5 Boutique Brands Every Bassist Should Know | Reverb

[@derekswanson6018]

True bassists know using a pick over fingers is a tonal preference not a skill gap

[@USSLIBERTYREMEMBERER]

“did i file my nails this morning? eh I’ll bring a pick either way”

[@garideb]

I agree completely. I usually get to a point in my daily practise when I start playing with a pick. I'd say I play 75% with fingers though but you can only do so much with human skin!

[@endy7432]

yeah, playing with fingers is great and it gives you some cool sounds but oh my god is it so goddamn fun to bust out a pick and get your chris squire on

[@andrewrobertson3737]

im fingers and thumb myself but a pick gives a tighter sounding note without having to use gadgets,mt friend uses a pick all the time and he's amazing with it,essentially it comes down to the individual.

[@jh565bb]

Agreed

[@patrickmcleod111]

I want a heavy metal bass. By "heavy metal", I mean I want a bass made entirely of tungsten or tantalum.........that I can use to play soft rock with!

[@jerrylancaster256]

Ibanez made an entire guitar out of brass, it's not a bass but it's the closest you can get

[@loutrec4375]

Jerry Mann turns out it is a saxophone

[@benmorris118]

James trussart does some

[@Errafri]

What kind if stand would you like with your order? We have some browning foots and a german 88mm stand in stock. For any other wishes your order will saddly have to be a bit delayed...

[@HBCrigs]

Might sound really pretty and harmonic

[@tavicotavio]

6:45 Oh so turns out mayonaise IS an instrument

[@hoboroadie]

That DOES look surprisingly low-key despite the busy laminations.

[@olivierjacquet]

I see you're a man of culture

[@vinekolladiv4494]

Not everyone will get this. Hats off to you mate.

[@avalerionbass]

The lol is strong with this one.

[@lawabidingcitizen5153]

@@vinekolladiv4494 I'm sure literally everyone understood "his" joke

[@starclassic161]

This guy is great! Keep him around

[@pwokaren]

I liked the Sandberg, but, that Serek bass needs a great marketing company. They got it going on. That tone is amazing !

[@andrewcoates4952]

I’m not gonna sugarcoat this, I’m into the Serek.

[@MrFullCake]

hahaha brands that "you and me are used to" . Manages to say only brands out of my price range. god please help me im so poor.

[@danielestrada8932]

Ibanez tmb100, is the bass I'm getting next month first ever

[@MrFullCake]

@@danielestrada8932 great choice i strated with an ibanez too. Now i play a partcaster shortscale bass :3

[@GoFarAway5338]

Do I want to pay my rent ...or buy one of these basses?

[@helmzmen]

8:45 Perfect bass for doom, since it has infinite sustain and the prefect look. Ron from Bongripper is pretty genius to realize this and take advantage of it

[@baconslap9417]

Repulsiooooooon

[@csakacsabi]

Reverb bass videos always represent high quality content. Kudos!

[@-k-b-]

Never heard of Serek but DAMN! That sounded excellent!!!

[@fionahensley4715]

lol came from serek to here

[@DMSProduktions]

Vulcan made, so VERY logical! \\//

[@yuichituba]

Sereks are awesome! Jake already has an 8 month waiting list on orders.

[@DMSProduktions]

May he live long, & prosper!

[@dylanhall6355]

Sounded almost exactly like a nice American P-bass but super cool looking!

[@caramel109]

That Serek sounds lovely, like an old P-bass but with extra warmth, might have to check them out...

[@omarpigeon]

That aluminium bass is AWESOME. I bet it would compliment wonderfully the different resonance of another wood-built instrument. Obviously the sinister tuning plays its part, but EGC surely make some amazing instruments.

[@yetanotherbassdude]

And this is why I love bass, because I listened to that bass just now and *hated* it, but that's ok because if it makes another musician happy it's all good with me!

[@doug440]

@@yetanotherbassdude​ Ya, it was hideous, but that's just me

[@yuichituba]

@@yetanotherbassdude ok, I'm glad I wasn't the only one that thought it sounded like absolute shit. Glad other people can appreciate it and hear it as gold.

[@ernestochang1744]

it sounds like a resonator guitar

[@martinportelance138]

@@doug440 I'd personally opine that it's kinda clean-nice as far as looks goes, but it sounded buzzy and hollow to my ears. There are other, synthetic materials that sound better, IMO.

[@BassAdvisor]

Maybe I was wrong, but I understand boutique as opposed to mass production instruments. Most of the cases made by one or a few luthiers. As far as I know Sandberg and Mayones are mass produced.

[@Lysdexia]

Sandberg are custom made in Germany. They have a number of videos on the very matter of how they go about it. I have two of them - incredible value for money.

[@philipschrantz8402]

Add Dunable to the mix at these price ranges. Unique designs, great materials, and a tone of their own.

[@carlos_basualdo3933]

some say the aluminium bass is still ringing to this day

[@StephanieM772]

An inconvenient truth: the price and the pedigree really doesn’t matter. If the wood vibrates well and the gods of sonic mojo-osity allow the axis of the universe to align with Jupiter and Mars it will be a good sounding bass. I played a $179 Yamaha fretless for a long running Broadway show in Manhattan that sounded better than any of the boutique basses I felt an obligation to check out. Patience and a good ear will lead you to a great sounding bass.

[@LiamFarleyMA]

Quality control is much better for higher end instruments. You can luck out with a CNC cheap bass but a handmade bass by an experienced luthier will have a much nicer neck and better play-ability on average.

[@StephanieM772]

Liam Farley, point well taken and that can often be the case, but I’ve played and heard too many incredibly high priced instruments that just didn’t sound all that wonderful. And any bass can be worked on and set up to play well. If a bass has a stable neck and is properly tweaked by a really terrific luthier I think it fundamentally boils down to finding that one instrument out of many that really plays and vibrates just the right way to sound great. You can find killer boutique basses and also find killer stock, garden variety basses that also can sound fantastic. As I said before, patience and a good ear are ultimately what will lead a bassist to a great ax.

[@lotharroberts5978]

Well said.

[@thebassrogue]

I love Sandberg design, the configurator on the site makes it easy to find what you want. But if i had the money, I'd definitely go with Serek

[@Gimliownz]

Dingwall does some really cool and crazy outside of the box stuff. Those basses are killer

[@officialharvard751]

Adam I think they’re too big to be considered boutique

[@olivernash1244]

“Really cool and crazy outside of the box” every single bassist in metal plays one hahaha

[@baconslap9417]

Besides like new guys that ply like prog I know like nobody. No classic bands

[@jeffjacobson59]

I’m not buying a Chinese made bass for over $500

[@victorrodrigues8239]

Should be great to hear about boutique bass amps! This ECG guitar sounds and looks great

[@chrisstark9022]

I did not expect Reverb to have the video I wanted to see, thanks for this!!

[@fosforus15]

1:48 - P/J? I'd say it's a P/H.

[@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney]

Fosforus 15 P/MM.

[@hirokokueh3541]

it's P/J config, the humbucker is at J's position, Stingray's humbucker is much closer to the neck, almost touch the P

[@bumbledoctor]

The background music at the start made this video the most god damn sensual bass demo I've ever seen

[@alexcoon6876]

What song did you play one the serek armitage?

[@SeaOvRoses]

oh my gooooood that aluminum bass has THE best tone for some doom / drone stuff I think I have fallen in love with that thing

[@ryanhenderson2388]

B E A N S the drone gods Sunn O))) use some EGC guitars and basses live. Add some good distortion and you have the tone to drone and doom all day

[@hoompaloompaa]

No fodera, ken smith or sadowsky? Warwick?

[@stuartphelps3293]

Is that a Philip Glass song around 8:09? Sounds like it.

[@kristianorellana5664]

something from glassworks

[@stuartphelps3293]

Kristian Orellana yeah I thought so as well. Love that record

[@wadeguidry6675]

I love the looks of the Serek.

[@bwj8]

Jake, the nut size on the Fender Precision Bass has been 1 5/8 (1.625") since the early 1970s. You might still find a 1.75" on some special reissue models or special order, but that's about it. So the Serek has a nut width exactly the same as a Fender Precision. The Rickenbacker is about the same, but the Serek seemed more related to Fender in many ways.

[@M2Mil7er]

That Serek, such a warm, round tone.

[@pat8437]

I don’t see how a standard p pickup cannot get that tone. Not to say you’re wrong, I just don’t see why go with serek and a bisonic, especially when those pups are so expensive

[@bradolson8242]

Having had an aluminium necked Kramer bass from the 70's, and I found that the bass would change tuning with change in temperature, going sharp with increasing temperature, like when you take the bass out of the case and go on to a stage to play under hot lights. Sounded great though.

[@raccoonthrasher2920]

Brad Olson thats normal with all instruments

[@danna3308]

I’m gonna patriotically nitpick the fact that you said where are the basses made, except for the Polish Mayo. Aside from that, great video!

[@willwallz]

I liked ur frog video

[@jellysquid5994]

​@@willwallz ME TOO!!! :)

[@alfredsvalander1846]

I have a Sandberg California TM5, I love it

[@Zwidawurzn]

You forgot to mention, when the aluminium bass breaks you can easily weld it yourself. On wooden instruments this is rarely done because wood welding electrodes are hard to get.

[@Mechanicthing]

I have to say, the Sandberg and Serek sound (and look) fantastic. The EGC looks great but I couldn’t justify that much money on such an oddball.

[@jjhebert2240]

Like the video. Do you have any insight on the MIM precision bass verses the American performer 2? I’m expecting to hear from you something I never heard before. Thanks jake

[@garideb]

That aluminium axe is intriguing. I'd love to hear one in a mix, how would it blend with the rest of a track? I wish I could hire one for a while just for to try.

[@abouc]

Pinkus (Butthole Surfers and Melvins) and King Buzzo (Melvins) both love this brand. Here's what they sound like together in a mix. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jae2h4uooLiZqJY

[@garideb]

@Majority of 1 Thanks for the tip. Very interesting. That makes for a unique sound, not something you could use without setting out to make a tone and feel all of your own.

[@robfninh]

The Serek sounded best to me. . They can all be made to sound great I`m sure.

[@JendaHrbac]

Wow, that EGC bass sounds wicked. Like there's a chorus on it... Not exactly my thing but wow.

[@JendaHrbac]

Also Millimetric Instruments. I'd really love to hear one.

[@cbrunhaver]

Sounds like the pickup height is way too high

[@JendaHrbac]

@Toxic Potato Thanks for the clarification. I kind of figured something like that (especially when I saw the fat string is only wound way beyond the bridge).

[@jamiebruner8463]

Jake is my favorite, which is insane because i'm a singer!

[@Infja_7]

You should do a similar video about guitars!

[@jcout25]

He should do a similar video about his 2nd car!

[@patrickmcleod111]

@@jcout25 I too was awaiting his comment on which car he chose next!

[@stickydoggie]

Egc is the best thanks for shining some light on them

[@alexandreabgrall4690]

I will recommend Bacchus from Japan !

[@LJPV777]

*5 Boutique Brands 90% of Bassists Can't Afford :(

[@LJPV777]

@Toxic Potato Oh, for sure. I'm just saying they're pricey as hell lol. I'd kill for an EGC bass

[@Dannyt077]

Some of these are less then half of a les paul

[@opwave79]

This is why we have jobs.

[@ant-onemusic444]

Man, 1000/2000 dollars is expensive but it's beyond imagination to get that kind of money

[@benjamindigilio5769]

My thoughts exactly. I think the quality of basses levels off at around $1,000. A $1,000 bass can sound, look, and feel just as good as a $6,000 bass (just as an example).

[@robsantorobass]

Schecter Studio series basses are amazing. Price is good and the craftsmanship is amazing. Very versatile basses being able to play anything from Metal and Rock to Funk and Jazz and it does the job perfectly. Has an active pre amp with a 3 band EQ as well so it gives you a nice variety to work with just on the bass itself. My personal recommendation.

[@Jurrockin]

Anyone ever came across a Bass with a pickup switch? I wanna build one in my J Bass but never seen someone doing it. Any ideas or tips?

[@kylesaloka1563]

Rickenbackers do. My Kramer does. It's not too difficult of a mod at all.

[@haxenheimer9707]

My g&l l-2500 has 3 switches, one for the pickup selection, one for series/parallel mode and one for switching from passive to active or treble boost. Besides that I only know the jaguar basses and some stingrays. Pretty sure there are a lot out there, though

[@luziniederhauser3405]

Could you make a video with Marleaux, D'Angelico, and Lorita basses?

[@martinheath5947]

I love the Serek but I'd settle for a P bass with the pickup swapped out for a Stingray humbucker in the same position with MM active EQ... Somebody make one!

[@druidmeats]

i think bass necks should have a thicker layer or something to support that neck. i’d like to try and bass with a metal neck with a wood body. weird but aye.

[@pattonPwr]

Do Nash and Dunable please, for bass of course :)

[@danopticon]

That Serek *is* awfully sweet… I think Duane Denison of the Jesus Lizard/Tomahawk currently plays an Electrical Guitar Company 6-string aluminum electric guitar, and I’m pretty sure King Buzzo of the Melvins recently switched over to playing one too - I had no idea the company also made electric bass guitars, but I can’t imagine wanting to play an aluminum one. 🤔

[@EncikKenny]

the aluminium bass is gonna be a big pain to mute

[@jery3385]

Sweet Jesus the pain.

[@raytonioni4245]

What song is he playing at 4:35 ? Thanks in advance to anyone who answers!

[@ftomasi]

"...solos, whatever the hell those are"

[@jaaz.handss]

You should show off a video of the Warwick range - please please please show us a demo of a thumb NT!!

[@benbenpotato]

Does anyone know of guitar brands that have a similar build as the EGC standard? I love the mirrored body but I don't like the price

[@rantonazara8208]

I love the sound by Electrical guitar company bass. Really really heavy low tone. Love the bass but not the price.

[@j3tztbassman123]

Agree 100%

[@michaeltherion7459]

What Size neck is on the Derek bass?

[@2OfSpades]

The aluminum was outstanding!

[@paoloantonio1531]

Finally someone who knows his sh¡t, is cool, funny, not cringy and is actually able to keep his hands to himself instead of just playing random notes and tunes while speaking hahha

[@BassRacerx]

I really liked the viking bass!

[@CouchEconomyTX]

Idk what it is about this dude But he’s the guy that I want to talk to at guitar center when buying a bass guitar

[@Lampropeltis]

Wow. I actually left this video not feeling insecure about my nice MIA Fender Jazz and P bass.

[@luketuke02]

no Dingwall? :(

[@DiamondLifer]

Dingwalls sound like poo for anything other aggressively toned genres and even then aren’t really anything special.

[@luketuke02]

DiamondLifer eh I disagree

[@DiamondLifer]

Sly Cooper I feel you. It’s all personal taste.

[@MojoJojoMojo]

So mayonnaise IS an instrument!

[@albertvasu5489]

Ah ! I see what you did there😂

[@dubliou3573]

Talking about he look, I've seen somewhere this Mayones Viking, but with multiscale and grey finish, in my opinion that is best looking modern bass i've seen so far

[@Coastal_Cruzer]

these make me reconsider wanting to work at Warwick instead wanting to start up my own luthiery shop. though at the same time it would be a good thing to have on record that I worked at warwick before starting my own botique shop. and working at a botique would give me more freedom to get creative

[@angelmoncada382]

Not sure if they're too "big" to be boutique but I wish G&l got more love than they do.

[@eljefeguapobarbon]

CHC Custom Guitars and Basses out of Austin, TX. Great builder, awesome instruments.

[@rjforbes4804]

Love the Roscoe. They do lefties?

[@markanthony5897]

Such nice basses. , You would never know from the playing.

[@mojokatzrockssc6189]

Great video, I got a Roscoe a few months ago and just love it. The last bass in the video (standard guitar) sounded like it has a chorus . Was it plugged directly into the amp?

[@JuliusOnBass]

I understand that brands like Sandberg or Mayones are "exotic" in the United States but they are not really boutique brands. The boutique looks more like a factory...

[@justus6605]

We love Jake! Jake is a lad

[@toddmenard2330]

I like how you didn’t go all Marcus Miller in your demo, like so many do.

[@MartinCliffe]

The Roscoe and the Mayones look cool (the Roscoe sounds good too) but I think I'll stick to my Mike Lull :-D

[@reltherel9225]

Fender?

[@6ev]

Sadowsky?

[@EmptyDomoKanti99]

the Roscoe bass looks like an old Fender Prophecy bass, pretty cool!

[@angkesan4813]

"Won't bust your bank" Ahahahahahahuhhuhu

[@kylecrary963]

Yeah, not cheap. But 1500 Is gonna break the bank as much as 15000

[@kylecrary963]

Isnt

[@Not.The_Gallery]

Kyle Crary $150,000 is a stupid unecessary amount for a bass.

[@bloodmoonyt1901]

@@Not.The_Gallery he said $15,000 not $150,000. okay that's still alot.

[@aarondavis4341]

It was the look of the Fender P that got me into bass,idk just LOVE that classic look

[@LotiLaw]

Where’s the Nashville bass? Would have fit perfectly onto this list. A lot more reasonable than the aluminum bass

[@michaelofpetaluma]

Look at Mark Garza and his brand GARZ GUITARS out of California. He makes exceptional basses at affordable prices. He also is the custom shop for LIGHTWAVE basses.

[@idiosyncraticmushroom3030]

8:10 stranger things theme spotted. A friend of mine has a Electric Guitar Compan Buzz Osborne/King Buzzo signature. I love it, but the neck is really thin for my hands.

[@jesuguru2394]

Nice video and nicer instruments. Roscoe FTW. Also, "soapbox pickups"? LOL

[@johncbeer]

The Rosco sounded pretty decent. But I'll stack a custom build using Warmoth woods up against any of these. Completely customizable, better sound and better price.

[@marvelbayu9150]

Sandberg 👍

[@detlevgebers]

The black bass looks great 🖤😊👌

[@snakeplissken44]

That serek though!

[@DiamondLifer]

I like the finish on that mayones. Would be cool to see that on a p or j fender.

[@josephcrangle4669]

You are a very good communicator

[@michaelb.42112]

To each his own. None of these had the WOW factor to me, but that's why some people like chocolate and others like vanilla. To me, a Peavey Cirrus is a boutique bass that most anybody who's serious can afford. What defines a boutique bass ? Fretwork ? Electronics ? Weight ? Looks ? There are some SERIOUSLY amazing production basses, like most American and Japanese 80's basses that will blow doors of most anything.

[@vidachusma6890]

Had me up til you said @11:49

[@larrymonteleone1789]

when did sideshow bob start playing bass?

[@Bi_scotti_5]

Can you imagine that aluminum bass with a flanger petal on it? HUH-WOOF what a sound

[@vj9988]

Mayones is my favorite, tone-wise.

[@funkyfender1]

I think you mean ‘soap bar’ pick-ups! A soap box is a different thing altogether for going downhill in a dangerous way! Enjoyed the demos and try outs... thanks for posting

[@larrylynch8113]

Any jaydee ?

[@dmitrymashkov9379]

Please make a similar video for boutique guitar brands

[@kandrkandr]

Damn, that Mayones looks like it has a borderlands theme. My son would love this thing.

[@iamalpharius9483]

MG BASS. Mauricio Costa is AMAZING?