Lesser known companies/luthiers

[JReno]

By this point I think it's safe to say that the Lulls(RIP), Dingwalls, and Sadowskys have grown way beyond relative obscurity(I grew up near Saskatoon, so Sheldon Dingwall used to just be "that local luthier who made really cool stuff"), but now I'm wondering who's out there who we may not know yet, but are putting out instruments worth our attention/GAS fund. Think of it a shout out for the little guys who do fantastic work, but maybe aren't supplying major touring musicians with gear. There's not really a metric for this so there are no wrong answers. Perhaps those of us reading this post will discover who will be building our next bass. My personal shout out goes to a local luthier in Calgary AB, Rosche Custom Basses. I've owned 2(posted about them before), though they were both prebuilt so I never got to experience the whole build process from design to finish, but they're top notch.

 

[Geri O]

I’d say Muckelroy (sp?), Devon, and Roscoe are kinda in the middle of that category.

As are several others, I imagine.

 

[emal]

I love my bass, I always get compliments on the sound
She's a real beast!!!
I can't say enough nice things about Ian!
He's actually got his version of a Pbass for sale on local classifieds at a really good price !

 

[lug]

LeCompte basses.

 

[B-Mac]

By this point I think it's safe to say that the Lulls(RIP), Dingwalls, and Sadowskys have grown way beyond relative obscurity(I grew up near Saskatoon, so Sheldon Dingwall used to just be "that local luthier who made really cool stuff"), but now I'm wondering who's out there who we may not know yet, but are putting out instruments worth our attention/GAS fund. Think of it a shout out for the little guys who do fantastic work, but maybe aren't supplying major touring musicians with gear. There's not really a metric for this so there are no wrong answers. Perhaps those of us reading this post will discover who will be building our next bass. My personal shout out goes to a local luthier in Calgary AB, Rosche Custom Basses. I've owned 2(posted about them before), though they were both prebuilt so I never got to experience the whole build process from design to finish, but they're top notch.
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Clifford Roi

Charlie Dolan from Tauk plays a Clifford Roi bass. Not sure if they’re still made but I’ve always been intrigued by them.

 

[B-Mac]

Jon Letts

(Got one on the way)

 

[Geri O]

Jon Letts

(Got one on the way)

I've never heard of those (I know, that's the point of the thread!....

Can we count on a NBD when it arrives?....

 

[B-Mac]

I've never heard of those (I know, that's the point of the thread!....

Can we count on a NBD when it arrives?....

Only ever seen them on Reverb.

 

[skyline_01]

https://www.alienaudio.com/

I know these have a pretty healthy following around here, but I'd still put them in the lesser-known category (though they should be a household name LOL).

Chopper makes some of the finest instruments around, and I'm super lucky to have scored one.

 

[ZedLepp]

Why not take a class a Texas Toast and build one yourself????

 

[drewphishesp]

Serek has been blowing up lately
Moollon is lesser known but still bigger than most

 

[onda'bass]

Xotic is little under the radar it so good.

 

[BigBigGuy44]

Cohnway has always intrigued me.

 

[OldSoulDownLow]

Mario Martin - Murfreesboro (Nashville), TN. Great folks to work with. Mario Guitars: Boutique, Vintage Recreation Guitars

 

[Richard Lindsey]

There are so many good ones....

I'll just mention Jon Shuker (Shuker Bass and Guitar Home). I think he's pretty well known in the UK, but not so much on the North American side of the pond.

 

[Jared Lash]

At this point, all of my basses are from Chris Stambaugh:

and one of my guitars too:

 

[JReno]

I love my bass, I always get compliments on the sound
She's a real beast!!!
I can't say enough nice things about Ian!
He's actually got his version of a Pbass for sale on local classifieds at a really good price !

Oh, I know the one. I've been fighting constantly to not jump on it haha. Ian does great stuff.

 

[B-Mac]

By this point I think it's safe to say that the Lulls(RIP), Dingwalls, and Sadowskys have grown way beyond relative obscurity(I grew up near Saskatoon, so Sheldon Dingwall used to just be "that local luthier who made really cool stuff"), but now I'm wondering who's out there who we may not know yet, but are putting out instruments worth our attention/GAS fund. Think of it a shout out for the little guys who do fantastic work, but maybe aren't supplying major touring musicians with gear. There's not really a metric for this so there are no wrong answers. Perhaps those of us reading this post will discover who will be building our next bass. My personal shout out goes to a local luthier in Calgary AB, Rosche Custom Basses. I've owned 2(posted about them before), though they were both prebuilt so I never got to experience the whole build process from design to finish, but they're top notch.
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For octave course there’s
Waterstone
Cataldo @Dadagoboi
I think he stopped though?

 

[scuzzy]

Jon Letts

(Got one on the way)

I've never heard of those (I know, that's the point of the thread!....

Can we count on a NBD when it arrives?....

glad it's completed, tread with caution.

This bloody thing... Jon Letts bloodwood bass! | TalkBass.com

 

[JReno]

https://www.alienaudio.com/

I know these have a pretty healthy following around here, but I'd still put them in the lesser-known category (though they should be a household name LOL).

Chopper makes some of the finest instruments around, and I'm super lucky to have scored one.

View attachment 5088645

Absolutely! I've got 2 constellations, and the one of them would be the last bass I'd ever get rid of. They're definitely not a common name north of the border.