RickC, I checked out the three builders that you mentioned and I honestly have to say that I, by far prefer Shawn Mays designs. I'm not knocking these other guys by any means, it's just my opinion.
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Shawn May Custom Basses
- Thread starter chump stain
- Start date
Alright, I might be getting a May bass soon... I just talked to Shawn about it. Just figuring out the money part since I've got a Dingwall in the oven too. I think I just might as well bring this thread back 
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- Mar 22, 2000
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After playing my May for 6+ months now I'm even more excited about #2 (on order) Shawn builds a hell of a bass, and I've been punishing mine thoroughly and it's been taking it. He should really charge twice as much, but I'm only one opinion.
These look like great basses. Always nice to see other small builders doing their thing. Does he just do neck through basses?
Those are some great looking instruments - I wish I'd known about them when I lived just down the street from that GC...
He told me he prefers to do neck thrus since it's also his personal preference as a bass player, but being a custom builder he might be open to a bolt-on possibility I think
Shawn Has built bolt-ons before. Here are some pics of one he did. I just took these pics from his Facebook page.
I just picked up the second bass that Shawn built for me today. It's a single cut 5 string. Quilted maple top and back with a French curly walnut core, Paul ferro fretboard. This thing plays like a dream and sounds even better. The B string sounds just like a piano!
One of these days I'll be able to get another May. I still prefer my neckthru though.
I saw he posted your pics this weekend on the single cut. Very nice looking bass, as always Shawn did a great job.
Thanks! It's just a cheap Roadrunner case. Shawn offers either a gig bag or this hard shell. He can also get you a form fitted case, but that is very expensive.
The price would depend on what you wanted. The LED side markers are a $250.00 option. The different woods cost different amounts.
I have $3,060.00 into my SC5 and $2,600.00 into my DC4. Both of the basses that Shawn built for me have the LED side markers. The DC4 has glowing LED skull eyes at the 12th fret and the SC5 has a back lit "M" logo on the headstock. See pics below.
Your best bet would be to contact Shawn thru his website, maycustombasses.com and talk with him about what you'd like. He offers three different body designs, a double cut or "DC", a single cut or SC and a double cut scroll or "DCS" and you can get it from 4 strings all the way up to 9 strings as well as different scales.
I totally agree with you on that! I've been gassing for a custom US Spector, but since I got my May SC5, that gas is LONG gone! And, at around $6,000.00 for a custom built Spector, I'd much rather get two May customs!After playing my May for 6+ months now I'm even more excited about #2 (on order) Shawn builds a hell of a bass, and I've been punishing mine thoroughly and it's been taking it. He should really charge twice as much, but I'm only one opinion.
Honestly, after playing the SC5 for a few days now, my Spector Euros feel cheap in my hands. I have a strong feeling that I just may sell off some of the 5 Spector Euros that I have.
Do they feel and sound good? I would assume so. And what body type is pictured on the first bass?
The feel is like butter, very easy to play and the sound is killer, but with the pickups and wood choices I went with, I was going for a Spector metal tone, and it nails it to a tee. But, you can also get awesome slap tones out of it too. Shawn posted a video on his Facebook page of him playing slap on it, it sounded awesome.
Trust me, you would LOVE a May Custom.
