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What would you want?

Jamvan

Jamvan

The Bassist Formerly Known As Meh
Gold Supporting Member
Nov 11, 2014
4,583
20,726
Minnesota
www.bandmix.com
#1
I’m looking for advice. I was the fortunate recipient of a custom built P bass by a luthier who has ventured into building guitars/basses. He didn’t charge me for and wouldn’t let me pay him anything as he said there are plenty of flaws and he’s still refining his skills. So my question is; as a luthier, what is something you use or have to replace frequently and would a gift card for that be a nice gesture? And if you’re in the LA area, is there a luthier supply shop that would be good to purchase from?

I’ve already thanked him profusely but am at a loss for what may make a nice gift.

Here’s what he built. Not just assembled.

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Any help or guidance is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!
 
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#3
I'll offer this as a suggestion, not because I'm looking for business, but because this is a really useful special Luthier's tool. I'm sure he doesn't have one, and would appreciate it and use it. It's a fret leveling stone bar, a long aluminum beam with grinding stones epoxied on the bottom. I developed this tool for myself, and I've made up a few for other Luthier friends.

Here's a thread about them, from 2017. On the second page, I made up a set of the newest version. You can PM me if you'd like me to build you a set. Not real expensive. I'm also here in the LA area, up in Fillmore in Ventura County.

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/special-tools-stone-bar-for-leveling-frets.1298155/
 
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#5
I would probably offer him the deal that you only possess it, but it belongs to him. He can have it back any time.

If you must buy a luthier gift, I would totally buy one of Bruce's stone levelling bars. The stick-on sandpaper ones are a PITA.

Otherwise, I'm a fan of Amazon, as I can get almost anything from them. As for amount, probably several hundred dollars.
 
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#10
Having read @Bruce Johnson ‘s thread about the levelling stone, I too would like one!

If all else fails, buy a wood worker clamps. There is no such thing as too many. It’s a boring gift, but the number of times I have needed more clamps is surprisingly many. I’m in the habit now where if I visit my local Bunnos (think Home Depot in Australia), regardless of what I’m there for, I buy one clamp.
 
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#17
I'm not a luthier, but have had clients try to offer gifts before. We all have our own preferences and preferred things, especially when it comes to the tools we use for our most important work or projects. It would be hard to give you a music-related gift because it's so open-ended and nearly impossible to guess what you already have, what you have tried before, and which specific brands, styles, and types of tools you might find useful. I could go buy you a set of strings because obviously all instruments have those, but if I don't choose the right ones you're stuck with a useless gift.

So, if I were giving a gift I'd go in a different direction and do either something I know this person likes, probably food or drink-based gift cards, or something broad enough they can apply it anywhere, like an Amazon card. Sure, the idea of buying that one rare tool he always wanted but never acquired is exciting, and you like the thought of him thinking fondly of you every time he uses it, but the odds of nailing that perfect gift are incredibly slim even for someone you know very well. Trying to identify and gift a worker with a tool they need, can utilize, but somehow don't already have? That's a real longshot.
 
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#18
That is a really sweet looking bass - does it play as nice as it looks?

I'm with the RandomK - rather than luthier tools I'd get a great bottle of wine (or whatever his vice of choice is) or take him (and partner if applicable) out for a great dinner.

And definitely talk him up if people ask.
 

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