Feasibility of setting up a custom build business. Interest?

[Bassybert]

To add to the other comments here, you’ll also need your product details/photography on point to give you the best possible chance of getting a sale. 
 

I know from personal experience when looking at bitsa builds, if someone’s got crappy photos I’m out as I don’t have anything else to go on, no historic reputation etc to know I’m getting value for my money

 

Just my 2 pence worth.

[basexperience]

On 01/09/2025 at 10:54, NancyJohnson said:

Over the last year or so, I've built/customised a handful of parts basses for both myself and a couple of other people; as I've kind of fallen into an early retirement situation, I'm wondering whether it's feasible to actually set up/invest in a business of sorts creating basses. 

 

These would largely be Fender-esque, I can source parts easily enough; I have a local paint shop that have said they can pretty much do any type of finished paint job (clear/matte/gloss/metal fake etc.).

 

I'd not be looking to make huge £££ - obviously there'd be a build/labour fee, but it's more just to keep my idle hands busy.  I know I'm good at this and it's just a waste of my time doing nothing.  

 

Would anyone be interested?

Interesting idea! I've built a bits jazz myself, from a rescued eBay AllParts body (a beautiful sunburst some guy had tried to mount everything on 3 times, including the bridge - took some fixing, but it's a gorgeous body) and a Warmoth ebony fretless neck I bought nearly 30 years ago, which had been languishing on a terrible Hohner body for years. Slapped in a pair of Squier jazz pickups I found and it sounds lovely, so I know where you're coming from - I actually repainted the Hohner body when I fitted the neck to it, just rattle can but it was a nice shade of midnight metallic blue.

 

I've read some of the responses here and one of the ones which struck me as a good point was the sheer number of fender type basses out there you can get - and Squiers, too. I wondered if there might be any challenge / fun in finding a "good" chickenbacker from e.g. AliExpress, then upgrading it with better parts (making sure the basses were through necks, or whatever) - using the bass as a starting point. I understand some vendors do sell kits, as well, unpainted.

 

You'd have to sell in places like Fakenbackers on Facebook, and you wouldn't be able to list here, unfortunately (IIRC)... they have other fake basses too though, there could be a USP in taking e.g. fake Dingwalls and making them far better basses. Could be fun finding out how to do things like round out sharp fret ends, improve neck condition, even finishing the kits, I guess.

 

It is fun putting bits together and getting something playable out, no doubt. I'll probably do the same when I retire (when I'm not gigging)! 

[uk_lefty]

On 01/09/2025 at 15:45, Dad3353 said:

As to a 'speciality' : may I suggest that we see a lot of folk disappointed that 'such and such' a model is not available in 'lefty' format. Maybe it could be an option to 'clone' a 'righty' bass into a lefty version, if a lefty player said what he/she would be interested in..? Just an idea.

It's a good idea but in the last fifteen to twenty years we have been better looked after, with Fender doing a Mexican P bass and Sire doing everything! 

 

There have been a few sellers I've noticed that do this kind of thing. There was one on eBay doing nice Fender shaped stuff but they were having around a long time before selling, there's also someone in Japan who bolts together unique basses made from the usable bits of old knackered ones. Thing is it's a gamble buying one of these. So I guess if you're looking for the USP in selling bitsas for me it would be the personal touch in design consultation and instrument handover that would make the sale, rather than seeing a nice picture online. I built a fantastic looking PJ bass bitsa myself with good quality bits but it just didn't ever feel right to me, so you're playing it down by saying it's just screwing some bits together, that all important finishing and set up is the real value! 

[Kiwi]

11 hours ago, itu said:

No worries, Sir. I would love to see your necks available in bigger amounts. Status no longer exists, but @Kiwi does! 

Well, baby steps for now.  We are still establishing but none of it would be possible without the trust of those who put deposits down for the first batch of necks.  So Im incredibly grateful for their support.  I'll find a way of better recognising them at some point.

[Wolverinebass]

I'll happily test something out and I'm always honest with reviews. 

 

I guess the question is, how custom is custom? Are we just doing some minor tweaks to say a Fender or suchlike, or is it, literally anything goes in terms of mods? Pickup routing, circuit replacement? Or is it, a small choice of of body shapes, mods, woods and parts?

 

Any of those things are fine, it's just good to know where it's all going to land and I appreciate that it's all speculation at the moment.

[fretmeister]

A sensible approach might be to make one or two along the lines of what you might offer for sale and then relay it round your favourite BC people to get their thoughts before they are returned to you to consider any improvements suggested.

 

That approach worked for Paul Reed Smith - he drove round to shops and gigs with a pair of his first guitars to drum up interest, but I bet he had several versions before being happy enough to sneak into a Santana show to get him to see one.

 

So - a couple of examples for trusted people to try, then if all is well see if the UK youtubers would be interested in doing a quick video. That's probably the modern equivalent of PRS' approach.

[NancyJohnson]

Reading all the comments here, I figure it's probably simpler to just do the odd build as and when I'm called upon.  

 

By and large anything that I'd have been doing would primarily be Fender-based, as the parts are fairly plentiful and I could easily buy in the stuff I'd need.  I would have been able to offer custom routing/electronics along with a custom paint options, although these would have been solid/flake as opposed to sunbursts.  

 

A few years back I had a short conversation with a guy that was close to Mike Lull; he mentioned that a lot of the work behind creating their basses was outsourced to external businesses and the magic only happened when the parts went back to Lull for assembly/set up.  I'll admit (despite owning a pair of Lull basses) this didn't sit so well with me, but hey-ho, they're great instruments and needs must, I suppose.

[Chiliwailer]

28 minutes ago, NancyJohnson said:

 

 

A few years back I had a short conversation with a guy that was close to Mike Lull; he mentioned that a lot of the work behind creating their basses was outsourced to external businesses and the magic only happened when the parts went back to Lull for assembly/set up.  I'll admit (despite owning a pair of Lull basses) this didn't sit so well with me, but hey-ho, they're great instruments and needs must, I suppose.

Funny you say that; when I was looking at Warmoth I noticed their P Bass easy access neck heals looked liked a Lull, plus the 21 fret ramp is the same, and they are pretty close geographically, so wondered if they did parts for him… 🤔

 

I’ve had 4 Lull basses, 1 was exceptional but the other 3 just very good, which is a concern now they are £3-4K

Edited 50 minutes ago by Chiliwailer

[Chiliwailer]

And I did wonder if the Lull M4V is the Warmoth smaller Jazz body, but couldn’t be arsed to look and compare. 
 

Anyways, we met Mike and he was cool, and his basses feel amazing, so just saying. 

[itu]

If you have two bodies, few @Kiwi necks, few pickups, and two electronics, there are already LOTS of choices. Add a painting and hardware scheme, and we can talk about a custom. 

 

A SHELL yellow P body (chambered or light swamp ash), an unlined MM neck, a J bridge and a humbucker neck with coil-tap, black hardware, V/B/T/B. Where to find one? Available in 3 months? I could seriously consider one. If @NancyJohnson sources pickup routings, I could source electronics and pickups myself.