Welcome to Hoytbasses.com

I’ve been building stringed instruments since 1978: starting with acoustic guitars and moving on to electric basses (I’m still building acoustic instruments as well) . In around 1997 or so I got one of them high tech worldwide interweb pages and I started building instruments for people all over the country. It’s the mesmerizing effect of my website that draws bassists into my clutches like moths to a flame! (insert maniacal laugh track here). As a full time woodworking/guitar building teacher, I only accept a few commissions a year : however…………………………………..

NEW CONTENT!! 8/10/2010!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW! For a while now, my little shop has been in a state of disorganization, disrepair, discombobulation, and dismemberment. Enough is enough! Effective immediately and until it’s done (probably, in all likelihood through the 2010 holiday season.) I will not be accepting any commissions. We’re putting a new heating system in, new insulation, and I have a bathroom that I suspect will not be completed in time for the start of school . I’m reorganizing my shop spaces, adding storage and a machine or two, and preparing the space to be able to accommodate a greater number of projects more efficiently , more quicker and more better!!!!! So stay tuned. I may even post some before and after pictures for hard-core Hoytbasses fans (poor souls) I’m not even putting up a for sale page until probably the holidays…….. but keep checking back!

For those who are dreaming of an entirely hand-built, completely customized instrument, here are my models:

· The standard double cutaway: I’ve built dozens of this design. Features include a highly sculpted body (I don’t like flat surfaces….and I love the comfort of a ‘belly bowl’) . The body is usually made of a domestic hardwood body wood with a fancy top. The neck is quarter sawn maple with your choice of Indian Rosewood, Macassar Ebony, Maple or other fingerboard wood. Five string necks have twin carbon fiber rails for extra strength and stability. I use Nordstrand pickups and optional EQ’s and Hipshot hardware . 22 fret necks, medium sized frets, optional inlays and a hand-rubbed or water based acrylic lacquer finish 1-9/16” at the nut and 2.5” at the heel for 4 bangers, 1.75”/3” for 5 strings

· My single cutaway is very similar in most aspects to the double cutaway. The main difference is the body shape. Many folks who want an extended range instrument prefer the single cut (the top picture has 27 frets). It’s a very comfortable bass to play. Many if not most of my single cuts are built with ‘set’(glued in) necks. Hardware and pickup choices are all the same as the double cut.

· If you were to ask Salvatore Dali to design a Beatle Bass, it might look something like this (except, maybe the headstock would be folded over a table). Even though I’ve only built two to date, they’re gaining a little attention on the web and a lot of folks are inquiring about them. This one was built with mostly scrounged parts and scrap wood with a rattle-can lacquer finish. (I’m currently using this as my main gig bass) . I’d love to build you one. Stay tuned for a Dali bass all decked out with a single Nordstrand FatStack and 2 band EQ. One word of caution, If you play primarily seated, don’t order this bass, your knee wont like you for long. It balances surprisingly well on the strap, however and a really deep belly bowl and highly contoured body make this extremely comfy to play. This is set-neck construction.

· I also build Electric upright basses, Carved-top Jazz Guitars, Electric guitars and pretty much anything else that strikes my fancy. That’s the best thing about being a one-man show.

Interested? Send me an e-mail….. and thanks for checking out my poorly conceived and inadequately prepared site: kfh