Thursday, April 7, 2011

What Makes a Truly Custom Bass Guitar?

By Benjamin Harrison


Custom bass guitars are more than just instruments. They are an extension and expression of who you are. Sure, there are several companies that build custom basses, and they may even do a really good job. But you want more than just average. You've got to find the right builder when you've been longing for a custom bass that is truly"customized." Consider all aspects of what you want in your instrument before making a decision.


Don's Custom 7 String



The very first aspect is curb appeal. If a bass is just plain ugly, you probably won't appreciate other aspects of it as much as if you had to pick your jaw up off the floor every time you looked at it. As uncritical as we want to believe we are, everybody judges with their eyes first. You want an instrument that makes you proud in public. If you love how your bass looks, you'll going to feel good when you're playing it. Plus you'll love the jealous stares from everyone else in the room. When it comes to curb appeal you've got to think through all your choices. There are countless woods, finishes and hardware to choose from. This is why it is so crucial to work with an artisan with decades of experience and understanding of woods, electronics, setups, and all other aspects of the building process. One decision affects others, so it is important that your builder knows every details.

Next, you need to think the action. There is nothing worse that a beautiful bass that is a pain to play. I am going to skip all the relationship analogies that would further paint my point because you all know where that could go. It is imperative that your bass be built by a technically competent bass player. There is no way for someone that cannot play to understand action. So many "custom" bass guitars these days are nothing more than a small production line run by people that have never played bass. A Rybski bass is not intended to be wall art. It is designed and built by a bass player, for bass players. As soon as you start to play a Rybski you will join a long and growing cult of believers.



Lastly, you've got to think through your electronics. How anyone could claim that a bass is custom when it's pickups were ordered from a stock supplier really blows my mind. Custom instruments call for custom electronics. Common sense tells you there is nothing custom about stock electronics. Rybski takes great pride in the pairing of playing styles, woods, and the electronics. There are so few builders in this world that can grasp and excel at all of these areas of instrument building.

Rybski is truly a custom bass. A Rybski bass is a paramount example of what bass players are hoping for when they want their own custom bass. Rybski is a one man shop with in-house custom electronics. Timeless designs and eye popping finishes aside, Rybski basses are recognized by musicians around the world for their playability and room shaking sound. Good luck in your personal quest for your own custom bass guitar.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...