff to surface.
Click to expand...

… in an ideal world yes, but sounds like Ian's situation won't allow such a luxury.
 
#16
gpx1200 said:
yup I overlooked the lefty part
Click to expand...

yah, my younger sister's a south-paw but not a musician. Makes me glad to be right-handed and I empathize w/lefties as players. Especially Ian who's in a location non-conducive to the kind of access to gear we all take for granted.
 
#17
I wanted a multiscale 5 string with humbuckers and active preamp that will fit with elixir strings.
And i got one.
Best bass i ever laid my hands on. It actually was not made for me, but my specs were so close the luthier sent me one he had in stock - either to try it and order a custom or to keep it.
It was so close to what i desired that i kept it.
 
#18
Your replies are very appreciated. I don't possess carpentry skills unfortunately, so I wouldn't be up to modifying my dear dear bass(I shaging love this Warwick, it's not perfect, but I love it, no way would I risk anything happening to it) I'm in talks with a luthier at the moment and I'm ironing out everything that I've liked about basses(3 band eq, thin neck, easy access electrics compartment, adjustable nut etc) and dislikes (bad access to upper frets, too big a gap from strings to body for double thumb etc). He actually said a ramp from the neck to the body is what most bassists have who use double thumb, and I then noticed it, once he said it. Mad how I never did notice, its looking like I got the right guy for the job here is a quick spec list if anyone is interested.

24 frets

Basslines all the way. A hot stack jazz with a series and single coil switch (to act like a humbucker of sorts) at the pridge a precision pickup centerband another J pickup at the neck. Aguilar obp-3 pre amp with 3 band eq and a push pull for active passive.

Body wood to be decided(asked for afzelia body with blackwood burl, but will work around if it can't be sourced here)

Thin maple neck with birdseye ebony fingerboard.

But most importantly, I worked out every thing I disliked about a bass ever in this bass build, and corrected it. Super low action achievable, a wide variety of tones, a punchy sound with lots of presence. Time will tell if I go this route, but I feel its only a matter of time. Chris Larkin is the guy and he's supposed to be a brilliant luthier. Nothing but good things, so I look forward to seeing how this goes.
 
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#19
i would never "seriously" play a bass thats not from a small shop luthier anymore.

there are a lot of shops putting out junk though, so one must be careful where they spent money..

"a custom shop" is not the same as "Mr.______ and what they do in their particular shop."


find the right one for you.
 
#20
I have done it both had them built from wood blanks to my spec and used existing basses as a mod platform ... Both have there place. Over the years I've developed lots of ideas for the perfect "live" (on stage) bass, in the end an EBMM Sterling with modded electronics came out on top. If you do decide on a build be sure you are at the end of your wish list evolutionary cycle because once you commit it's yours ...
 

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