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Need help finding a P-bass builder.

#82
basspraiser said:
Go ba P ....you will be happier in the long run.
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Ya, kinda leaning that way. Been talking to Joe Hamilton as well. He is a builder who posts on TB. Some of his work is stunning. Making a bad *** P might be the way to go. As mentioned previously, maybe piecing together some parts...having it finished, assembled, and reliced by a luthier might be the way to go for my sparkle guitar. Im thinking sparkle guitar as a piece mail 2nd project...main project is having a slick bad mofo P built first. Def wanna to build a keeper, so this is gonna take some thought.
 
#83
g4string said:
Ya, kinda leaning that way. Been talking to Joe Hamilton as well. He is a builder who posts on TB. Some of his work is stunning. Making a bad *** P might be the way to go. As mentioned previously, maybe piecing together some parts...having it finished, assembled, and reliced by a luthier might be the way to go for my sparkle guitar. Im thinking sparkle guitar as a piece mail 2nd project...main project is having a slick bad mofo P built first. Def wanna to build a keeper, so this is gonna take some thought.
Click to expand...

If it was me I'd get a super cool bad ass p bass built. You'll be happier in the long run as it's not just fender clone, it's a unique work of art!!! And maybe build the second one yourself but get it professionally finished?
 
#84
Hit up Scott at Groveguitars.com. I am having him build me a custom P. he usually does necks from Warmoth but the rest is to your spec. And he goes to the wood people and spends hours knocking on planks. I'm fortunate enough to live nearby and stop by a lot so I can see it coming together. I was picky about the contours and went over a few times to have them tweaked before final sanding. Ordered up the exact unfinished neck I wanted from warmoth and Scott does the rest. Satisfaction guarantee, reasonable price, and personal touch. I am getting the exact P-bass I want. And it is still on par or cheaper than what's hanging up new at my local GC.
 
#85
josiah goldfish said:
If it was me I'd get a super cool bad ass p bass built. You'll be happier in the long run as it's not just fender clone, it's a unique work of art!!! And maybe build the second one yourself but get it professionally finished?
Click to expand...

The more I have been thinking about this project, the more I am thinking this is the route to go. Really digging Joe Hamiltons creations. He has some extremely unique wood and finish combos. Prob have him do a PJ and save the classic P for a parts build. Thanks TB.
 
#86
g4string said:
I have been on a P-bas jones as of lately. I have come to the conclusion that I need one, BAD!! It's funny, I always see posts like "I've been playing bass for xx amount of years and it only took me this long to realize "ALL I EVER NEEDED WAS A GOOD P BASS!" LOL!! Well, I've been playing for over 20 years, and I am just now realizing all I really need is a good P. It's funny, cause until the last couple of years I have never been a plain-jane P or J guy. I have always had a thing for J basses.....but never P's. Now, all I can think about is finding 'the one".

Here is the caveat, I really cant stand (or play) std P bass necks. The odds of me finding "the one" with a J neck is gonna be challenge. I have been really spoiled lately as my A bass DJ prototype Jade Bass (Albey Balgochian) has one of the best jazz necks I have ever played. In a perfect world, I would like to find a P that has a neck like my A Bass. Prob aint gonna happen unless I have a P Bass built to my specs

My local GC has two really pimp P's for sale now....they have a used white Benavente PJ4 and a new Fender CS 60's P with red sparkle finish. The Benavente is $1500 used and the Fender CS is $4500. If the Benavente had a J neck, I would not be writing this thread. Funny thing is the Benavente plays and sounds better than the CS Fender.....both basses seem to have the same amount of quality in their build. Although, the lightly relic'd red sparkle finish, dark rosewood board, lolly-pop tuners, etc of the Fender is super pimp. I realized today, that is what I want in my P (although, with a J neck).

So I guess what I want to know is what builders are out there who can build on par with Fender CS quality? I am looking for someone who isn't just going to order me some Warmoth parts and slap them together. I am looking for someone who can take the time and pick me out nice light/resonant body blanks, someone who can make my neck to spec if need be, and someone who wouldn't mind (possibly) slapping on a replica Fender waterslide decal instead of their logo. Basically, I am looking for to build my Fender CS P bass with a J neck, but with out the $4500 price tag. My max budget would be about $3000 for said build.
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Check these guys out: Link Removed

The Rialto model is their P bass and you can customize your build as you wish.
 
#87
Fenwick said:
I gotta chime in and say that adding a Fender decal to a non-Fender bass is such an unappealing endeavor. And I'm speaking from the perspective of an owner not a luthier. It's fake. YOU know it's fake. It's NOT a Fender...so why? Crowd approval seems to be the only rational answer.

Regardless, good luck finding a luthier who can accomplish what you want. That wasn't meant to come off sarcastic.
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So you want a bass BUILT to your specs but don't want to dish out the appropriate amount of cash to somebody who spent a lifetime learning the exact skill of making this crazy custom instrument? I just want to make sure we are on the same page. You want like 4-6k worth of work for 2k?

My constructive criticism:
Honestly I think you should build a parts bass like ggvicviper suggested and just refinish it. Finding the parts to make a vintage looking Fender will be easy as Fender and their parts are a dime a dozen. AND you won't be asking anyone to assist in any level of fraud.
 
#88
87 posts and no one has suggested a Valenti? Nino could certainly build you what you want (minus the controversial logo) for a fair price.
 
#89
Mike N said:
87 posts and no one has suggested a Valenti? Nino could certainly build you what you want (minus the controversial logo) for a fair price.
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I was *just* reading through the thread again, to see if Nino had been mentioned.;)

If I were you, I would DEFINITELY check out Valenti basses. He builds some absolutely killer instruments. I am willing to bet he could nail exactly what you are looking for, perfectly.
 
#91
If you wanted to put a fake Fender decal on a Warmoth or other high end parts bass that you put together yourself, that doesn't really bother me. It may bother Fender's legal department, but I could care less.

My point is, you will be hard pressed to find a builder who is capable of building a better than Fender quality bass that will put Fenders logo on it. Who would cheat themself out of the free advertisement that that head stock logo provides every time you play your bass live. Who would want to give Fender credit for the hours of time, effort, passion and skill they put into making a custom bass, even if it is a Fender clone.
 
#98
g4string said:
I have been on a P-bas jones as of lately. I have come to the conclusion that I need one, BAD!! It's funny, I always see posts like "I've been playing bass for xx amount of years and it only took me this long to realize "ALL I EVER NEEDED WAS A GOOD P BASS!" LOL!! Well, I've been playing for over 20 years, and I am just now realizing all I really need is a good P. It's funny, cause until the last couple of years I have never been a plain-jane P or J guy. I have always had a thing for J basses.....but never P's. Now, all I can think about is finding 'the one".

Here is the caveat, I really cant stand (or play) std P bass necks. The odds of me finding "the one" with a J neck is gonna be challenge. I have been really spoiled lately as my A bass DJ prototype Jade Bass (Albey Balgochian) has one of the best jazz necks I have ever played. In a perfect world, I would like to find a P that has a neck like my A Bass. Prob aint gonna happen unless I have a P Bass built to my specs

My local GC has two really pimp P's for sale now....they have a used white Benavente PJ4 and a new Fender CS 60's P with red sparkle finish. The Benavente is $1500 used and the Fender CS is $4500. If the Benavente had a J neck, I would not be writing this thread. Funny thing is the Benavente plays and sounds better than the CS Fender.....both basses seem to have the same amount of quality in their build. Although, the lightly relic'd red sparkle finish, dark rosewood board, lolly-pop tuners, etc of the Fender is super pimp. I realized today, that is what I want in my P (although, with a J neck).

So I guess what I want to know is what builders are out there who can build on par with Fender CS quality? I am looking for someone who isn't just going to order me some Warmoth parts and slap them together. I am looking for someone who can take the time and pick me out nice light/resonant body blanks, someone who can make my neck to spec if need be, and someone who wouldn't mind (possibly) slapping on a replica Fender waterslide decal instead of their logo. Basically, I am looking for to build my Fender CS P bass with a J neck, but with out the $4500 price tag. My max budget would be about $3000 for said build.
Click to expand...

Build your own parts bass.
 
#99
Davo-London said:
You need a pre-CBS Precision. The necks are a different profile (thinner) and much easier to play.

Davo
Click to expand...

I have a Franken P built with a '66 neck and '72 body and the neck is like a Jazz compared to the chunky neck of my 1988 '57 re-issue. By the way, I put the whole thing together (in Australia, so LOTS of freight) with a Fralin pickup, Gotoh tuners and custom paint for under $2500 Australian. It plays like butter, looks and sounds like a 60's P and only weighs 8Lb's. I did all the work except the paint though.
 

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