Who's Your Favorite Custom Builder???

[capnsandwich]

I'd like to give Phil Kubicki some love here too. His basses are some of the most innovative and easy playing instruments I've ever played. Anything Pre-Fender built by him is a nice playing bass IMO.

 

[Scoopbass]

Resurrecting an old thread.

The best builder working in the UK at the moment, and arguably the world, is Alan Cringean at ACG. I have eight (soon to be nine) of his basses. For me there is no-one else who combines innovation, design, ergonomics, style, tone and exceptional luthiery skills in the manner in which Alan somehow attains.

His instruments are peerless.

 

[J Gold]

A lot of people beat up on Dave Pushic, but I rolled the dice last year because his prices were great, and I'm very happy with the finished product, and he was very easy to work with. Even now, replies to my questions with a couple of hours...

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[Munjibunga]

I'm really glad to see Bud LeCompte up there. I've got a VB5 coming very soon. From my experience, after having met the builders of most of my basses, it would be impossible for me to pick a favorite. But my list, not in any particular order, would include all the guys at Fodera, Roger Sadowsky, Jerzy Drozd, George Furlanetto, and Pat Wilkins (although I don't own one of his basses). I have to say Bud LeCompte has very reasonable prices for his work. I can't wait to get my bass.

 

[dudelove]

mørch
- Mørch Guitars -

 

[cnltb]

+1 for Mr. Greg Curbow (got a 7-string fretless and it just looks like a statue ... and sounds awesome)

also

Fodera (i want one badly ... maybe next year)

Jerzy Drozd (got two of them - flawless work astounding quality and superb sound and playability - perfect basses ... )

Kenneth Lawrence (awesome instruments)

Bill Conklin

Jens Ritter

Wassilios Nikolaidis (Invalid Link Removed take a look !)

Waja looks interesting , but a few peoples' work comes to mind when looking at his basses( lefay and wood & tronics to name but two)

 

[jdthebassman]

nobody mentions chris larkin. he is the alembic of ireland, mike pedulla, alembic, john diggins.

 

[John D]

IF I had to keep it to play, I'd take a John Kallas built Fender clone over all the basses shown in this thread. This isn't meant as disrespect to anyone's tastes, it's just my opinion and my preference. The picture below is an example of bass perfection, IMO, and it is "borrowed" from John's website. I have not connection to John in any way, except that I admire his work.

 

[JOEP054]

A quick shout out for Daniel Fernandez and Ken Lawrence. There are so many fantastic builders now but these two come to my mind most often.

 

[millsbass5]

Mike Tobias
Carl Thompson
Kenny Lawrence

 

[M.Wrenn]

Fodera all the way

 

[redcloud]

Alembic is tops.

 

[logicman69]

My Vote... ScottyD from Redeemer Basses. Probably some of the niceset Single-Cut designs arround:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f126/redeemer-sc5-cocobolo-top-birdseye-fb-$1800-849008/

 

[icecycle66]

Shamray.
His shop will build anything you want.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Fuzzbass]

Roger Sadowsky

 

[Kryptos]

Scott Beckwith @ Birdsong.

 

[Howzit]

Andrew Drake: of Drake Customs

 

[IAmACrocodile]

WOW... major GAS alert!
I thought that my collection was complete - and then along comes Morch

I am putting together the perfect guitar in my head right now, for him to build! Thankyou, Dudelove!

mørch
- Mørch Guitars -

 

[Means2nEnd]

ZON

I haven't played many of the other builders mentioned but from my experience Joe Zon makes impecable instruments for use in the real world. Beautiful and built so solid and one of the best necks I have ever felt.

MTD

Even if you don't think so your ears will smack you and tell you to listen again. Played many but do not own yet...

 

[sps500]

Nordstrand!