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Very nice!! Seems like it was well worth the initial risk of ordering through AliExpress. Have been contemplating ordering one through there as well (non-custom) but I'm still struggling with the mental aspects of order from halfway around the world.
Their protection plan is very much in-favor of the buyer. I've had the bass for 24 hours and the seller doesn't have my money yet, I have until June 6th to file a complaint if it exists. He asked me several times to come to him immediately with any issues instead of taking action with aliexpress. The seller can extend the delivery date with your approval, which I used as leverage every time I wanted a photo or more information. This is how I got an in-progress photo and the opportunity to pick my top, every time the delivery date got close I told him I would be happy to extend it if he obliged with my reasonable requests.
I never really felt like I was out of the loop in the process. Yes, it ran over his quoted timeline, but I never really believed it would be finished in a 2 months. I know Kiesel tells people 8-12 weeks on semi-custom builds, and those are even pre-programmed CNC bodies and necks; I believe the neck was CNC routed but the body looks to be done by hand.
Very cool.
I can't shake the feeling if you'd give the fella more time those he'd have taken care of the glue lines .
I can't shake the feeling if you'd give the fella more time those he'd have taken care of the glue lines .
How custom did you get with this?
Were you be able to specify things like the nut/heel width, fretboard radius, neck profile, etc?
Were you be able to specify things like the nut/heel width, fretboard radius, neck profile, etc?
Right, but I didn't feel like I was pressuring him at all. I was trying to be very understanding, and I mentioned to him several times that I was hoping to have it wrapped up before the end of July, so he knew he still had several weeks to work.
Negative, I simply referenced the Mayones photo and sent him my request. I didn't want to rock the boat too much since I knew the multiscale was already appealing to a niche market. They may be able to accommodate such customization, and if I order another one I'd be interested in seeing what options they do have. I treated this as more of an off-the-shelf bass that was merely shaped to my specifications.
Right, but I didn't feel like I was pressuring him at all. I was trying to be very understanding, and I mentioned to him several times that I was hoping to have it wrapped up before the end of July, so he knew he still had several weeks to work. /QUOTE] OK. You know the tone of your conversations. I was going by you stating " I started pestering him" twice in your first post.
Personally I think you done greatThe matching headstock and top look fantastic.
I'd give $400 for that all day long.
I've paid lots more for uglier, and probably worse playing and sounding basses.
I'd say you did OK.
I've paid lots more for uglier, and probably worse playing and sounding basses.
I'd say you did OK.
haha I just checked the seller's store on Aliexpress and they kept OP's design in their store.
Seems like they were proud of their work
Yes! He mentioned they might make 1-2 more to keep their costs manageable so it wouldn't truly be 1 of a kind. It doesn't bother me.
I'm really considering ordering one since I can't find a cheapish 4 string fanned fret anywhere. How do you feel yours has held up?
It seems to be doing well! The finish hasn't started flaking off in random spurts and the neck hasn't really needed much adjustment. It still has the stock China strings on it, which I've been wanting to change out since I got it but haven't gotten around to moving on yet.
I don't play it as often as I want to, I bought it for a gig I don't really have, so I can't attest to how it handles huge temperature changes and just the overall grind of being a regular player. My table is set by playing worship and I moonlight with separate alt-country and indie rock bands, so my Jag with a P and flats gets 99% of my attention. I know that I can throw some flats on the China Jag and it do pretty much the same thing, but this thing just begs to play breakdowns through a Darkglass. Maybe one day...
Thanks so much! That's very helpful. When you sent photos, did you include the front and back?
I did, but they ended up having to make changes due to the construction. I had planned it to have a painted back of neck that was bolt on, but the only way they knew how to make it was neck-through and he said they'd have a hard time painting just the back of the neck. I more or less gave them a short shopping list with highest priority on the shape, top, pickguard and scale length and they filled in the remainder.
Thank you so much. Another dumb question. How the heck did you get the halo guitar editor to slant your pickups? When inselect fanned fret it leaves the pickups in the normal orientation
Choose passive or active soapbar pick-ups and a few of them say angled before their description.
12.4 lbs on my bathroom scale
That would kinda freak me out actually. I'd be worried about using green wood still full of sap, and then having glue joints crack a year later.