Who to build an ultra - wide fretted 5-string?

[Brendan]

Hey Talkbass. Long time.

It's been 20 years, and probably 15 since I was up to date on builders. I have no idea who is out there new, or out there still.

I'm currently looking for a luthier or outfit, that can build me custom 5-string bass, for less than $4,000. Less than $3 if that still exists. Hopefully without a 12+ month wait. Ideally I'll see it in 4-6 months after ordering.

I'm looking for an ultra-wide 5 string.
To the order of 2.18" (2 & 3/16ths) at the nut or 0 fret, on 19mm center-to-center string spacing, 24 frets: all coming in under 9.2 lbs. Between 8.7-9.0 lbs ideally.

35" scale, but also I am open to multi-scale, depending on the bass, cost, vibe.

Aesthetically I like a range of styles, though I'm less likely to be into the super modern or super vintage. Love me a Spector NS, F-Bass BN5, Roscoe SKB, Marleaux Consat, Zon Sonus, Ibanez Soundgear, et al.

Neck maple plus bubinga, or composite
Fretboard Pau Ferro, maple, or composite
Body maple (or maple sound-alike) or ash
EMG40 or Fishman Fluence pickups & preamp in the ~Spector positions.

Finishes are open to what that builders can do. I'm just as unti vintage tint natural satin, as purple metal flake gloss. Shoreline gold, transparent black, green, blue, red, purple. Color-shift, iridescent, etc etc.

Tuning all over. Standard BEADG, and also two full steps down, drop G, F#, .160+ shenanigans. Headless is fine. Case-by-case depending on the individual hardware and aesthetic.

Overall vibe is something that produces a tone that is incredibly clear, hot, and muscular. I want the grind of ash body, maple fretboard P bass.

It will be "for" metal (sludge, doom, stoner, crust, psych) , but also everything.

Who would you recommend? Who would you choose?

TL-DR
$4k builder with quick turnaround 5 string bass, long scale (35") uncommonly wide neck (2.18" nut width), EMG electronics. headless, multiscale, finish all flexible .

 

[RickDeckardCain]

Maruszczyk checks all of your boxes except for nut width -- the widest they offer on a 5-string is 48mm. Their 6 string models do come with 54mm nuts, so it might be worth an email to see if they'll accommodate you.

Basses

Custom Guitar & Bass Configurator | Public Peace Custom Shop

www.public-peace-customshop.de

 

[Slevage]

Hey Talkbass. Long time.

It's been 20 years, and probably 15 since I was up to date on builders. I have no idea who is out there new, or out there still.

I'm currently looking for a luthier or outfit, that can build me custom 5-string bass, for less than $4,000. Less than $3 if that still exists. Hopefully without a 12+ month wait. Ideally I'll see it in 4-6 months after ordering.

I'm looking for an ultra-wide 5 string.
To the order of 2.18" (2 & 3/16ths) at the nut or 0 fret, on 19mm center-to-center string spacing, 24 frets: all coming in under 9.2 lbs. Between 8.7-9.0 lbs ideally.

35" scale, but also I am open to multi-scale, depending on the bass, cost, vibe.

Aesthetically I like a range of styles, though I'm less likely to be into the super modern or super vintage. Love me a Spector NS, F-Bass BN5, Roscoe SKB, Marleaux Consat, Zon Sonus, Ibanez Soundgear, et al.

Neck maple plus bubinga, or composite
Fretboard Pau Ferro, maple, or composite
Body maple (or maple sound-alike) or ash
EMG40 or Fishman Fluence pickups & preamp in the ~Spector positions.

Finishes are open to what that builders can do. I'm just as unti vintage tint natural satin, as purple metal flake gloss. Shoreline gold, transparent black, green, blue, red, purple. Color-shift, iridescent, etc etc.

Tuning all over. Standard BEADG, and also two full steps down, drop G, F#, .160+ shenanigans. Headless is fine. Case-by-case depending on the individual hardware and aesthetic.

Overall vibe is something that produces a tone that is incredibly clear, hot, and muscular. I want the grind of ash body, maple fretboard P bass.

It will be "for" metal (sludge, doom, stoner, crust, psych) , but also everything.

Who would you recommend? Who would you choose?

TL-DR
$4k builder with quick turnaround 5 string bass, long scale (35") uncommonly wide neck (2.18" nut width), EMG electronics. headless, multiscale, finish all flexible .

I don’t think your budget and time frame is realistic for your request.

 

[primussucks9126]

If you have some wiggle room on your specs, the Warmoth Gecko 5 Wide seems pretty hard to beat.

2 3/16" nut, 35" scale, 24 frets. 5 piece maple or wenge neck (can't choose the contrasting wood though), lots of fretboard options, graphite stabilizing rods.

You can e-mail for potential "off menu" options. Nothing too crazy, but things like pickup placement or maybe wood or inlay options that aren't listed as standard.

Fully finished body and neck would probably be around $1500 depending on what exactly you go with.

Let's say 800 for hardware and electronics?

If you're not the DIY type, you've got a fair amount of your budget left to have a competent lutheir do the final assembly and setup.

 

[Metalmongrel]

I second the Maruszczyk recommendation. They should be able to meet your criteria including the nut width and strong spacing (bridge options may be limited though). Hit up Randy Riley at the Bass Spot if you need it imported to North America.

 

[BassDaddySky]

Where are you at?
James in SWFL builds one offs that are Metal as f**k!
Check out his patented headstock shape

Scottario Music | Naples FL

Scottario Music, Naples. 1,003 likes · 82 talking about this. Stringed Instrument Repairs. Handcrafted Guitars/ Bass.

www.facebook.com

Here's an in progress pic of the beast of a neck he's carving out for me.

 

[JonathanPDX]

The turnaround time might be an issue, but Chris Stambaugh will build anything no matter how weird your specs are. It took about a year and a half to build my 30" 5-string bass (EADGC) but the inlay and electronics took quite a bit of extra time.

There are a lot of great luthiers out there these days, Stambaugh is far from the only one who builds weird stuff. But I'd put him on your list, especially if you reach out to others and find they are less accommodating when it comes to building non-standard specs.

 

[micguy]

If you have some wiggle room on your specs, the Warmoth Gecko 5 Wide seems pretty hard to beat.

I second this. If you have Warmoth do the finishing and have a decently competent luthier or setup person nearby, you can have a bass with your specs (or very close) built within your budget, and MUCH faster than a full custom build would take. Warmoth's stuff is absolutely top notch - you're losing nothing performance wise with this approach.

If you want to know what Warmoth will do "off menu", call them - use your phone to actually talk into (does anyone under 40 do that nowadays?). They're very good at giving answers as to what they will and won't do.

 

[ardgedee]

$4k builder with quick turnaround 5 string bass, long scale (35") uncommonly wide neck (2.18" nut width), EMG electronics. headless, multiscale, finish all flexible .

Fast, cheap, idiosyncratic: Pick 2

I agree that the Gecko is probably going to be your best option with the parameters above: 35" scale, 56mm nut, electronics and finish can be whatever you want. Body and neck combined will start around $500, close to double that if you have Warmoth do the paint/finish, and yet more if you opt for exotic woods or options. You can ask Warmoth where their EMG rout positions are. They can put them where you like although there's a surcharge for anywhere other than the defaults. EMG pickups and electronics will add another $400-ish, and the hardware will cost whatever you want to spend. If you don't want to assemble and finish it yourself, budget a tech or luthier's time. I'm guessing your net cost would start in the $2k range.

Having a custom builder do everything from scratch in your timeframe would be trickier. The ones set up to fulfill custom orders quickly are usually using CNC or have templates and processes to take care of the shaping and dimensions efficiently, and changing default parameters like neck width or length will slow down things down and correspondingly add to the cost. Although you can be lucky and find one that already has the templates/shaping files that match your specs. You'll have to find a builder whose work you like and prices are in your budget, and then ask about off-menu options.

 

[mikezimmerman]

My two custom Bordwell 5s have 2-3/16" nuts and 20mm spacing at the bridge, so I know Cliff Bordwell can do it. Price is in your price range (depending on options, of course), but I think Cliff's current wait time may be longer than you are hoping for.

For a quicker build, the Warmoth Wide-5 Gecko seems like the best option. (The old Warmoth Wide-5 necks are what eventually led me to order my Bordwells...)

 

[eeyorebass]

If you have some wiggle room on your specs, the Warmoth Gecko 5 Wide seems pretty hard to beat.

2 3/16" nut, 35" scale, 24 frets. 5 piece maple or wenge neck (can't choose the contrasting wood though), lots of fretboard options, graphite stabilizing rods.

You can e-mail for potential "off menu" options. Nothing too crazy, but things like pickup placement or maybe wood or inlay options that aren't listed as standard.

Fully finished body and neck would probably be around $1500 depending on what exactly you go with.

Let's say 800 for hardware and electronics?

If you're not the DIY type, you've got a fair amount of your budget left to have a competent lutheir do the final assembly and setup.

I second this. If you have Warmoth do the finishing and have a decently competent luthier or setup person nearby, you can have a bass with your specs (or very close) built within your budget, and MUCH faster than a full custom build would take. Warmoth's stuff is absolutely top notch - you're losing nothing performance wise with this approach.

If you want to know what Warmoth will do "off menu", call them - use your phone to actually talk into (does anyone under 40 do that nowadays?). They're very good at giving answers as to what they will and won't do.

Popped in to say exactly this. Warmoth Gecko 5 Wide.

 

[logdrum]

I have one that was a BIY build by one of our TB'ers built in 2014. It is even wider than your specs 20mm spacing and custom Nordstrand's and it's 2.25" at the nut. 35 inch scale. All Hipshots

I upgraded the electronics to Lusithand Filter and is added a battery door for 18v. It is fretless. But it is not light. That neck with ebony fingerboard is heavy and mahogany and Olive topwood for the body is also not light. 10 lb + The build thread itself was called Wide 5


I would contact Perry at Unga guitars and he should be able to build you one . I am not sure what he would charge. He can do necks for sure. He converted my Stratocaster to a baritone and shaped the neck in 2 hours while talking to me.. He knows my bass and he is the one who upgraded the electronics. Unga Guitars & Woodworks But I think his FB and Instagram have better pics.

 

[songwriter21]

Fast, cheap, idiosyncratic: Pick 2

I agree that the Gecko is probably going to be your best option with the parameters above: 35" scale, 56mm nut, electronics and finish can be whatever you want. Body and neck combined will start around $500, close to double that if you have Warmoth do the paint/finish, and yet more if you opt for exotic woods or options. You can ask Warmoth where their EMG rout positions are. They can put them where you like although there's a surcharge for anywhere other than the defaults. EMG pickups and electronics will add another $400-ish, and the hardware will cost whatever you want to spend. If you don't want to assemble and finish it yourself, budget a tech or luthier's time. I'm guessing your net cost would start in the $2k range.

Having a custom builder do everything from scratch in your timeframe would be trickier. The ones set up to fulfill custom orders quickly are usually using CNC or have templates and processes to take care of the shaping and dimensions efficiently, and changing default parameters like neck width or length will slow down things down and correspondingly add to the cost. Although you can be lucky and find one that already has the templates/shaping files that match your specs. You'll have to find a builder whose work you like and prices are in your budget, and then ask about off-menu options.

Ha, your "pick 2" is like with finding someone special:

Sexy
Single
Sane

Pick 2.

 

[funkinbottom]

If you have some wiggle room on your specs, the Warmoth Gecko 5 Wide seems pretty hard to beat.

Warmoth's stuff is absolutely top notch - you're losing nothing performance wise with this approach.

^^Definitely this^^

 

[lowfreqgeek]

Gecko Wide 5 is your huckleberry.

 

[logdrum]

And also Perry of Unga worked for Santa Cruz guitars, so he is not just an assembler of parts or only does solid body. He can also do multi-scale, headless and chamber or build you a hollow body. He also knows Carey of Nordstrand so if you any custom electronics he knows the man, He might be able to meet your time frame.

 

[2112]

Not sure he could meet you on cost & delivery time but, being fair, I'm not sure anyone could. Even so, if you're into graphite necks under a maple board on a modern-style build, you might check in with @GeoffGould. I could not be happier with my Goulds... top-notch fit, gorgeous finishes, massive sound, rock-solid-stability, and super playability.

 

[Brendan]

Not sure he could meet you on cost & delivery time but, being fair, I'm not sure anyone could. Even so, if you're into graphite necks under a maple board on a modern-style build, you might check in with @GeoffGould. I could not be happier with my Goulds... top-notch fit, gorgeous finishes, massive sound, rock-solid-stability, and super playability.

Funny you should say that... my GGi5 @ 1.94" is how I know I need to go beyond 2" lol

 

[2112]

Funny you should say that... my GGi5 @ 1.94" is how I know I need to go beyond 2" lol

Indeed. I think Geoff's sixers go 2.125" at the nut. Maybe they could be adapted for a sweet fiver. Or maybe he could go just a little wider on a custom out to that 2 3/16 you're wanting.

 

[GeoffGould]

hmmm..haven't checked in in a while!