The Dark Side of Boutique Basses | The SBL Podcast Ep. 145

In this episode, we’re sorting through our pick of boutique basses from F Bass, Ken Smith, Olinto,
Overwater and more. We’re also going to delve into some of the questions that often come along, namely: why are they so expensive? How are they built? And are they really worth it? The answers are often a matter of opinion, but we shall ponder them nonetheless!
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Video Breakdown:
00:00 - Introduction
01:00 - Discussion on Different Basses Used for Gigs
03:27 - FREE BASS GIVEAWAY
07:40 - Defining Boutique Basses
08:38 - Pros of Boutique Basses
25:18 - Playability and Setup
26:46 - Clarity and Agility
38:59 - Working with Top Craftsmen and Small Businesses
43:04 - Choosing the Right Bass
44:28 - The Expense of Boutique Basses
46:15 - The Unforgiving Nature of Boutique Basses
47:50 - The Bass You Want Isn't Always the Bass You Need
48:49 - The Influence of Visuals on Sound Perception
54:27 - Customizing Your Bass
55:48 - The Importance of Reading the Room
57:40 - The Danger of Too Many Options!
59:54 - The Impact of Bass Choice on Playing for Others
01:01:18 - Versatility
01:09:03 - Favorite Boutique Bass Builders
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[@danielvanniekerk7084]

After playing for about 3 years on a 4-string Cort PJ bass, I wanted to upgrade to a 5-string, more specifically a Fodera Imperial. Unfortunately, I couldn't afford it (and still can't). I ultimately decided to build a clone from scratch. Took me 6 months to make, but I've been playing the 5-string bass for the last 3 years after completing it, and I'll never trade it for anything else.

[@blastmanutz7798]

Mate, you don't need a Fodera. It's honestly a very overrated brand. Yeah sure they make great basses but in my opinion they do not justify the price range they are marketed at. I've played numerous Foderas and even owned a couple, and while they certainly aren't bad bass guitars, they also certainly don't give the feeling that those were the best 10k€ I've ever spent in my life. Sure I could say that to comfort myself and to show off that I in fact do have an original Fodera and blah blah, but we know what this is all about. Accounting for inflation, 2-3k€ range is where you will find bass guitars that are the pinnacle of professional bass playing and will never need to ask for anything more. My point is, you did a good thing by going your own way, you have very likely learned muuuuch more doing your own clone than you ever would by dropping 10k on an og Fodera.

[@bassfunkypenguin]

@@blastmanutz7798 To you maybe, but there are many Fodera players that will disagree, myself included :)

[@blastmanutz7798]

@@bassfunkypenguin I know, people will defend their invested money by all means, I'm just speaking the truth. :)

[@bassfunkypenguin]

@@blastmanutz7798 Your truth :)

[@totefrosh]

There is definitely nothing like building a clone yourself. I have built a FSO strat shaped short scale pj that I adore and am building a 34" scale 4 string neck through. I love the personal touch of building them.

[@godinflt555]

Carl Thompson is a definitional example of a “boutique” bass maker.

[@peopleareloudmovers]

Artisan.

[@gssong7111]

Barely functional in a musical setting butbeautiful in design.​@@peopleareloudmovers

[@anthonyelectric6045]

I had a meat and potatoes custom bass built for me - being a lefty by Mike Lull around 2007. No pre amp electronics it was just a great passive thing of of beauty. He was very accommodating and sent me a picture with the bass and him building it.

[@MikeLullCustomGuitars]

❤

[@strangelet4588]

@@MikeLullCustomGuitars I brought in a Jackson rhoads from the early 90’s for you guys to take a look at. I played one of the Mike Lull basses while you guys did your thing. Someone even brought me a cord to plug it in. Played like butter. Sounded great. So nice. What a great experience I had there. Everyone was so kind.

[@dobiloru]

i love how chill this style of video is, more of it pls !

[@devinebass]

Lots more to come!

[@NorCalGuy]

It truly was a fun video. And I love the content also.

[@MrWilhinds]

Years ago when I called Fodera, they didn’t seem to want my business. Later on while working with the Greek band Annabouboula; I went looking for a five string because I wanted a low b. Every bass I tried sucked. Then I was informed that the Queens Sam Ash store had a six string that I should try. I didn’t want a six string but I hopped on the subway anyway. I loved that bass but it took several months before I pulled the trigger. It is my Ken Smith BT6G. What an amazing instrument, as is my 1979 Alembic Omega Series II. And “Jenny my 1971 Fender Jazz Bass which I got in 1971 when I was 12 years old. And later I’ll tell you my BT6G at a blues jam story 😂😂😂 Love your channel❤️❤️❤️

[@TehDFC]

I find your Ken Smith acquisition story interesting.

[@jonsidell3338]

Best bass in my stable is a mid level Yamaha, far cry from my boutiques. My dad heard me playing it acoustically from the other room in the shop and suggested I buy it. I agreed and I did. It has payed for itself ten times over and keeps my custom basses safe at home for when I need to feel fancy.

[@bassimprovjams3772]

Ian speaking about “bass island” was so true, a bass can sound so killer n your own jam space, but take it to the studio and you just can’t get it to sit well, also to mention, if you show up to a session with a bass that a producer is familiar with, you will be saving time and money, that can be spent on the singer getting his tracks down better or anything

[@TwoBadBassist]

I completely agree with Scott’s criteria regarding what qualifies as a boutique bass. I have 3 Mayones basses that I definitely consider boutique.

[@Kisamehoshigaki777]

heavily agree with this. My Mayo Jabba V fret is about as perfect a bass playing experience as I've ever had.

[@rustythoughts]

Mayones are really interesting and on the borderline. I have a Mayones guitar, a Regius 7 (neck through), my choice of wing material, number of strings, colour and finish, pickups, fingerboard material, scale length, bridge and tuners. But at the same time there's plenty of a batch work and they optimise their process with CNC equipment, etc. But that is my guitar, there is no other like it, and that's definitely boutique experience. And I think a lot of people don't realise when they see a Mayones on the wall, that the shop or the local distributor most likely made those choices.

[@Kisamehoshigaki777]

@@rustythoughts 100%...it's no coincidence that those instruments that the stores spec normally turn out to be amazing, they know what they're doing when they order them 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@sacredgeometry]

Yep. Same.

[@WilDBeestMF]

Mayonnaise are definitely boutique or at least pressed right up against it. I feel bad calling them Mayonnaise but it makes me feel better about not being able to own one. 😅

[@betulajaq]

Find a smaller sale boutique builder...I went to Jon shuker up in the peak district, derbyshire as I only live 20 minutes away. Best service and one on one ever... and the most gorgeous , personal bass, with the best top features and woods at a much lower price than another UK builder I used years ago. What a great experience for my 50th birthday present. You rock Jon!!! And on the other hand, I only ever gigged with my £250 squier 70s p bass.

[@devinebass]

Jon makes some fantastic instruments and great prices, his build gallery on his site is stunning!!

[@BruceRichardsonMusic]

Pedulla started out boutique, as a one man shop. He eventually hired on help and did a mass produced line, and hated all of it. So, he dropped all of that, and ultimately made every bass with his own hands until he retired.

[@pmdinaz]

I regret selling mine, for sure.

[@805private9]

MV Pedulla are certainly boutique. But first? Eh. Alembic was doing it before him.

[@BruceRichardsonMusic]

@@pmdinaz I started out with a Rapture J2-5. I bought it used, and fell in love with it. I sold my Warwick fretless and other bass I had along with several amps to get a Pentabuzz. Then I got a second Rapture 5, only with the PJ configuration. I feel like I'm set, honestly. If I could buy one additional bass, it would probably be a Rob Allen Deep 5, or something with that tonal envelope. The Pentabuzz is great, and I absolutely adore it. But it wants to be exactly what it was designed to be--a boutique Jaco bass. It doesn't pretend to be anything else. The one takeaway from this video that really resonates with me is "You might sound worse if you get the bass you want." That was definitely the case with the Pentabuzz. It took me weeks to sound good on that bass, versus the Warwick I had before it. Every flaw in my technique was suddenly amplified.

[@BruceRichardsonMusic]

@@805private9 I phrased that badly. Mean to say "started out." I'm well aware of the history--I'll correct it. Thanks.

[@BruceRichardsonMusic]

​@@805private9 Hey, thanks for catching that. I just worded it poorly. Meant to say "started out" boutique...thanks.

[@mdspman000]

Electric basses that cost more than say a few thousand really have very diminishing benefits when it comes to how you are going to sound and how well they play. Sorry, but try taking any of these basses out to a live show and see if most people in the audience noitce anything all that different. Nope. Yes, the little attention to details might be nice in some ways but some of the more reasonably priced basses are well made , sound great and can be used in a wide range of situations. .The "boutique" (whatever that really means, is not really going to sound all that much better, or last longer. Far less expensive basses can be set up properly and you can always upgrade various components if it's that important. The prices of these planks is higher than the cost of a pretty good upright (fully carved, but not custom made, upright for say $5K). Find a bass that works, learn everything about its nuances and stick with it. Save your money for lessons with a great teacher who will teach you music.

[@Mikey__R]

Expensive instruments aren't for the audience, they're for the owner. That's not a bad thing: if someone has the money, then there's no reason they shouldn't buy something they'll love. We don't grumble at people buying nice cars or houses. You don't *need* a boutique bass, it's a luxury item. Especially if you're playing out and especially especially if you're playing pub and bar gigs - you don't want to risk a beautiful instrument getting bumped, dinged or stolen. When I was younger, I used to think guitars were built for working musicians. Now, I realise most musicians didn't choose music as a career, they make their money elsewhere. That's absolutely fine, they've still earned their money and if they want to buy an expensive living room guitar, then that's fine too.

[@aregularsentenceucanread]

I agree fully it's not always the instrument that makes the difference but the musician who plays the instrument

[@mdspman000]

@@Mikey__R Good points. There is absolutely nothing wrong with buying whatever makes you happy and, more importantly in my mind, whatever makes you play more. I'm just coming from a practical point a view that your actual playing ability or what you really sound like in a mix is not going to be orders of magnitude different compared to using a reasonably good quality off the shelf bass. You will still sound pretty much like you always do. Offhand I would think that having a small number of different basses with different tonal characteristics ( (P, J, rickenbacker, some sort of short scale, some sort of a fretless )) might be more useful than having a super expensive bass. That is probably more useful for recording where you can take the time to craft nuances in the sournd to make your part really stand out. I also disagree with Scott that Fender custom shop is not boutique. Boutique , of course is not well defined so... To me boutique really is just a nice way of saying the bass is going to have some of the following characteritics pretty expensive (more than most off the shelf basses cost, ..say more than $2k-ish), might have some customized options, might be from a small company with limited manufacturing capability, might be a FSO with greater attention to some details or some unique things, might have a very unique quality (size or shape, sound, electronics,etc....) I think Fender Custom Shop fits in here.

[@harrybrooks8514]

Bravo, my friend; well said. Notice what the most notable players are using-Fender, Gibson, Ibanez, Yamaha, and Steinberger. Okay, every now and then you’ll see some Alembics, Sadowskys, and Veillette-Citrons. Amidst the boutiques, the old standbys seem to be holding their ground with very few apologies. Sure, there may not always be appreciable differences in tone while gigging, but serious players are all playability and build quality. You can probably take a 1971 Fender P-Bass, use it as an oar to paddle from Catalina to Long Beach, dry it off, and it’ll still play. Some of those old bass geetars are built like brick 💩 houses. Most of us who have yet to attain rock god status (😆) can’t bluddie afford 5k+ .00 custom wonders. For those of you who can, bless you, and keep an eye on that build. That’s where the money talks.

[@MassimilianoAmbrosini]

I still have a 1987 "Warwick JD Thumb Bass NT" and a 1997 "Status Stealth 6 strings". I loved them very much, especially the Stealth. They probably can't be considered the same as today's boutique basses but they did their part at the time. "Elegant basses for a more civilized age" :)

[@1953bassman]

When I got my Rick 4003 a few years ago it became my go to bass. Recently, I built a Jazz style bass from various parts and it became my favorite. This bass is all black, with a black body, neck, and hardware. I put in Fender vintage Jazz bass pick-ups. It sounds great and plays beautifully!

[@albinduzer1177]

I have a Yamaha trb4p from 1989, and it is ALL THE WAY a boutique bass : active electronics, fancy woods, flame maple top, gold hardware, sandwich construction, neck thru, ebony 24 frets fingerboard, and even with a piezo pickup ! The sound is ultra clear, with a piano-like definition and sustain for hours, so in the end the one and only non-boutique thing is the Yamaha logo on the headstock...

[@jamesnell7224]

When ordering my custom Wal sound alike copy most of the infinite options were decided for me already by my desperation to get as close to the sound as possible. My philosophy was follow the Wal recipe as close as humanly possible but with a few subtle tweaks to suit me. Those few subtle tweaks are copying the nut width and fingerboard radius of my Ibanez onto a Wal neck profile and adding a few extra veneers under the fingerboard and body facings. The body shape and headstock are a little different but I've really started to like that because it's not pretending to be something it isn't. In the beginning I wanted an exact look alike too but now I'm actually happier. It's similar enough but looks more refined. It's really important to have a clear goal in mind and an understanding of what you should and shouldn't compromise on in order to get there. It's also a great idea to visit the shop and see examples of their work in advance and here a demo of the product as I have. It's great that Wal don't allow customers to choose the pickups and preamps. They have found their incredible unique sound and because people can't mess with it it makes it easier for other builders to copy it as there's less variation between them than fully custom instruments.

[@rob_ewing]

I think you could say something like Fender Custom Shop is a boutique operation subsidized by the main production lines. A company like Fender is big enough to offer instruments for all customer categories. With Custom Shop, they can make a small number of instruments targeting the boutique market while also cranking out entry level instruments.

[@bassman3235]

It's all about what you fall in love with truly. It could be a 200$ Squier,a 9K Wal, or even both! Depends also on what you as an individual like in terms of sound and aesthetics.

[@thierry18]

The three best necks I've ever played were on a Sire p7, a Lakland semi-hollow, and a USA Peavey (a rare model, I can't recall the name now though). However, I only have 3 basses right now: A Spector NS Pulse II 5, A gretsch g2220, and an Amazon brand p-bass I've modded the sh*t out of. All of them are perfect for me. The most I have been tempted by a boutique bass is by a USA Spector NS2, but 8k isn't worth the name and color options. A Euro LX or a Peavey Cirrus is very likely the most I will ever spend on another instrument, because those sound and play EXACTLY like boutique basses.

[@disgruntledfaerie]

Amen to that. Still have my first, a 95 MiM Jazz, bought new. Fender did a particularly good job on that particular bass. Put Bartolinis in it in 98, and it's been my daily driver since. Not flashy, not exotic. Sounds and plays like a dream. Only supplemented it this year with a Stingray, but the Jazz will always be my favorite. Wouldn't dream of trading it for a Dingwall or a Ken Smith or anything at all. It has its own voice.

[@saulojr.p.biscoto]

@@thierry18 I have 3 USA Peavey Cirrus. I just love so much the look of the instrument! One has Labella flats, the other Labella nylon tape wound and one has Elixir round wounds. That’s more than enough for my enjoyment and I get the variety I need for everything I want to play.

[@MrJosten72]

@@thierry18 Peavey Palaedium?

[@Macna333]

I look forward to these videos every week. You guys are the best!

[@AlexG-qv8ri]

To me the difference is mainly in details, setup., personalization, ingredients and first of alll LOVE in the craft ❤️

[@charlescdt6509]

This is awesome. Thanks again for do this. Any plans to add a segment on short scale bass for us shorty fans?

[@devinebass]

We may do at some point!!

[@danielrose542]

That IM4 is a really tasteful piece of rock gear. Really suits you too, Ian.

[@IanMartinAllison]

🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@MikeLullCustomGuitars]

❤

[@kristianhansen6114]

You guys crack me up! Love your chemistry and approach to the channel. One of my top favorite shows on YT ❤

[@devinebass]

🧡🧡🧡

[@Beejmiles]

Fellow bass player from Montana here, and perfect timing as I've been considering a Lull to be my next bass. Quality content, as always, and the insight is greatly appreciated! Perhaps a trip to Seattle to document the 1 of 1 you're having made from start to finish could be in the works?

[@MikeLullCustomGuitars]

You’re welcome to stop by any time :) - Spencer

[@cvwatch]

My son is an extremely talented bass player. He got rid of his boutique 3k bass and bought a $200 Sammick. I think it sounds better, has more presence and better tone.

[@shipsahoy1793]

😂nobody believes that .. a Pro is going to appreciate the feel of a better quality bass, which should also sound better through good equipment when set up properly.

[@jomamma1750]

1:53 A Sammick employee says what?

[@cvwatch]

He bought it off a friend. It's no lie. That darn cheap bass sounds great. I tried to talk him out of selling the custom Pratt. He got sick of how heavy it was. And he's 6'3".

[@infinidominion]

I had a Samick Acoustic guitar that was awesome, cheap as hell, sounded awesome and fun to play and I had no trepidation of keeping it pristine like some multi thousand dollar instrument

[@jomamma1750]

@FunkyMonk6 I liked his comment, bot boi.....

[@davidclark2213]

I own a wonderful boutique 6-string built by a young solo luthier, an instrument that is a beautiful work of art in addition to being a wonderful instrument to play. (Xylem Bass) In addition to the positives, I appreciated Ian’s nod to supporting business. Seeing how hard it is for a young person to develop the luthier craft has made me an advocate for, if you are able, supporting small luthiers.

[@kingdeedee]

Here’s a pretty major boutique bass con that many don’t think about: Incredibly unstable/unpredictable resale value. You can pay a ton of cash for an amazing instrument built buy a really talented luthier, but if you ever change your mind and wanna sell it down the line you now have to contend with whether or not people know/respect them, or if anybody actually likes your specific configuration enough to pay close to what you paid. This just isn’t the case when you buy an off the shelf instrument at any price point. So ultimately you gotta buy a boutique bass you’re REALLY convinced about because once you’re past that return period, you might be stuck with it Note: this obviously applies less so with the more known boutique makers like Fodera, Ken Smith or F-Bass but is still somewhat relevant even then

[@ericgiova1663]

In French, a boutique is a store without a warehouse. So a "boutique" instrument would be one made to order. Instead of calling an instrument a "boutique", I'd be tempted to call it a "luthier instrument". Made by a luthier, with above-average attention to detail.

[@fundymentalism]

As a proud pedant, even I find this a ludicrous distinction 😅 As English speakers, we happily appropriate loan words and misuse them. Boutique does not mean 'sans entrepôt' in English.

[@RezaShaffaf]

Nailed it 👍

[@florkgagga]

So no Rickenbacker? It's a question someone asked a few comments above yours. I didn't answer there because it could have brought tension I'm not prepared or qualified for, plus I'm biased, I don't like the look of them (not a fan of giant headstocks, yes, like Fenders 😢). But objectively, Rickenbacker is widely known and seen, nobody ever asked "oy, what's that for a fancy theng?". Like Scott's answer about Fender Custom shop - if we put those in the same category like all the others it's like saying "we make all the basses, there is no other bass than fender, you want and can afford something fancy? Here's our custom shop. Don't even look at any other dude/ss who tries to build a bass, hey fellows, let's push them all off the market". Would be a sad world. Plus the comment said very small company, that I would have to look up, to have a better perspective. Now, if Rickenbacker announced "we will only do made to order from now on, 5-7 guitars a month,extra fancy, all the existing will be left to age well on the market" , maybe that could bring a company like them closer to what most of us could call boutique. Makes sense?

[@Vykk_Draygo]

@@fundymentalism Exactly. Language, especially with loan words, is highly flexible. English isn't the only language that does this.

[@rome8180]

Why not just go with artisanal? Lol.

[@andropolisstudiomusic]

Thanks for sharing some really deep insights in such an entertaining way. You guys are great!

[@devinebass]

Cheers for that!

[@KC-wu3et]

I know when I finally got to a point in my life where I could buy a "boutique bass" I got a Serek Midwestern and it took a year to get and I absolutely fell in love with it. I still can't put it down when I get off work. I am playing it while I watch this! For what it's worth, I think what constitutes a boutique bass is some sort of equation having to do with shop size, reputation, and specifically without being a major brand name with mass production methods.

[@Mikey__R]

The definition of "boutique" is quite similar to the definition of "indie."

[@Groovemyster]

When i got my Smith, it was set up perfectly. Never had to adjust neck, string height, intonation etc. Still as great today as it's first day.

[@bluecheetah67]

My first fretless and my saddest loss was a 1985 Fender Jazz Bass Special in Burgundy Mist. Stolen from my Jazz trio’s rehearsal space (my fault for leaving it), along with my SWR Redhead and an Alesis Quadraverb. Heartbreaking but a good lesson that I never forgot.

[@SwashBuccaneer]

Love these podcasts. I would consider my Warwick German Pro Series a boutique though. I had to custom order it and it took them a year to craft it.

[@EyeWillBass]

I think of Warwick as a boutique manufacturer in general, at least the old ones (pre-2000). Small player base, immaculate construction (every piece of the thing evaluated and optimized), beautiful woods, amazing sound, identifiable characteristics (Warwick growl), etc.

[@dropdtuned1]

Great Video! 3 great topics you hit head on. "Bass Island" I have several boutique basses and when I'm in my practice room, they are epic. All of these beautiful overtones and beautiful attack.. Then I take it to a gig and the rest of the band washes out all of those amazing tones with their kick drums, symbols and distortions. As you said , it's all about knowing the room and fitting into the mix. You made a comment about recorders/producers. I would not call my self a recording veteran, but IMO most of the guys in the recording studio really don't know how to record bass and if they do its one specific bass. "Just go direct and don't worry I have all of the plugins." I have spent all my life dialing in a great tone and all they need to do is just plant the right mic somewhere and record it. I realize that is way easier said than done. But still, you would hope it is a talent that they would learn to perfect. "Everyone needs more basses" Well, I tried to use your quote on my wife and the answer was "No sex tonight" One last comment when it comes to boutique basses, I do enjoy my multi-laminate, multi-string active basses. But I am really a P-bass guy. I have not just played, but owned virtually every high end, non-made-in-Asia, P-bass. And I have never held onto one for more than 6 months. I have a few trusty vintage P's that sound so much better, that half way through a set I am daydreaming, wishing I left the boutique P-bass at home. I am not saying that every old Fender kissed by Leo himself is epic, because there are plenty of duds from the 50s, 60s and 70s, but when you find a great sounding one, its a totally new experience. Personally the two best sounding Fenders I own are from the early 70s ,not my older ones. Not because 70s Fenders are the best, but I just because I happened to stumble on a good piece of wood that has been played for a long time. Keep up the great work!

[@adamwalcott_official]

I had a similar experience as Ian in the studio. I was one of those bassists who hated Fender P basses until I realized (or was taught by engineer) they were the easist to record with. As for boutique instruments, Maruszczyk is a good consideration because even though Adrian will do basically anything you want, they also have their tried and true "formula" basses. My 5-string Maruszczyk fretless Frog is the only "boutique" instrument that I own and I couldn't be happier. Wait time was about 6 months. Edit: forgot to mention the price is super reasonable, probably one of the best values for quality along with Mayones, in their backyard.

[@Astronometric]

I have a P bass and a “boutique” bass. I love them both but as a sound engineer I disagree with that statement. I’ve heard it countless time too, but in my experience, most sound engineers don’t really mix with their ears but use a set of common rules that have been honed over decades with industry standard instruments, mics and hardware. Basically most engineers just copy the workflow of many famous old records. This means that the moment they have to mix an instrument or a sound that they are not familiar with, the average engineer will have trouble using it and he/she’ll ask to switch to something more “usual”. Tbf, this is also a way to save money and time for the client, since most studio sessions are payed by the hour. While it’s true that “if something works don’t fix it” it’s a good way to approach a business, it’s not good for the arts, because it will lead to stagnation. Any good engineer can mix any type of bass in any type of music, but it requires skills and most of all creativity and artistic vision. After all the 80s were full of records that made history played with non Fender instruments and I’ve never heard anyone complaining about it.

[@adamwalcott_official]

@@Astronometric I admire your ethic. You must be a good engineer cuz I've seen Fenders favored in the studio for 20 years. I started playing in 90s and my favorite basses are definitely not Fenders. But time and time again, the P Bass wins out without really having to do anything to the DI signal. As you know, it's harder to "add" character to an instrument than it is to take away what you don't need. Case in point: the Sadowsky jazz bass is difficult to work with in the mix cuz it has none of the mid range character of the p bass. As Ian would say, "Sounds amazing out there alone on bass island, but doesn't play well with others."

[@NextGen2010]

Personally, I think story is key. We get caught up in specs, but ultimately if the cost and story behind your bass journey align, the bass will have so much more value. Got my first bass back in 2002 for $200. One of the first generation dame bass. Still go back to it every week. After getting a steady earning, I’ve tried several different basses, but never really hits the same feel as my first bass. Props to the builders who build boutique basses, but I feel like unless the bass hits you at the perfect time as your journey, it’s gonna end up in a case or put aside. If you are finding something very specific in your journey and you save up for one, it may be perfect for you

[@sandbar83]

Fender has ONE boutique bass; 40th anniversary fender precision custom shop, only made 400. Flame maple top, birdseye neck, ebony fingerboard, brass hardware, kubiki active hardware, P/J pu's, I have number 349, what a fantastic instrument!

[@PallidWhite]

I remember scoping the musician’s friend catalog back in the day, looking at guitars, basses and drum sets… I feel so old.

[@ImJustStandingHere]

I'd say a lot of Warwick's German basses these days are the boutique ones. Just like Spector USA has their custom shop, both companies have overseas lines for consumer level, but still have their boutique stuff at the top of the line, most of them being one-offs

[@niklaswikstrom78]

Warwick's are terrible, yuuck!

[@ImJustStandingHere]

@@niklaswikstrom78 you clearly haven't owned as many as I have or at least not a nice German one, they have a lot of phenomenal basses

[@niklaswikstrom78]

@@ImJustStandingHere 😑

[@MikeKobb]

I have several "boutique" basses, including two Zon fretless basses that were made to order in consultation with Joe himself. Great experience, and Joe is a great dude. My bass amp rig today used to be his shop test rig, actually. He was switching to something different and I happened to be at the shop to talk about one of the basses he built for me. 🤣 I chatted briefly with Mike Tobias when I had a question about my MTD, and he was friendly and helpful. I have some great factory-produced instruments as well, but I certainly loved the experience of talking directly to the luthiers. It's also nice to support a small business owned by a talented craftsman.

[@AussieRacer]

A quick note for you legends: 2001 - 2006 Fender made the American Deluxe Zone bass.. I believe this was their foray into the boutique market. I have one and had no idea they existed until I found it for sale on marketplace, It's beautifully built. Only issue is no shielding in the cavity which I've learnt was a common gripe with the few people who had one and some struggled coming to terms with the 18V propriety preamp. It has a 'modern' tone with jazz bass roots (in my humble opinion)..

[@bikergeekgd]

Two other USA companies that are worth considering and are "boutiguey" (one newer and one older): Serek basses and Roscoe (Keith Roscoe).

[@devinebass]

Both are great builders for sure!

[@stevetrost]

Yeah, I was surprised Ian never grabbed the Serek sitting right behind him the whole time! I've had both Roscoe and Serek. Both great, Serek is more my speed.

[@bobrien]

Thanks for this wonderful continuation of your talks. For me, these conversations - which used to be the SBL Podcast - and the Campus are the heart and soul of SBL. Though I'm not interested in boutique instruments, this talk is very interesting and insightful to me. I think that the invention of the electric bass is the antipode of the stradivari - the artisan instrument. The electric bass, that is the P-Bass and the Jazz Bass in the beginning, is an intrument that Leo Fender designed for mass production and affordable prices. It is an invitation to the common man and the common woman to enter the fascinating world of musicians. It is Rock'n Roll, the democratization of bohemian art. The fact that after about three decades, a boutique niche of the electric bass began to develop, is a 'good proof of its success. So I think it is a good thing, that there are manufacturers that began to build "stradivari" basses (though I wouldn't buy one of those). At one point Scott says that a boutique bass can inspire you. It can make you play, spend a lot of time with the instrument and thus makes you a better player. I think it is not perfection what inspires us. It is a certain vibe of the instrument which does not come from the way the bass was produced. I think about how Ian sometimes talks about his antigua bass. It is heavy, not balanced and the neck is too thick. But he loves this bass for its vibe, the mood it puts him into. That is the attitude. In the documentary "It Might Get Loud" Jack White says that a crap instrument from the warehouse can make you a better player, because it makes you fight for a good tone every day. A "perfect" instrument can mislead you to think that you don't have to worry about the tone, because the bass is sounding great anyway. Just a few weeks ago I bought my first Fender Bass. I was a bit amused about the gaps between the neck and the body. It is not balanced too. Then I realized that this is one of the copies Fender made of its own 60s instruments between 2001 and 2016 in Mexico. And that is absolutely okay for me. I re-oiled the fretboard, put my favorite strings on it and lowered the action. I know its imperfections and I love it. I want to gather experience with it every day, till I learn to be the player I dream of, and till I learn to make the tone I hear in my head.

[@mattkeefer1293]

Rickenbacker - boutique or no? Very small company, very small volumes, no partners with other builders, high quality, totally unique. Thoughts?

[@MrJosten72]

I dont think so personally, and Ricks are my go to instruments.

[@DavidRamos-nz4bh]

I bought a Squire 50’s vibe P bass. It looks like an original P bass ( Tele). I love the look of it but the pickup has the hum they tend to have because of the single coil. So, I put a $ 150 Lindy Fralin replacement pickup. Sounds amazing! $ 425 + $295 ( pickup and set up). Kicks ass! I have mostly standard basses but I have a 7 string Ibanez ( $1000) I consider it boutique on a budget!

[@scottcharlesmcmanus9879]

Great to see a podcast video with Scott and Ian just shootin' the breeze. Recenr pods have been great but nice to see you guys just sitting chatting again.

[@dondro5749]

To Scott and Ian... I don't know if you guys actually read all the comments but hoping you do because i want to let you know that at 75 years old one of the few things that bri g me joy is playing bass in my band. And to see how much you two love what you're doing is incredibly heartwarming. I play a wide variety of instruments but none produce the joy of a well crafted and played bassline. Thank you for sharing your passion.

[@devinebass]

Thanks for sharing that with us! 🧡🧡🧡

[@user-wv3rz2mh4n]

Thank you Scott and Ian. I have played Kiesel basses for years. They have an academic approach to bass building and their measurements are precise. The best part for me, being a lefty, is that I have a unique bass with body woods, neck woods, and fretboard woods that I chose. I love my Kiesel however I still love my old ass Fender Precision. I feel lucky and I hope everyone reading this does also.

[@anthonycaraffa2422]

Fantastic discussion guys. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

[@101fng]

Your content is solid, you can tell you guys put a lot into it. You get a sub. Good luck with your goal.

[@timhutchinson8485]

I don't know if they quality as "boutique" under these terms, but one of my favorite newer builders is Offbeat Guitars, out of Colorado. They have a list of set 'models' with a small selection of customizations (mostly in terms of color, pickup and pickguard), but they are great quality and priced more affordably than the boutique level.

[@Gorbyrev]

I liked to online window shop at the Bass Centre in London. In their 2nd hand section there was a single cut bass with a Zebrano top made by a luthier in Liverpool whose company was called the 13 Guitar Company. With the beautiful photography they had me. This St Paul 4 string model had gold Hipshot bridge and Ultralite tuners. It had Nordstrand DCs with a Nordstrand 3 band pre-amp it had thin mahogany body and a multi-laminate maple / walnut 24 fret set neck. The headstock was laminated with Zebrano on the front and maple on the back. It was 10 years ago and was listed for £600. In other words the wood was free as there was £600 of hardware and pickups on the bass. Apparently it had been ordered by the moderator of a bass forum and he'd traded it in. Here's the other side of boutique bass cost. If you are prepared to take someone else's dream bass from a lesser known boutique luthier it can actually cost a lot less than you think. You just have to be prepared to take the risk. The bass is a peach.

[@atspeed5077]

I noticed that you guys completely ignored all of the amazing Japanese boutique basses. Moon, Sugi, Momose, Dragonfly, Atelier Z, Combat….Great show. Thank you for the hard work.

[@RaiderClarke312]

I bought my Custom Made Moon Bass Back in 1995 while in Japan....

[@DaneCharltonMusic]

There's boutique makers all over the world, they could spend countless hours covering them.

[@hamonthecob]

I've owned 29 or 30 Warwicks (mostly from the 90s), and I love them dearly. Throughout the 90s, they used a wide variety of pickup options such as Bartolini, Duncan, and EMG. Around 1996ish, they started to transition from handcarved bodies to CNC. There's a noticeable difference up close. I would probably consider Warwicks up to the mid-late 90s to be boutique, but by 1999, they were basically mass producing their instruments. Still great basses, for sure. But not boutique in my opinion. But, I do acknowledge that their custom shop makes some basses that are as boutique as it gets. Highly figured woods, hand finishing, etc. Hmm...

[@ethanlocke3604]

I love boutique basses‼️ Also a small boutique builder who needs more attention is enrico pasini and wood and tronics basses. The wood and tronics stuff has the most badass single cut shape I’ve seen. He used to work for fodera and is based in italy

[@tonyromeo416]

45 years playing...the two of you are amazing...I think you guys are some of the best players around...too cool...

[@devinebass]

Cheers for that!! Appreciate it!

[@kultan2000]

That thumbnail was SINISTER... #SCARY😂

[@devinebass]

🤣🤣🤣

[@AmplifiedSoul44]

I have a Sadowsky Metro. It's made in Japan. The workshop there had only 3-4 craftsmen. It was not a big factory. My Sadowsky feels great and sounds great. It's a workhorse. It can produce a lot of useful sounds and you can use it for pretty much anything from pop, R&B, rock, jazz, gospel, fusion, metal, you name it! It has both active and passive modes. It has a great tone control and active EQ. It does not have the nonsense and unnecessary stuff. I'm very happy with this boutique bass. It's the best of both worlds - boutique and non-boutique in my opinion. I have emailed and phoned Sadowsky a few times and Roger Sadowsky himself answered my calls and replied to my emails.

[@bernardjharmsen304]

Agree with all your comments. Versatile tones, excellent build quality and playability for the working musician. I have 2 MIJ Sadowskys. Could be the best of FSO basses.

[@DavidJones-uv1sn]

I have an Ibanez BTB (aka/boutique bass) mass produced. Do I have a Boutique bass or Poser? I love it still, either way.

[@thierry18]

Poser lol Still amazing basses, and those feel better than a lot of boutique basses I've gotten to try

[@bassimprovjams3772]

Came back to this one, and the “this isn’t an F Bass” part just had my crying 😂, the look on Scott’s face when he looks down and realizes it’s not an F bass, and Ian is laughing so hard he’s smacking his knees 😂😂 loved it watched that part 7 times lol

[@devinebass]

🤣🤣🤣

[@joannalewis5279]

My modded Ibanez SR505E with Nordstrand Zen Blades and a Delano Sonar preamp is a boutique bass. Change my mind. Make my day.

[@WakizashiSabre]

Boutique hw dies not make a bass boutique... Especially quite basic model, tho not bad ( i like no thick coat there actually, seemed to resonate so nicely and open).

[@joannalewis5279]

@@WakizashiSabre you fell for my trap. I was joking. At the same time I agree, the resonance is very good accoustically. I'm wondering if this really matters for electronic instruments. It does play very well with a good setup also.

[@sonicassassin4131]

+ Great entertainment as always. I'm on the waiting list for a Le Fay pangton 6. I also love Marleaux and I had the pleasure playing an Adamovich Bass when he was in vienna and it was a fantastic instrument.

[@ethanlocke3604]

Adamovich is up there as one of the dream boutique basses for me if I can save up for one

[@devinebass]

Beautiful basses!

[@andrewpinner3181]

Thanks guys, super fun & interesting. Scott's Lollipop Bass moment (that became a not F bass) & Ian's Bass Island & the undisclosed favourites list, were definitely gaff-aw moments ! 😂

[@daphonquefabricekoch1864]

my first boutique bass was custombuilt by Christophe Leduc in 1999 (he retired this year, so no more basses gonna be build). It's a 5 string fretless, and man, this bass taught me playing prperly. like Ian said, every lil thing or move gonna make a sound, or change the sound. now i'm happy that i own 3 Leduc Masterpiece basses, all 5 string, 2 fretted and my ultimative fretless. anyway i also value and play cheaper basses - but there is a big difference in feel.

[@Iofflight78]

My next two basses are boutique basses a Zoot and a Serek, I'm really looking forward to both.

[@Mikey__R]

I've built two bass guitars from scratch. The first wasn't fantastic; my experience of building the second one, was that the setup and playability were baked in as part of the construction process, at least as far as my limited experience allowed. Because whoever is building your guitar is building it either by itself or in a small batch, they're able to make these small course corrections as they go along. Contrast with factory built guitars, the factory has a strict process, a rigid recipe and no scope for creative problem solving along the way. A bass that fails QC will be scrapped rather than reworked as that's cheaper. The quality happens after the fact, at discrete points at various gates along the production line; unlike with a hand built guitar, where the quality will be kept high all throughout.

[@majhook6931]

Scott that Alpha Sycamore bass you gave away years ago is still my favorite to hear and see just wish I could have played it

[@stefanpride9442]

I live for SBL content!

[@peroskarstorholm4196]

Fantastic video, guys! This is wisdom so many bass players (me included) often learn way too late: don’t fall for myths! The look or the brand doesn’t necessarily equal the sound you want. One man’s trash can really easily be another’s treasure and vice verca, but I guess it has to come with hard experience. Luckily I started with the P Bass, so I always come back to it no matter how much I experiment with sound or style, which I love to do, but y’know… I think it’s a reason most players end up with a p or a jazz if they started with it or find it along the road, don’t you? But as you said at the end: it’s your own journey. You should enjoy it on your own terms.

[@backdoorarts5243]

I fell in love with a Pedulla when I saw one in Boston in the early 80's and bought my Buzz in '86 and my MVP a year later. One's black, one's blue semi-metallic that Mike Pedulla hooked me up with after it came off the road as a sales sample and was in a local shop. Still play them both and am constantly surprised when no one mentions them, and the Buzz's in particular. The sound of that bass is so distinctive. Only bass I've played that was better was a '77 Series I Alembic that I had to sell because I'm too old to hold up a 13 pound bass any more. I guess I'm 0 for 2 with you guys. LOL

[@MrJosten72]

I had an ‘88 Pedulla MVP that I part exchanged against a Wal Custom. The only positive from that transaction was that the friend I later sold the Wal too loves it. I realised that I much preferred the Pedulla, although a have played a few I thought were a bit meh.

[@chriscuthbertson]

An off the shelf bass that has your tone for the studio and then crazy custom shops for live

[@ashcustomworks]

45:14 - Hit the nail on the head. This is the key factor I used to tell my customers - You will look at it every day and you will want to pick it up and play it. It doesn't matter if you feel you're not good enough a player for a custom instrument, because the only way to get good is to pick up your instrument and play it.

[@ashcustomworks]

To be fair, though,,, you guys hit a lot of nails on the head in this vid. Especially the cons. Most players are nowhere near experienced enough to match custom options to their actual needs, or even to express their actual needs to the expert luthier. It's a steep learning curve and a deep rabbit hole. Trust your luthier.

[@Mr_Eyeholes]

I agree that having an instrument that deeply inspires you is incredibly important. However, I own two basses that are not even remotely boutique (Schecter studio 6 and Ibanez srf705) but I find them very inspiring. In fact, I played the Schecter alongside a very high end US made Spector (one of my favorites) and I genuinely preferred the Schecter. I'd even add to that: I was nervous to even touch the Spector because it was so beautiful. I'm afraid I'd spend more time looking at a bass that is "too beautiful" than I would spend playing it.

[@ashcustomworks]

@@Mr_Eyeholes Good call and that is the trap with being "hoodwinked" as Scott called it, whether by the fancy wood or the promise of greatness. It's a tricky business. Sometimes it's expensive to learn that inspiration doesn't have to be expensive.

[@CristianDeLaBela]

amazing content two big senseis 😍

[@petermoss208]

if your company chooses to offer an import line (Japan does not count), personally I think that warrants no longer being “boutique”. it is the idea of someone else building your specs instead of the people who spec’d the guitar building it. that’s how Warwick and other companies can start boutique and become corporate umbrella companies. Parker guitars by Ken Parker and Larry Fishman come to mind. Although I personally still love their guitars and basses even after they sold the company and began importing. 🙏

[@raymonegarnes5809]

“Let the music choose!” Excellent!

[@mikeymacaque]

I think a lot of y’all’s definitions orbited around two points: 1) boutique basses fill a niche and 2) boutique basses are created by enthusiasts and for enthusiasts, in addition to the other points you mentioned. Fenders, Music Mans, and Gibsons, etc, are “industry standards,” the FSOs fill a niche that enthusiasts want from these standards, and the more radical designs are niche from the start. I’d also put companies like Rickenbacker, Warwick, Hofner, Spector, Fender Custom, and Lakland in the “premier brand” category.

[@bluecheetah67]

This is a great topic for me because I’m not made of money and I’m not (currently) making any money playing bass, but I’m considering a boutique bass. The pluses, to me, are getting something made exactly to my specs; pickups, woods, shape, scale, etc. But the worry is waiting all that time, going through all the stress, spending what is, to me, a LOT of money…only to be disappointed in the end result. Also, I’ve lived long enough to see some of my favorite manufacturers shut down; Status, Pedulla, Modulus. Even the original Tobias basses. So the ones I really love - as an example, Fodera - are super pricey and the wait is measured in years. In the end, although no decision has been made, I find myself leaning toward more non-boutique basses.

[@TwoBadBassist]

You should give Mayones basses a look! I have 3 and I love them! They are handmade in Poland. In my opinion, they have Fodera quality without the NYC overhead! Much more for your money! Good luck!

[@adamwalcott_official]

Mayones are badass, I want a Viking 5 badly. I own a custom order Maruszczyk 5 string fretless that's right in the same ballpark as Mayones. From order to delivery was lightly less than 6 months.

[@ZenBasses]

In 1999 I went to the NEC in Birmingham UK for the UK equivalent of NAMM. I stepped onto a stand at the tender age of 12 with a well renowned luthier - Bernie Goodfellow > GB Bases. My dad bought me a GB IV that Bernie used their "test bass" in parismic sparkle over black" , .. I still have it and its still my main bass... I also have gone through the build process with Jon Shuker twice. The price was high but under £2k so justifiable. I don't need 25 basses I own 1 x GB 1 x Shuker 1 X Bitsa Its enough .. Shout out to UK Luthiers GB Shuker Overwater Status Sei Zoot Wal ACG To name but a few Much love for them

[@chazband]

Fun show, guys. Glad to hear my Alembic get a mention.

[@TomFrichek]

Deep-lunge the 'like' and 'subscribe' buttons.

[@RandyLott]

The most impressive bass I've ever seen is Sergey "Grebstel" Kalachev's bass called "Shark". It's 3D carved by hand. It's a 6-string unlined fretless with single string recessed bridges and a MIDI pickup. It took Valery Olegovich Gulyaev a few years to make it.

[@jamesatkin9412]

I'm more of a metalhead, and so while I love your advice and banter and enthusiasm for all things bass, I often disagree with you on esthetics and matters of personal taste. That said, that custom Spector was sooooo beautiful. Thank you for showing me!

[@jtl1380]

I personally think a "boutique bass" is one made by a shop where the majority of building is done by hand by one or just a few builders. We're talking about builders that sell less than 1000ish instruments a year, employ a small team of employees & build to order. Also, if they make a "cheap" Chinese or Indonesian made "production" model, then they start to lose the "boutique" builder feel (Sadowsky, Lakland, Spector, etc).

[@romannosov1791]

May I suggest to you guys to try out a Warwick Thumb bass? Preferably a NT 5-string version. Those basses play in their own tone league. Very dominant in the mid range with a distinctive growl.

[@aprilkurtz1589]

Ian, your bass sounds SO NICE!! I'm jealous! Always good to know the status of your nips, Scott. Keep us informed.

[@punkfan97]

Eventually I want a boutique bass I've been in love with the idea for a long time

[@geoffreycheng7067]

It cracks me up every time I see Bulbasaur and Squirtle in the background of Ian's stream! You guys are great. Love the information you guys give. Been watching you forever.... Keep it up!

[@devinebass]

You're never too old for those things you loved as a kid!!

[@CurranKevin]

Love this episode and agree so much with all your insights. Someone I find really interesting in the context of this conversation is MAI LEISZ, who fairly uniquely seems to often play boutique, active, extended range, "fancy" basses in all sorts of singer-songwriter, rock-Americana contexts -- and she always sounds GREAT and appropriate. An anomaly!

[@davidwhite1185]

This is the first time I have actually Laughed out loud at a pod cast. Thanks guys :-)

[@pastingcci]

Hi! Love this video! I’ve been playing for over 30 years and have owned a ton of basses including boutique and “mass production” ones. We can be playing an instrument handed by God himself but still, if the sound/studio engineer doesn’t “cooperate”…. Always remember that the “real” sound comes from your fingers/playing. Everything else is a tool you can absolutely use to you express what’s on your heart. Hope everyone has a gig tonight and enjoy 👍👍

[@CollamrachTalks]

Thought that was a kramer Beretta at first glance. I've had mine for 20 years and I love it

[@kode4food]

I've been subscribed for years.That should give me more entries into the contest.

[@michaelcallaghan6147]

That IMA Dunn bass sounds killer indeed. I went the boutique way, have been a P bass guy my whole playing life but wanted something with more playability whilst maintaining the sound. Viv Wilcock was my go to, and my chambered 4P-51 is an absolute joy to spend the hours with. Great experience all around. There will be a short scale 5 string in my life in the near future, and i've boiled it down to a Wilcock or Vuorensaku.

[@MusicdocMT]

Nice episode gentleman - with your notion of the bass you want isn't really the bass you need or should have - one for me was a Gibson explore bass which was horrible for me and a modulus 4 string bass, just never sat well in my hands on stage - keep up the good work .... cheers

[@fbmbassist]

I have a Fender Customshop, and never considered it boutique, but to be fair the customshop is only 13 builders. That is more boutique-y than expected. I love my bass so much!

[@theagk19781]

On the subject of Fender not being boutique, one could argue that the "master built" custom shop ones are, as you order exactly what you want. and also you get to choose who builds it for you.

[@henning-bass7648]

Loved the show. But also MTD makes some budget basses with the Kingston series (I own one and it’s for sure not boutique). I would still consider MTD to be boutique.

[@devinebass]

The Kingston series are still given QC and final setup in the Tobias shop though :) MTD are definitely boutique!

[@warwicker22]

I did a 100% made to order custom shop built with Warwick and it was everything I could have wanted it to be! In my humble opinion, there isn’t a sound I can’t dial in with it (between all the controls and changing my playing style). I have other basses, but that’s my desert island bass and it will be with me until I die.

[@davidwinokur2131]

Back in the 80's I was playing a Kramer DMZ 5000. Do you consider that to have been a boutique bass?

[@GT-fx8fd]

I know x1 slap lick on bass… But you guys just chatting gear make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside ❤ SUBSCRIBED 👊🏽😘

[@GreggOliverBass]

I've purchased 3 boutique basses.... on disappointed me 100%, another one was good ( a custom built 7 string so - lesson learned), and one is awesome and is my main bass