What exactly is a Carl Thompson bass? It is the Stradivarius of the electric bass guitar. Carl Thompson has been building basses since 1974 at the rate of about ten or so every year. He has made instruments for such greats as Anthony Jackson, Stanley Clarke and Les Claypool, as well as created the first electric 6-string bass and the first piccolo bass. All of his instruments are custom order and completely unique, there is no assembly line. All instruments are hand crafted by Carl Thompson himself. Styles range from four string piccolo basses, to guitars, all the way to six string basses and even more exotic instruments.
These things aren’t cheap, but look pretty damn sexy. A four string bass starts at $4,200. And at the rate of “ten or so every year”, you should order one now if you want it anytime soon.
that’s actually not a bad price for a handmade instrument. looks sexy.