Fenderphil Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 (edited) Hello Basschatters.... new to this topic lark. Im a Professional Musician currently on tour with Shrek The Musical. Was spreading the word/checking out general consensus on these new Williamscot Basses... For those who may not have heard of them, you are forgiven as they are less than a week old (from the date of this post!) Launched at the London Bass Guitar Show last weekend they are under the same company as Thomas & George Martin Basses ([url="http://www.thomasmartin.co.uk"]http://www.thomasmartin.co.uk[/url]) who are renowned for making and selling some of the best and rarest double basses in the world. Williamscot Basses aim (and so far succeed) to being the best and bespoke [i][u]hand made [/u][/i]basses [color=#000080][i]"All our Williamscot bass guitars are completely handmade one by one. We do not use CNC machines or PIN Routers; this makes each bass an individual with no two being the same.[/i][/color] [color=#000080][i]Full customization is available for every bass and we are able to cater to your exact requirements or if you are not 100% sure what you want we are here to guide you. Williamscot basses are available in 4, 5 and 6 string configuration. We also make neck through basses as well as bolt on neck basses."[/i][/color] So would be interested to see what people thought, especially any who played these basses at the London Bass Guitar Show. Many "players" such as Yolanda Charles, Steve Lawson, Zoltan Dekany (who was on the stand with me) and many others played the basses and just couldn't get over how much they loved them! Williamscot are also giving away one of their basses in a competition, to enter all one needs to do is "like" the Facebook page [url="https://www.facebook.com/williamscotbass?fref=ts"]https://www.facebook...cotbass?fref=ts[/url] Thoughts on the basses... GO! Phil Edited March 12, 2015 by Fenderphil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 (edited) [quote name='Fenderphil' timestamp='1426154318' post='2714920'] Williamscot Basses aim (and so far succeed) to being the best and bespoke [i][u]hand made [/u][/i]basses [/quote] I saw these at the bass show, didn't get a chance to try one out but they looked good, saw a guy trying one that looked a little like a Marleaux consat which was particularly tasty. As for being the best, well thats a tall order with established UK builders like Wal, Status, Overwater etc... not to mention more esoteric designs by manufacturers like Gus and smaller boutique builders like ACG, Eve, Anaconda etc. gaining more widespread recognition. Times are good for UK bass building but I would expect it's getting harder to stand out in the crowd. Good luck to them though Edited March 12, 2015 by CamdenRob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 I would like to think that there's always a place for another UK based bass manufacturer provided that they can offer something unique, and aren't just producing copies of other well known instruments. I've bookmarked their site (which brings my list of UK custom bass luthiers to just under 60 and I'm sure that's not exhaustive). However I think they should do something about the intro page which is not at all user friendly if they want to get more people exploring the site fully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Martin Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 Hi BigRedX. Thanks for your message! We are trying to make things very individual and not just copy other well known basses. We are removing the front page competition banner in a weeks time when we do our prize draw and i will mention your thoughts regarding this to our web guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonlittle Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 (edited) Hi guys. I spent quite and but of time checking it both the double basses and a couple of the Williamscott electrics. I particularly liked the 5-string fretted bass with the single cutaway. Played like a dream with a great sound. I found the EQ and quantity of knobs a little over the top (the bass sounded best with the EQ flat) but structurally the instrument was one of the best I've played. Slightly concerned about the price point for these instruments though; at £5K the aforementioned 5-string is way out of most professional musician's budget. I realise that these are completely handmade but so are numerous boutique instruments from well-established luthiers. At £5K you're firmly in Fodera territory where even seasoned professionals are unlikely to delve except in their dreams! Great to see Tom Martin on the stand too; he was head of department when I studied at GSMD so it was lovely to catch up. Great to meet Fenderphil too! Good luck with the basses folks. I look forward to seeing your instruments out in the field as it were... Edited March 30, 2015 by simonlittle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 (edited) [quote name='simonlittle' timestamp='1426181667' post='2715382'] At £5K you're firmly in Fodera territory [/quote] I didn't realise they were £5K... That puts these basses in exalted company, you can get a new Wal sixer for not much more than that. For me you have to be offering something pretty special to warrent spending a couple of grand more than an uber spec ACG. Edited March 13, 2015 by CamdenRob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 [quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1426233545' post='2715833'] I didn't realise they were £5K... That puts these basses in exalted company, you can get a new Wal sixer for not much more than that. For me you have to be offering something pretty special to warrent spending a couple of grand more than an uber spec ACG. [/quote] Personally I can't understand how any bass that isn't some ultra-cheap copy of a Fender P or J can be a substitute for another. If all we wanted was an electric stringed instrument capable of producing low notes we'd all be playing Squiers or Haley Bentons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clint Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 (edited) I had the good fortune of trying out their Gagliano bass and it was the highlight of the visit for me. Awesome bass and beautiful to look at... I instantly fell for it and would love to have in my collection but very pricey. I chatted to George and he was a really nice guy and I hope the brand does well and takes off. Good to support a quality British brand! Edited March 13, 2015 by Clint Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Lawson Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 Like Simon, I rather liked the 5 string single cut - amazingly consistent tone and feel. Will be interesting to see how the brand/design/ideas develop over the next year or so as they make more instruments! Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 I was gutted, albeit not surprised, that I didn't win the Farcebook giveaway bass Somebody's going to get a real beaut. Is the winner a member here, I wonder? If so... BUILD DIARY PLEASE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joeyfivebags Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 I'm sure this must be what I saw daflewis playing at wicked at Apollo London recently. Only saw the back and was confused by the neck bolt arrangement. Look like very nice instruments, deffinately out of my reach tho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fenderphil Posted March 30, 2015 Author Share Posted March 30, 2015 [quote name='Joeyfivebags' timestamp='1427734346' post='2733636'] I'm sure this must be what I saw daflewis playing at wicked at Apollo London recently. Only saw the back and was confused by the neck bolt arrangement. Look like very nice instruments, deffinately out of my reach tho. [/quote] Hey. Daf plays Warwick overwater And mainly parka basses. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joeyfivebags Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 (edited) Yeah all three of those were there, along with something with a curved neck bolt line. Can't think of anything else it could have been, either that or my eyes were playing tricks on me. Edit: headstock looks about right if I can remember rightly also Edited March 30, 2015 by Joeyfivebags Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daflewis Posted June 8, 2015 Share Posted June 8, 2015 Hi Joey, I do have a Schack which does look quite similar so it may have been that that you saw But just to set the record straight, AFTER THE WAY THEY KEPT ME HANGING AROUND AND THEN RIPPED ME OFF A FEW YEARS AGO, THERE'S NO WAY ANYONE WILL EVER SEE ME PLAYING ONE OF THEIR BASSES!! Daf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Sharman Posted June 8, 2015 Share Posted June 8, 2015 I played a 5 string fretless (very badly as is my want) on their stand at the LBGS. I have to say it came dangerously close to causing a flexing of the credit card. I am not usually one for really expensive instruments as I don't believe my standard of playing does, or probably ever will do, them justice but the one they played really did show me how a top quality instrument can make you reassess your perceptions. If I could ever afford a custom built instrument, and having played one of these basses, it would definitely make it onto my shortlist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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