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For all you experienced boutique players
- Thread starter tch90
- Start date
Sei Bass www.seibass.com and AC Guitars www.acguitars.co.uk
Sei are up there with the best in the world, beautiful basses. I wanted one for 12 years!
AC are beginning to make some waves in the bass world. Armed with europe-exclusive acrylicised wood, bespoke pickups and the awesome ACG-01 preamp they're turning heads.
Both have customers in the USA.
Sei are up there with the best in the world, beautiful basses. I wanted one for 12 years!
AC are beginning to make some waves in the bass world. Armed with europe-exclusive acrylicised wood, bespoke pickups and the awesome ACG-01 preamp they're turning heads.
Both have customers in the USA.
The six string fretless F-bass I used to have (mine had two p/u's) almost played itself. It's ergonomics were THAT good! 
However, its soap bar pickups were noisy. I should've went for the split-coil option which George offered me, but at the time I wanted to steer clear of anything even remotely Fender-esque.
But that was then...
I now play an MIJ Fender VI.
Going boutique taught me that I'm really an off-the-rack kind of flayer.
However, its soap bar pickups were noisy. I should've went for the split-coil option which George offered me, but at the time I wanted to steer clear of anything even remotely Fender-esque.
But that was then...
I now play an MIJ Fender VI.
Going boutique taught me that I'm really an off-the-rack kind of flayer.
For me - Ken Lawrence.
His basses always feel and sound great and he is satisfied only when they are flawless.
Poor picture of mine:
Dan K.
His basses always feel and sound great and he is satisfied only when they are flawless.
Poor picture of mine:
Dan K.
- Jul 30, 2006
- 2,315
- 453
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist:Regenerate Guitar Works Carvin, Micheal Kelly Guitars
Maybe Drozd. It has the the right amount of growl with a full bottom end for me. It might be too aggressive for some, especially the vintage freaks.
My favorite are Bee basses. I will buy more.
but I don't ever plan on replacing my Benavente basses either.
but I don't ever plan on replacing my Benavente basses either.
I think Drozd are THE best looking basses ever! I've been Jonesing for one for so long. HOWEVER, I had a very sad experience. I was at the local guitar show and among the boutique basses on display was a Drozd! Yeah, it cost a fortune but it was a living breathing Drozd in person. And even better there was some pro really spectacular bass player there who obviously had excess cash burning a hole in his pocket who was trying all the high end basses.
First he played the Drozd. Eye appeal was off the charts. Tone was a major disappointment. Thin and weak and none of that special "something" you expect from boutique high end basses.
And then he went and picked up an ordinary Fender clone Low End 5 string (also a boutique) that was selling for a fraction of the cash. Yeah, nothing special to look at but the "special" tone was there! It had the body and bite that simply blew Drozd out of the water.
I went home a very disappointed puppy with all my dreams shattered!
What was the amp? Mine has everything I'd ever want when I play through my Glockenklang rig. That Glock also sounds really good with my Roscoe LG3005.
It's Status-Graphite for me. I've played Rob Green's basses for the last twenty years and for me, there's nothing to touch them.
More recently I've been very impressed by some of the basses produced by Jon Shuker & ACG. I've got a used ACG bass coming very soon...
Here's one of my current crop. Myrtlewood topped Status S2-Classic 5.
More recently I've been very impressed by some of the basses produced by Jon Shuker & ACG. I've got a used ACG bass coming very soon...
Here's one of my current crop. Myrtlewood topped Status S2-Classic 5.
Most reputable luthiers build killer stuff, it all boils down to what you need and the various specialties of that particular builder.
Depending on what you're looking for, sometimes you simply need to take the plunge and see what people think of a given builder. I also live in an area where it's virtually impossible to find boutique basses.
Depending on what you're looking for, sometimes you simply need to take the plunge and see what people think of a given builder. I also live in an area where it's virtually impossible to find boutique basses.
Dingwall basses are my favorite ones for their playability, ergonomics and tone (and I've owned more than 100 boutique/hi-end basses and tried even more). Honorable mention goes to Ritter, Ken Lawrence, Fodera, Status, Skjold for being right there, too.
spade2you has really put things right though, with his post
Don't forget: One man's food is another man's poison YMMV etc etc. Try to understand what you are after (in terms of ergonomics, playability and TONE) so you can make a short-list and head that direction
spade2you has really put things right though, with his post
Don't forget: One man's food is another man's poison YMMV etc etc. Try to understand what you are after (in terms of ergonomics, playability and TONE) so you can make a short-list and head that direction
I've played/owned quite a few nice basses, but for me, the one builder that really sticks out is Roscoe.
