Was your custom bass worth it to you?

[HankHillWaluigi]

Regarding custom basses, whether Fender Custom Shop, local luthier, etc; was the bass worth it to you?

The reason I ask is because one day I'd love to invest in a custom instrument, however I've come to realize that my "custom" instrument would be pretty bland - basically a 1960 3TSB Jazz from the Fender Custom Shop. That's it, no bells or whistles. Not very custom when I think about it.

I also had an older bandmate who bought a 2012 Fender Custom Shop Duo Tone Jazz Bass and sold it within three months to fund another custom bass - a Sadowsky, not sure what model though. He also sold that one within the year and has stuck with his MIM Roadworn Jazz for the last year and a half. He told me that both basses were very fine instruments, but the "custom" name did nothing for the soul of the instrument. We're both of the belief that the player makes the instrument though, and in my opinion you gotta give a bass a year's worth of break-in time before giving it up (all up to the owner though).

One day I think I'll invest in my dream instrument and see for myself whether or not it's worth it to me, but for now I'd like to see your opinions on the matter. Could be any bass from any maker, was it worth it to you?

Oh, and pics would be very nice

 

[kesslari]

For me - yes (custom Zon). But I had very specific things that I wanted that were not available stock, and I had played bass long enough (and Zons for long enough) to know pretty solidly what my preferences and needs were/are.
That was 6 years ago and that bass is still my main player.
I don't know if that would be the case if what I wanted was essentially a J or P bass. Can't speak to that.

 

[woodyng2]

Completely Worth It!
I have a Cheyenne ii made fretless,and 2 Laredos with non standard pickup locations,all 3 are Great non-factory-spec editions of my favorite bass guitar. (rickenbacker 4004).

 

[Blass702]

Yes! I own a Veritas. It's an incredible instrument. The attention to detail was worth every penny.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Absolutely.

 

[Dale Griffith]

For a great custom bass at a reasonable price consider Kiesel (Carvin). You order directly from Kiesel. Delivery is 8-9 weeks. You start with any one of 10 basic styles. Most styles are available in left hand models and with 4 or 5 string versions. Many have 6 string options. Their website will then take you through hundreds of options. You can select body, neck and fingerboard woods, colors, neck finishes, pickups (both active and passive), control configurations, inlays, headstock options, hardware options, etc. There are literally hundreds of options. Many options do not add to the base price, many options do add to the price.

I started with a PB-4 with a base price of $899.00. Like you, my tastes aren't very expensive. In most categories I was quite happy with one of the no charge options. I paid extra to add a J style bridge pickup to make this a PJ bass ($80) and paid for flat-wound strings. (An extra $20, but if I got round wounds I would have had to change them out immediately anyway.) So it only cost me about $1K. Base models start at $899.00 and go up to $1499.00. Keep in mind that you could double or even triple the base price if you select enough expensive options.

I got a bass constructed better than my American Standard Precision. It's the best-made bass out of the 9 basses I own. It has quickly become my favorite bass. I heartily recommend them.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[DigitalMan]

Yes, sometimes a custom bass is the only way to go. Now if I can only find a Davey Crockett coonskin cap made from human hair I'd be in business...

 

[Marial]

Nope, I've eventually sold every custom bass I've ever ordered. I'm sure I'll take the plunge again, but I always wind up playing Fenders.

 

[jfh2112]

I've had my Carvin for nearly three years now, and it's by far my favorite bass out of all the ones I've owned. But if I had to do it over again, I'd go passive instead of active, and have only a volume knob. I never use my onboard EQ, and the piezo bridge I'm not that impressed with.

But oh man, it plays so smooooooooth. It's the only bass I've felt like I'm not arm-wrestling with constantly.

 

[scuzzy]

Yes, they were worth it. At first, I was a bit disappointed with my 2nd pushic, but each time I play it, I'm impressed more. I agree, it takes time to learn an instrument. My two DP's are great basses. I don't regret buying them, but with life and priority changes, I could have used the money more wisely! With age, comes wisdom (typically).

 

[JimmyM]

They were worth it at the time, but I wouldn't do it again, I don't think.

 

[ThuzzleFump]

I like custom basses that others tired of and sold cheaply.

 

[Element Zero]

My fretless was hardly "custom", but the price sure was on the upper end of custom instruments... although I did ask Mike for no dots on the fingerboard... and the widest grain available... was it worth it?

Every. Single. Penny.

 

[bdgotoh]

A few yes, but mostly no.

I still have some really awesome custom Mike Lull basses, some amazing custom G&Ls, and a perfect custom Music Man but the rest are gone: two Stambaughs, a Nordstrand, a bunch of EBMMs, many G&Ls, a LeCompte, etc.

I think knowing exactly what you want and either finding a luthier whose normal style matches what you want, or somehow communicating exactly what you want are the two best approaches to getting a bass you'll enjoy and keep long term.

 

[Doug Parent]

Your search is over when you know you found the bass that has the highest ratio of desirable specs and attributes per dollar spent. That could be $200 or $6000. If you have no clue what string spacing, pickups, scale length, blah blah blah etc etc that floats your boat, you are going to be buying and selling a lot of basses. You graduate that school after you started really paying attention to what works for you, not someone else.

 

[Deleted member 261632]

A big YES from me... Too bad I don't have it anymore.
6 string bass, full maple body, maple neck with wenge fretboard. 18v EMGs system... The sound was monstruous, and could outplay any off-the-shelf bass I laid my hands on afterwards.

Had to sell because the back started to disagree (weight ranging beteen 8 and 9 kg).

 

[Passinwind]

Regarding custom basses, whether Fender Custom Shop, local luthier, etc; was the bass worth it to you?

I've only taken one stab at it, but the luthier only really offered one body style, so I don't consider that a fully custom build. I did get to pick the woods though, and 14 years later I still consider this to be my favorite fretless I've ever played, although it took three sets of pickups and three preamps to get to that point.

Worth it? Absolutely, but in general I would probably never buy another bass new unless the deal was crazy good.

 

[anavar]

My fretless was hardly "custom", but the price sure was on the upper end of custom instruments... although I did ask Mike for no dots on the fingerboard... and the widest grain available... was it worth it?

View attachment 1128003

Every. Single. Penny.

oh my....is that even legal??

 

[MrVanimal]

For a great custom bass at a reasonable price consider Kiesel (Carvin). You order directly from Kiesel. Delivery is 8-9 weeks. You start with any one of 10 basic styles. Most styles are available in left hand models and with 4 or 5 string versions. Many have 6 string options. Their website will then take you through hundreds of options. You can select body, neck and fingerboard woods, colors, neck finishes, pickups (both active and passive), control configurations, inlays, headstock options, hardware options, etc. There are literally hundreds of options. Many options do not add to the base price, many options do add to the price.

I started with a PB-4 with a base price of $899.00. Like you, my tastes aren't very expensive. In most categories I was quite happy with one of the no charge options. I paid extra to add a J style bridge pickup to make this a PJ bass ($80) and paid for flat-wound strings. (An extra $20, but if I got round wounds I would have had to change them out immediately anyway.) So it only cost me about $1K. Base models start at $899.00 and go up to $1499.00. Keep in mind that you could double or even triple the base price if you select enough expensive options.

I got a bass constructed better than my American Standard Precision. It's the best-made bass out of the 9 basses I own. It has quickly become my favorite bass. I heartily recommend them.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I think you've just sold me on my next bass.

 

[gully_jones]

If a Warmoth build fits your definition of custom, then yes.