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The best European basses?

Kurisu

Kurisu

Nov 19, 2003
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Saskatoon SK
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#1
What are some really good European basses that you don't see enough of in NA? What are you GASing for, what would you drive 300 miles just to try out?

I don't mean individual luthier, 1 bass a month, "I build only what I want to build" shop, but a well respected quality controlled line of instrument.

I want to find more Wals, basically. A European Sadowsky, Fodera, Smith, Zon, what-have-you.
 
#3
TheChris said:
What are some really good European basses that you don't see enough of in NA? What are you GASing for, what would you drive 300 miles just to try out?

I don't mean individual luthier, 1 bass a month, "I build only what I want to build" shop, but a well respected quality controlled line of instrument.

I want to find more Wals, basically. A European Sadowsky, Fodera, Smith, Zon, what-have-you.
Click to expand...

Ummm.... Fodera, Smith, Zon, and Sadowsky are all American-made basses, except for the eastern lower-cost models. But I'd love to find some Ritters, Aries, and LeFays to try.
 
#7
Hello TheChris

As we Europeans usually gas on American basses, we enjoy make you stare at those nice basses. You should have a look on these :

Most of these luthiers build either standard or custom basses, some of them very original.

Vigier French luthier : have a look on vintage Arpège fretless ( metal fretboardt fabulous sustain, Benedetti pick-ups ) Invalid Link Removed

Gougi French luthier : original system : electrodynamic basses Invalid Link Removed

Jacobacci French luthier : nice bolt on palissandre/mahogany Benedetti pick-ups Invalid Link Removed

Christian Noguera: Luthier France : nice basses, original pick-ups => giant sound : Link Removed

Mörch luthier Denmark. Wonderful basses, original pick-ups. http://www.morch-guitars.dk

Christof Kost Germany Lightwave-Pickup : original system
http://www.christof-kost.de/CKvV(E)/menuframe.html

good gasss
 
#8
Sei Basses in London are great (they're the bass building side of the Bass Gallery).
Goodfellow Basses - I think they're Irish
Status - UK
Vigier - France
Lag - France
Marleaux - Germany
Neuser - Not sure! They're based out of Finland, but I think the instruments are built in the Czech Republic
Leduc - France
Warwick - Germany (this is a smaller company you may never have heard of!! ;) )
Jon Shuker - UK
Manson - UK (they've built a lot of John Paul Jones' basses over the years)
Celinder - Denmark. You may want to read a few of the threads about these basses, as while the basses are supposedly amazing, the customer service has left a few people a little less than happy!
 
#11
I've played a few Sei basses and they are very good - of course the best thing is that Martin Peterson makes them to your specification at a very reasonable cost.

Status make an excellent series of basses and if you like graphite necks or all-graphite basses, they are definitely worth checking out!

Paul Jackson played a Neuser bass when he toured here and this had a fantastic tone - but I don't know much about them?
 
#12
Germany alone has dozens of great builders:

Human Base - Siggi Jäger is a legend and still makes very nice designs, great fretless.

www.humanbase.de

Bassculture - great fretless basses, they have their own pickups too.

www.bassculture.de

Auerswald - Prince's Symbol guitar and Adam Claytons McD bass - need I say more?

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Clover - they used to build great composite-neck basses, but due to declining demand they discontinued them...bummer! Kai Eckhardt played one in the early McLaughlin days.

www.clover.de

Magnus guitars - Hotwire luthier Magnus Krempel also has his own line of basses.

[This invalid link has been removed]

to be continued...
 
#13
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i really dig their stuff - they`ve been around since 1982 and have a really big selection of basses - starting from decent entry level, to excellent custom shop lines... i own a 4 string ntb fretless wich is great, and a 4string fretted is on the way....

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i personally think they look better than they sound, but that`s just personal preferrence - good stuff, excellent build quality.
 
#14
Bruce Lindfield said:
I've played a few Sei basses and they are very good - of course the best thing is that Martin Peterson makes them to your specification at a very reasonable cost.

Status make an excellent series of basses and if you like graphite necks or all-graphite basses, they are definitely worth checking out!

Paul Jackson played a Neuser bass when he toured here and this had a fantastic tone - but I don't know much about them?
Click to expand...

Bruce, I don't know a great deal about Neuser basses myself, other than that a local dealer here has a pair of them, and they're amazing instruments. They're very modern in sound and feel, so they're probably not going to satisfy someone looking for a more traditional style instrument. The basses I've tried a a Crusade 4 string, and a Courage 5 string. Both were awesome. They also make an interesting looking Jazz-style bass called a Cloudburst, and it comes in a 6 string version, which is something I'm quite interested in.

This is their website, if you're interested.

Invalid Link Removed

Also, just to add another name.

Schack - Germany. Modern style and sound, wonderful feeling necks.
 
#15
TheChris said:
What are some really good European basses that you don't see enough of in NA? What are you GASing for, what would you drive 300 miles just to try out?

I don't mean individual luthier, 1 bass a month, "I build only what I want to build" shop, but a well respected quality controlled line of instrument.

I want to find more Wals, basically. A European Sadowsky, Fodera, Smith, Zon, what-have-you.
Click to expand...

For custom Fender style instruments you have Celinder and Hot Wire
 

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