Production or custom? Where do you draw the line?

[Katoosie]

Heya TB!

I have been brainstorming and considering some changes to my bass arsenal, mainly selling my two and getting one that would fit me more and take less space. You know, downsizing.
Changes. GAS.

Thing is, I'm not really sure which way to go - should I stick to the production line models or go custom at this point?

I've been considering the BFR FL Stingray, Le Fay Schwarz, Franz, F bass, Human Base and so many others... All of them around the 5k usd range, give or take.

Thing is, almost none of them fit me in some way - could be a headstock shape or the tuners or the knobs or just your "normal" choice of woods. I'm not in a rush but I have been looking around for a while and it seems like what I'm looking for would be probably more in the realms of a custom shop build rather than production.

- 5+ string
- fretless/fretted
- preamp with a lot of options, switches for modes of operation
-premium/interesting colours and woods
- lightweight tuners
- wooden knobs/custom knobs
- wooden/matched pus'
- good ergonomics

Plus, the prices are kind of all over the place. I saw basses with more interesting options for say 4000 than one for 8000 and at that point I was asking myself what is it exactly that I am paying for here?

I understand that it's the whole diminishing returns thing with high cost instruments, but where do you draw the line between "yeah I would buy that" to "that's too fancy for bass' sake!"?

 

[Jeff Scott]

Heya TB!

I have been brainstorming and considering some changes to my bass arsenal, mainly selling my two and getting one that would fit me more and take less space. You know, downsizing.

Downsizing? That's what someone does when they have, like, five to ten basses, for example. Change is good, though; I have been through a whole lot of basses (and guitars, too) over the years.

IMO, for what you are looking to get into, I'd go custom, although there are limits, usually, to what one can custom order, for the most part, regarding certain details (body shape, for one example). One thing's for certain, communication is the most important part of the process with a custom bulder.

Another builder I'd suggest is Martin Keith. I have two of his basses, one that was already built that I got to play at the 2010 NAMM Show and bought, basically, on the spot. About a year later, Martin and I worked out the details for a fretted version, the first one I got being a fretless. Great basses, and Martin is a wonderful person to know.

 

[Jaco Taco]

The biggest lesson I've learned after 38 years of playing bass is.... never sell. You're always going to regret selling a bass 5 or 10 years later.

On the subject of production or custom, I have both! And I like both! I don't like paying more than $3K for a production bass or more than $5K for a custom bass, so I guess that's where I draw the line cost-wise.

 

[Passinwind]

I work with a luthier client who’s more or less on your wavelength, but like many of those guys he doesn’t really offer fully custom instruments. In fact he’s moving toward just building what he feels like and then offering those builds on Reverb or whatever. I’m not so sure that’s a winning move, but I definitely understand his motivation. I’m set up to do custom electronics but the headache factor can be pretty substantial.

 

[Jeff Scott]

I’m set up to do custom electronics but the headache factor can be pretty substantial.

But, not too much of a headache for all of us, right?

 

[lomo]

Although I have owned numerous basses that cost a lot more (most of which I enjoyed but none of which I miss much) ,I can find all the features/specs I want in a 5 string bass easily at the 3k mark, and for much less if I search carefully. I have also come to understand and accept that apart from certain basic parameters I have settled on over the years (passive, 34" scale length, 19mm bridge spacing, weight under 9 lbs, a body shape that provides a decent forearm rest when seated, generous distance between the board edge and neck pickup), my aesthetic taste and the tone I seek vary over time/ change with my mood and the music I'm playing. I have several basses I love, and I rotate through them because I enjoy the fresh side of the pillow. As an example, unless you insist on a very atypical body shape, almost any feature can be had in an affordable, superb quality custom on the Maruszczyk site for <3K US.

 

[Passinwind]

But, not too much of a headache for all of us, right?

You’ve clearly never heard my work Jeff!

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Have you considered MTD?

I draw the line at $3K US . I don’t see the need to spend more. 3-4 basses is my limit. Any more is overkill for me. But I have 2 main players that are similiar but different enough to justify having both.

Ernie Ball and Sandberg are it for me. I think they are boutique quality for a lot less $.

 

[Eon Sky]

If it were me, my first step would be to overanalyze the instruments I already own and figure out what it is I like and dislike about them. I'm so paranoid about spending that kind of money on a custom instrument only to find out that it's not an "exact" fit for me. And honestly, I may never do it because I would be too busy nitpicking if I had taken a different option instead. That's probably why I trend toward production basses.

I can't really speak to a fit and finish quality level on instruments that are custom made, but from personal experience once you reach a certain production model threshold there is a diminishing return level. For example, you've got a Euro Spector right? From my own experience that's going to put you on the same level of quality and finish as an Ernie Ball, Sandberg, and Warwick (again personal experience only). What I can also say about that is looking at the list you gave, I would easily pick the Ernie Ball. Because personally, while I love my Spectors and my Warwick, my Ernie Ball necks are way more comfortable to me. My hand cramps on the Spectors if I play them too long, but the flatter EB necks feel like home.

Now, because I like the Ernie Balls, I had a good hunch I would like Sandbergs, and that was 100% true. A Sandberg feels so close to them that it's practically indistinguishable. Again, to me.

If I went custom (both of my Sandberg basses are used and I didn't select the materials), I'd split the difference between a custom and production instrument and boot up the Sandberg customizer and make my own that way. Maybe that middle ground is an option to pursue for you too?

 

[jd56hawk]

Wait, what about your Spector?

 

[Eilif]

Truly custom is a tall order and not something every Luthier is going to be interested in.

My last 3 basses were custom for me and though I was able to pick woods, scale, pickups and their locations, some body/contour mods and all my neck specs, all 3 were body shapes and headstocks that the luthier had done before.

I recommend keep looking until you find a builder that suits you and tweak around the edges. They know what works.

As for starting the line with price, that's entirely up to you. My 3 best basses cost $1.5k-2.1k and I when you consider the time and skill involved, that's a real bargain. If I had more disposable income at the time, I'd have had no problem spending 3k or more.

 

[bass12]

Having custom ordered several basses in the $4000 and $5000+ range I can say that most of them were disappointments. Yes, you might get lucky but it’s very easy (at least if you have picky ears) to end up with something that, on paper, is perfect but in your hands just won’t cut it. It doesn’t matter what brand it is, basses just aren’t consistent enough to offer any guarantees where sound is concerned. So my advice would be to try before you buy whenever possible. If this is not an option then go ahead and roll the dice, but don’t sell a bass you really like to fund a question mark.

 

[Lowendchamp]

Considering your proximity to Poland I would say check out the custom Luthiers there. I have been nothing but impressed by Polish offerings in the bass world. Good luck!

 

[pingvuiini]

Your specs are almost exactly what my bass has. The two big differences are that my bass is a lefty and its a 23" scale semi hollow uke bass (taking the word downsizing to a different level). I would have gone with a production Kala premium solid body uke bass but they stopped making them lefty, so a custom job was my only alternative. Since you are a righty there are billions and billions of options for you out there which makes me quite envious.

 

[GreyBeard]

Consider USA Lakland 5594

 

[JW56789]

Been there, done that. A few thoughts:

IF you get a custom piece, BE ABSOLUTELY SURE you are dealing with a reputable business, with a long track record, customer service you can reach. The TB pages has more than a few unfortunate threads about guys who fell in love with a slick website or online review, sent bags of cash to so-called luthiers . . . . and they bought vaporware, they will NEVER see their instrument, or get any of their money back. It's real easy to do this, but complicates things in that you have no recourse with someone in a different part of your country, or even another country. DON'T DO THAT.

I was fortunate enough to commission a five-string from Alembic. They've been around since the 70's, have dealers, and a dependable reputation. I paid in full before they started on it with no worries at all, and received exactly what I had in mind 11 months later. If you go custom, that's the kind of builder you want to deal with.

On the other hand, a custom will not magically transform your playing. I wish there was some magic to it, some elevated plane of musicianship it would guarantee, but . . . . it just won't.

I went through a similar thought process to yours, thought I wanted all that, got it after spending a similar budget, and, well I sounded like a really good me, but I still sounded like me.

I found out it's head, heart, and hands. I sound like me on the Alembic, and I sound like me on my Squiers.

Marco Pierre White could cook me a fantastic meal if he shopped at my grocery store or if he had the very best ingredients sourced from around the world, it wouldn't make a lot of difference.

It's the player, not the instrument. That player is of course more satisfied on that 'right' instrument, but in my experience, finding that 'right' instrument is NOT price-dependent.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

Been there, done that. A few thoughts:

IF you get a custom piece, BE ABSOLUTELY SURE you are dealing with a reputable business, with a long track record, customer service you can reach. The TB pages has more than a few unfortunate threads about guys who fell in love with a slick website or online review, sent bags of cash to so-called luthiers . . . . and they bought vaporware, they will NEVER see their instrument, or get any of their money back. It's real easy to do this, but complicates things in that you have no recourse with someone in a different part of your country, or even another country. DON'T DO THAT.

I was fortunate enough to commission a five-string from Alembic. They've been around since the 70's, have dealers, and a dependable reputation. I paid in full before they started on it with no worries at all, and received exactly what I had in mind 11 months later. If you go custom, that's the kind of builder you want to deal with.

On the other hand, a custom will not magically transform your playing. I wish there was some magic to it, some elevated plane of musicianship it would guarantee, but . . . . it just won't.

I went through a similar thought process to yours, thought I wanted all that, got it after spending a similar budget, and, well I sounded like a really good me, but I still sounded like me.

I found out it's head, heart, and hands. I sound like me on the Alembic, and I sound like me on my Squiers.

Marco Pierre White could cook me a fantastic meal if he shopped at my grocery store or if he had the very best ingredients sourced from around the world, it wouldn't make a lot of difference.

It's the player, not the instrument. That player is of course more satisfied on that 'right' instrument, but in my experience, finding that 'right' instrument is NOT price-dependent.

Wish there was a love button.

Not quite custom, but I grew up playing a lot of StingRays. Out the gate, EBMM is known for building some of the most consistent and best quality production basses in the market. But I was out of college, got some nice pay raises, and was itching to splurge on my one, true hobby.

I ended up buying a Modulus Funk that had some custom work done to it: professional refinish, Sadowsky electronics, top of the line Hipshot hardware, custom Kalium strings… the works. It is still to this day the best playing bass I’ve ever had, but I still played like me, played the same phrases and lines, had the same thoughts on tackling pieces, etc… Eventually, I actually ended up disliking the bass because it was so nice and expensive that I couldn’t justify it anymore. I would never gig it because of those reasons.

So I did the only thing I could think of - I sold it and kept playing my regular, old EBMM StingRay. I still play my Ray, but current #1 is a MIJ Fender PB62. It’s a fantastic P bass, but it’s also JUST a P bass. I’m more inspired by it than I ever was by the Modulus, and the Fender cost me about 1/5th the price. Go figure.

I say all that to mimic J Wilson’s thoughts. Before going the custom route maybe spend more time figuring out what you really like and dislike, maybe consider a cheaper option or getting lessons, or doing anything other than a custom build. You might find more happiness elsewhere.

 

[dedpool1052]

Others have gone into greater detail than I will,

But I've gone down the rabbit hole of made-to-order and made-for-me basses.

I ended up finding that there's multiple aspects that I'm adaptable to, and I have a fluctuating set of parameters that determine a nice bass to me.


As of now, my most expensive bass cost around $3,000.

My most played bass right now?
A $300 b-stock import.

Price paid is not a guarantee of happiness.



And in case anyone tries to reinterpret what I say as "anti-custom/anti-boutique", that's not it at all. So don't twist my words.

What works for one person may not necessarily work for another.

 

[dedpool1052]

To be more on point with the thread title/question,

I draw the line at what can I get off the rack, and at what price, vs what features CAN'T I find, and how much do I need to pay to get them in a total package.

Even as a lefty, there's far more favorable basses off the rack, without a need to go the custom route.

 

[juggahnaught]

If you can't find exactly what you want, then sure, maybe go custom.

But before you buy - really think about what the bass will offer you. Do you think that having a new bass will make you a better player? Is there something that a custom bass will be able to do that your current instrument (or even a non-custom purchase) cannot do? The player defines the instrument - the instrument does not define the player. This applies at all levels of skill and all instrument types.

I'd say, think about your musical goals and what you really want. Sometimes making a purchase doesn't solve the underlying problem. Sometimes making a purchase doesn't get you closer to that musical goal.

That said - if you have money to burn, have at thee. I recently got a new Ibanez six-string because I knew exactly what I was looking for, but also because I basically got the bass for free due to a compensation program from my employer. Had it not been free, I would not have bought the bass. (And truthfully, although I'm happy that I have the bass, I honestly feel kind of dissatisfied because even though I got what I want, it's not really furthering my musical goals. I still sound like me, if that makes sense.)

Good luck, keep playing. Try to define what you want musically, and then make your decision based on that.