Custom Bass help

[Whitenoise17]

I want a custom bass, because I’m having trouble finding a bass that I like every single element of, and it’s driving me nuts. The only option that I’ve found is Halo Guitars, but they seem to have mixed reviews, so I’m not sure if they’re good or not. What are some brands/people that can build me the bass that I can see in my head, but can’t find anywhere else?

 

[Gorn]

And the details of the bass you want are...

 

[Norwegian Bass]

Hey, you have to give us SOMETHING, man!

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

If you mean everything down to the body shape, there are very few willing to do that as customers simply don’t have the experience to know what will work and what will not work and don’t want to risk building something a customer will want a refund for due to their own design. Chris Stambaugh used to, but I don’t know if he still does.

 

[Whitenoise17]

Well, I love the way Music Man Stingrays sound and feel, but I don’t like the look of them. I LOVE the look of Fender Jaguars, but not the way they sound, so I was thinking of a 35 inch scale
5-string Jaguar with 2 Music Man pickups and a Music Man bridge.
I’d want it to have a stacked treble/bass control, a mid control, a volume knob, and a blend knob, and I would want an Ash body, a bolt-on maple neck, and a wenge fretboard. I also want it to have a reverse fender-style headstock, and Sperzel Locking tuners. I’d also love to have it in this deep blood red metallic color with black hardware:

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Why Sperzel locking tuners? They’re much, much less useful on a bass.

I’m assuming the reverse headstock is because you like the look?

 

[Whitenoise17]

Why Sperzel locking tuners? They’re much, much less useful on a bass.

I’m assuming the reverse headstock is because you like the look?

I like the look of the reverse headstock, yes, but I’ve found that on guitars and basses, there seems to be an increase in string tension on the lower string when a reverse inline headstock is used. Kind of like what fanned-frets do.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

I like the look of the reverse headstock, yes, but I’ve found that on guitars and basses, there seems to be an increase in string tension on the lower string when a reverse inline headstock is used. Kind of like what fanned-frets do.

It has no effect on tension on the speaking length of the string. Fanned frets increase tension because the nut and bridge are adjusted to lengthen the scale. A reverse headstock won’t change it at all, so looks or preference of tuners being on the bottom would be the only reason to get it.