Disappointing new bass day...I would appreciate some opinions.

[LukeFRC]

30 minutes ago, snorkie635 said:

Sorry. Just been proved wrong. Hellzero thought the crack to be excellent, therefore, some must have made it through to his pipe.

don't grass him up

[Dood]

Am I right in thinking that this brand is part of a number of companies in the same locality and they have shipped work out from their own workshop to keep up with demand? Or am I imagining that happened at some point? So, I guess my question is; although responsibility and (consumer contract) is between buyer and seller, did someone else, a 3rd party “do the work”? Ya know, since it is unusual that examples like this come out of the brand’s workshop? I’ve no idea, just asking.

[wateroftyne]

45 minutes ago, Dood said:

Am I right in thinking that this brand is part of a number of companies in the same locality and they have shipped work out from their own workshop to keep up with demand? Or am I imagining that happened at some point? So, I guess my question is; although responsibility and (consumer contract) is between buyer and seller, did someone else, a 3rd party “do the work”? Ya know, since it is unusual that examples like this come out of the brand’s workshop? I’ve no idea, just asking.

It sounds like you could tell us if that’s the case.

[Minininjarob]

On 12/10/2025 at 14:05, N64Lover said:

I had a big birthday this year so as a nice treat I decided to order myself a custom bass. A lot of my favourite guitar players use Jazzmasters and being that there's no such thing as a Jazzmaster bass I designed one and got a fairly well known builder in Europe to make it for me, the name of which I will not share. There are a couple of big names that use these instruments.

 

It arrived last week and I was immediately disappointed in the condition that it was in. Scratches and blemishes all over, tool marks on the scratch-plate, dirty binding with black sticky residue on the fret ends. The worst part was that the electronics (Nordstrand preamp and pups) are basically unusable as they are, lose roller pots, loud hum, popping input jack. The finish is nitro, which I understand is very delicate...but this just seems careless and rushed.

 

I am sharing this because the builder has made excuses for these things in that it's kind of a prototype, he's not made a bass like this before. He makes Fender-esque basses but I don't think this is a radical departure from that, just the control layout is unusual. 

 

I would appreciate any opinions that you might have if this were to happen to you. I paid around £2300 which I understand is reasonable for a custom bass, but it's still a decent amount of cash.

Bit late to this, but to be honest the £180 Squire Sonic p bass I bought new recently was better quality than that. Very very poor. 
Name and shame if they don’t sort the issues out ASAP. 

[wateroftyne]

11 minutes ago, Minininjarob said:

Bit late to this, but to be honest the £180 Squire Sonic p bass I bought new recently was better quality than that. Very very poor. 
Name and shame if they don’t sort the issues out ASAP. 

TBH I would have waited for it all to be resolved (or not) before posting about it, as that’s the true test of a business’ mettle, but of course the OP can deal as they see fit.

[snorkie635]

7 hours ago, LukeFRC said:

don't grass him up

I only told Mary Jane - honest.

[prowla]

5 hours ago, Minininjarob said:

Bit late to this, but to be honest the £180 Squire Sonic p bass I bought new recently was better quality than that. Very very poor. 
Name and shame if they don’t sort the issues out ASAP. 

Was it a fake?

[Minininjarob]

7 minutes ago, prowla said:

Was it a fake?

What do you mean?