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Low-cost luthiers in the Seattle area?

fourstringbliss

fourstringbliss

Supporting Member
Oct 5, 2003
12,443
6,017
56
Puyallup, WA
#1
I have a bass that I want to install an MM pickup in. Do you folks know of low-cost luthiers in the Seattle area? I can get a routing template and have it positioned with mounting tape - I just need someone to route out the cavity.
 
#2
fourstringbliss said:
I have a bass that I want to install an MM pickup in. Do you folks know of low-cost luthiers in the Seattle area? I can get a routing template and have it positioned with mounting tape - I just need someone to route out the cavity.
Click to expand...

Parsons on Westlake is a good bet, although I don't know how cheaply he would do it.

Also, I believe there is a TB builder up around there, but I can't think of his name right off the top of my head . . . I'm in Pasco, and I would do it for free if you had it here.
 
#9
cableguy said:
I use Mike Lull in Bellevue for all my bass set-up/repairs and such. Although I don't know what your idea of low cost is. In my experience his rates are reasonable and his work top notch.
Click to expand...

Low cost for me would be less than $60, which is what I saw one repair shop wanted to charge. Maybe that's a reasonable rate, but I'd be bringing the bass body in with the routing template already positioned with mounting tape.

I'm truly sorry if I've offended any of you.
 
#10
Okay...

So, I now have a better understanding of what it would involve to correctly and cleanly route out this pickup cavity and, in my ignorance, I have been offensive. Sorry about that. I now see why it might cost $60 or more to route out a pickup cavity, because it would take multiple passes and time to do it correctly.

Sorry about that!
 
#11
fourstringbliss said:
Okay...

So, I now have a better understanding of what it would involve to correctly and cleanly route out this pickup cavity and, in my ignorance, I have been offensive. Sorry about that. I now see why it might cost $60 or more to route out a pickup cavity, because it would take multiple passes and time to do it correctly.

Sorry about that!
Click to expand...


The main things you are paying for:

Experience -
Time -
Proper tools -

All of these things are important in getting the job done correctly. People tend to overlook that good tools cost money, time is always valuable, and experience...well, that's awfully hard to measure and place a accurate value on. I see "luthiers" working at shops and charging a premium that clearly don't have the proper experience to do the job.

Just keep this in mind: A real luthier will get the cavity routed cleanly and evenly. A "guy with a router" could potentially mess up the top of the bass with a sloppy routing job.

In the end, find a good guy (like Lull or Rodent), pay the asking price, and KNOW that it will be done correctly. You'll forget about the $60 in a month....but you'll ALWAYS remember a sh*tty routing job on your favorite bass.

:)
 
#13
Dark Horse said:
The main things you are paying for:

Experience -
Time -
Proper tools -

All of these things are important in getting the job done correctly. People tend to overlook that good tools cost money, time is always valuable, and experience...well, that's awfully hard to measure and place a accurate value on. I see "luthiers" working at shops and charging a premium that clearly don't have the proper experience to do the job.

Just keep this in mind: A real luthier will get the cavity routed cleanly and evenly. A "guy with a router" could potentially mess up the top of the bass with a sloppy routing job.

In the end, find a good guy (like Lull or Rodent), pay the asking price, and KNOW that it will be done correctly. You'll forget about the $60 in a month....but you'll ALWAYS remember a sh*tty routing job on your favorite bass.

:)
Click to expand...

All excellent points. I'm going to take it to a local luthier, pay them what they want for the job, and then enjoy it. I've really made this bass into what I want it to be and adding this extra pickup will make it even better. I don't want to have a badly routed pickup cavity when this bass might look strange to people to begin with!

Thanks for the advice.
 
#14
fourstringbliss said:
All excellent points. I'm going to take it to a local luthier, pay them what they want for the job, and then enjoy it. I've really made this bass into what I want it to be and adding this extra pickup will make it even better. I don't want to have a badly routed pickup cavity when this bass might look strange to people to begin with!

Thanks for the advice.
Click to expand...


Glad to help.

Every skilled tradesman in every profession deserves appropriate compensation IMO. Heck, as musicians we should understand that better than most.


:)
 
#18
ok, but let's be fair. You don't need a luthier to route a pickup cavity. Any moderately experienced woodworker can do this. For example, i feel 100% confident i could do the required work to a high standard; but i am not a luthier. I'm not any sort of professional skilled tradesman that deserves a high premium, either. Simple services like this can be traded within a community(like bass players, for example)
 
#20
Low cost luthier...

The VERY FIRST THING that I thought when I read that was "Discount Sushi"... :atoz:

Then I saw Dr. Nick, holding a router saying "Hi Everybody! Today, we are going to put this pickup thingy in the neck pocket and see what we get!!!"
 

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