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Who's Your Favorite Custom Builder???

#181
I saw that PETE SKJOLD was named a few times - in the company of others, never singled out as THE favorite.

Pete is hands down my fave. Top-notch instruments - what you envision as your "dream" bass will come to fruition and Pete's customer service is second to none - when I call Pete, Pete answers the phone. He fills a customer with confidence concerning the build from beginning to end and quite honestly, Pete has the patience of a saint. A Skjold is an investment (as are all the others named in this thread - none of them are a cheap date) BUT, IMHO, a Skjold is the biggest bang for your bucks among the boutique basses.

My second Skjold will be in my hands in a month or so and I am stoked.
 
#182
shadowmac said:
I saw that PETE SKJOLD was named a few times - in the company of others, never single out as THE favorite.

Pete is hands down my fave. Top-notch instruments - what you envision as your "dream" bass will come to fruition and Pete's customer service is second to none - when I call Pete, Pete answers the phone. He fills a customer with confidence concerning the build from beginning to end and quite honestly, Pete has the patience of a saint. A Skjold is an investment (as are all the others named in this thread - none of them are a cheap date) BUT, IMHO, a Skjold is the biggest bang for your bucks among the boutique basses.

My second Skjold will be in my hands in a month or so and I am stoked.
Click to expand...

Pete is awesome! +1 on the customer service/confidence/patience part!
 
#186
Mike Kinal, Vancouver BC builder

I have another in the works. Amazing tone, beautiful woods, and quickly responds to all questions.
 

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#187
Faves:

Owned:

Zon. My first custom was a Custom. :) fretless played exclusively for years. I wonder where it is now. (amethyst flame, chrome 5 piezo)

Roscoe. Great CS, and a bass that just sings.

Emmett Chapman: absolutely unique individual (and instruments) in the field. Met in person a couple times. 8-string next...

Own: Steinberger. NS6. The challenge of a lifetime in this bass. Very personal CS, spoke with the man over the phone a few times.

Actually, Chapman and Steinberger aren't custom builders... Oh well. Honorable mention then.


Met:

Joe Zon, briefly as his shop. Took care of my issue likety split.

Ron and Mica Wickersham. Super down to earth folks considering the instruments they build.

Rick Turner. Shop visit. Gave ms time when he seemed very busy. Feel guilty about it now...
 
#191
Brian Barrett:
I have yet to play a bass that just sits perfectly in my hands and is anywhere near as comfy as my LEJ5. Really surprised his name didn't show up more than it has on this forum. Brian's basses feel and sound unreal. All this also goes for Chris Benavente.

I still haven't played one of Nino's basses but I have one ordered and can't wait to get it in! As far as customer service goes Nino is one of the best and I'm expecting the bass he's building me to become one of my favorites.

Other than these. I really would like to play one of jimmie Coppolos basses. Love the look of them and if they sound and feel like I hear they do, I'm sure he would be one of my favs. I plan on ordering a hippy trippy dippy whenever I can get some cash together.
 
#192
Deburgh said:
Alembic all the way :) Of all the basses I've owned, nothing comes close to the tones I'm getting out of these.

13828_wallpaper3.jpg
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(Cue Homer Simpson donut-love sound)

That is my absolute dream bass. This post pushed me over the edge to sell my Alembic Essence and everything else to upgrade. Two great Thunderchiefs, a rare Veillette Paris 5, a Bongo, my Wishbass... buh-bye!

Actually I think I will keep my Essence too.
 
#193
In no particular order...

Roger Sadowsky
Carey Nordstrand
Mike Tobias
Brian Barrett

I can't comment on Pete Skjold yet as I am only receiving my Skjold in a couple of months but so far the experience has been great.

The other 4 have been amazing in product and CS.

Zon would probably get an honorable mention for their great product...if only their communication was better.
 
#200
After I took delivery of my custom acoustic guitar (sublime!), my good friend and favourite luthier Michael S. Haney (Google "Guitar Doctor, Reading, PA) said to me,

"We should think about an archtop, fretless bass for you..."

I'd need to sell a kidney, but that would be some bass!
Mike's attention to detail is second to none (he learned some of that from Phil Kubicki, and the rest is his own anal-retentiveness!). His fret dressing is flawless. His sense of tone, and his selection of wood is breathtaking.

He and I assembled my Warmoth Jazz together some years ago. He'd see things I never would have imagined to look for. It's still playing wonderfully without any need for further adjustment.
At his house he had a Peavey Grind bass that he'd set up and 'tweaked.' That thing played like...well....you know...
My point is that a guitar/bass that goes through his hands turns into a work of art and sounds fantastic.
 

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