Wait times for custom basses now

[KenSmithFan]

I fail to see what the average time to build a custom bass has to do with anything.

The older you get, the more important it becomes.

 

[Sjobi 1]

Bilt is usually 6-12 months.

 

[KohanMike]

My go to builder for the last ten years is Bruce Wei in Vietnam. He's made me three acoustic bass 21" scale from scratch to my specifications and takes 3-4 months for about $1200 including express shipping. He can make most any type.

 

[Barticus]

Depends on the builder, this can’t be generalized. Here are some that I’m aware of.

Maruszczyk 15 weeks
Spector 6-7 mos
Warwick 2+ yrs
Others? …depends on their backlog and what resources they have

But I build my own for my own use as well, so a couple of weeks for me

 

[BobKos]

My neighbor is in a band and he was telling me the bass player ordered a Fender CS P-Bass. Took over 2 years. As a slight side note - the Japanese Fender he picked up while waiting for the CS bass seems to be favored by the band over the CS bass.

 

[fourstringburn]

No mention of Fender Custom shop yet?

A couple years ago I looked into it and it was up to 2 years or more for what I wanted and at a very high cost. This was during covid of course.

FCS to me is just an assemblage of a customers choice of stock cookie cutter parts and paint. And don't forget the relic look which I personally don't care for.

Is it really worth the cost and wait time? I didn't think so.

I then decided I could just assemble my own just buying all the parts online and have a local Luthier do some of the custom work I can't do.

Here's mine with as many genuine Fender parts as possible right down to the screws sold in Fender packages.

The custom Luthier touches are the Ebony fretboard with MOP inlays, bone nut, painted head stock.

This Bass took about 3 months to get all the parts and have the neck done. You can see I prefer the new look over the relic the FCS excels at.

Originally I had it all black but decided to model it after my birth year 1965 model with the white pickguard.

Full spec's on this thread

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/my-custom-build-fender-jazz-basses.1537312/#post-25890558

 

[cymbop]

My Lakland (with a lot of off-menu requests) took five months.

 

[OldSoulDownLow]

Nashville builders seem to be ahead of the curve. Last report I got on Alien Audio and Bluesman Vintage was about six months. I think LowEnd is running fairly quickly too.

I just ordered a short scale 5 from Bluesman, and I can’t wait to see it! The first couple hit the scene around here, and they are amazing. It might drive up demand and build times haha

Speaking of Nashville builders.....I placed an order for a Mario Martin in May '23. Was told it would take a year. Requested an update last month (May '24) and delivery was pushed out to this month (June), so fingers crossed...13 months.

 

[Les Fret]

I would say that if it’s more than 2 years don’t do it. Just buy used. A lot can happen in 2 years.

 

[songwriter21]

I would say that if it’s more than 2 years don’t do it. Just buy used. A lot can happen in 2 years.

THIS.

 

[songwriter21]

What do you think the average is now these days? 18 months? 24 months?

I'm talking an average among the well known boutique builders

With wait times, in general, and obviously not being able to see a finished product before you pay for it, I say why wonder. Just scour ads for a used or in-stock new bass that ticks the most boxes for you. I like to see an instrument before I plunk down good money. I'm very picky, too. Specifically, I've seen enough certain aspects that look poor for the "boutique" factor...crooked/misaligned bridges, non-straight necks, and other crucial things that I can't believe look shoddy at those prices. I won't name names, only that I would never chance it, unless a solid return policy is involved (Kiesel is an example of a guaranteed return policy).

 

[Spidey2112]

I'd rather plunk down a couple of hundred on something like this, just to see what I could make of it.

Robot or human?

* Yes, I'm human... most of the time.

 

[Les Fret]

No mention of Fender Custom shop at all?

In my book many basses that are mentioned here like Musicman or Sandberg or Fender are no boutique basses. Sure they are nice and in the same price range and can be custom ordered, but boutique basses are custom high end basses from small(er) companies.

 

[Docduval]

I fail to see what the average time to build a custom bass has to do with anything.

You fail to see why someone would want to know how long a possible wait is? Odd.

 

[mdogs]

You fail to see why someone would want to know how long a possible wait is? Odd.

Well, since that is not the question the OP asked, he asked the average time, which has no real relevance to anything.

 

[mikewalker]

My go to builder for the last ten years is Bruce Wei in Vietnam. He's made me three acoustic bass 21" scale from scratch to my specifications and takes 3-4 months for about $1200 including express shipping. He can make most any type.

Yep, Wei is a good guy, I've been very happy with a couple of his pieces

 

[Rdore2000]

Suhr told me a year for mine

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I am currently in month 18 of an original quoted 14-15 month backorder time for a custom Sandberg. It has been revised to July.

I think manufacturer's and luthiers with a decent track record - you'll be looking at anywhere from 1 - 3 year wait time these days.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

It all depends on who the builder is, and how 'custom' you want it. You have to remember there's 'custom' with a little 'c' (this always takes less time), and then there's Custom with a capital 'C' (this will certainly take a lot longer). To explain . . . .

'Custom with a little C' is you go to a builder and you want a version of one of his regular models, but let's say a different wood recipe, or finish, pickups, etc. Chances are this is an instrument he's been building for quite a while, is known for, and his production methods for these are set. A different wood or finish or whatever is still the model he's been building, but we'll say you want something personalized, just a bit off the menu. Think of a process like the Fender Mod Shop, you're not re-inventing the wheel, only personalizing it.

These have a pretty good success rate, shouldn't be a big departure time wise, and he can work you into more or less his regular schedule.

Then.

'Custom with a Big C' is when you want Alembic to build you a Precision Bass, or the Fender Custom Shop to build you an Alembic. In other words, a complete and total one-off, nothing like their normal work. Most smart builders will pass on this immediately, as it's just not in their wheelhouse, it would tie up lots of time, it's often a recipe for disaster. There are some guys who will build you something completely off the wall and off the menu, but you better be damn sure about the money, refunds, recourse, you name it. You're on your own here.

You also want to be sure if you're after a custom from a small builder that you are dealing with someone with a known reliable track record, proper business controls and refund/return policies (admittedly most will not do this), and has been at this for years. Another consideration is most of the small builders have a small staff, or maybe it's a one man operation. People are often amazed that Alembic, a small family business, rarely has more than 8-10 builders for the entire process. Many have less.

Too many times here in TB, we get the 'woe is me' story of a train wreck of a deal/build, no bass, no completion date, money vanished into the ether, on and on, from guys that fell in love with some pretty pics on a website of really shady or at least very inconsistent businesses to be polite about it.

DON'T be the next one.

This is very true. Most manufacturer's and builders will offer preset options on established models they already make. There are relatively few that will entertain fully custom demands that stray from the base recipe.

 

[Spectre Gunner]

So why are custom boutique builds taking so much longer these days than before the covid era? Longer wait times were understandable during covid but we can no longer use that excuse. Has there been a significant increase in custom orders or a decrease in custom builders?

Anyone have any insight into this issue or is it just a false perception? I know MTD wait time has gone from 6 months to over a year according to my local MTD dealer and my personal custom order experience with them.