Our Bass Builder has been completely rebuilt.
Start with a model
Pick P Style, J Style or our Rebel, in 4 or 5 strings, right- or left-handed. Then pick your neck:
- 4-string: 34" scale with a J-width (1.5") or P-width (1.65") nut, or a 30" short scale
- 5-string: 34" or a 32" medium scale, both with a 1.8" nut
- Roasted flame maple, maple or ebony fretboards, and a fretless option
- A matching painted headstock if you want the whole bass to match
39 finishes, and a pickguard to go with each
There are 39 finishes in the builder, from Madelyn's hand-stained artwork like Black Sands, Vice City, Geode, Ammolite and Violet Storm to sprayed solids like Candy Apple Red and Satin Black. Pick a gloss or a new satin topcoat, then choose from 17 pickguards (or none at all) and your body wood: ash, alder, mahogany or extra-light basswood.
Pickups: seven makers, a lot of layouts
Pick from EMG (active or passive), DiMarzio, Lollar, Nordstrand, Lindy Fralin and Bartolini. Then choose a layout: our flagship three-pickup Thunderhorse, the Thunderbird + P Thumper, P/J, MM combinations, single pickups in the neck, middle or bridge spot, and more.
Electronics your way
Active builds come with the McGrath Tilt EQ and a push/pull preamp bypass. Three-pickup builds can add the McGrath Switch, our patent-pending 12-way selector with every series and parallel combination, developed with The Bass Channel. Prefer something else? You can also choose:
- EMG or Nordstrand preamps
- Volume knobs, on/off switches or sliders for each pickup
- Billy Sheehan-style controls
- Series/parallel push-pull and a passive tone on the treble pot
- A side or front output jack
Hardware
Pick Leo Quan Badass or Hipshot MassKicker bridges in black, chrome, nickel or gold. Your tuners match automatically. String-through body and a Hipshot Bass Xtender are available too, along with matching knobs and control plates.
Save it, share it, send it to us
This is our favorite part. Every build now has its own build code:
- Email yourself the build. You'll get a link back to that exact bass. Cormac reads every one and is happy to answer questions.
- Share it. Post your design straight to Instagram with a ready-made caption, or copy the link and send it to your bandmates.
- Paste a code a friend sent you to load their build and make it your own.
- Print a build sheet with the full spec.
- Stuck? Hit random and the builder will design one for you. There's an undo if you don't love it.
If a McGrath owner sent you our way, there's a spot at the end to tell us who. We like to thank them.
Ordering
Builds start at $1,999. Reserve your slot with a 25% deposit, pay in full, or pay over time with Shop Pay Installments. Once you order, we go over every spec, wiring choice and the artwork with you before we start. Your deposit is fully refundable until then. Most builds ship in about 12 weeks (about 14 with Nordstrand or DiMarzio pickups), in a McGrath x Protec hybrid case.
Lock in this year's price
Bass Builder prices go up on January 1. Place your deposit before then and you keep today's price.
Already own a McGrath? Our new Pickguard Builder works the same way. Pick your body, strings and pickups, preview it on your bass's color, and we cut a replacement pickguard to fit.
Questions? Email info@mcgrathguitars.com. We're happy to talk options by email or video call.
Cormac & Madelyn
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