Custom basses

[MAJOR METAL]

What if you talk to a builder on the phone about building a bass for you and he agrees but he dosent return emails?.

 

[john turner]

I'm curious about Conklin - I don't see them mentioned as much as other makes - what do you think is so special about them? What's there strengths? How do rate Conklin basses against other makes? I'm thinking of buying one and I'd appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks.

here's 10 reasons

conklin probably doesn't get mentioned as much because i've sung their praises so much that folks are tired of hearing it
bill conklin is a master at what he does, and he's a real visionary. all but two of those basses above were built to my specs, all were just what i wanted. i've dealt with him for 11 years and have had nothing but good service.

there are a few builders whose instruments are excellent, who are really breaking new ground, and who will work with you on what you want. i've had dealings with chris benevente recently and i would also highly recommend him and his instruments - he's a totally straight, honest and stand up guy all around. there aren't many folks making a 7 string now that i would want to buy (i've got quite a few already ) but chris is definitely on the short list of those i really dig enough to buy. i can definitely see a 7 string singlecut (or maybe 2) of his in my future very clearly .

 

[MAJOR METAL]

John likes Conklin Basses

 

[Walbassman]

I like John's Rick doubleneck...

 

[Biker4Him]

I'll agree with the Pete Skjold mention...

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1852271#post1852271

Pete was extremely easy to deal with. He listened, he responded, he built!!

 

[Suburban]

Hey, Turner, isn't it great to have such a big sofa?

 

[tombowlus]

Another vote for Pete Skjold.

I visited his shop in December, and after playing a lot of very nice basses (many of them also "custom" instruments), I decided to order a 5-string from Pete and Ron based upon their playability, tone, and high degree of craftsmanship. That, and I really felt very comfortable talking to and dealing with Pete and Ron, and that is worth something to me.

It's a great time to be a bass player, though, as we are offered a number of excellent choices in both instruments and amplification gear.

 

[MAJOR METAL]

Is their room for negotiating with a custom bass being built to ones specs?.

 

[john turner]

Hey, Turner, isn't it great to have such a big sofa?

yep. heh that thing cost about half as much as one of the basses too lol.

 

[Marlat]

Is their room for negotiating with a custom bass being built to ones specs?.

THere may be, depending on the luthier in question. Some more established ones probably have "fixed" pricing for certain options (whether the total equals a fixed or "list" price is probably something else to consider).

For example when I had my Kennedy built, he had a fixed price for a whole raft of included options, but I had to pay a little bit extra for upgraded electronics etc. However, once he had workded out the options he just came up with a package price that was less than the sum total of the bass + options.

Small up and coming luthiers are probably more likely to negotiate on price than established luthiers because, for example, if it gets out that Bill Conklin negotiated on price for you, everyone may want to negotiate and "waste" more of his time than necessary.

 

[tombowlus]

Is their room for negotiating with a custom bass being built to ones specs?.

It probably depends on how "extreme" your specs are. With Pete, I walked through his shop and picked through his massive selection of wood to choose the actual woods that will become my bass. We discussed specific neck width, thickness, radius and wood type, and he is building me one (neck) to suit what I want. In addition to customizing through options, I was able to suggest variants on options, which Pete thought were a great idea.

However, if you start talking about asking a luthier who builds 34 and 35" scale instruments to make a 30.5 scale, or if you want fanned frets, and he normally makes parallel frets, or you want some extreme body cutout that won't fit the luthier's jig, you may not be able to get all that you want. But I am sure that these custom builders will go out of their way to make you feel involved in the process and to build what you want.

I do know that both Pete and Ron made me feel like my input was very welcome, and they spent a large chunck of time just "talking bass" with me (excuse the pun). At the end of the day, as Pete and I were picking out wood for the body, top, fingerboard, neck, tone block, etc., I felt like a kid in a candy shop, and I am so glad that I was able to be involved in this process.

Hope this helps, Tom.