Most factory basses come in a handful of solid colors sprayed on a production line. Every custom McGrath bass with an art finish is different: it is hand-painted by Madelyn in our San Diego shop, one body at a time. If you are designing a bass in the Bass Builder and wondering which finish to pick, here is what goes into one and how to choose.
Hand-painted vs solid color
A solid color is exactly what it sounds like: one even, opaque color over the whole body. It is clean, classic and timeless.
A hand-painted finish is artwork. Madelyn builds it up by hand with stains, gradients, shading and effects like mica and shimmer, so the wood, the light and the color all play off each other. No two come out exactly alike. Custom hand-painted artwork by Madelyn is included as standard on every custom McGrath bass; solid colors are the exception.
Stains that let the wood show through
A lot of our finishes are hand-stained rather than painted opaque, so the grain stays visible underneath. Our Surf Blue, for example, uses a hand-stained gradient so the warm wood tones come through, a bit like looking down at turquoise water. Honey Chrome and Whiskey lean the same way, with the wood glowing up through the color.
Shading, mica and shimmer
Other finishes are about depth. On Coffee, Madelyn shades the edges with that dark, reddish glow coffee has when light shines through it, and adds a lot of gold mica and shimmer so the finish looks extra rich. It looks earthy and heavy, but it is an optical illusion: pick it up and it is a comfortably light bass. It is also her favorite to paint, and you can read why in her Coffee post.
Then there are the bold ones, like our neon gradients, Beskar and Black Sands, which turn the body into the centerpiece.
Every finish starts with a feeling
Each color is inspired by an image that gives a warm, fun feeling: bougainvillea cascading down a bright white wall, a sunset, a good cup of coffee. A bass should sound amazing, but it should inspire you visually too. That is the whole idea behind painting them by hand.
How to choose your finish
- Want to see the wood? Go for a hand-stained finish like Surf Blue, Honey Chrome or Whiskey.
- Want depth and glow? Look at shaded, shimmer-heavy finishes like Coffee.
- Want a showpiece? Bold art finishes like Black Sands, Beskar or a neon gradient will stop people mid-set.
- Want simple and classic? Choose a solid color.
- Have an idea that is not listed? Just ask. We are always adding new colors to the Bass Builder.
Finish is only part of the picture. If you are still deciding what goes underneath it, our guide to bass body woods covers alder, ash, basswood and mahogany.
Common questions
Will my bass look exactly like the photos?
Close, but not identical. Every hand-painted finish is made by hand, so yours will be one of a kind.
Does a hand-painted finish change the weight?
Body wood matters far more for weight than the finish. Our lightweight bass guide explains why.
Can I talk through colors before I order?
Yes. After you place your order, we contact you personally to confirm every detail before your build begins. You can also email info@mcgrathguitars.com any time.
Design yours
Madelyn hand-drew every part of the Bass Builder, so you can see your finish on your model before you order. Pricing starts at $1,999, a 25% deposit reserves your build, and lead time is currently about 4 months. Every build ships in a McGrath x Protec hybrid case. Want one now? Browse our in-stock instruments.
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