LeftyBassist.com

Hi all,

I would like to have your picks on who are the best custom P-Bass builders out there that can build to exact Pre-CBS specs. (1,75" nut, 7,25" radius etc... etc...).

I don't want to go the Fender CS route as they are too pricey in my opinion but mostly for the fact that I'm not too keen on giving my money to a company that doesn't make their most interesting models available to lefties.

Up until now, I checked out Nash, Bluesman Vintage, JohnK, Rebel Relic and Bravewood.

Nash : Doesn't offer the 1,75" nut
Blusman vintage : Not sure about nut width but not crazy about new headstock shape. (Basses seem to sound awesome in youtube vids though)
JohnK : Pricey and doesn't seem to install correct period bridge and tuners
Rebel Relic : Pine instead of alder or ash....?
Bravewood : Not enough info or clips.

So who's your pick and why?

Thx


Mark

Roger Sadowsky will do custom builds here are some pics I have a Jazz coming in July. His necks are said to be the best. Only catch if you visit the show room chances are no lefty's in stock if you know someone who has one give it a run.

http://www.sadowsky.com/

I would also check out Rod from Regenerate Guitar Works. He is a member of this board and doesn't charge extra for lefties (like many companies).

http://regenerateguitarworks.com/
https://www.facebook.com/RegenerateGuitarWorks

+1 for Regenerate. I have a Lakland Glaub that is amazing but Rod's bass is as nice with more customizable options.

more Kudo's for Rod. I have one of his '55 Tributes and could not be happier. ROd's pricing structure is extremely competitive.

You may also want to check out Mike Lull, Carey Nordstrand, and Jimmy of Alleve-Coppolo (sp?). All do excellent work and have been around forever (very established reputations).

You might be better served by a lesser known luthier who will build to your exact specs. Their loss, not yours. I recently had a passive P/J built by Skip at Knuckle Guitar Works, though I will warn you that the website hasn't been updated since the 80's or so. Contact him with questions. Mine has the best workmanship I have seen, and I have owned an MIA Fender, MIA G&L SB-1 and L2500, an Alembic Orion, and a Carvin. If something happened to mine, I would definitely replace it.

You might contact Nino Valenti through that "other" bass forum (Yes, they DO exist!). I've heard good things about him, although he purchases exactly what you want and assembles the parts. (Not exactly a creator.)

There are others as well, but read up on these guys.

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

I'll check it out.


Other than that, anybody ordered body and neck from musikraft and have them painted and assemble by a luthier? How did it turn out?

What's your budget? That defines everything.

If you have $4k, you can't go wrong with Alleva Coppollo. If you have $3k, you can't go wrong with Lakland or Mike Lull (if you can live without nitro - i don't think they offer it). If you are looking at around $2k, maybe Nino Valenti, or Pat Wilkins Guitars (he has a very vintagey "budget" line, the Road Tested Series, that aims for a vintage tone a feel (no nitro), and sells for just under $2k. http://www.roadtestedguitars.com/products.htm

As mentioned before, Regenerate Guitars can also build you a bass with all those specs, and also around $2k (I think).

I believe that New Jersey Guitar and Bass Center still has a used Lakland P -bass with a 1.75" nut, for well under $2k. http://www.newjerseyguitarandbasscenter.com/LeftHanded.html

I know this isn't helpful so I don't know why I'm posting, but Dan Atkinson would have been pretty much perfect. He did his builds completely to spec, so if you wanted something that was perfectly vintage in every way he would have been your man, and his prices were excellent (no lefty upcharge either). Unfortunately he closed shop a few months ago. Here's mine, which I believe is the only lefty he made:



And here's a thread on Talkbass that has some other examples of his work:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/atkins ... ub-712569/

EDIT: This is the finest instrument I've ever owned, and it's my main axe for shows and recording. It's very light, perfectly balanced, has a magnificent sound, and plays like butter.

Thanks reynoldbot for posting your bass, and letting us know this bass can Never be had!

A big tick to rod, I have one of his 55 tributes a well made and a beautiful bass. It's my go to bass for big shows and I've had many compliments on its sound and quality.

Hi Guys, I have several custom basses and Valenti is great for the price, I have bass SN number 0071 (see link below), I think I paid $1800 a few years ago, being left handed it was nice working with Nino as I was able to pick any color, any type of neck, and configuration of pick ups. For this one I got a Jazz bass, I paid a little extra for matching headstock ect.
http://valentibasses9.blogspot.com/

I also have Twin Mike Lull basses, a P and J bass and yes a little more $$ but great basses.

Nice looking bass, and the Pearl pick guard looks great against the Gold....

What about Lakland, do they offer their PB in lefty?
http://www.lakland.com/44-51.htm

All great choices and fine instruments I'm sure.

But I would like to go with a Fender headstock and look.

I think that you and us have reached the end of the road here. I think that your only options are to get the parts from Musikraft (which seems to be the only part manufacturer offering a Fender headstock and a 1.75" nut), send it to a paint show that does nitro and have a tech assemble it for you, or go Fender Custom Shop. If you can do without the Fender headstock, the options open up, but if not, I don't see any other possibilities.

I'm sure this makes you salivate at least a bit:
http://www.drumcityguitarland.com/drumcitygl/stores/1/Fender-Custom-Shop-Team-Built-One-Off-58-P-Bass-Relic-3-Color-Sunburst-2013-Left-Handed-4-String-Electric-Bass-P6288C81.aspx

[url][URL=http://s876.photobucket.com/user/ezstep/media/P8170410.jpg.html][/url][/url]

My 1988 G&L SB-1.


SB-1's are available again, but I'm not so sure they are available lefty. Wouldn't hurt to check. Certainly not "custom" though.

I have a jazz from a swedish luthier called Markus Schatz. He makes P-basses too. It's a good bass and not too expensive..

http://www.schatzguitars.se/SchatzGuita ... _info.html

The bass makes me drool... The price dries it up almost instantly lol

Did a bit more research on John Kallas.

Looks like he does build to exact vintage specs.

Anyone here have had experience with him?