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Production or custom? Where do you draw the line?

#81
Katoosie said:
Lots of good and valuable info here.
Thanks for chiming in and letting me know and consider some builders I have not seen before I seen very little of.

I found a bass that has basically everything I would want in a 5er. And lo and behold, it's a Spector. I alreadView attachment 4535075 View attachment 4535076

Spector NS5 XL

Specs:
  • Model: NS5XL
  • Serial Number: 544
  • Top Wood: Hand-Selected Buckeye Burl
  • Body Wood: Swamp Ash, Weight-Relieved
  • Fretboard Wood: Pale Moon Ebony
  • Inlays: Ebony Crowns
  • Headstock Overlay: Buckeye Burl
  • Truss Rod Cover: Pale Moon Ebony
  • Headstock Inlay: Pale Moon Ebony
  • Scale Length: 35"
  • Neck Wood: 3pc Maple Neck-Thru, Charcoal Stained
  • Neck Profile: Spector Thin Neck Shape
  • Side Dot Markers: Blue Luminlay w/ Black Border
  • Hardware Color: Black
  • Tuners: Hipshot UltraLite
  • Bridge: Lightweight Aluminum
  • Pickup Configuration: Soapbar Set
  • Pickups: EMG 40 DCX
  • Preamp: HAZ 18-volt
  • Finish: Matte
  • Weight: 8lb 9.8oz
  • Case: Spector TSA Hardshell Case
I would easily go for a 5er custom spector, new or used. The price is steep at 7k dollars but you know, there is always the used market.

And Leones, Maruszczyk, Unicorn Bass, Ritter, Mayones, Adamovic and all the others everyone has suggested are great too.

We will see once the time comes, but I do not think the time is now. Thanks for the help everyone and feel free to post more info! Really appreciate it.
Click to expand...

I tried a Spector Euro 5-string and as expected, it was not ergonomically for me. Specifically, it was unbalanced on a strap and too long of a reach. In general, I can usually tell if the upper horn strap attachment point does not align with the 12 fret (or beyond) and the bridge is not at (or close to) the end of the body, it is going to neck dive. That combined with the 35" scale length also makes so that the neck extends too far to the left (on a right hand model) so the reach is far.

I don't know if this is also an issue on the 4-strings, but you might want to take that into account. If you are comfortable on the 4-string, I expect you would be on the 5-string too, but it also depends on your playing situation. If you're only playing sitting down, it might be okay. Gigging 3 hours in an evening standing up, maybe not so much.
 
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#82
Katoosie said:
Lots of good and valuable info here.
Thanks for chiming in and letting me know and consider some builders I have not seen before I seen very little of.

I found a bass that has basically everything I would want in a 5er. And lo and behold, it's a Spector. I alreadView attachment 4535075 View attachment 4535076

Spector NS5 XL

Specs:
  • Model: NS5XL
  • Serial Number: 544
  • Top Wood: Hand-Selected Buckeye Burl
  • Body Wood: Swamp Ash, Weight-Relieved
  • Fretboard Wood: Pale Moon Ebony
  • Inlays: Ebony Crowns
  • Headstock Overlay: Buckeye Burl
  • Truss Rod Cover: Pale Moon Ebony
  • Headstock Inlay: Pale Moon Ebony
  • Scale Length: 35"
  • Neck Wood: 3pc Maple Neck-Thru, Charcoal Stained
  • Neck Profile: Spector Thin Neck Shape
  • Side Dot Markers: Blue Luminlay w/ Black Border
  • Hardware Color: Black
  • Tuners: Hipshot UltraLite
  • Bridge: Lightweight Aluminum
  • Pickup Configuration: Soapbar Set
  • Pickups: EMG 40 DCX
  • Preamp: HAZ 18-volt
  • Finish: Matte
  • Weight: 8lb 9.8oz
  • Case: Spector TSA Hardshell Case
I would easily go for a 5er custom spector, new or used. The price is steep at 7k dollars but you know, there is always the used market.

And Leones, Maruszczyk, Unicorn Bass, Ritter, Mayones, Adamovic and all the others everyone has suggested are great too.

We will see once the time comes, but I do not think the time is now. Thanks for the help everyone and feel free to post more info! Really appreciate it.
Click to expand...
That's a stunning bass!
 
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#83
@OP

Since you're based in Sweden, and consdiering custom - I'd throw Mattisson into the mix. He's incredibly knowledgable and likely to be able to tailor a bass for what you'd want. Despite sometimes looking massive, his basses are very comfy & well-balanced (I think Series 2 is the body shape I have). Among the most comfortable basses I've played/owned...

Aesthetically - very far from the spector, of course - though perhaps you could pick a top to suit?

Another thing, if scale-lenght is a thing: Mattisson has a lot of experience in making shorter scale basses, and though it's not a lot, a small shift in scale may make a big difference (or not). Tone-wise, I've not noticed any tonal deficiencies in the 33" inch basses. Brady Muckelroy is another builder who makes a lot (great!) medium-scale 5+ scale basses.

As much as i like the sound of spectors, despite my best efforts couldn't ever get comfy with 35" necks. YMMV - and let us know how the hunt goes!
 
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#84
Re-reading your original post, i'd like to share what made me decide to have a bass custom-built after 4 decades of playing production instruments or purchasing 2nd hand basses that count as custom brands.

  1. My old #1 bass for the last 7 years, my trusty fretless Linc was nearing its retirement (some repairs needed there were going to be really difficult, looking for a somewhat different tone, difficult to travel with due to its neck thru construction etc).
  2. Meanwhile my life had changed to a point where I expected to travel a lot more for work, and I'd like to bring a good bass (matching my Linc and then some) to play locally (jam sessions, what not) with which to travel stress-free when travelling professionally. So my want-list:
    1. Easy to take apart and put back together
    2. A purpose-designed fretless with great tone on its own (not a fretted bass with the frets ripped out) ,
    3. A tone that is essentially Mwah-less (aka ebony fretboard, uncoated)
    4. fingerboard length covering 2 octaves per string
    5. A super stable and straight neck that accommodates a hassle-free low setup in a climate with oft-changing humidity, not to mention travel
    6. A semi- or acoustic design with properly stored tonewoods
    7. Great playability and touch-response sensitive
The bass that covered ALL of these requirements couldn't be found in any store. (A Fodera fretless came really close, but wasn't semi acoustic), so going custom-built was the only way.

Additionally, I was at a point my life where I could think of affording such a thing, and I like to support a builder who is more or less local, sets their own prices and builds their own instruments, rather than a factory with marketing budgets and all kinds of other overheads, reflecting in a purchase price way higher than materials+ combined wages paid to the labor force that actually built the thing.

The builder who matched this to the point that these requirements all fit his signature style/DNA was Martin Keith, and his fretless in my avatar delivered an all points, and then some. A really special instrument that helped me become a better musician, for a very reasonable price, all-in-all.

That's how it worked for me. Good luck in your search, and take your time to get it right!
 
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#86
@Katoosie Check out Maruszczyk’s custom configurator, if you know what you want you can configure it, view what it will look like in real time and they can build it with exceptional quality… and it will likely save money over most of the other options you’ve posted… they have many body styles/options and you may also consider a different scale length as an option.
Configurator | Public Peace

my next one is only a 12 week wait :)
This one is mocked with the actual woods
Piezo bridge + 3 band pre amp and Fretless
ABCF9404-053C-41C3-8089-3210F59A65BA.png
 
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#87
frankie5string said:
Why not just play that NS fretless 5 you bought as your principal bass?
You just changed out the nut on it... still not working for you? Try different strings...

You're going to be waiting possibly aeons for a custom build, anyway.
Click to expand...
The NS is perfect, as far as playability/setup is concerned. It's just not... as flashy as I would like my "main" bass to be ;)
 
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#88
Katoosie said:
The NS is perfect, as far as playability/setup is concerned. It's just not... as flashy as I would like my "main" bass to be ;)
Click to expand...

If a bass is "perfect" for you other than looks, you are ahead of the great majority of musicians. What happens if you spent a pile of money on something and you don't like it as much?
 
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#91
buldog5151bass said:
If a bass is "perfect" for you other than looks, you are ahead of the great majority of musicians. What happens if you spent a pile of money on something and you don't like it as much?
Click to expand...

Jeff Scott said:
Try a fancy-pants paint job. ;)
Click to expand...

Barticus said:
Seems like a long thread for that conclusion :)

stickers or paint should do the trick then ;)
Click to expand...

Ignore the naysayers... You do you.

It looks like you found your bass. Congratulation!
 
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#92
Katoosie said:
The NS is perfect, as far as playability/setup is concerned. It's just not... as flashy as I would like my "main" bass to be ;)
Click to expand...
The problem here is most of the utilitarians, FSO aficionado's and dumpster divers here on TB will have a difficult time wrapping this idea around their tort obsessed minds...I mean, isn't it all in the hands, had to have Leo's name on it and a pedal, what's that?

Flashy? What's that got to do with it?? :bassist:
 
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#95
Katoosie said:
The NS is perfect, as far as playability/setup is concerned. It's just not... as flashy as I would like my "main" bass to be ;)
Click to expand...
Contentment is a hard thing to find and even harder to find when you spend time on Talkbass. I chased the Gas Dragon for 2 decades but then I finally settled down with a smaller, better stable of instruments and haven't bought a bass for myself in years.

My personal advice would be that if your NS is perfect in tone and playability then love it, rock it in good health and buy a flashier shirt to draw attention onstage. My personal recommendation would be a floral western style with contrasting trim :D, but YMMV.
 
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#96
BassToGoGo said:
Ignore the naysayers... You do you.

It looks like you found your bass. Congratulation!
Click to expand...
:) Not a naysayer at all on this and fully supportive…

I just didn’t know the NS was a perfect fit until this point in the thread. A refinish may really do the trick in this case, I don’t think that’s unreasonable all all as I’ve actually done this to one of my 6 string basses for for this very reason… so I say go for it! :thumbsup:
 
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#98
Barticus said:
:) Not a naysayer at all on this and fully supportive…

I just didn’t know the NS was a perfect fit until this point in the thread. A refinish may really do the trick in this case, I don’t think that’s unreasonable all all as I’ve actually done this to one of my 6 string basses for for this very reason… so I say go for it! :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
For what it is, the NS is perfect and even with its colour. Same with my euro, also perfect for me, literally. These two basses have not a single flaw that I can find. Balance perfectly fine, no dive, great tones, relatively lightweight, perfect fretwork on the euro etc, I could go on and on.

The NS isn't like a... How would I even put it. It's not a "me" choice bass, I got it because some guy was selling it for 1/3 the price, I mean have you seen how stupidly expensive it is brand new? It goes for 3300 usd. NUTS!

I got mine and if it wasn't used and cheap, I would have never gotten it. Luckily its a very well designen and thought out bass, sounds killer, but the look? Not my thing at all. It looks good, but it isn't my style. It doesn't strike me as a fancy bass, its more of a serious workhorse.

Maaaaybe I am a bit weird but I like trying to see and feel whatever each bass can offer/can be and the NS is not my main bass at all, its... Its like a good friend. I sound crazy :beaver:
 
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#100
Barticus said:
:) Not a naysayer at all on this and fully supportive…

I just didn’t know the NS was a perfect fit until this point in the thread. A refinish may really do the trick in this case, I don’t think that’s unreasonable all all as I’ve actually done this to one of my 6 string basses for for this very reason… so I say go for it! :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

@Barticus, I didn't mean to offend. I was hoping it came of as tongue in cheek...
 
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