Challenges related to Custom Boutique basses and builders?

jeanmelao2

jeanmelao2

Sep 17, 2008
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#1
Hello everyone,
I'm trying to understand major challenges within the Custom Boutique Bass and Guitar industry. I'm a bass player and custom guitar enthusiast. :)

-- For customers: What complaints do you have regarding small custom guitar builders/ companies? Any bad experiences?

-- For Builders: What’s the number one (or two) problem you have working in the industry? I’m talking about something that drives you (or customers) crazy or takes A LOT of your time.

For example, problems hiring qualified people, Marketing, warehouse space, equipment (faulty or lack thereof), long lead times.

I believe your insights could be really valuable.
I’d love to identify the biggest problems and see if/how I can help small builders to solve it.
Thank you!
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#2
Leo Fender has been quoted saying: "If I have $ 100 budget to build an instrument, I'd put $ 99 in functionality, and $ 1 in looks". No one can argue that this has been the wining formula for 75 years now. With custom and boutique builders, it is often more like 60% looks and 40 % function, or at least these are my impressions. The instruments are gorgeous to look at, but at the moment you pick them up, they don't feel and sound so great.
 
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#3
NiOOH said:
Leo Fender has been quoted saying: "If I have $ 100 budget to build an instrument, I'd put $ 99 in functionality, and $ 1 in looks". No one can argue that this has been the wining formula for 75 years now. With custom and boutique builders, it is often more like 60% looks and 40 % function, or at least these are my impressions. The instruments are gorgeous to look at, but at the moment you pick them up, they don't feel and sound so great.
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I've played many, many boutiques, including via a trip once to Winter NAMM. Know what? My used $600 '00s Schecter Stiletto Studio can stand with all of them, if not more. Granted, I replaced the bridge and tuners, but still crazy, right?
 
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#4
As a player, I got no problems w/ small boutique builders and I am happy that they exist. I don't own a boutique instrument because the basses I like are simpler passive FOS basses. I think of an instrument as a tool to express yourself, and functionality is more important than the looks. And I like the look of FOS basses over coffee table basses anyway. On top of this, CNC machines used by people who know what they are doing is unbeatable at this age IMHO, and as much as respect the artists some boutique basses are ridiculously priced.
 
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#5
Leo Fender admitted that the reverse P configuration was better but the standard layout persists out of history. Much the same as the inferior VHS vs Beta debate of decades ago.

Expectation seems to guide marketing, and the PJ configuration is not acceptable to some, seemingly because it is neither "true" Precision nor Jazz. I consider it to be the best of both.

Tailored vol/tone controls on passives are rare. The assumption is that the most popular option is 'everything full up', simply because nothing else is useful.

Passive basses still manufactured without adequate shielding.

I've owned/played Jazz, Ric 4001, Music Man, early Precision, but no more. I only have a few custom hybrids now apart from a Fingerbone 5er which is modded. I've tried to combine the best ideas, and eliminate the problems.

I don't care what they look like, only what they sound/feel like.
 
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#6
I've had very good experiences with three boutique builders and one bad experience. The good ones kept me informed of the progress, even when there were delays, and delivered exactly what I wanted. The bad one I had to pull teeth to get any feedback, delay after delay with no communication. When it finally arrived, it looked like it was the first instrument he built, though his web site had lots of previous builds and of him in his workshop. I knew it was him because we had a couple of FaceTime calls. I should have researched him better, there were some negative posts out there.
 
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#9
NiOOH said:
Leo Fender has been quoted saying: "If I have $ 100 budget to build an instrument, I'd put $ 99 in functionality, and $ 1 in looks". No one can argue that this has been the wining formula for 75 years now. With custom and boutique builders, it is often more like 60% looks and 40 % function, or at least these are my impressions. The instruments are gorgeous to look at, but at the moment you pick them up, they don't feel and sound so great.
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That's interesting, I didn't know he said that! I learned something today.
I agree that some builders focus a whole lot on looks, but not ergonomics and functionality. Looks like the ones that DO focus on both, are the most successful, from what I've seen/read. Also the ones that bring something unique or innovative to the table.
 
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#10
songwriter21 said:
I've played many, many boutiques, including via a trip once to Winter NAMM. Know what? My used $600 '00s Schecter Stiletto Studio can stand with all of them, if not more. Granted, I replaced the bridge and tuners, but still crazy, right?
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Yeah, it is so subjective how people perceive and value expensive vs inexpensive instruments. It seems to me that they are completely different groups of people (mindset, tastes, and financial) that would buy one vs the other.
I agree with you, I also have a used $400 Washburn fretless Taurus T24F that is absolutely stunning to me and plays easy like butter... Other $$$ basses have more frills, looks, and attention to detail, sure. But the feel and functionality are most important, IMO.
 
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#12
MYLOWFREQ said:
As a player, I got no problems w/ small boutique builders and I am happy that they exist. I don't own a boutique instrument because the basses I like are simpler passive FOS basses. I think of an instrument as a tool to express yourself, and functionality is more important than the looks. And I like the look of FOS basses over coffee table basses anyway. On top of this, CNC machines used by people who know what they are doing is unbeatable at this age IMHO, and as much as respect the artists some boutique basses are ridiculously priced.
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It seems like there are options in every price point nowadays, eh?
CNC is a huge game changer, especially as they become more widely used.
 
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#13
jeanmelao2 said:
-- For customers: What complaints do you have regarding small custom guitar builders/ companies? Any bad experiences?

Thank you!
1f3b8.png
Click to expand...

Nice to have, but they’re musically and functionally unnecessary vanity projects. On par with “needing” a custom car, and you’ll sound far better while getting better gigs putting the time & money into focused lessons and showing up with an instrument that doesn’t attract attention and derision.
 
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#14
KohanMike said:
I've had very good experiences with three boutique builders and one bad experience. The good ones kept me informed of the progress, even when there were delays, and delivered exactly what I wanted. The bad one I had to pull teeth to get any feedback, delay after delay with no communication. When it finally arrived, it looked like it was the first instrument he built, though his web site had lots of previous builds and of him in his workshop. I knew it was him because we had a couple of FaceTime calls. I should have researched him better, there were some negative posts out there.
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That's the 3rd time today that I hear something about the horrible communication that some builders have with their customers. Sounds like a total disrespect, many times.
I also hear the same from builders: Wealthy middle aged men who exchange emails for hours and hours, arranging details of a custom bass, and then they say that it is not the right time to buy.
Bad communication is the norm, rather than the exception, from what I've heard.
 
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#15
spade2you said:
Some take longer than expected. Sometimes they are pricey and still have a big wait list.

I've had a lot of great luck with builders. I like to take risks and a few things fell short. A big part of it is KNOWING the sound you want and neck dimensions. Another negative is that I got hooked and keep buying them....
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The GAS is real!! :bassist:
Why do you think some builders have huge waitlists? Like 9, 12, 18 months?
Honestly, I can't wait to have enough money to buy a proper custom bass, but I dont *need* it. It is more like a vanity project, something that will be specific to my needs/wants, treasured and played many many times. But like you said, you gotta know the deets about the sound and neck profile, weight, etc. to make sure that is right for you.
 
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#17
2thAche said:
I think the problem is the target audience is very small but extremely picky and hard to please, if not just plain fickle. On top of that, there's no way to try before buying a custom order that may or may not be what they expect.
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That's a huge downside, isn't it? I think that's why you gotta know all of the dimensions, specs, features of the basses you like, etc etc before you purchase a $$$ custom...
The other option is to fly all the way to their shop or a guitar show and try out their instruments... but that gets even more expensive very fast too.
 
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#18
StayLow said:
Nice to have, but they’re musically and functionally unnecessary vanity projects. On par with “needing” a custom car, and you’ll sound far better while getting better gigs putting the time & money into focused lessons and showing up with an instrument that doesn’t attract attention and derision.
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I agree it is a vanity project! But also something to be desired if you are so deeply involved in your own art/playing that you have serious GAS to buy a custom if it will make you happier.
For the session and gigging musician, though, I totally agree that a standard or "less attractive" instrument is probably the best way to go to have more/better gigs.
 
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