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Pricing and availability

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Description

From https://www.instagram.com/teppeiteranishi/p/Cr6vx-Fv856/

It’s my usual double cut design but with a Grabber inspired headstock and a tele inspired pickguard. Alder body, five piece birdseye maple neck with jotoba fingerboard. 32.5” scale. Got insanely lucky and got my grubby hands on a Grabber pickup (was going to attempt to make one) partway through the build. Sounds radical. Stoked.

Guns and Guitars

Guns and Guitars

Build your DREAM BASS for UNDER $150

Video thumbnail for Build your DREAM BASS for UNDER $150 by Guns and Guitars

Build your DREAM BASS for UNDER $150

Guns and Guitars

Guns and Guitars

Video thumbnail for Making $100 Bass Sound Like a $1000 Bass by Travis Dykes

Making $100 Bass Sound Like a $1000 Bass

Travis Dykes

Travis Dykes

Video thumbnail for Making a Custom Bass Guitar | Part 1 by Matt Estlea

Making a Custom Bass Guitar | Part 1

Matt Estlea

Matt Estlea

Video thumbnail for Full Bass Build with Sound Demo by Barada Guitars

Full Bass Build with Sound Demo

Barada Guitars

Barada Guitars

Video thumbnail for Building A Bass With FIREBURST Finish | #DIYKitChallenge22 by Nate Navarro

Building A Bass With FIREBURST Finish | #DIYKitChallenge22

Nate Navarro

Nate Navarro

Video thumbnail for Let's Build A DIY Bass!!! - #DIYKitChallenge22 by Patrick Hunter

Let's Build A DIY Bass!!! - #DIYKitChallenge22

Patrick Hunter

Patrick Hunter

Video thumbnail for DIY Bass Build - How I Built a Custom Jazz Bass at Home by Play Along Tabs

DIY Bass Build - How I Built a Custom Jazz Bass at Home

Play Along Tabs

Play Along Tabs

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Custom / DIY Bass Guitar.

Build quality

  • Thomann J-bass kits reportedly have better fretwork than more expensive instruments, though neck pocket issues may require leveling and shimming.

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  • Some kits may have misaligned pre-drilled holes and stripped truss rod nuts, suggesting variable quality control.

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Mods and upgrades

  • Users have upgraded pickups to Donlis AlNiCo 5 for improved sound quality, replacing original ceramic pickups.

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  • When using passive pickups, grounding the pots is essential; scratching the pot surface can improve solder adhesion.

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  • Several owners recommend replacing stock strings immediately due to poor quality, enhancing the overall sound.

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Setup and maintenance

  • Owners often need to perform fretwork and address neck pocket fitting issues; bridge and tuners are frequently replaced for better tuning stability.

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  • Proper bridge positioning is crucial; ensure the bridge and nut distance matches the neck's scale length precisely to avoid unplayability.

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  • Soldering practice is recommended, especially for beginners, to master connecting components and grounding effectively.

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  • Pre-assembly is advised to identify and correct any alignment issues with tuners or bridge before finishing.

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Features and functionality

  • Some kits, like those from Harley Benton, have a chunky neck and persistent pore filler affecting finish quality.

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  • Sculpting paddle-shaped neck blanks into desired profiles offers customization without the complexity of building necks from scratch.

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Use cases and applications

  • Building a DIY bass kit is praised for the educational experience and offers control over appearance and some feel aspects, despite potential QC issues.

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  • Building a kit is seen as an ideal project for retirees or hobbyists interested in woodworking and technical challenges.

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User experience

  • Premade necks simplify builds by reducing technical challenges, allowing for creative freedom in body shape and pickup selection.

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  • Owners express that assembling these kits significantly increases their confidence in performing future instrument setups and adjustments.

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Artist usage

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See how Teppei Teranishi uses Custom / DIY Bass Guitar

Teppei Teranishi

Guitarist

Thrice

...
Verified via Instagram

In an Instagram post, Teppei Teranishi describes building his first Custom / DIY Bass Guitar: "I made a bass! I’ve been wanting a bass to write and demo with for years and slept on snatching up a Grabber for too long and now they’re 💰. It’s my usual double cut design but with a Grabber inspired headstock and a tele inspired pickguard. Alder body, five piece birdseye maple neck with jotoba fingerboard. 32.5” scale. Got insanely lucky and got my grubby hands on a Grabber pickup (was going to attempt to make one) partway through the build. Sounds radical. Stoked."

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

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