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Custom Basses with Major Focus on Ergonomics

Hello, all!

I continue to procrastinate on one of my dreams to buy a custom bass...as I don't really know exactly what I want.

One thing I know that I want is a bass that has a great focus on ergonomics, which usually means headless.

Can anyone point me in a direction of a brand/builder that has a great focus on ergonomics?

For reference, Ibanez Soundgear ergonomics and headless work for me really well, and I like my basses super light.

Thank you!
 
Lakland 55-94's are amazingly comfortable in my hands (which are not all that big) I'd really like to have a 34" sale
Lakland and they are making them nowdays. But the sticker shock from the two Lakland's I've owned for 25 years
is just to much for me to invest in one. Sandberg has some great options if you're willing to wait a year to acquire one.
 
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This guy.


He does not make basses himself, but he designs and makes the plans available for others to build. I have one of his Bantamweights, a bolt-on, and if I could come up with a fretless to pair it with I would not be at all surprised if I sold all my other basses.
 
Hello, all!

I continue to procrastinate on one of my dreams to buy a custom bass...as I don't really know exactly what I want.

One thing I know that I want is a bass that has a great focus on ergonomics, which usually means headless.

Can anyone point me in a direction of a brand/builder that has a great focus on ergonomics?

For reference, Ibanez Soundgear ergonomics and headless work for me really well, and I like my basses super light.

Thank you!
The entire point of a custom build is that you know exactly what you want, and the only way to get it is to have it built for you. If what you want exists off the shelf or even in the used market it's going to be MUCH cheaper than a custom build, and without the 1+ years of waiting.

Yes, there are many luthiers who can build a headless bass with whatever specs and features you want. But what YOU think is comfortable or ergonomic might not be what the next guy thinks is comfortable. And if that's your question then literally every single luthier on the planet is going to tell you their basses are easy to play. Nobody is going to hand you a slab of unfinished wood and say "Hey, I never promised ergonomics!"

Before I had my first custom bass built I played literally dozens of basses, from $100 pawnshop basses to $10K+ Foderas. I took notes on everything I liked and didn't like, every spec, control, and measurement. It's not just about what the bass does, but how you play it. An ergonomic bass for someone who loves Flea and wants to smash the crap out of it as hard as they can is completely different from a bass designed for someone who wants to sound like Matthew Garrison and plays with a super light touch and a lot of finesse. An ergonomic bass for someone with basketball player hands is going to be completely different than a comfortable bass for someone with small hands and arthritis. Hell, even your idea of what counts as "heavy" may be different than the next guy.

If you just want to gamble three grand and cross your fingers on getting something you like then sure, we can give you a ton of names of great luthiers and any one of them can take your money and make a cool bass for you. But if you actually want to invest in an instrument that's going to be your #1 player for the next decade then you have to do some serious homework.
 
The entire point of a custom build is that you know exactly what you want, and the only way to get it is to have it built for you. If what you want exists off the shelf or even in the used market it's going to be MUCH cheaper than a custom build, and without the 1+ years of waiting.

Yes, there are many luthiers who can build a headless bass with whatever specs and features you want. But what YOU think is comfortable or ergonomic might not be what the next guy thinks is comfortable. And if that's your question then literally every single luthier on the planet is going to tell you their basses are easy to play. Nobody is going to hand you a slab of unfinished wood and say "Hey, I never promised ergonomics!"

Before I had my first custom bass built I played literally dozens of basses, from $100 pawnshop basses to $10K+ Foderas. I took notes on everything I liked and didn't like, every spec, control, and measurement. It's not just about what the bass does, but how you play it. An ergonomic bass for someone who loves Flea and wants to smash the crap out of it as hard as they can is completely different from a bass designed for someone who wants to sound like Matthew Garrison and plays with a super light touch and a lot of finesse. An ergonomic bass for someone with basketball player hands is going to be completely different than a comfortable bass for someone with small hands and arthritis. Hell, even your idea of what counts as "heavy" may be different than the next guy.

If you just want to gamble three grand and cross your fingers on getting something you like then sure, we can give you a ton of names of great luthiers and any one of them can take your money and make a cool bass for you. But if you actually want to invest in an instrument that's going to be your #1 player for the next decade then you have to do some serious homework.
Hey, thanks for the advice.

I have a generally good idea of what I want. I usually get hung up on a couple of small details.

Playing a lot of basses is not easy for me. I don't have easy access to stores with a large selection.

I plan on doing said homework, to tighten up the last few details, but want to see other creations for inspiration.
 
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im21005172666Maruszczyk-Frog-NT5-Headless.jpg
 
Hello, all!

I continue to procrastinate on one of my dreams to buy a custom bass...as I don't really know exactly what I want.

One thing I know that I want is a bass that has a great focus on ergonomics, which usually means headless.

Can anyone point me in a direction of a brand/builder that has a great focus on ergonomics?

For reference, Ibanez Soundgear ergonomics and headless work for me really well, and I like my basses super light.

Thank you!

If you like Ibanez, Soundgear and are heading towards headless, you should check out the EHB series. You don't have to go custom if you find a production model that works well for you.

I once had a bass teacher and he said people would always ask him why he didn't buy a custom bass and his answer was that the ones he had worked well for him (at the time it was a vintage P bass and a Stingray 5 aside from his upright).
 
Hey, thanks for the advice.

I have a generally good idea of what I want. I usually get hung up on a couple of small details.

Playing a lot of basses is not easy for me. I don't have easy access to stores with a large selection.

I plan on doing said homework, to tighten up the last few details, but want to see other creations for inspiration.
The best instruments are not in stores, but in the hands of players. If you want to play stuff that's actually set up right, the way to go is into the community. Ask around, go to shows, and ask on social media. If there's one thing bass players love it's sharing and showing off their gear! I've played so many cool basses out at Victor Wooten's camps over the years, now when I go back I have to bring my weirdest bass so I can give that experience back to everyone else.

If you want inspiration, here's my weird 30" 5-string tenor bass. :)