High luthiery
Until the end of the sixties, the production of electric basses was conceived above all to be purchased by a large audience, an industrial luthiery based on the cost reduction obtained through mass production. During the following decade, while industrial production gradually became established in Asia, the philosophy began to change, the development and the increasing centrality of the electric bass led some American craftsmen to experiment with new lutheristic solutions that led to the creation of unique, expensive instruments with high-quality wood, electronics, and refined in all the construction details.
The first manufacturer to conceive this type of instrument was Alembic.
Born in the late sixties, in the psychedelic environment of San Francisco, it was founded by Ron Wickersham, Bob Mathews and Rick Turner; the first real bass they produced was built in 1971 for Jack Casady (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna). For the time it was a very special instrument with features such as: multi-laminated neck-through body with 24 frets; exotic woods; active electronics; bridge, mechanics and brass nut; beautiful mother of pearl inlays instead of plastic dot markers.
In 1973 Alembic and Stanley Clarke met, the qualities of one and the other merged, and with that instrument the Philadelphia virtuoso will write the history of the electric bass.
Carl Thompson, a luthier born in Pennsylvania and established in New York, also marked the history of the electric bass. He created, together with the legendary bassist Anthony Jackson, the first modern 6-string bass; he also created the famous Piccolo Bass for Stanley Clarke (tuned an octave higher than the normal electric bass).
Each of his magnificent instruments is a unique piece. This New York luthier, famous since the seventies, is currently known for his collaboration with Les Claypool.
Carl Thompson 5 string fretless
Carl Thompson 5 string fretless (retro)
At the end of 1977 the Americans Stuart Spector (who had a certain Vinnie Fodera as collaborator), liuther, and Ned Steiberger, designer, created a bass destined to have a sure impact due to its special ergonomic shape. Neck-through body, ebony fretboard, Di Marzio pickup (later become EMG), the Spector NS-1 was a great quality bass, followed immediately after by the NS-2 which included the pairing of the P/J pickups.
SPECTOR NS-1
SPECTOR NS-1 (PICKUP)
SPECTOR NS-2
To understand the influence of the Spector-Steinberger duo just observe how a few years later, in 1982, the renowned West German company Warwick, directed by the son of Framus founder Hans-Peter Wifer, released the Streamer series, followed in 1985 from the Thumb series, all instruments very close, in construction philosophy, to the Spector NS.
Another fundamental name in the field of high luthiery is that of Ken Smith, with a past as bassist and double bass player, in the early eighties collaborating with Fodera, he specialized in the field of 5 and 6 strings, of which he is one of the most important pioneers, and brings out the Ken Smith BT, instruments of rare beauty, quality and price.
These basses are characterized by the two humbucker pickups with active/passive circuit, the beauty of the woods and the level of their processing. They are almost always built with the neck-through body but there is no lack of splendid bolt-ons.
Feast your eyes! This photo does some justice to the beauty of these instruments.
Vinnie Fodera had started collaborating with Spector in 1977 and then continued with Smith until 1983 when he went out on his own. Key figure of high luthiery, pioneering and masterful builder of 6 and 5 string basses, he is currently among the most respected luthiers.
FODERA IMPERIAL 6 ELITE (retro)
Another important person in this area is Michael Tobias, an American luthier active since the seventies. His instruments, especially 5 and 6 strings, neck-through body, built with precious woods, led to success the Tobias Guitar later sold in 1990 to Gibson. In 1994 he founded MTD (Michael Tobias Design) producing both high quality instruments, in continuity with his tradition, and models built in series in Asia under his technical directives.
Michael Pedulla, still an American luthier, has distinguished himself for the quality of his production, he is famous for his fretless and for the particular refined shape of the horns of his instruments.
Even the English luthiery has not stood by, among the manufacturers of luxury basses the Wal Bass Guitars stands out for their fame and quality. Its activity started in the fabulous seventies building instruments for musicians such as Percy Jones, John Entwistle, Mick Karn, Paul McCartney (in the late eighties even Paul played the 5 strings!), John Gustafson and Alan Spenner.
