General questions about Nelson Instruments / Bobby Nelson

[Nelson Instruments]

I figured it might be a good idea to have a thread for any questions that are not instrument specific.
Any questions regarding policies, wait times, philosophy, blah blah blah. Feel free to ask away!

[ifeellikeatourist]

Hmm, since the floor has been opened, tell us how you got your start, who taught you how to build guitars? They are rather impressive!

[Nelson Instruments]

Good question!
My father was a carpenter. Growing up my brothers and I enjoyed making little projects out of wood. In my early teen years I liked the idea of building my own instrument. It never happened though.
Fast forward. I was going back to school for physchology and had to get a job. Since I had a working knowledge of guitars (had been collecting since I was 14) I got a job at a music store.
Working there I discovered a school here in minnesota where one could learn the basics of luthiery. So I went.
After school I was offered, out of the blue, a job selling and repairing instruments at Willie's American Guitars. There is where I really cut my teeth (as they say). I was able to apprentice with "woody" who had apprenticed with Roger Benedict. I credit him with teaching me how to do good fret work.
I also was able to apprentice with Steve Morgan who ran the Washburn and Hamer custom shops in Chicago in the 80s.
I also credit my uncle. He instilled in me the mechanical knowledge and eagerness to learn. My shop is filled with vintage american wood working machinery and many pieces I have totally rebuilt myself.
I have set up guitars for Elvis Costello, refurbished a 1930s lap steel for Wilco, and worked on many guitars for many people.
I pride myself on figuring out creative ways to solve problems with tooling, design, and love making as many things in-house as I can to keep costs low.
Okay I have probably written WAAAAY too much for an intro. Let me know if you have any other questions! I will gladly answer and try to keep it shorter next time!

[jrmy]

I'd say that's a great intro! It's always good to know the details when someone's building you an instrument.

[Nelson Instruments]

For sure! That is why I am so pleased to be here. I am all about building community. I detest the idea of looking at people merely as "customers" or "walking dollar signs". I want to know the people I am serving and have them know me.

[Gunner Recall]

That's a pretty cool story, thanks for sharing
Certainly sounds like you've had some decent experience

[Nelson Instruments]

Indeed! Not to name drop (not my style and it annoys me when people are name droppers) but I am kind of excited about this. I have a bass with Hugh McDonald right now. He's the bass player for Bon Jovi. Hopefully he decides to keep it!

[Haki]

Do you offer custom options? Say a different body/neck/fingerboard wood, a third pickup, different inlays or colour?

Any problems with shipping international?

[Nelson Instruments]

International shipping isn't a problem. Obviously it can get spendy, but as long as you're cool with that then I can send it via any carrier you like.
As far as custom options go, I will do custom options to a degree. If it is something that I can do easily in the production process like a different wood, finish color etc then yes.
A third pickup may or may not be a problem. If it was a Coquette or socialite instrument then having a one-off pickguard made could get spendy.
If you have some thoughts on options you are thinking about you can post here or email me directly at bobby@nelsoninstruments.com and we can discuss it further.

I don't get into too much customization because then it takes away from building other instruments and I would have to start charging a lot of money to make custom work worthwhile. That is why I say that it is possible if it can be done in the production process. =-)

[MaxMaps]

Why such short scale on the basses? would you be willing to do a 34 / 36 in scale bass?

[masked elwood]

Indeed! Not to name drop (not my style and it annoys me when people are name droppers) but I am kind of excited about this. I have a bass with Hugh McDonald right now. He's the bass player for Bon Jovi. Hopefully he decides to keep it!

it's not name dropping......it's references. big difference.
i love your guitars!

[Nelson Instruments]

Regarding scale length on basses, the reason I went with the 30.5" on the Coquette bass has to do with balance.
When I redesigned the pickguard for a bass (keeping in mind that there never was a bass version of that instrument in the past) I moved the bridge/tailpiece cutout as far back as I realistically could. From there I saw how far the neck would stick out.
With a 34" scale the neck would have stuck out far enough to cause major balance problems. Obviously the body shape has a lot to do with that.
I even made the body 1/2" thicker to ensure proper balance.
If you have never been a fan of short scale basses before, you might try the Coquette.
Generally the complaints with short scale basses are that they feel cramped, they lack adequate low end (which actually has less to do with scale length and more due to the fact that thinner sounding pickups were used), and are just overall tiny.
Most short scale basses were made as student instruments so corners were cut on electronics and hardware, and everything was made tiny.
The two things I heard most when people try the Coquette bass are 1) It doesn't feel like a short scale bass, and 2) The tone is full, deep, and rich.

To finish answering your question, I hope to offer a 34" scale bass at some point! So far all of the designs I am planning are short scale, but doing a long scale shouldn't prove difficult!

[sutarappa]

Very cool.

[MaxMaps]

Regarding scale length on basses, the reason I went with the 30.5" on the Coquette bass has to do with balance.
When I redesigned the pickguard for a bass (keeping in mind that there never was a bass version of that instrument in the past) I moved the bridge/tailpiece cutout as far back as I realistically could. From there I saw how far the neck would stick out.
With a 34" scale the neck would have stuck out far enough to cause major balance problems. Obviously the body shape has a lot to do with that.
I even made the body 1/2" thicker to ensure proper balance.
If you have never been a fan of short scale basses before, you might try the Coquette.
Generally the complaints with short scale basses are that they feel cramped, they lack adequate low end (which actually has less to do with scale length and more due to the fact that thinner sounding pickups were used), and are just overall tiny.
Most short scale basses were made as student instruments so corners were cut on electronics and hardware, and everything was made tiny.
The two things I heard most when people try the Coquette bass are 1) It doesn't feel like a short scale bass, and 2) The tone is full, deep, and rich.

To finish answering your question, I hope to offer a 34" scale bass at some point! So far all of the designs I am planning are short scale, but doing a long scale shouldn't prove difficult!

I look forward too seeing it. I am a big guy so short scales no matter how special don't work well for me.

[Nelson Instruments]

I totally understand. At some point I might be doing some hollow body electric basses. maybe I will see if a 34" scale will work on those. =-)