What I Learned From… Making Bass Guitars

The Value of Transferable Skills

I firmly believe that you can learn transferable skills that can help you in your career, whether it be marketing or anything else, from other experiences in life. This belief is at the core of the “What I Learned From” (WILF) series, where I reflect on hobbies, past jobs, and unexpected experiences to uncover valuable insights that apply to professional life. By drawing lessons from diverse activities, WILF aims to show that learning doesn’t just happen in classrooms or offices – it happens everywhere.

One hobby that I’ve not been able to spend time on in the last five years is making bass guitars.

As many of my listeners and readers will know, I am a keen musician. Although my main instruments are drums and tuba, I started learning bass guitar when I was about 16.

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Inspired by a Luthier

My uncle Tony is a luthier (a maker of stringed instruments). He repairs and builds cellos, violins, and the occasional viola. Growing up, I was always fascinated by instrument making, probably because I held musicianship in such high esteem. Having grown up in a musical family, I think this is what inspired me to want to make my own instrument.

I almost think of it like an assassin making their own sword – or maybe that’s just me.

Or perhaps it’s more like a soldier being able to take apart and reassemble their gun blindfolded.

It’s about knowing an instrument inside out, intimately.

The Importance of Project Planning

Making a bass guitar is a complex process that involves various disciplines, but it also requires an overarching project management perspective. There is a “critical path” that must be followed to turn random bits of wood and hardware into a functional instrument.

For those unfamiliar with the term, the “critical path” refers to the sequence of essential steps that determine the minimum time needed to complete a project. But beyond efficiency, it’s about achieving the best possible result.

For example, in guitar making:

  • You don’t install hardware before painting the body, or you’ll end up with paint-covered hardware.
  • Your plan changes depending on whether you varnish or paint the guitar.
  • When shaping the body, you need to know which pickups you’re using to cut the correct hole.
  • The scale length of the guitar determines fret spacing and bridge positioning – you must know what scale length you are using before cutting wood.

There are many more examples but you get the gist!

How This Translates to Marketing

The first major learning I take from this into marketing or business is the importance of a solid plan. You need a clear order in which to execute that plan. In marketing, if you launch a campaign without understanding the objectives or mapping out the steps, you’re setting yourself up for failure.

Choosing the Right Materials

The materials you choose when making a bass guitar matter. The type of wood affects the tone and aesthetics. Some woods are best varnished; others should be painted. If you’re hand-carving, you need a close-grained wood; if using power tools, you might opt for something more forgiving.

I’ve made mistakes with materials:

  • I once tried to use epoxy glue on maple and walnut – it didn’t bond properly, so I had to take everything apart and re-glue with proper wood glue.

  • Stainless steel frets last longer than nickel ones, but they punish your tools.

  • Different machine heads/tuners affect both aesthetics and functionality.

  • I always used EMG pickups because I’m terrible at soldering.

How This Translates to Marketing

Choosing the right materials is like hiring the right people, using the right tools, and selecting the right marketing platforms. The choices you make – whether in a bass guitar or a marketing strategy – all add up to the final result.

The Right Tools for the Job

You can make a bass guitar with or without power tools, but the tools you choose dictate the process and outcome. CNC machines provide precision, but a handmade guitar has character. Imperfections can add to the authenticity.

Planning around available tools is crucial.

Like I said, I’m awful at soldering, so I rely on EMG pickups with plug-in connectors. Some might frown on that, but it’s what allows me to complete the build.

How This Translates to Marketing

Marketing teams must plan around the tools they have. You can’t design an automation-heavy campaign without access to automation software. The same way I adapt my guitar builds to my toolset, businesses must align their strategies with available resources.

Learning From Others

Guitar making is a complex craft, but there are plenty of resources available: books, blogs, and – most importantly – YouTube. Channels like Crimson Guitars and Milehouse Studios are goldmines for learning techniques, shortcuts, and best practices.

I have to say – I am a big fan of Paul Richards of Milehouse Studios – the guy knows his stuff and he’s a comedy genius too!!

How This Translates to Marketing

The same principle applies in marketing. If you’re new to a platform, struggling with a technical challenge, or refining your strategy, there’s an endless pool of educational content out there – videos, blogs, podcasts, and even platform-specific knowledge hubs like HubSpot and Shopify.

If you’re reading this article, you already understand the value of continuous learning – so well done!

The Reality of Budgeting

Luthiers face a harsh reality when trying to sell custom instruments. Established manufacturers have trade agreements for materials and streamlined processes. Hobbyists don’t, meaning costs spiral quickly.

When I built my first guitar from scratch, I was shocked at how much I spent:

  • Wood
  • Glue
  • Binding
  • Paint
  • Electronics
  • Hardware
  • Strings

…I’m sure you get the picture… the point is that it all added up.

But the biggest cost?

Time.

If I had priced my time at minimum wage, I would have had to charge £3,000-4,000 to break even.

A factory-made Rickenbacker costs around £2,400 and that is a “perfect” new, authentic Rickenbacker – mine had imperfections.

How This Translates to Marketing

The same principle applies in marketing. You need to consider:

Just like I realised that bass guitar making was best kept as a hobby, businesses need to assess which strategies are financially viable.

A Brief History of My Bass Builds

  1. The Troll Killer – My first project at 16, reshaped an Aria Pro, covered it in carbon fibre, and refinished the neck (badly). Inspired me to modify my Squier Precision Bass, which I promptly wrecked.

  2. The Rickenbacker Project – Built two basses at once: one with cheap materials for practice and one with quality wood. The plywood version was a disaster, but the walnut and mahogany build turned out well.

  3. The Six-String Experiment – Bought a fretless six-string, removed the fretboard, installed a new one, and added EMG pickups. It played fine but felt cumbersome.

  4. The Jazz Bass Project – Made a Fender Jazz bass body from walnut, paired it with a prefabricated maple neck, then life got in the way (aka having a child).

  5. The Unfinished Legacy Build – Bought an unfinished 1970s bass from eBay. The luthier passed away, and I plan to finish it one day. By then, it will be a 60-year-old “new” bass guitar.

Final Thoughts

Making bass guitars taught me invaluable lessons about project planning, materials, tools, research, and budgeting – all of which apply to marketing and business.

Whether you’re crafting an instrument or a marketing strategy, the key takeaways remain the same:

  • Plan meticulously

  • Use the right resources

  • Leverage available tools

  • Keep learning

  • Budget realistically

Now, if only I had the time to finish that Jazz bass…