How to buy your dream bass

[rrochefort]

I'm turning 50 next year. I've been playing semi-pro since I was 16. I want to treat myself to my dream instrument.

The problem: How do I find it? I'm looking for recommendations on the process (not on instruments themselves). In this day and age, it is increasingly difficult to walk into a music store and try an instrument that is outside the mainstream or even to try an instrument that is correctly set up.

Any piece of advice would be greatly appreciated.

Robert

 

[BurningSkies]

I'm turning 50 next year. I've been playing semi-pro since I was 16. I want to treat myself to my dream instrument.

The problem: How do I find it? I'm looking for recommendations on the process (not on instruments themselves). In this day and age, it is increasingly difficult to walk into a music store and try an instrument that is outside the mainstream or even to try an instrument that is correctly set up.

Any piece of advice would be greatly appreciated.

Robert

If you're looking for a real high end bass or custom, first do your research... Look online at as many builders as you can...find the makers that you like the most that create the instruments that are as close to your Vision of perfection...then read every review you can find. Read the good and the bad and narrow your search. Next, spend a couple hundred bucks to travel and try... If you're gonna spend 5k or more, a couple hundred to go to a place to try one out is reasonable... Or put out the call to try one from an owner in your area. I regularly meet people who want to try mine.

 

[pica]

Your average run of the mill music stores are probably not going to have the high end basses you seek. Once you figure out what you want, look for someone who has that bass. There maybe someone right here on TB who lives near you or not far who has that bass. I'm sure they would let you try it out.

 

[spade2you]

Know what kind of feel and sound you want. Order it. That's about all there is to it.

 

[sad_katz]

Contact a bass guitar luthier/builder.

Discuss what kind of bass guitar do you want with said builder (tone, shape, wood type, looks, electronics, etc).
These people are more than happy to discuss at length on how to get *exactly* what you want.
Some of them frequent the Luthier's Corner forum here on TB.

Order it.

Wait a couple of excruciating weeks as the guitar is built and shipped.

Receive your dream bass - and proceed to play the hell out of it!



There are hundreds of builders out there, their services and creations ranging from ~$1000 to $10,000+, available through their website and phone.
Compiled list:
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Good luck!

 

[aspersions]

If it is your dream bass, you should already know what it is. So you just need to find a shop that has that bass model you have been dreaming about for the past 34 years. If you are looking for a new and expensive custom bass, then that is another story.

 

[pedroims]

for me is more about money, how I can afford my dream bass

 

[Nekroid]

Zzounds.com has a 4 month payment plan that you can qualify for.. americanmusical.com has a 5 month payment plan you can qualify for as well.. find the bass equipment you want, and order it from one of these websites.. i've been playing for 6 years.. and these sites have been my gateway to dream equipment..

 

[lindseyp]

I include music instrument stores among my required stops whenever I go out of town. I look online first to see what's available in each store's inventory and plan side trips for the places I want to visit. I picked up my Dingwall AB1 that way, visiting a store while in Florida and later emailing them to say I want 'that bass on the wall.'

 

[iiipopes]

I am fortunate that I live where I am really good friends with the various music store owners in the area. So I played a lot, and I mean a lot of instruments, in the hundreds, from standard Fenders to some really exotic instruments. And I've owned several of different kinds over the years as well. Then I sat down, decided what characteristics I liked the fit and tone of the best, what neck and body details fit my personal ergonomics, and what would be in my budget to construct. I then acted as my own general contractor and designed, ordered parts, shipped out for custom fret work, etc., had friends with woodworking experience, etc., help me with final fitting, and did my own bass. It has paid for itself many times over in gigs over the years.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f57/different-custom-p-style-bass-755914/

 

[elgecko]

Finagle your way into the NAMM show next month...your dream bass should be there.

On a related note, can you really have a dream bass if you don't even know what the dream is?

 

[spade2you]

On a related note, can you really have a dream bass if you don't even know what the dream is?

That's a pretty good way to be let down when the bass arrives. Builders can do exactly what you want. If you don't know what you want, how can they?

 

[Mystic Michael]

Order it. Wait a couple of excruciating weeks as the guitar is built and shipped.

Where exactly do you find a builder who will build a custom instrument to your precise specifications, then ship it - all within just two weeks?

MM

 

[Jazz Ad]

With most builders it's more a matter of months and sometimes years.

 

[younggun]

You could always try the Luthiers access group:

Invalid Link Removed

 

[Mystic Michael]

Finagle your way into the NAMM show next month...your dream bass should be there.

Not necessarily...

On a related note, can you really have a dream bass if you don't even know what the dream is?

I've re-read the OP. Can you show me anywhere in that post where he stated that he doesn't know the features and/or functions that he wants?

The question he posed is, "How do I find it?" Unless/until he amends that question to read: 'What kind of bass should I look for?", do you not think it's reasonable for us to take his question at face value - and NOT try to read things into it that he never asked?

MM

 

[rrochefort]

First of all, thank you for the quick replies.

I know what I want from a feel/tone/look standpoint. I purposely left that out to avoid responses like: You should get a <Brand/Model>.

I am more looking for insight into actually finding the right instrument.

I have already eliminated the Guitar Centers of the world. The one here locally has no knowledgeable bass player on staff. Other music stores locally have very limited selections. So the process either involves finding the best bass guitar store in the country and travelling there. Finding a great luthier and building a custom bass from parts (Warmoth, etc.) or some other avenue.

This is the kind of information I am looking for.

Thank you in advance for your insights.

 

[spade2you]

I purposely left that out to avoid responses like: You should get a <Brand/Model>.

TB is a little bad in that respect. They usually try to sell you on their bass rather than help work towards the actual goal at hand.

 

[elgecko]

Not necessarily...



I've re-read the OP. Can you show me anywhere in that post where he stated that he doesn't know the features and/or functions that he wants?

The question he posed is, "How do I find it?" Unless/until he amends that question to read: 'What kind of bass should I look for?", do you not think it's reasonable for us to take his question at face value - and NOT try to read things into it that he never asked?

MM

My response to "how do I find it?" is "what is it?". His dream bass could be a pre-CBS Fender or it could be a full on, custom hippie sandwich. You wouldn't shop for a vintage bass the same way you'd shop for a custom bass.

 

[Groove Doctor]

I know what I want from a feel/tone/look standpoint.....
I am more looking for insight into actually "finding" the right instrument.....

So the process either involves finding the best bass guitar store in the country and travelling there. Finding a great luthier and building a custom bass from parts (Warmoth, etc.) or some other avenue.

- You may need to go to a dozen 'best stores' to find it - no one store has everything.
- The biggest stores may not even stock the bass you end up choosing. Try all of them in each city you visit. Lots of time, lots of travel, no other choice.
- Ask them to contact you when a bass you wanna try comes in (saves you legwork).
- NAMM is a brilliant idea.... prioritize which booths you must see first, starting with Luthiers and hard to find brands. Be open minded, it's okay to try everything.
- Ask other forum members to try their basses out. I did that a few times. Take your gear too, organize a mini-GTG.
- Contact 4-5 luthiers, there should be consensus between them on what you really want, etc. plus quotes/build times will vary.
- Consider DIY or assemble yourself - a hobby within a hobby!

- Or what I did (I'm time-poor, busy work life).... buy a bass second hand that you wanna try but can't get hold of. Leap of faith but worked both times for me with 'boutique' basses I had thoroughly researched. There's little depreciation if you sell it again.

If you like it then keep it, or mod it if you want to, or work out what you'd change then order the exact color/dimensions/woods/etc based upon experience with that brand.

Anyways,
It will take a lot of time - researching, traveling, playing, building, etc. to get it perfect.
Or it'll take a risk - wear any financial hit knowing you saved yourself many days of valuable time.

Good luck!!