SkuttleFunk
Senior member
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- 1,156
I'm starting this as a dedicated thread to the multiple parts dealers available to guitar/bass builders. I know there was a similar thread started not too long ago, but it derailed into a discussion about a specific Strat build that the OP was contemplating. I'd like to keep this discussion focused on the parts suppliers and their products, and avoid it getting into a discussion about specific builds - this way we'll have a good resource for reference that members here can quickly find their supplies at
I utilize several internet and local (currently the Seattle area) resources for my bass building activities depending on what I need, who has it in stock and ready to ship, and my personal experiences with the quality of items offered combined with communication and expediency. I list these below in no specific order
Hardware/Electronics/specialty tools:
* Luthiers Mercantile International (http://www.lmii.com) - usually my first place to seek supplies from when I'm looking for something specific that I know I won't be finding at my local hardware warehouse
* StewMac (http://www.stewmac.com) - another good resource for parts, electronics, and specialty tools, but you need to do a little research is you're looking to be cost concious and budget minded on your purchases.
* Warmoth (http://www.warmoth.com) - a very dependable source for parts that fall within the Fender style of guitars/basses. the selection is limited to parts that coordinate with their body and neck offerings, but the parts offered are always of dependably high quality
* BestBassGear (http://www.bestbassgear.com) - a great resource for bass hardware/electronics including Hipshot, Aguilar, Nordstrand, Bartolini, and also for bass pickup routing templates
* Has-Sound (http://www.has-sound.com) - another great selection of electronics that you will have difficulty finding elsewhere, plus Stan will also custom build stacked pots (tell me where else you can get a stacked 25K/250K or 1M/50K ohm pot for example)
* Woodcraft (http://www.woodcraft.com) - this source is mostly for glues, finishes, and tools as they don't cater to the guitar building market
Bodies/Necks
* Regenerate Guitar Works ... oh, wait, that's me :icon_tongue: I do make a large portion of the bodies and necks for my custom basses. I do not sell necks or bodies as individual parts. Depending on the specific requests for a customer build, I have also used parts from these companies
* Warmoth (http://www.warmoth.com) - if you're reading and/or posting on this site you probably don't need to know more :icon_thumright:
* USA Custom Guitars (http://www.usacustomguitars.com) - a super competitor to the W shop, and another maker of incredibly nice necks and bodies. if you're looking for a graphite reinforced neck instead of one with steel reinforcing bars, you should give these guys a serious look. they also have some flexibility in neck features that W does not offer
Wood
* Gallery Hardwoods (http://www.galleryhardwoods.com) - the source for acrylized fingerboards, and also the most dependable source I know of for body, fretboard, and neck blanks and bookmatched top sets. Larry definitely sets the standard that everybody else struggles to come close to
* Cross-Cuts Hardwoods (http://www.crosscuthardwoods.com) - not always the least expensive hardwood supplier locally, but a dependable resource for 8/4 Alder amongst other things. they also have a reasonable selection of exotics
* Compton Lumber (http://www.comptonlbr.com) - across the street from Cross-Cuts, and equally reliable for the basic woods for body and neck construction
* Edensaw Hardwoods (http://www.edensaw.com) - a small shop with very interesting inventory and some hard to find body blank species
I use suppliers beyond these, but this is a good starting place for anyone who is building five or fewer instruments per year.
Which supply joints have you used in the past with great or substandard success?
all the best,
R
I utilize several internet and local (currently the Seattle area) resources for my bass building activities depending on what I need, who has it in stock and ready to ship, and my personal experiences with the quality of items offered combined with communication and expediency. I list these below in no specific order
Hardware/Electronics/specialty tools:
* Luthiers Mercantile International (http://www.lmii.com) - usually my first place to seek supplies from when I'm looking for something specific that I know I won't be finding at my local hardware warehouse
* StewMac (http://www.stewmac.com) - another good resource for parts, electronics, and specialty tools, but you need to do a little research is you're looking to be cost concious and budget minded on your purchases.
* Warmoth (http://www.warmoth.com) - a very dependable source for parts that fall within the Fender style of guitars/basses. the selection is limited to parts that coordinate with their body and neck offerings, but the parts offered are always of dependably high quality
* BestBassGear (http://www.bestbassgear.com) - a great resource for bass hardware/electronics including Hipshot, Aguilar, Nordstrand, Bartolini, and also for bass pickup routing templates
* Has-Sound (http://www.has-sound.com) - another great selection of electronics that you will have difficulty finding elsewhere, plus Stan will also custom build stacked pots (tell me where else you can get a stacked 25K/250K or 1M/50K ohm pot for example)
* Woodcraft (http://www.woodcraft.com) - this source is mostly for glues, finishes, and tools as they don't cater to the guitar building market
Bodies/Necks
* Regenerate Guitar Works ... oh, wait, that's me :icon_tongue: I do make a large portion of the bodies and necks for my custom basses. I do not sell necks or bodies as individual parts. Depending on the specific requests for a customer build, I have also used parts from these companies
* Warmoth (http://www.warmoth.com) - if you're reading and/or posting on this site you probably don't need to know more :icon_thumright:
* USA Custom Guitars (http://www.usacustomguitars.com) - a super competitor to the W shop, and another maker of incredibly nice necks and bodies. if you're looking for a graphite reinforced neck instead of one with steel reinforcing bars, you should give these guys a serious look. they also have some flexibility in neck features that W does not offer
Wood
* Gallery Hardwoods (http://www.galleryhardwoods.com) - the source for acrylized fingerboards, and also the most dependable source I know of for body, fretboard, and neck blanks and bookmatched top sets. Larry definitely sets the standard that everybody else struggles to come close to
* Cross-Cuts Hardwoods (http://www.crosscuthardwoods.com) - not always the least expensive hardwood supplier locally, but a dependable resource for 8/4 Alder amongst other things. they also have a reasonable selection of exotics
* Compton Lumber (http://www.comptonlbr.com) - across the street from Cross-Cuts, and equally reliable for the basic woods for body and neck construction
* Edensaw Hardwoods (http://www.edensaw.com) - a small shop with very interesting inventory and some hard to find body blank species
I use suppliers beyond these, but this is a good starting place for anyone who is building five or fewer instruments per year.
Which supply joints have you used in the past with great or substandard success?
all the best,
R
