Today we’d like to introduce you to Rich Guerrero.
Hi Rich, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
RG Custom Basses Started off in 1999 in CA and moved to Nashville in 2004. It all started when I hurt my wrist and had a hard time playing standard basses, so my brother in law , who was a cabinet maker, said i should build one with a smaller neck, this lead to my first prototype bass of what i now refer to as an asymmetrical neck design, all my basses are neck through designs that taper in a manner that makes the bass easier to play as you move up and down the neck. RG Custom basses is defined by its exotic woods, neck through designs and active electronics.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Of course every venture has its ups and downs, but mainly its been steady, as a one man operation on the building aspect, I have about 150 hours invested in each bass, so the process is a little slow, but its a custom crafted handmade instrument, even if I tried to make the same bass twice, they would be different, I let the wood “speak to me” every instrument has its own voice and shaping etc. happens the way it happens, it is never a cookie cutter approach. I currently offer 4 body styles, i call logos, pathos, ethos and my most current design the Nashville, inspired by a man I met who wanted to start multiple bass lines but that ended a bit ago, but i still offer the body shape, it was definitely a different approach, as I learned what I built previously was considered by many an exotic or “rocker” approach; The Nashville was focused on a more traditional body shape and used domestic woods and passive electronics, so it was a stretch from what i typically build but has been well received , well in Nashville… haha
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As I mentioned what makes my basses a little “unique” would be the exotic woods, asymmetrical neck through design etc, but i like to think what makes every one unique is the wood I choose and the multi laminate designs i do, it is not uncommon for one of my basses to have 3 or more wood species with over 11 laminates in the neck, giving it a “pinstripe” design. my main feedback comment from musician and non musician alike is how “beautiful” they are, and i think what they mean is the wood selection and some of the design aspects. I spend a lot of time on the design process, so its nice to hear that, even though no one ever sees all the detail and thought that went into a build, I think they see the overall “wow factor”, when I see the details. I wish that wow factor translated into dollars, but it hasn’t…
now days i focus on the actual wood, no stains no coloring just the wood the way God made it. There are so many colorful species most have never heard of or know about, so often ill get a comment like “is thar oak?” and i snicker because it is a rare species they have probably never heard of, but that’s all most people know oak maple pine etc..
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
That’s a hard one, I am a one man business, and i have a good friend who help me with the web/social media side of things as i have no idea how all that stuff works but Its been hard to promote. I cant build fast enough to have new social media content every week as things are today, so i am not posting on a regular basis etc, but i do currently have 12 basses in stock and have build over 50. and they can be seen on Instagram etc. my friend is a really good photographer and has done a great job. SO guess to answer the question… media, or marketing would be helpful, unfortunately, i cant pay a firm to advertise etc when i am not selling. With my friend we have the deal when i make money he makes money… lol like i said he’s a good friend.
Pricing:
- basses range in price from 2k to 4k
- can be seen on website
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rgcustombasses.com/
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/rgcustombasses
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/rgcustombasses
