04/04/2018
Imagine you have $800 dollars in your wallet. Would you put that $800 towards a manufactured instrument (a machine-made model owned by thousands of other musicians) or would you put it towards a custom one (a handmade, one-and-only guitar/bass for YOU)?
When I was 14 I saw a bassist (Les Claypool) in some videos and searched all over guitarcenter.com to find it. I then discovered that his bass was a handmade Carl Thompson (ctbasses.com) and INCREDIBLY unaffordable. So I decided to just make one of my own that was modelled after a handmade bass.
I believe that every musician is unique. We all have different repetoires, musical preferences, dreams, etc. But we all have the same instruments as hundreds if not thousands of other people... What's unique about that? It's always weird to buy an instrument that you love, then see someone else playing the same manufactured version. What makes you stand out if your guitar or bass is owned by hundreds if not thousands of other people?
Silvester basses and guitars are serious instruments for serious musicians. I believe that an instrument should be the musician's trademark, and be incredibly playable. I also believe that looking and sounding professionally unique shouldn't be impossibly expensive for those (*cough* college students) who can't afford it. (Which is why for college students the prices are more forgiving.) Now while the college deal isn't super cheap, (i.e. $100 - $300) it isn't bankrupt-lifetime-debt expensive. (i.e.$1,500+).
WHY SILVESTER BASSES?
First of all your instrument is custom. That means you contact me and we talk about what you want in your guitar or bass. You pick what wood(s) you want. There are standards: it has to be hardwood, and exotic wood is more expensive. I also don't paint over my guitars because to me that's heresy. Each piece of wood has a special grain pattern that contributes to your trademark and helps you to stand out. A reference for woods (and the store where I get mine) is http://www.macbeath.com/
- I don't do crazy body shapes like pirate ships or anything like that, but I can do a pearl inlay on the fretboard to your liking.
- I use EMG products for the electronics, firstly for great tone, and also because they are simple to install/replace when necessary. http://www.emgpickups.com/
- I normally use Hipshot products (bridges), and Sperzel locking tuners.
Of course to all of these there are exceptions, which is why contacting me is the best way to find out your options.
REPAIR:
If it's a crack in the wood or some fretwork, etc.; I won't charge for it. IF THE HARDWARE IS DAMAGED, IT WILL COST HOWEVER MUCH THE PART IS TO REPAIR. Also adjustments (action, truss rod, nut, etc.) don't cost anything.
COST:
I ask for 2 payments: one upfront to finance all the hardware and wood (thus speeding up the building process immensely) and one after for labor. The labor payment will be a MINIMUM of $100 depending on the complexity of your guitar. It won't be a skyrocketing price either, that's why you contact me so we can figure out about how much it'll be. THE FIRST PAYMENT WILL BE BETWEEN $300 -$600 (again, depending on the complexity of your instrument) and is the bigger chunk. Like I said, not cheap, but not $1,500+ either.
Contact me through this page, [email protected], or at 801-678-2571
Remember: STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD
- Jacob Silvester
