Lesser known companies/luthiers

[moon-bass]

For smaller luthier's - I just picked up two Beardly Customs basses. Absolutely superb instruments, and IMO waaaaaaay underpriced. The dude is super friendly and didn't charge for a lot of extras. The basses play and sound great, and custom from the top to the bottom.

 

[PrimitiveMan]

How about SF Bay Area's own Dan Ransom. I'd go to him if I ever want a custom build. He has built basses for Alembic and Modulus as well as his own for a lot of people, but all under the radar. I've talked to him a few times and he is a very humble and overall good guy

 

[BTL]

Lowe's Guitars from Tampa.
Ive always wanted to get my mitts on one of these beauties
Check out this gallery:
LEGACY GALLERY | LOWE CUSTOM GUITARS

Edit: @BeeTL - I just saw you are in this thread lol

I appreciate being included, thanks!

 

[lOmnivore S]

Serek should probably be quoted in this thread. Yet perhaps too big a name already.. It will be for certain.
In France the old reputes are still going fine : Leduc, Vigier.

 

[etoncrow]

Birdsong

 

[Five or Six]

Chris Stambaugh builds excellent basses. I had heard the name before but never gone any farther than pictures. I recently had an opportunity to pick up an active 5 string Stambaugh. It's become my go to. Excellent quality and workmanship.

 

[SkylineFiver]

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

It’s that preamp with overdrive.

 

[mikewalker]

I've been on a roll with various brands of composite basses the past few years, but I plan to migrate my entire fleet over to BassLab in the not-too-distant future. My recent custom shortscale is simply the most articulate (and fun!) bass I have ever owned (and my past basses number in the hundreds, including many state-of-the-art technology prototypes...)

 

[_One//Man//Mutiny_]

Lowe custom guitars make some absolutely stellar basses, they make the best non thunderbird, thunderbird around! Guess it’s more like a Fenderbird, but it plays, feels and sounds like one cohesive instrument with perfect ergonomics!
LOWE CUSTOM GUITARS

 

[Kevan Campbell]

In no particular order:

Low End Basses (Cane Ridge, TN)
LEH Guitars (Portland, OR)
Bluesman Vintage (Spring Hill, TN)
Lucky Dog Guitars (Cleveland, TN)
Devon Basses (Boerne, TX)

I’m sure there will be groups where these builders wouldn’t be considered “unknown” but they’re definitely the ones I’ve taken notice of and would love an instrument from each (once I find the money to commission a build).

 

[TJH3113]

Joe Kruse of MBJ Guitars.
Gallery —
Joe has worked for Carl Thompson for quite a few years and is Carl’s right hand man at this point. He also does his own builds. He’s been working on my basses for years and I finally got around to having him build one for me last year (he’s just starting on my second). He does great work, both as a tech and as a builder, he’s local to me, and he’s a great guy. His basses are not inexpensive but I’m happy to see where my money is going to.

 

[Dadagoboi]

For octave course there’s
Waterstone
Cataldo @Dadagoboi
I think he stopped though?

Maybe not... planning my new shop to be up and running this fall in New Orleans.

 

[calypsocoral302]

Esh Basses, based in Berlin, have a good reputation amongst certain niche musical circles, but don't get a lot of chatter anywhere near the mainstream, or even on TB (to my knowledge).

One of their more "fluid" designs, the Poseidon:

And my personal favorite, in all its' cold, hard, industrial glory-- the Stinger!

 

[tb-player]

The issue with most boutique or little-known bass builders is that, in an attempt at being unique, very few to know how to make a decent looking headstock.

 

[B-Mac]

Maybe not... planning my new shop to be up and running this fall in New Orleans.

Glad to hear this!
I was bummed when you stated on a different post that you were no longer making 8 string basses.

 

[Lance Bunyon]

316bassguitars.com
I have a 5 string fretless and a 5 string fretted.
Michael does such great work I'm actually disappointed when I'm playing something other than one of his basses.

 

[Lance Bunyon]

Only ever seen them on Reverb.
View attachment 5088632 View attachment 5088634 View attachment 5088636 View attachment 5088637

Been watching Letts on Reverb. Bummed his prices are on the rise but that's the world we live in in 2023.
I'm skeptical of a 27 inch scale 5 string. Someone should start a thread with sound samples of a 27 BEADG.

 

[tb-player]

Tatchi Basses - Korea. They specialize in pre-CBS FSOs. They really nail the sound.

 

[B-Mac]

Been watching Letts on Reverb. Bummed his prices are on the rise but that's the world we live in in 2023.
I'm skeptical of a 27 inch scale 5 string. Someone should start a thread with sound samples of a 27 BEADG.

Prices on the rise?
Didn’t you see the last screenshot? Substantial price reductions are shown.

 

[Dadagoboi]

Glad to hear this!
I was bummed when you stated on a different post that you were no longer making 8 string basses.

My son in law made me n offer too good to refuse.

I'm skeptical of a 27 inch scale 5 string. Someone should start a thread with sound samples of a 27 BEADG.

I have a 27" Ibanez 'Micro' I was going to turn into an 8er. B string sounds acceptable and it's fun to play.