TRUE CUSTOM builders? Any left?

[smart51]

Crimson guitars make some unique stuff. I met Ben at a guitar show. He seems like a nice guy. Take a look at their YouTube channel.

Crimson Custom Guitars

 

[Bonafide]

What if you're one of those folks that has (or thinks they have) the wherewithal to design your own body shape, want something unusual in terms of neck design and scale length etc? Any builders out there who both offer this level of customization AND can turn out a truly high-quality instrument in terms of build-quality, fit & finish etc?

Thanks!

In my experience, the reason there is very little in terms of 'unusual' neck design and scale length is not due to conformity or lack of creative spirit by brilliant craftsman and women, but rather time tested function and form. I have found the greatest instruments (in terms of tone, feel, stability, function etc) are built around specifics and then your personal touch is the 'custom' bit. Scale lengths (and the strings/tensions to match etc) are proven. This is not to say you can't get it done exactly the way you want or experiment, but I suspect it would still conform to a great degree or be a slight variance at most simply out of basic function. -

Fender will build whatever you want. People aren't always aware of this. So will Fodera.
It tends to be super expensive because dealing with fully custom orders is extremelly time consuming.
The solution is often to deal with local luthiers, most will build the instrument of your dreams at relatively moderate prices.

^^^ This

Haha when you put it like that, it doesn't sound like many options at all.

It would be interesting to have a running list of builders that will do what you're asking. From speaking with many builders, most are a bit gun-shy about it; what looks awesome on paper turns into a nightmare instrument that the player may end up hating. Also, having something out there that's not "on brand" with their artistic statement doesn't appeal to them.

If you do find someone that's willing to do this, I would hope you do two things:

1. Heed his/her advice when they steer you for/against a specific feature. You are working with the builder on this project, and they're the expert. Otherwise, you could just build it yourself.
2. Pay more than just a deposit. I know many builders who still have that "truly custom" instrument, because the buyer either backed out or demanded a refund because it wasn't "exact" (spoiler: it was) and threatened to smear them on social media.

^^^ This

Most established luthiers have been down that road with customers. They generally know through experience what does or doesn't work and trying to appease a customer who wants something unorthodox is reality. Its a no win, even if the instrument is a success. They stick close to home out of respect for their craft and established reputation...IMO

 

[Kijuer]

An Italian monster: BARBANERA
www.chitarrebarbanera.it

 

[ctmullins]

Some of the regulars over in Luthier's Corner are capable of very high-quality, fully custom instruments.

I’m not one of them. I’m capable of sorta-decent quality fully custom instruments....

 

[Luke the Fluke]

Alpher FTW...I'd like to see how these finishes are achieved.

View attachment 3812643

View attachment 3812644

Magic!
If you've got Facebook "like" them, or the equivalent on Insta - they do make some lovely stuff

I've got more traditional tastes and like the look of this

 

[brianrost]

They are still out there in small numbers. The bolt-together-a-Fender world launched in the late 70s by Schecter, DiMarzio and Leo Quan has led us to where we are today. You can now buy a P or J from $50 to $5000+, with dozens of builders out there.

Is Jack Read still around here? I'm sure he could talk about the pressures of real custom builds vs. the potential income of building Fender style basses instead because he did both.

 

[logdrum]

Truly custom and original? This guy. DaShtick Guitars™ ®

once again - Poland delivers. In my day job... I love working with my Polish colleagues.

 

[Gabe Langfur]

If you do find someone that's willing to do this, I would hope you do two things:

1. Heed his/her advice when they steer you for/against a specific feature. You are working with the builder on this project, and they're the expert. Otherwise, you could just build it yourself.
2. Pay more than just a deposit. I know many builders who still have that "truly custom" instrument, because the buyer either backed out or demanded a refund because it wasn't "exact" (spoiler: it was) and threatened to smear them on social media.

Yes...I'm a bass dabbler, professional trombone player, and I did sales for a while for one of the biggest boutique trombone/trumpet manufacturers. In the five years I was there, every customer who demanded a completely custom component against the advice of the instrument designers put that instrument up for sale (and had a hard time selling it) by about a year later. Every single one without exception.

As to #2, my employer was just barely big enough to accept returns for most things within a reasonable trial period, and we could almost always resell them. We had +/- 30 employees. A much smaller shop than that operates on much tighter margins of time and cash flow, and one job gone bad can threaten the viability of their business. Don't be that customer.

 

[nilorius]

I can only offer what i had tries out myself. There is a good hand made custom shop called "Sugi". There is also in Italy - "D'alessandro guitars". Prices are good, so is the quality.

 

[Ric5]

May Custom Basses: Welcome

 

[pablomigraine]

WOW guys thanks for all this feedback! This is a lot of food for thought and I'll be doing some research over the next week or so.

I should say that... there's really only a 50/50 chance of this ever actually happening... but if it does it will be a decades-long dream come true. I'll pull the curtain back and explain what I'm after. Since I was a kid I wanted a BUZZARD BASS:

The iteration I liked best in terms of design/aesthetic was the Status version. Mine would have this aesthetic exactly, built as follows:

• Light Ash 2-pc body (since most CNC's out there don't have this wide a table)
• Deep-pocket bolt-on maple neck w/ ebony FB
• 35" scale tuned B-E-A-D
• EMG 35DC pups w/ Darkglass pre
• Hipshot hardware & brass nut
• Gloss black body, satin black neck
• I have some ideas on nut / last fret width as well as radius, but will likely defer to the builder's recommendations here.
• Super thin frets
• As cool as they are, probably wouldn't go with the Roman Numeral inlays tho...

I've played the Warwick versions and didn't care for them, and Status won't build any new ones as far as I know, even if I did care for the carbon fiber, which I don't.

Dan Ransom in San Francisco.

The Guitar Garage: Custom Builds

NICE!!

1. Heed his/her advice when they steer you for/against a specific feature. You are working with the builder on this project, and they're the expert. Otherwise, you could just build it yourself.
2. Pay more than just a deposit. I know many builders who still have that "truly custom" instrument, because the buyer either backed out or demanded a refund because it wasn't "exact" (spoiler: it was) and threatened to smear them on social media.

Having been a consultant for, or been an exec for manufacturers of high-end bass gear for almost a decade, I'd like to think I would be less of a headache for builder in these matters, but the opposite may be true in practice ;-)

 

[scowboy]

WOW guys thanks for all this feedback! This is a lot of food for thought and I'll be doing some research over the next week or so.

I should say that... there's really only a 50/50 chance of this ever actually happening... but if it does it will be a decades-long dream come true. I'll pull the curtain back and explain what I'm after. Since I was a kid I wanted a BUZZARD BASS:

View attachment 3813017

The iteration I liked best in terms of design/aesthetic was the Status version. Mine would have this aesthetic exactly, built as follows:

• Light Ash 2-pc body (since most CNC's out there don't have this wide a table)
• Deep-pocket bolt-on maple neck w/ ebony FB
• 35" scale tuned B-E-A-D
• EMG 35DC pups w/ Darkglass pre
• Hipshot hardware & brass nut
• Gloss black body, satin black neck
• I have some ideas on nut / last fret width as well as radius, but will likely defer to the builder's recommendations here.
• Super thin frets
• As cool as they are, probably wouldn't go with the Roman Numeral inlays tho...

I've played the Warwick versions and didn't care for them, and Status won't build any new ones as far as I know, even if I did care for the carbon fiber, which I don't.








NICE!!




Having been a consultant for, or been an exec for manufacturers of high-end bass gear for almost a decade, I'd like to think I would be less of a headache for builder in these matters, but the opposite may be true in practice ;-)

Alembic sounds like the place you need to go.

 

[arbiterusa]

What if you're one of those folks that has (or thinks they have) the wherewithal to design your own body shape, want something unusual in terms of neck design and scale length etc?

You don't have that wherewithal unless you've had building experience, and if you have you'd build it yourself. Every person I've ever met who's come to me saying "can you build design X" has a body shape that is, at best, going to be nothing but a never-ending warranty nightmare. That is, after the never-ending design revision nightmare.

I never took such an order when I was in the building business. You couldn't have paid me enough to make it profitable, much less to compensate for the loss of other business. Very few people have that combo of money, time, and being willing to listen to the expert when he tells you that Idea X is a really BAD idea.

 

[arbiterusa]

I'll pull the curtain back and explain what I'm after. Since I was a kid I wanted a BUZZARD BASS

Ahhh. Different ball of wax. Proven design, that's good. Now for the problem. Warwick will sue you into the ground for building it. They went after Rob Green hard, made him destroy all his molding for the Status version, and that molding cost far more than any money he ever made off the very limited amount of Buzzards he was able to build. It's like building a Rickenbacker. You can do it in your garage and there's not a damn thing John Hall can do about it. If you build one and sell it to someone else John can ruin your life, and he will try.

 

[Jazz Ad]

It's worth asking Status what they'd think about building one. I know they did on occasions.

 

[cnltb]

WOW guys thanks for all this feedback! This is a lot of food for thought and I'll be doing some research over the next week or so.

I should say that... there's really only a 50/50 chance of this ever actually happening... but if it does it will be a decades-long dream come true. I'll pull the curtain back and explain what I'm after. Since I was a kid I wanted a BUZZARD BASS:

View attachment 3813017

The iteration I liked best in terms of design/aesthetic was the Status version. Mine would have this aesthetic exactly, built as follows:

• Light Ash 2-pc body (since most CNC's out there don't have this wide a table)
• Deep-pocket bolt-on maple neck w/ ebony FB
• 35" scale tuned B-E-A-D
• EMG 35DC pups w/ Darkglass pre
• Hipshot hardware & brass nut
• Gloss black body, satin black neck
• I have some ideas on nut / last fret width as well as radius, but will likely defer to the builder's recommendations here.
• Super thin frets
• As cool as they are, probably wouldn't go with the Roman Numeral inlays tho...

I've played the Warwick versions and didn't care for them, and Status won't build any new ones as far as I know, even if I did care for the carbon fiber, which I don't.








NICE!!




Having been a consultant for, or been an exec for manufacturers of high-end bass gear for almost a decade, I'd like to think I would be less of a headache for builder in these matters, but the opposite may be true in practice ;-)

Have you asked Status if they'd make you one, provided that is what you are really after?
Also; You are going for a 2 piece body because you think most CNC s can't accommodate a one piece one?
My guess is that most builders will be able to saw the shape by handsaw. no?

From here follows that the question I would have is; do they have a piece of wood, that is wide enough for such a body whilst of good enough quality? .

 

[Jazz Ad]

It wouldn't be wise to build such a big body from a single plank.

 

[arbiterusa]

It's worth asking Status what they'd think about building one. I know they did on occasions.

Have you asked Status if they'd make you one, provided that is what you are really after?

See my post at #34 above. Rob cannot and will not build anyone a Buzzard.

 

[LexD]

Just started another custom build with, imho, one of the best luthiers in the US. Although, I admit bias due to personal affiliation. This will be the 4th instrument I've had custom made and every one has exceeded my expectations otherwise i would look elsewhere.

This will be on the order of 8-10k and plan to create a thread here in the next few weeks detailing every step of the process. This has been a dream of mine for at least several years.

My avatar is the last custom we did together

 

[Jon Moody]

Ahhh. Different ball of wax. Proven design, that's good. Now for the problem. Warwick will sue you into the ground for building it. They went after Rob Green hard, made him destroy all his molding for the Status version, and that molding cost far more than any money he ever made off the very limited amount of Buzzards he was able to build. It's like building a Rickenbacker. You can do it in your garage and there's not a damn thing John Hall can do about it. If you build one and sell it to someone else John can ruin your life, and he will try.

Good info. As soon as I saw the body shape, I wondered if there was any legality to it.

Having been a consultant for, or been an exec for manufacturers of high-end bass gear for almost a decade, I'd like to think I would be less of a headache for builder in these matters, but the opposite may be true in practice ;-)

Perhaps, but the phrase "Marry a construction worker and live in a house of half-finished projects" became an adage for a reason.