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West Coast USA Luthiers

#3
Pete Hanewinckel might be up for it. I visited him a few times when he was making my bass. Not sure.

Carey Nordstrand, Alembic, Modulus, Michael Dolan, Mike Lull....those are just a few of the guys out here. I'd call them and see if they offer visits.
 
#8
I don't think Michael Dolan is working out of his own shop anymore, so I don't think there is anything to visit.

Mike Lull doesn't have much to visit- it's not a place to go to hang out (though he's a great guy).

Chris Benavente and David King in Oregon are both great guys who make fantastic instruments, but they are probably both too busy to have visitors.

A lot of other businesses don't really allow visitors because it is disruptive (Zon, Modulus, etc). The only one that I can think of that does (or at least, used to) is Alembic. That's probably the only one worth visiting.
 
#9
Mike Lull's place is more like a dentist office when you walk in. But the first room is a sample room, several basses and amps to try out. But yeah it is small.
All others are probably very busy building. Musicman doesn't give tours, but Fender does. Lots of great stores along the way. So you'd probably get a better sense of accomplishment hunting down and visting those, than builders.
 
#10
You might try Bill Delap in Monterey, California. Bill's usually pretty busy but he's a great guy and if he can find some time to spare you will find it an enlightening experience. He has mostly been building guitars in recent years, but I have a couple of Jazz-style basses of his that are unparalleled in workmanship, playability and sound.
PM me for his telephone number.
 
#12
This is great guys. Exactly what I was looking for.

Thank you! :D

johnk_10 said:
if you're in the thousand oaks area you're welcome to stop by my house. you could at least play and evaluate some of my basses for your 101 basses list, since i have about 25-30 of them at the moment. (i'd just have to dig some of them out of my 'vault' ;) ).
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You got me figured out!:D I might just take you up on that. Thanks for the offer!

Terri
 
#15
Benavente said:
I've got time for visitors. Back before the economy tanked when I was 2 years back-ordered, I didn't have time to breath. It's much more mellow round the shop now.
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Whoa, I knew you were in Oregon, but Grant's pass? I must have driven right by you last year - on a road trip with some friends. If I had only known :(

We went over the (disintegrating) Brandy Peak logging road through thick fog, trying to get to Ashland before dark from the west side of the mountains. That was one of the more "notable" driving experiences of my life.
 
#16
Just in case anyone else might be interested. This links shows bass builders down the coast from BC, Washington, Oregon and California...
Link Removed

If I'm missing anyone, please let me know.

thanks,
Terri

girlonbass said:
I am planning a road trip between Vancouver and Los Angeles in the next few months.

Can anyone suggest some small luthiers along the way that are open to visitors?

thanks,
Terri
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