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I met my wife on Friday the 13th poor lady.
No I had somebody asking about an 9 and a 7 and both backed out. I am a bit wary of people asking for more than 6 now. They seem to lead you along for a long time then drop of the face of the earth. I am interested in doing it but will have to find the right customer........t
I'm guilty of this when it comes to lots of emails but not because I "lead people on" or have no intention of buying. I have had many custom instruments built, Le Comptes, Elrick, Warwick, Bee, Status, U S Masters, FBB as well as inquiries about other customs and between each one there are 10 to 80 emails, I am VERY meticulous about my instrument builds. One thing I'd like to add also is that I've had luthiers who emailed me every single day, even before any monies were transered. I will only "backout" for reasons I see as not being beneficial to me OR the luthier and that may be anything from money issues to not being able to come to a viable agreement. I have made plans with a few of luthiers and had to pull out. One told me that my build time would be pushed back to 12 months, sorry but I'm not waiting that long for an instrument, some are fine with this, just not me. Another time was the luthier and I were having the damndest time finding the right pickups for what I wanted to do and I just didn't want to settle for less, he was VERY thorough and I really appreciated that, I really want to work with him in the very near future, he's a TB member and he builds absolutely beautiful basses. The worst reason comes down to money, you know, everything ready to go and something happens like and old lady blows a stop sign, comes out of the blue and totals your vehicle... it has happened, at that point, the customs out at least for a while anyway. It's not always "kickin' the tires", sometimes **** happens.
I agree with you, Lo ... there are times when things just kinda fall apart during the process. But I've been in a position of late to better appreciate the types of efforts builders go through just to get an idea on the table, and in the absense of a firm commitment from the customer the builder will get nothing for his/her efforts when the deal farts out.
I've found it easier to get a general idea of the luthiers interest right up front ("I want to get an 8 string single cut with 18mm spacing, 35" scale, neck through .... is that something you're interested in?" kind of questions), and if the answer is yes then we agree to a general price and production time and I get a deposit in their hands. Then we can fine tune the details without worrying about someone bailing out ....
But I'm also pretty darn sure that I want to work with the builder before we even start talking. It's more of a question whether he wants to work with me and my convoluted ideas ...
john turner
You don't want to do that. Trust me.
i can totally comprehend a luthier's misgivings about folks coming to them with unconventional bodies/string layouts. there's a lot of blow-hards on the internet lol, as well as just folks who have eyes bigger than their wallets.
when i see luthiers who make body designs that i like, but not in 7 string, (and i have the money) i'll communicate my interest in a 7 string to them, to get a feel for their willingness to make such an instrument. luckily for me, i guess is that one of the consequences of my lengthy and very good relationship with bill conklin is that other luthiers can see that i'm committed to following through on purchase plance once i initiate them. all but 2 of my basses were specifically made for me, custom instruments, so i'm what you call an "educated customer".
tjclem's instruments are an excellent example. if i had the money now, i would definitely pursue a 7 string "jon-style" singlecut - i really like that body style, and i've wanted to hook up on a nice, unique singlecut for over a decade now.
given my experience in buying custom basses, i know what to expect and i know how to be a good customer on these kinds of situations.
when i see luthiers who make body designs that i like, but not in 7 string, (and i have the money) i'll communicate my interest in a 7 string to them, to get a feel for their willingness to make such an instrument. luckily for me, i guess is that one of the consequences of my lengthy and very good relationship with bill conklin is that other luthiers can see that i'm committed to following through on purchase plance once i initiate them. all but 2 of my basses were specifically made for me, custom instruments, so i'm what you call an "educated customer".
tjclem's instruments are an excellent example. if i had the money now, i would definitely pursue a 7 string "jon-style" singlecut - i really like that body style, and i've wanted to hook up on a nice, unique singlecut for over a decade now.
given my experience in buying custom basses, i know what to expect and i know how to be a good customer on these kinds of situations.
I've been thinking about a Clement fretless 9....
but it'll have to wait until my new life has settled in somewhat. Maybe we can talk in about six months. 
I agree with you, Lo ... there are times when things just kinda fall apart during the process. But I've been in a position of late to better appreciate the types of efforts builders go through just to get an idea on the table, and in the absense of a firm commitment from the customer the builder will get nothing for his/her efforts when the deal farts out.
I've found it easier to get a general idea of the luthiers interest right up front ("I want to get an 8 string single cut with 18mm spacing, 35" scale, neck through .... is that something you're interested in?" kind of questions), and if the answer is yes then we agree to a general price and production time and I get a deposit in their hands. Then we can fine tune the details without worrying about someone bailing out ....
But I'm also pretty darn sure that I want to work with the builder before we even start talking. It's more of a question whether he wants to work with me and my convoluted ideas ...
I agree, however in the case of most luthiers I've had the pleasure of working with, they absolutely will not accept deposits until knowing exactly what I want, what they were able to provide and we both were ready and set to go. I do know quite a few luthiers and I have heard some stories LOL. I can assure that in my case, If I contact a luthier, I'm darn sure its because I want to work with them. I do an awful amount of research before contacting a luthier and it's within knowing the fundage is readily available. I hunt down other owners and also try to track down one of the builders instruments if possible to examine, usually though it's through others players testimonies that I have a great deal of respect for. I'm sure it sucks when a builder has spent countless hours in preparation for an order that doesn't happen, it also sucks when it doesn't happen for the customer whos heart was set on having the instrument built, maby not in the sense of lost manned hours and donated time though, so as a customer who has had many custom instruments built and also a great track record, some of us do understand.
LoEnd, how are you liking the Krappy? That's a cool looking bass, I'm very tempted to get them to build me a fretless 8 or 9 ....
Besides the nut width, anything else that you'd change now that you've had a chance to mess with it for a bit?
Besides the nut width, anything else that you'd change now that you've had a chance to mess with it for a bit?
- Jun 6, 2004
- 6,351
- 543
- 66
- Disclosures
- Owner and builder Clementbass
i can totally comprehend a luthier's misgivings about folks coming to them with unconventional bodies/string layouts. there's a lot of blow-hards on the internet lol, as well as just folks who have eyes bigger than their wallets.
when i see luthiers who make body designs that i like, but not in 7 string, (and i have the money) i'll communicate my interest in a 7 string to them, to get a feel for their willingness to make such an instrument. luckily for me, i guess is that one of the consequences of my lengthy and very good relationship with bill conklin is that other luthiers can see that i'm committed to following through on purchase plance once i initiate them. all but 2 of my basses were specifically made for me, custom instruments, so i'm what you call an "educated customer".
tjclem's instruments are an excellent example. if i had the money now, i would definitely pursue a 7 string "jon-style" singlecut - i really like that body style, and i've wanted to hook up on a nice, unique singlecut for over a decade now.
given my experience in buying custom basses, i know what to expect and i know how to be a good customer on these kinds of situations.
Just happened accross that post. You trying to scare the hell out of me? 
Making one for you would be a pretty daunting task, exciting but a bit scary..t
The Krappy had some issues, since last I mentioned I've had the pickup routes deepened and the neck adjusted but it was just too wide which was MY fault, the man just built me what I asked for. The body is ultra thin and not deep enough for my EMG preamp since it has one of the controls sitting on a cirquit board. In the end I have sold it and am currently working on something else, all n' all it was a learning experience on my end and the next one will reflect that.
Jerzy's work is amazing.
and the basses aren't that expensive.
I sold all my other cheap basses, and this one is really a work of art.
I hope that in a near future you could be a lucky Jerzy user
Absolutely beautiful.
I'm currently in talks with Jerzy about a nine for myself.
Until then the Conklin GTBD-7 serves me well.
Everyone knows what they look like!
No offence to all you 6 stringers but I always considered extended range bass to have 7-strings or more. 6 being a readily available comercial standard(with the seven following closely I might add).
You never know maybe oneday 7's will be as common as 6's are now.
john turner
You don't want to do that. Trust me.
heh. don't be silly
. i'm not too hard to please 
. it's all academic right now, anyway 
need a job. /sigh
I periodically look at the "What Kind of Bass Guitar Do You Own/Play" poll, and it's always interesting to me to see the results.
As of this morning (4/9/09) for fretted basses:
4 string = 3,945 = 81.36%
5 string = 1,802 = 37.16%
6 string = 456 = 9.40%
7 string = 33 = 0.68%
8 string = 18 = 0.37%
9 string = 9 = 0.19%
Fretless basses:
4 string = 966 = 19.92%
5 string = 391 = 8.06%
6 string = 136 = 2.80%
7 string = 11 = 0.23%
8 string = 5 = 0.10%
9 string = 1 = 0.02%
Obviously, once you get past 5 strings the numbers nose-dive, although the 6 string grouping is slightly better represented. However you look at it, anything past 6 strings is a real minority, and anything 7 & up that is fretless is downright rare here at TB.
So I sort of agree with you .... in my own mind I usually think of ERB's as 7+ too, but the reality is that 6's are a long, long way from being popular and 7's actually not common at all. Imagine how lonely Mr. Turner must have felt back in the mid-'90's when 7's were unheard of ....
Most bass players are still 4 string guys, and that's cool ... let's face the facts, it takes a certain kind of mindset to stroll into ERB land ...
Most bass players are still 4 string guys, and that's cool ... let's face the facts, it takes a certain kind of mindset to stroll into ERB land ...
Well I for one am GLAD to be a part of that "mindset".
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