Expensive lesson about custom basses

[Sammy Camden]

You've received an awful lot of really good advice here concerning you new bass. So, I really can't add very much. But, here goes.

Wait until it's finished before you make any real judgements. The feel and sound alone may be enough to win your heart. However, the finish/looks are not in stone yet unless it's finished. Work with your luthier to see what he can do to bring it in to match what's in your minds eye. A lot of woods in their unfinished state don't look like much to the unschooled eye. However, when stain, oils, or whatever finish is going to be applied are applied, the wood changes its appearance and often comes alive. Work with him, closely, and bug him often if you have to. That way you'll stand a better chance of getting what you had hoped for, and he'll stand a better chance of having a very satisfied customer.

I understand your apprehension. I've got a custom bass on order myself and I'm on pins and needles about how it's going to turn out. Mines not due until the latter part of April.

Good luck!

 

[Basso Gruvitas]

....are you implying we made it WRONG the first time?



Or, do you mean it's LEFT???

Doh!!

I plea the 5th! Just trying to make a point. "Roscoe cares."

 

[Groove Theory]

So, has anyone had this experience?

Ok, so 5 months later I receive pictures of my new boutique bass in progress and the body wood is much lighter than I expected. So much so that it does not come close to the look that I envisioned when I ordered the bass. Also, not only did the headstock change but the tuner configuration changed to something I don’t like at all.

So, now it seems that I ordered a custom bass that I will be selling as soon as it’s finished. Hopefully, I won’t take too much of a loss on this lesson.

well, have him wipe a little bit of naptha on the wood an then take a picture of it, that should give you a color alot closer to what the finished product will look like, ALMOST ALL woods will look ALOT lighter without a finish on. I'm currently building a single cut with an ambonya burl top on it and without a finish its a light pink, I can't stand it, but when I wipe it off with a little mineral spirits or naptha, the color turns to a deep blood red, very cool. which is what it shall be close to once it's finished (according to the sample pieces I've tried).

so I wouldn't worry about the color too much, and as far as the headstock, that is a little different, all I can say is try it out, you'll probably feel ALOT different about it all with it in your hands, than with just pictures of it in the white. so I'd not recommend selling it as soon as you get it, test it out for a while and see what you think before you decide to sell it or not.

 

[Blues Cat]

If he took the pics w/a flash, it could make the color look way different.

 

[Gard]

Doh!!

I plea the 5th! Just trying to make a point. "Roscoe cares."

Hey man, just gotta yank ya chain!!!



...we care enough to give ya a hard time!

 

[Groove Theory]

If he took the pics w/a flash, it could make the color look way different.

very true, also, the type of light in the area (natural, flourescent, Incandescent, HPS, Metal Halide, etc..) has a large effect too...

 

[Rob Martinez]

May be a stupid question, but what makes a bass "boutique?" Is it the price? Name brand? A custom job? Wood??? What is it??

 

[JacksonsMen]

non-mass produced...basically you call/get in touch with the luthier, and they let you choose basically every aspect of it, they build it to your specs, and there is genreally never another one just like it...

and they generally cost a pretty penny too......

 

[Bass Kahuna]

that any wood is MUCH lighter when it is raw or unfinished, and will darken a good bit when the finish is applied.

Example: here is the top of a bass I recently finished for a customer in rough sanded condtion well before the finish was applied:

... and here is the same bass all finished. You can see how the finish will darken the wood and make the grain pop out:

As a custom builder myself, when doing a full custom, or making changes to my basses that are outside of what I normally do, I always insist on the customer supplying me with drawings of what they are thinking of. I often have to then draw the changes up on my computer and resend to the customer, asking for confirmation of "is this what you wanted"? Doing a full one-off custom can be tricky.

 

[Mark Wilson]

that any wood is MUCH lighter when it is raw or unfinished, and will darken a good bit when the finish is applied.

Example: here is the top of a bass I recently finished for a customer in rough sanded condtion well before the finish was applied:

... and here is the same bass all finished. You can see how the finish will darken the wood and make the grain pop out:

As a custom builder myself, when doing a full custom, or making changes to my basses that are outside of what I normally do, I always insist on the customer supplying me with drawings of what they are thinking of. I often have to then draw the changes up on my computer and resend to the customer, asking for confirmation of "is this what you wanted"? Doing a full one-off custom can be tricky.

WOW!

I still wanna see pics of the bass this thread is about though!!


-Mark

 

[Toasted]

Hi -

I really believe that face to face, and in extreme circumstances, telephone is the ONLY way to work things like this out.

JP

 

[ii-v]

Hey that stuff may all be true about a one off custom, but you knocked mine outta the park, it is an awsome bass Grandon.

Take it easy bro,
Russ

 

[JacksonsMen]

<THIS THREAD IS USELESS WITHOUT PICS>!!!!!

 

[Jomyo]

A lot of woods in their unfinished state don't look like much to the unschooled eye. However, when stain, oils, or whatever finish is going to be applied are applied, the wood changes its appearance and often comes alive.

+ 1000

OK, guys. I'm a fool, I don't any better way to put it. I'd like to blame the months of built up anticipation but it's really just me not knowing what I'm talking about and over reacting. I met with my builder yesterday while on vacation and as he applied oil the thing just exploded. It did come out like I wanted and the more I looked at the headstock the more I like it. How do you spell mea culpa?

I can post pictures but now I don't want my bass or builder associated with this thread.

What do you guys think?

Oh, yeah... Did I say I'm an idiot?

 

[Sutton]

Post the pictures...

 

[fretlessrock]

When ordering a bass from a luthier I think that you get the best deal by playing as many of their basses as possible before comitting to a design. If that is one bass, that is still OK. The way a bass looks and the way a bass feels and plays are two totally different things. I can only imagine if I had gone on looks with Elricks (I don't own one, yet). The actual feel and balance was completely different than I expected.

Make note of which exact bass you played, and what you did and didn't like about it. That gives the luthier a reference point. If you say "I have no ability to ever see one of these basses unless I buy it", and then you buy it, remember that you *bought* it. You didn't go through the custom-build process to audition a bass.

 

[Ed Goode]

Jomyo,

Props to you for taking the time to keep an open mind and getting together with the builder to discuss everything. Also very cool that you kept the builder from being unduly blasted by keeping his name out of the thread .....

We all need to have faith in the luthier we choose and listen to them during the build time. IMO, if you don't have complete faith in the luthier right from the start, you probably haven't picked the right guy for your bass.

Nice job in this thread, some really good suggestions. Looking forward to seeing another thread posted with the bass pics!

 

[JLTwarwick]

I considered going custom at one point mostly for cosmetic reasons. All commercial brands are cookie cutter images and have a million brothers. Plus I love natural finishes. The cost was part of the determining factor that scared me away. The rest was from a friend of mine who has been in the industry for 40 years. Rolling the dice on how the finished product will look after spending $$$$$ is one thing, but you are also rolling the dice on what a "home-made" (which is what a custom is when it all boils down to it) will sound like. If it looks like a 5k guitar but sounds like a $5 guitar, what's the point? Now I am not insulting or insinuating anyone, but you have to admit, it is a gamble and one not many people can afford.

 

[Aj*]

If you go and visit the luthier before ordering you often have a decent assortment of instruments to play before you throw any money anywhere, this will give you a very good idea of what to expect. Also, good luthiers can sit down and talk with a customer about what they want in an instrument and what types of music they want use it for, what sound they are looking for etc. and then use their expertise to pick an instrument that will suit the customer. Trust me, with a good luthier the chances of you getting anything but a bass worth what you paid for it are virtually nil. Then of course most builders will take a bass back if you don't like it too. Far better than non-custom if you ask me. I hope some day to give Mr Drozd a large list of things and a large sack of cash and in exchange recieve my dream bass .

 

[Bassin' 'Round]

I've had both experiences...one builder (who shall remain nameless on these boards) said, "too bad. That's the bass." Another builder (Roscoe) said "we'll make it right."...

I don't think the name of the bad attitude builder should go nameless. It could help prevent more bad experiences for others. The info would be part of the body of evidence available for perspective customers.