Collaboration: Top 10 Custom Bass Makers

[Sixgunn]

cant believe no one said Mayones yet

Actually me and Kuuuks did

 

[Sixgunn]

No. No you are not.

I second that emotion!!

 

[Sixgunn]

Outside of sandwich-making that's not a name you hear often so I'm not surprised at all.

I wish I had another one so I could be in the middle of that sandwich!!

 

[Burwabit]

If this list is those I actually have experience playing/owning, for me it's:
1) Sadowsky NYC
2) Roscoe
3) Fender Custom Shop (it has the word custom, come on)

Those I want to own/try:
4) Alleva Coppolo
5) Fodera
6) MTD
7) Wal
8) Zon
9) Ritter
10) more Sadowsky and Roscoe

 

[Brother Goose]

1. Alembic
2. Smith
3. Spector
4. Sadowsky
5. Tobias
6. Ritter
7. Brubaker
8. Conklin
9. Fodera
10. Lull

 

[Ballin'bass]

Carl Thompson ought to definitely be on that list. Arguably the greatest bass builder of all time, the man never ever sold anything less than perfect instruments. If it wasn't flawless, he wouldn't let it leave his shop. But you would tend to have to wait years for them to be completed, sometimes up to 4 years. Unfortunately he just speed taking custom orders in February of last year, and now only does no frills/semi frills orders, so he might not count for this topic. I'm about to get a custom one shipped to me, second hand, and I am VERY excited .

My limited experience trying different boutique/custom builders gives me this list:
Carl Thompson
Alembic
Fodera
Sadowsky
Fender CS
Ken Smith
Mtd

 

[ThroatyGrowl]

I'd add Nikola Adamovic (NL) and Adrian Maruszczyk (GER, PL) - The Adamovic basses are top notch in every aspect and the Maruszczyk ones are if the finest craftsmanship I've seen in a long while and, fully customizable at a GREAT price.

 

[hsech]

Here's the quote sheet for the Fender Custom Shop:
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A 1959 style Pbass (the cheaper of the two options for a Pbass - the other being a 1955 style) starts at $4,120. With moderate options (light relic, bound fingerboard, painted headcap, dark rosewood fingerboard, tort pickguard etc) the bass I'd want built ended up at $4,880. And if you want it masterbuilt it adds a fee of $2400.

So that puts a custom shop P at somewhere between $4200 and $7,000 depending on options.

NYC Sadowskys range from $4,000 to $6,000. Roscoe customs range from $3,400 to around $6,000 for a very tricked out bass. MTDs from around $4,600 to $9,000 or so. And so on. All of these basses are expensive. Now the most expensive of the bunch (Fodera, Alembic, Ritter etc) might be significantly above a Fender Custom shop, but a few of the builders mentioned will also build a fully custom bass for less than the starting point of a FCS instrument.

That's all very interesting and informative, but I would still pick a Fender Custom Shop. Used, they can be had for $2,000 if you look. Not arguing with you, it's just my preference and opinion.

 

[hsech]

Am I the only one who finds it extremely stupid that some people list Fender as one of the top ten best custom builders?

It's not stupid at all for those who like all flavors of Fender. You can brag on your brand of choice, but you don't have to dis mine.

 

[beatlebass64]

Birdsong Guitars and Muckelroy Basses

 

[MDBass]

Fender will do custom if you go to their Custom Shop. You can get things they do not offer, particularly colours. The same cannot be said about Dingwall, who will only do things listed in their price list, nothing more.

That's not true at all, Sheldon takes custom bass orders all of the time for Prima and Z models.

Don't see a color or wood option listed? Just ask.

There still may be things he can't or won't do for certain models, but you certainly won't find this listed on any spec sheet.

 

[77stingray]

+1 Muckelroy Basses

 

[TrexPlaysBass]

Drake custom

 

[gzarate85]

Fodera
Smith
MTD
Pavel
Skjold
Alleva Copollo
Benavente
Sadowski
Nordstrand
Callowhill

 

[Lincoln]

I think there are two types of custom basses....high volume and low volume...and in truth that really is the only difference. They're all great! It really depends on your personal taste and your pocket book! I will say that for us average folks the low volume builder— the luthier doing every bass by hand one at at a time— generally takes exceptional care of their customers as they are building their reputations one bass and customer at a time. And they earn these great reputations by creating great instruments with fantastic customer care!

High volume to me is:
Sadowsky
F Bass
Fodera
Ken Smith
Pedulla
Tobia

Low Volume to me is:
Marco Bass
Clement Bass
Prat Bass
Benevante
CB Bass
Bee Bass
Skjold

 

[Rich Emme]

Some of these I've owned or still own, and others are basses I've never played, but would like to...

My top 10 Makes & Models I would like to own (all in 5 strings):

1. Adamovic Halo
2. Benavente SCD
3. Carvin PB/JB
4. Dingwal Super J
5. Fodera Emperor
6. Fodera Imperial
7. Jerzy Drozd Obsession
8. Ken Smith BSR
9. MBasses Brooklyn Elite
10. Sadowsky Will Lee

Having these 10 basses would be nice, but I would be satisfied owning any 3 of them

 

[Hoggles]

Did I just read 3 pages and not one mention of Warwick?? Wha wha what?!

The higher end German made ones are true works of art. The Thumb NT (I have a 2006 fretless) exudes quality. I can sit for an hour in the sunshine, after nearly ten years, and just look at stare every nook and cranny and wood figuring swirl. Truly stunning. If there are better made/sounding basses out there, it's splittin' hairs and simply personal preference, that's for sure. They have one of the best wood selection and curing process in the industry. The facility is as state of the art as it gets. Their custom shop is amazing. Their non custom shop is amazing. Hell, I even imagine their Rockbass line is good. And their designs are awesome. I just wish it was a little easier to get the German made ones here in the states, in local guitar shops. It would be nice to test drive some of them before buying.

Next huge purchase for me will be a custom shop fretted version of the Thumb NT, like Andy is playin' above.

That sound. Good lord. Mama Mia!!

 

[Neon Blues]

Did I just read 3 pages and not one mention of Warwick?? Wha wha what?!

The higher end German made ones are true works of art. The Thumb NT (I have a 2006 fretless) exudes quality. I can sit for an hour in the sunshine, after nearly ten years, and just look at stare every nook and cranny and wood figuring swirl. Truly stunning. If there are better made/sounding basses out there, it's splittin' hairs and simply personal preference, that's for sure. They have one of the best wood selection and curing process in the industry. The facility is as state of the art as it gets. Their custom shop is amazing. Their non custom shop is amazing. Hell, I even imagine their Rockbass line is good. And their designs are awesome. I just wish it was a little easier to get the German made ones here in the states, in local guitar shops. It would be nice to test drive some of them before buying.

Next huge purchase for me will be a fretted version of the Thumb NT. Mama Mia!!

I did. They edged out Spector by a smidge.

 

[Hoggles]

I did. They edged out Spector by a smidge.

Ah yes you did! Nice! I stand corrected.

Though you made a mistake... the zero should go in front of the one

 

[GHOST AT]

Anyone mentioned Chris Stambaugh yet? Seems like he will build anything within reason. Of the builders listed I have owned custom basses by Fodera and Kenneth Lawrence sold them both. I could not get used to 33 scale and the other I ordered a standard neck profile which was too thick for my stubby fingers. the specs I ordered were all on me and not the builders fault.Live and learn. I have another Emperor on order,and would love to have another Kenneth Lawrence ,this time in a 34 scale.