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A question for those of you that have boutique basses

#61
Martin Keith has become my "house builder", and that is after i visited him, played a few of his basses (a friend had one), and found what i wanted in a bass aligned with the way he builds them. Still, it is a bit of hit and miss sometimes not because of Martin, but because of choices I made with the electronics wood types etc. - yet hit and miss relatively: always in the knowledge that whatever Martin makes, it is so much closer to what is perfect for my 🎵 needs and what i want, then anything off the rack in a music store, or built by another builder (I visited Fodera too-amazing instruments, great local people, not for me). There is knowing what I want, knowing what I really want, and what works in my particular musical practice.
 
#62
I'm gonna crash the party because the BTB on my Ibanez BTB 1406 means "boutique bass". 😝

I totally did not mean to buy it when I did. I had been looking at 6-string basses and itching for one at the time however, that day I specifically went to a pawn shop to sell some old gear rather than a music store. I knew one place had a nice black Schecter 6-string.

Well... I walk in and behind the counter is this goregeous beast with an odd body shape that reminds me of a couldron. After staring at it like 😻 possibly ankle deep in drool, I asked to play it. The previous owner had put DR Black Beauties on it. There were a few nicks and scrapes but, nothing beyond what everything else in my life has.. 😹

Needless to say I put a down payment on it and it's been fantastic ever since.
 
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#63
Bassic Needs said:
I am just wondering, for those of you that have boutique basses, how did you arrive at your decision?
Did you have a few favorites, and did you have the opportunity to try each one in-person before deciding?
What was the deciding factor?

I am thinking seriously about getting in line for a build (many have 24 month wait lists) but there is nowhere locally I can try any of them.

My ideal bass sound would be a cross between a jazz bass and a Ken Smith.
At the moment, I am eyeballing an F-Bass DN Deluxe.

Others I have been looking at:

Ken Smith - Killer sound but maybe a little too far from a jazz bass for me. Some say it isn't the most comfortable thing to play, and not overly versatile.
Fodera - Sounds great, but I feel it needs a little more balls. Maybe that is not the case, but it seems a little thin at times in the videos I have watched. Craftsmanship is high, but so if the price. Quite versatile.
Mattisson - Looks great, but the prices are in the same ballpark as a Fodera. I think that is unrealistic to be honest. Can't see anyone choosing one over a Fodera.
Adamovic - Looks good and it sounds like it has good ergonomics. Haven't seen many videos to offer up a good idea of what they sound like.


I play while sitting, in classical position like Hadrien Feraud, so it would need to comfortable for that.

I would love to hear other people's journeys in finding that grail? bass.
Click to expand...
Contact Martin Keith.

Martin Keith Guitars

Handmade custom acoustic & electric guitars, basses. Adjustable neck design, vintage restoration/repair
www.martinkeithguitars.com www.martinkeithguitars.com

Here are the two I have.

Full-Front-1200-0318.jpg



Elfin-5 FL-Front-Full-1200_9122.jpg
 
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#65
over the years I have played some next level crazy stuff at the shops i've worked at, but there's nothing wrong with my beat up 90s G&L and roadworn 2000s Musicman

I would love to play a modulus, but the only time I can do that is when we set one up or refinish one at work
 
#69
some of my first basses in the late 80s and early 90s were Kubicki, Tobias, Pedulla, Bolin… then in the mid aughts, I bought a few used customs and nice factory basses, Bordwells, Brubaker, Modulus….

I fell in love with the Bordwells.

I now have 4 custom built for my specs with a 5th in progress now. I went through a lot of basses trying to find exactly what I wanted, and then got everything in my customs.

IMG_1091.jpeg
 
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#70
My 2 boutique models are Fodera and Bacci. I didn’t get to play them first . They are not easy to come by.

I knew based upon past experiences what I like spec wise. I also was able to hear a very similar Fodera live in person on a small intimate venue. I watched and listed to several videos and sound examples over the years . Not so many years with the Bacci but at least 2 years.

The right ones became available online at the right time and I made the purchases.

I went from 7 top tier factory builds down to these 2 boutiques . I kept my Fretless 5 BFR StingRay and my PBass with flats.

These boutiques are everything I wanted and more !!
 
#73
Bassic Needs said:
I am just wondering, for those of you that have boutique basses, how did you arrive at your decision?
Did you have a few favorites, and did you have the opportunity to try each one in-person before deciding?
What was the deciding factor?

I am thinking seriously about getting in line for a build (many have 24 month wait lists) but there is nowhere locally I can try any of them.

My ideal bass sound would be a cross between a jazz bass and a Ken Smith.
At the moment, I am eyeballing an F-Bass DN Deluxe.

Others I have been looking at:

Ken Smith - Killer sound but maybe a little too far from a jazz bass for me. Some say it isn't the most comfortable thing to play, and not overly versatile.
Fodera - Sounds great, but I feel it needs a little more balls. Maybe that is not the case, but it seems a little thin at times in the videos I have watched. Craftsmanship is high, but so if the price. Quite versatile.
Mattisson - Looks great, but the prices are in the same ballpark as a Fodera. I think that is unrealistic to be honest. Can't see anyone choosing one over a Fodera.
Adamovic - Looks good and it sounds like it has good ergonomics. Haven't seen many videos to offer up a good idea of what they sound like.


I play while sitting, in classical position like Hadrien Feraud, so it would need to comfortable for that.

I would love to hear other people's journeys in finding that grail? bass.
Click to expand...
Custom is sort of a pain. Just because it’s custom doesn’t mean it will be perfect. Rarely is. It is neat to have a bass built to your specs but there are plenty of options for basses that already exist in the world. If you’re willing to wait 2 years then go for it, but don’t expect perfection. Going custom usually does come along with superior customer service which is very valuable. Best of luck
 
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#74
If you are paying $6-7k plus, then you need resale to hold.

I have 3 to sell and I'll be happy to break even.
The 4 I am keeping...I have no doubt they will increase in value if current market prices are an indication...

As always, an undesirable 'Custom' will struggle
 
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#76
I have gone through probably at least 50-60 "boutique" basses over the years to see what they each offer that is special. Some were great, some not so great. Some absolutely incredible.

Just off the top of my head some of the really good to incredible ones were:

MTD, Fbass, Wilkins, Sadowsky, Lull, PRS, Benavente, Pedulla, Zon, Maryuszyk, Mayones. Tobias, G&L Custom Shop, Modulus, Ken Smith, Lakland USA, and Status. They all have their own thing going on and that thing is well worth it. I still own basses by the companies that are bolded.
 
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#77
blowinblue said:
My answer is simple. I owned a very nice Fender Jazz Bass for many years. Then my wife gifted me a boutique bass. The oceans parted, the skies opened up, and my vision became clear. Currently 4 of my 5 basses are definitely in the boutique category. And I'm not sorry about it.

M. M.
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Similar deal for me too. I mostly just played my one Travis Bean for 25 years. But my wife saw me playing a cool bass at an after hours jam at a huge guitar show in Philly. When we got home she asked me when I was going to buy one and then surprised me with the half price down payment as a birthday gift. Then my boss unexpectedly broke out a bonusthat exactly covered the balance, same week it was finished. The other couple I’ve owned came from a luthier I met at a TB GTG and I visited the shop several times before getting the first one, trying a bunch first. Personally, I would probably only even consider buying another one if it came from someone I had a close personal relationship with, since I already know quite a few very legit builders. Online demos and/or endorsements are pretty much meaningless to me, but of course in person experience with more obsure brands can be very tough to come by for most people these days, and we all gotta do what we have to do.
 
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#78
I guess the question is regarding brand new builds. I bought mine without trying first. There'd never be a chance for me to try any of these near me. I did a lot of research online about these brands.

FBass BN6 - Blue no pore filler finish: I ordered through Ultimate Basses who put me in touch with Marcel and I was kept updated throughout the build process. I would go on to order more basses through UB, including another FBass.
FBass VF6-PJ Fretless - Lake Placid Blue: Same enjoyable experience as my previous FBass purchase.
Fodera Emperor Standard 6: Same dealer; same great experience.
Spector NS 6H2 - Tiger's Eye : Yes, UB again and similar experience.
Carl Thompson Semi-Frills Fretless 6: I bought through The Low End. Carl Thompson doesn't send progress information. I was simply told to watch Carl Thompson's Instagram. He posts semi-frequently, holding up various mid-production builds and I'd need to guess which instrument might be mine. More than one person advised/assured me: "You're not buying a custom bass. You're buying a Carl Thompson bass." It was like a dream when I finally held the instrument.

I have some other that I bought second-hand. Again, I would never have a chance of playing one of these in advance. Same deal; I know the names and their reputation.

Ken Smith BSR6EG - Cocobolo: Bought second-hand stock from Ultimate Basses.
Greg Curbow Petite 6: Bought via Craigslist locally.
EBMM Bongo 6 - PDN Honey Roasted: Yes, I will include my Bongo in this level of quality. Bought new, old stock from Avenue Guitars in Edmonton.

The only bass I got to try before buying was my Warwick Thumb BO 6 from Tom Lee Music. This was also new, old stock. My wife was with me. She asked if I liked it and I said yes. She negotiated the clerk $1000 down from the asking price and put her own card out. (I paid her back later.)
 
#79
logdrum said:
All my so called current boutique were had for less than 1.1 k if you include the my SR5 special then less than 1.6 .k (trade difference)

Pedulla Buzz -- I got it in 1991 from a NEC student in Boston $600. Played a lot of gigs with this
Tune (Japan) BEB6 - Got 2016 in San Diego 1K
No name SingleCut 5 string - 2021 TB Classifieds I have post of it as a coffee table bass $900
TB Bass build - 5 string fretless 2021 TB Classifieds - coffee table post $850

I also have a Yamaha TRB6P made in Japan which you can classify with the SR5 as boutique level from non-boutique makers. Got it from Grandmas Music in ABQ in 2004 for $700

I did get a Ritter in 2012 -- that was 2.4k but I sold it immediately and made a couple bucks profit, also from Grandmas Music.

The Pedulla (Barts) sounds like a Fender Jazz bass, like a Deluxe Jazz. My Fretless jazz is the one I prefer and my daughter has this bass currently. -- The Tune has the most versatile pickups and preamp (quadcoil Delano with a Mike Pope), Singelcut with the Fat Stacks/East is the most agressive sounding. TB Wide jazz fretless (Big Splits) is mellow and many folks ask me to play this . I think the Ritter as pretty as it was paled in comparison to the Yamaha in every possible category except for the price and the looks. That and my wife not happy about that buy meant it was sold right away.

I have played an F-Bass and a Fodera from a buddy who has all manner of high end, high priced basses. I have also played Sukop (local NM builder) Ken Smiths, Spectors and Sadowsky's. I would say that my Tune and Yamaha hold their own and the prices were right.
Click to expand...
Nothing wrong with the Yamaha TRB6P. The 6P went on to become John Patitucci's signature model.
 
#80
From the other end of the spectrum.
Back in the ' 90s, I wanted a 5-string. The ones I was encountering had narrow string spacing. I had looked at Carvin (before they were Kiesel) as they had offered a 19mm string spacing on their Bunny Brunel model. So I ordered up one.

Their usual stock Ebony fretboard, neck-through, Koa wood stringer in the 5-piece Maple neck and Koa wood body wings, active/passive, tung oil finish. Anyway, it was “boutique” to me, and it sounded and looked good; it kinda had that Alembic hippie sandwich look to it.

When I would play it out on gigs, I would get a lot of compliments on the sound and look of it. When folks asked me the brand, I would tell them Carvin; they would recoil in horror because the bass sounded so good without Alembic or some other boutique attached to it 😐 🤣
 
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