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What's the difference between a "custom" and "boutique" bass?

#3
It kind of boils down to what people like to call their instruments.

A custom bass can really be ANYTHING ranging from a MIM P-bass with a different pickguard to a bass that a luthier built from scratch for a client based upon that clients exact design.

A boutique bass is a term used to describe basses produced by builders/shops that do very high-end work to exacting details with very, very good materials. They will generally "tweak" things to your specifications. Alembic was one of the first boutique basses I believe. A friend of mine actually brought them a big chunk of ebony he got somewhere and they built him a bass out of it...yes...an ebony bodied bass.
 
#4
There are a lot of basses that use readily available parts or modified parts (pickups made to specifications etc) on "custom" body shapes... These would be what I call "Custom" basses...

There are other basses where all of the parts are made specifically for that instrument or instrument line, bridges, nut, pickups... those would be boutique...
 
#6
To me a "custom" is an optioned production model. My Spector in my Sig is a euro Doug Wimbish Sig model custom ordered with a hipshot d tuner ,35" scale , and trans green stain. (std is regular hardware, 34" scale, amber stain)

A boutique bass would be from a limited production mfr. ( like Fodera, Roscoe, Surine, etc.) Where they have a model line but generally no 2 basses are alike other than hardware and shape. These are generally small shops where the instrument is made to order.

Kind of like buying a suit and having it tailored vs having one made from just the fabric.
 
#9
CrashMiller said:
So to Clarify with an example. I have a JC Hamilton (a small business) bass being made for me to my specifications, using very high quality materials, all made specifically for my bass.

This means it is both Custom and Boutique, Correct?
Click to expand...

In my opinion, yes. Look at it like this....there are boutique brands that have specific models. Buy one of those models to their set specifications and you have a boutique instrument. Examples would include...

  • Roscoe LG-3005
  • Fodera Yin Yang
  • Ken Smith BSR5W
  • Alembic Epic
  • my Alembic Series I 4-string
  • MANY others not named

Now, you can work with any of the builders I mentioned above (not sure about Ken Smith, though) to have something done differently for your particular instrument. Then you'd have a custom.

  • Roscoe....you can specify different neck laminates, fingerboard, preamp and pickups, wood selections.
  • Fodera....you can specify preamps...maybe more. Never really dealt with Fodera personally
  • Alembic....sky's the limit, as long as you don't want a bolt-on, passive electronics, or a small body long scale. My Alembic Series II 5-string has a number of custom tweaks, some readily visible, some not. It was specced from one of their common models (boutique) and then customized into a one of a kind build. (custom boutique)
 
#11
this is interesting...never thought about it until i saw this thread...hmmm...ok...here's my 2 cents:

custom=a bass built to customer specifications...options available may vary by company...some companies may have more, others may have less.

boutique=small production, usually involves elite craftsmenship and/ or materials. (as opposed to mass produced).

Both boutique and large manufacturers allow for custom options on special orders.

An analogy in "beer" terms:
Mass produced=Budweiser (not there's anything wrong with that)
boutique=microbreweries
Custom=mixed drinks ordered at the bar.

K.
 
#15
bou·tique/bo͞oˈtēk/
Noun: A business that serves a sophisticated or specialized clientele


cus·tom/ˈkəstəm/

Adjective: Made or done to order for a particular customer: "a custom guitar".


Therefore, a bass made by a boutique builder is most certainly custom. Anyone who thinks otherwise, by definition, is wrong.

I have had many custom basses made by boutique builders.
 
#19
west*coast*bass said:
Therefore, a bass made by a boutique builder is most certainly custom. Anyone who thinks otherwise, by definition, is wrong.
Click to expand...

Based on the definitions you quoted, your conclusion is wrong. As a random example, take this bass, which is currently in stock according to Sadowsky's website:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I think that we would all agree that Sadowsky is a boutique, according to your definition, because he makes instruments for a sophisticated and specialized clientele. However, this bass is not a custom bass, as it was not made to order for any particular customer.
 
#20
malthumb said:
So an Alembic Epic made to set specifications for a dealer's stock would be.....?????
Click to expand...

malthumb makes a great point here. Along those same lines, the often disdained in these forums Fender Custom Shop makes both limited production guitars of set spec as well as totally custom individual pieces, which would seem to make them a boutique brand.

One of the features of boutique in most definitions seems to be small business. Fender Custom Shop pieces are available through Fender Showcase dealers across the country if not around the world. They carry what is arguably the largest name in modern guitars.

Seems to break most definitions.

Also, I would point out that a boutique bass seems to be one which is by a recognized brand, such as Alembic. Where does this put the output of a luthier who may only produce a very few guitars within any year or even a career; one whose name you might never recognize? Certainly custom but not boutique?

Just thought I'd ask. :hiding:

iJazz
 

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