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Did a custom built luthier instrument end your GAS?
- Thread starter soong
- Start date
Go ahead and scratch it
On a similar subject my first US regulation bugle arrives today
Over 40 years of horn playing and this is my first.
Another GAS cured.
Don't look at it as GAS. Look at it as a continuing state of awakening. 
Not in my experience. I once spent a large chunk on a custom but the bass in question was not the answer to my dreams by a long chalk, even though I specified every single element on the instrument. I found that my requirements shifted over time so by the time the bass arrived, it barely got any use. It was a good instrument but didn't have a role in my collection. It was also too specialised - being allowed to tweak various elements meant it was a very niche instrument which made it become VERY redundant when my needs changed. I sold it on without taking too much of a bath but it took a long time.
It might be the case that a custom will work for you if it is a bread and butter axe, say a 34 inch scale 5 string jazz bass or a precision, but if it's a niche design or unusual looking, think twice.
I also think that the 'magic' of a bass is very particular to a specific instrument, which can only been found by trial and error or buying and selling at a rapid rate. After decades of playing, I've settled my basses down to about four keepers and am happy to have new ones come and go (especially the elusive perfect jazz bass) but no way will I be buying a new custom - it would simply be too much of a long shot and probably too big a loss if I sold it on...
It might be the case that a custom will work for you if it is a bread and butter axe, say a 34 inch scale 5 string jazz bass or a precision, but if it's a niche design or unusual looking, think twice.
I also think that the 'magic' of a bass is very particular to a specific instrument, which can only been found by trial and error or buying and selling at a rapid rate. After decades of playing, I've settled my basses down to about four keepers and am happy to have new ones come and go (especially the elusive perfect jazz bass) but no way will I be buying a new custom - it would simply be too much of a long shot and probably too big a loss if I sold it on...
OP, are you wanting a one-bass-that-does-everything-perfectly? If so then you'll most likely not be cured of GAS by a custom instrument. Want one-bass-that-does-it's-own-thing-extremely-well? A custom instrument may be in order.
I played only one bass, Fender Jazz, for the first eight years I played bass. After adding a used Carvin LB75 for another six years I took the plunge and bought a used Sadowsky NYC Standard Jazz 5. And you know what? I still want more basses. I feel that I have my high-end-modern-Jazz-5 needs taken care of with my Sadowsky but my old Fender just had a certain vibe and tone that the Sadowsky doesn't and won't ever have. I do feel confident in commissioning a custom Sadowsky though if I decide to sell off my current Sadowsky since I know if keep it for quite a while. And that's just Jazz basses, I haven't even gotten into P's, Humbucker basses, fretless basses, neck-through basses...none of which a Jazz bass can really cover because it's simply a different animal.
It may be a wise decision to get a used boutique bass first to see if you appreciate the tone and can justify the price, then order your custom bass from your builder if an already-made boutique doesn't satisfy you. However, be warned that just like Carvin (with all respect intended) the more personalized and unique a bass made for you the less money you'll likely get for it when selling it used to someone else.
I played only one bass, Fender Jazz, for the first eight years I played bass. After adding a used Carvin LB75 for another six years I took the plunge and bought a used Sadowsky NYC Standard Jazz 5. And you know what? I still want more basses. I feel that I have my high-end-modern-Jazz-5 needs taken care of with my Sadowsky but my old Fender just had a certain vibe and tone that the Sadowsky doesn't and won't ever have. I do feel confident in commissioning a custom Sadowsky though if I decide to sell off my current Sadowsky since I know if keep it for quite a while. And that's just Jazz basses, I haven't even gotten into P's, Humbucker basses, fretless basses, neck-through basses...none of which a Jazz bass can really cover because it's simply a different animal.
It may be a wise decision to get a used boutique bass first to see if you appreciate the tone and can justify the price, then order your custom bass from your builder if an already-made boutique doesn't satisfy you. However, be warned that just like Carvin (with all respect intended) the more personalized and unique a bass made for you the less money you'll likely get for it when selling it used to someone else.
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For this I think you are much better off playing a bunch of fender J5, sadowskys, laklands, etc to find the one that speaks to you. The J bass format IME has the most piece to piece variation of any bass type because its sound is not dominated by pickups and electronics. Those are pretty neutral on a J. And like somebody else said you can always have your local guy dial it in, but that specific way the wood is going to resonate you just cant know until its done, e.g. A $4000 custom bass with a dead spot in a position you regularly use.
If you cant find them locally then spend a few hundred bucks on paypal and shipping losses to try a bunch of used J5s.
Yes, but it took two tries and more than a decade.
My first custom was a Jazz bass with a rockwood neck built by Greg Curbow in 2001. I spec'd every detail and, in theory, it was the perfect bass. But I never really bonded with it for whatever reason.
Fast-forward to the latter part of 2013, when I ordered a Roscoe Century Standard. (Not a full-on custom, but I chose the woods for the body and fretboard.) Although it's not perfect -- the neck is a tad chunkier than I'd like -- it has killed my G.A.S., especially after I swapped out the pickups for some Nordstrand single-coils.
I guess the point I'm trying to make is, a custom-made bass can cure G.A.S., and so can a bass off the rack from Guitar Center. Either way, it's gotta be the right bass for you. I learned that just because you have a bass built to your exact specs doesn't mean it's going to be perfect.
My first custom was a Jazz bass with a rockwood neck built by Greg Curbow in 2001. I spec'd every detail and, in theory, it was the perfect bass. But I never really bonded with it for whatever reason.
Fast-forward to the latter part of 2013, when I ordered a Roscoe Century Standard. (Not a full-on custom, but I chose the woods for the body and fretboard.) Although it's not perfect -- the neck is a tad chunkier than I'd like -- it has killed my G.A.S., especially after I swapped out the pickups for some Nordstrand single-coils.
I guess the point I'm trying to make is, a custom-made bass can cure G.A.S., and so can a bass off the rack from Guitar Center. Either way, it's gotta be the right bass for you. I learned that just because you have a bass built to your exact specs doesn't mean it's going to be perfect.
I think it's always better to be able to play a bass before buying it - and that's not possible with a custom build. I had a bass built from scratch once. Beautiful instrument - that I ended up selling.
No the custom built Fodera is the best instrument I own and the one that I play the most. It was the right decision for me however I still have GAS as I will go for another Fodera with a different spec with different tonal goals.
TBH I also just love nice basses: its an extravagance but I've earned the money.
TBH I also just love nice basses: its an extravagance but I've earned the money.
Thats the same dilemma I had. Custom built or the model that I was hoping to have the custom builder base specs off. In the end I went with the Ibanez GWB 1005, which is still 100% hand built by Sugi Guitars in Japan.
Chef
In Memoriam
For better or worse, a custom built luthier instrument did solve my gas.
For about a year.
At which point I sold all my lesser basses, and bought several more made for me basses.
Be careful with this.
You were warned.
Yes and no. I found exactly what I was looking for but that doesn't mean I don't want other things as well. I still want other basses but I have found 'my' bass.
At the risk of repeating what everyone else has said...
I think some people are gasaholics and some are not (but more are than not). If you are the type to always want something new and different, probably no bass is going to change that. I have gone through so many basses in the past 10 years, and no matter what I have, there is always something else I get obsessed with and MUST have.
So for me personally, I made a vow:
- No more than 4 basses at a time (1 modern, 1 passive old-school, times two for fretted and fretless). If I need a new one I have to sell one of the others. (And 4 is a lot, given my mediocre abilities.
)
- Never buy new, because I am likely to sell it sooner or later. If I want something specific, I will troll TB, eBay, and CL until I find it -- which is fun! (But I admit I did break this rule once, with a Lull M4V.)
That said, after 10 years of rolling basses over, I am finally reaching a point where I would find it really really difficult to sell 3 of the basses (fretted Lull V4 and M4V, and a Rob Allen MB-2 fretless). So, maybe when I finally find that perfect 'modern fretless' my GAS will finally be over. But knowing myself, somehow I doubt it...
I think some people are gasaholics and some are not (but more are than not). If you are the type to always want something new and different, probably no bass is going to change that. I have gone through so many basses in the past 10 years, and no matter what I have, there is always something else I get obsessed with and MUST have.
So for me personally, I made a vow:
- No more than 4 basses at a time (1 modern, 1 passive old-school, times two for fretted and fretless). If I need a new one I have to sell one of the others. (And 4 is a lot, given my mediocre abilities.
)- Never buy new, because I am likely to sell it sooner or later. If I want something specific, I will troll TB, eBay, and CL until I find it -- which is fun! (But I admit I did break this rule once, with a Lull M4V.)
That said, after 10 years of rolling basses over, I am finally reaching a point where I would find it really really difficult to sell 3 of the basses (fretted Lull V4 and M4V, and a Rob Allen MB-2 fretless). So, maybe when I finally find that perfect 'modern fretless' my GAS will finally be over. But knowing myself, somehow I doubt it...
Owning and playing a custom build that exactly matches the specs i was looking into, i can answer with a clear No. It does not cure GAS.
GAS is too complex.
For the moment, a custom build will cure you because you get exactly what you lust for.
But that in itself is not a constant and you will find your taste in how your bass should sound will change over time.
So maybe owning 10 customs could cure you, because then you'll have your dream build as a 4,5 and 6 string in fretted and fretless,
a vintage P with flats, a vintage J, a Musicman and a Ric and consider yourself done on the buying basses topic.
But owning so many basses only lowers the threshold for buying more - for example a
vintage P with rounds.
GAS is too complex.
For the moment, a custom build will cure you because you get exactly what you lust for.
But that in itself is not a constant and you will find your taste in how your bass should sound will change over time.
So maybe owning 10 customs could cure you, because then you'll have your dream build as a 4,5 and 6 string in fretted and fretless,
a vintage P with flats, a vintage J, a Musicman and a Ric and consider yourself done on the buying basses topic.
But owning so many basses only lowers the threshold for buying more - for example a
vintage P with rounds.
It helped me...
My #1 bass fits me like a glove. It's a modern player... active EQ and pickups. I realized that I also needed a jazz and a P. I added the PRS Kestel as the jazz, and a Mexi Fender P-bass.
I've looked at other instruments since then, because I would like a 4th but I've said no to a heck of a lot since then...
My #1 bass fits me like a glove. It's a modern player... active EQ and pickups. I realized that I also needed a jazz and a P. I added the PRS Kestel as the jazz, and a Mexi Fender P-bass.
I've looked at other instruments since then, because I would like a 4th but I've said no to a heck of a lot since then...
- Jan 12, 2011
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I predict that you are just in temporary remission.
I couldn't be sure my Sterling really killed my GAS until I had had it for a year and still didn't want to change anything on it and still no GAS for anything else.
