Truly Handmade™ Custom Instruments

Helms Custom Basses is a one-man shop that specializes in hand-building basses to order. Each bass is unique, built by one pair of hands. There is no “assembly line,” just a dedicated wood shop and assembly area in my home.
Every instrument gets its full measure of my attention from concept to completion.
My services are aimed at creating bass guitars that can help my clients fulfill their unique musical requirements. Sonic, aesthetic, tactile, and functional characteristics each play an important role. Each custom bass is optimized to balance these attributes to the individual player’s taste.
Designing a Helms custom bass is collaborative effort. You bring your opinions, ideas, and performing experiences to the discussion. I bring my talent and experience as a luthier, plus my own perspectives as a player. Together we map out a concept. Sometimes this means minor tweaks to one of my existing designs; in other cases it entails the creation of something completely new. It’s my job as a luthier to take your creative ideas and carve them into reality.

Other Services:

Enhancements and custom modifications are another Helms specialty. I can create a new body for your bass neck, or a new neck for your body… or anything in between. Re-fret, de-fret, Pickup routing, preamp installation, peizo electronics, bridge replacement; if your bass needs a boost, chances are I can find a solution. And of course, I am the “Service Depot” for any instrument that crosses my bench.