Bass Reviews : What players say about my basses and guitars:

What players say about my basses and guitars:

** NOTE: most photos can be enlarged by clicking **

"Hey Dave, I have a big problem. I can't get bass out of my hands. I have been at it since Saturday and I can't stop playing it. I played it at church Sunday and all I got where compliments. The guys on the band was amazed at the design, the wood and the sound. I have played some basses that look good but sound like crap. This bass has the best sound I have ever heard. I have heard the Fodera, Ken Smith and other basses and this bass is in that same category. I really love the controls and tap switches. I can get any kind of sound that I want. I am still amazed at this bass. Dave, you are truly a craftsman and you take pride in your work. I am very, very satisfied. I hate to keep repeating myself but this bass has everything that I wanted. My brother plays lead guitar. He came over last night to see it. I don't know what he expected but he freaked out when he seen it. Whenever he played it, he was speechless. Dave, I am glad that I met you. I appreciate your customer service and your concern. You led me through the entire building process and I can't get that from anywhere else. Hats off to you and your skills. Every bass that I play will be a DP Custom Bass. "

Chad Davis, S. Carolina

" Dave- Yes, it's true, I want another one. I hadn't yet responded to you because I needed time to get familiar with my new instrument, and I wanted to give you my absolute impression of what you've created for me. The only real way that I can see to do so is to order a fretted version of this masterpiece! I held you to an extremely high standard, Dave, and you did not disappoint. The value to price ratio is nothing short of ridiculous. ............ I own a staggering number of instruments (50+) and many are high end pieces, but I would confidently put your work to a side by side comparison with any of them. The look, feel, vibe and tone are unsurpassed, and this bass is destined to be my main fretless. You are a truly inspired and inspiring artist, and I am left shaking my head in disbelief as to how you still seem to be the best kept secret in the South. Seems to me you ought to be getting the same respect as Ken Smith and Vinnie Fodera ! Bass Player magazine should do an article on smaller, independent bass luthiers, such as yourself. You're certainly deserving of that kind of respect within the bass playing community. I could go on incessantly, but just know that your work will once again be represented by yet another gigging musician who couldn't be happier with the influence of such a motivating instrument. With that being said, I'd like to enter the build queue yet again, and have you breathe life into a sibling bass, this one with frets. Great job on the radius and overall finish of the fingerboard, by the way. ............ Thank you for my instrument, Dave! It feels like a gift! "

Rik Dewar, North Carolina

"....." That's about all I could say when I saw my bass. I absolutely love it. That is the most beautiful use of wood I have ever seen. It feels great, I love the neck shape, and it sounds better than any bass I have owned so far. Thank you so much for your time and dedication! I will definitely recommend you to anyone ready for a custom bass, and I am sure that I will be coming back for a second :). Thanks! "

James Middleworth, California

"The bass arrived safe and sound, and I'm very impressed. The top wood you suggested is even more beautifull than I imagined, and the finish details are excellant, even better than my favorite (early Pushic) bass. The sound is huge and crisp at once. It is a work of fine art. Thank you.

John Schultz , California

"Hey Dave. I got my bass about a week ago, and have been meaning to write you. It looks amazing and the tone and playability surpassed my expectations. As you could probably tell, I was overly anxious for the entirety of the six months about my investment. Something about giving my money to someone who I don't truly know, to make a bass which the likeness of I had never seen or played, did not sit right with me. But as you have probably heard before, the wait was well worth it, and I am SO glad that I hit the override button on my "better judgment" and let you make my instrument. I am pleased beyond words. I cannot put the bass down. It has taken all of the self-control I can muster to make it this far in the email without pausing to play it. You did a spectacular job and thanks again for all you did. I will shamelessly promote you to anyone I can..... Do you make bumper stickers?"

Andrew Holley, Georgia

"Hi Dave, I took my new DP Custom 5 string lefty to its first gig yesterday. I had a 2.5 hour show on the beach in Half Moon Bay. We received many compliments on our sound and the bass played and sounded great! Thank you for a job well done. This instrument has exceeded my expectations. I will use my DP Custom 5 as my primary instrument now which is saying a lot given that I have a USA made Lakland Joe Osborne 5 that cost me more then $3000 that has been demoted to a backup. As you know this is my 2nd DP Custom bass. I don't think I will wait another 6 years to commission a 3rd. :) Thanks again, ChrisB "

Chris Becker, bassist for South City Blues

"Dave, I really love this bass. The sound is everything I'd hoped for; rich and full but never muddy. Saturday I played outdoors with just a guitarist and singer. We sounded huge. The bass looks fabulous too. The remarks usually start with "Wow!" I love the burled maple top. The neck feels great, too, both ergonomic aspets of playing on it and the tactile sensation of the oiled wenge. Thanks again, Joe"

Joe Gram , California, at Stearn's Wharf in Santa Barbara:

caption: "Before I got a DP Custom bass, I used to play in dark, smelly places where you could be robbed in the parking lot; and those were the church gigs. This bass has changed everything. Thanks, Dave!"

"Hey, Dave. I've been playing my new bass for the past two days without being able to put it down. It's amazing. It looks great, but it sounds awesome. The sustain on this thing is incredible. Thanks again for an amazing instrument.

Casey Stansifer, bassist for definitelygary

"Dave mate - it's AWESOME! Used it at rehearsal and the rest of my band was just as blown away! "

Rich Ravenhill, bassist for Three Mile Island

"Dave, just wanted to say how pleased I am with the bass you made for me. This is really an outstanding instrument. I currently own a series 1 Alembic, Wal, American made BC Rich, Tobias and several custom built basses. Of all of them, yours is by far the easiest to play, and has a wonderful, rich and varied tone. I would compare it most with the Series 1 Alembic, a bass which has long been a favorite of mine. Considering that that bass cost 6 times what you bass cost me, that is saying a lot. of all my basses yours has the best playing neck of them all. The flat contour you gave it makes playing a 5 string easier than any of the 4 strings that I own. I cannot begin to say enough. You offer outstanding quality and value. I wish you the all the best and would order from you again in a heartbeat."

Pete Swanson, Virginia

"got it, love it!!!! can't wait to use on a gig Saturday night. action was like butter. ....... e string sounds like a piano. .......raised the output of the pickups to about 50% and it rocked thru the trace elliot. Lets talk about (a) 5 string."

re: James' 3rd bass: DAVE the bass is sweet .... acoustically the bass is really bright sounding. the ash & zebra combo really opens up the sound. I actually have to keep the tone at about 75-80% on a passive instrument with barts???? unheard of for me at least. ... a really nice parallel sound (Pbassish) is coming out which is what I was really after with the placement of the MM. then I adjusted the pup heights to even out the volumes better. the MM in parallel or single is even with the other two pups and the sounds are endless. and then I can switch over to series hb and the pickup kicks it up a notch - very stingray like on its own but can also use this series HB as a volume boost when blended with the others.. it's first gig will be Saturday and I can't wait.....regards Jim."

James DeSantis,bassist for Back to the Fillmore

James' 5 string:

James 3rd bass, another 4 string:

"Dave, I just wanted to tell you how excited I am about this bass. I received it the day before the moving company showed up to my house to move me out. Now I'm all moved in to the new house and I figured it was time to send a review. You did a outstanding job building my bass. The feel I was looking for in a bass. You nailed it dead on. I fits my hands and my playing style perfectly. The tone and the clarity is out of this world. I had to fight off the guy, who taught me to play, just to keep it. It has the smoothest tone with awesome playability. When ever I take her out she turns every ones head. Thanks for the Excellent Bass.

Robert Watson , Virginia

" Hi Dave, I received the bass in perfect condition. It sounds tremendous! The craftsmanship is also excellent! .......Thanks so much for the awesome bass! "

Jose Pimental, Louisianna

"My bass arrived several days ago very well packed and right on time. When I opened up the case I was blown away by the beauty of this instrument. This bass is DEFINITELY superior to every other bass i have held/played in every aspect imaginable. The appearance is superb! Everything from the wood quality/wood work to the finish is done with the care and precision of a professional luthier. Ok, I was thinking at that point, "So it looks like my dream bass....does it play like one?" The answer is simply YES! This is of course an understatement because playing this bass is pure ecstasy. I can get a huge spectrum of sound from this thing all the way up and down the fret board. The switches and knobs give me a great tonal variety to chose from, depending on the style im using. By the way, for all of you funky bassists, this thing slaps like a monster! The action on this baby is a marvel. I have through the body stringing and I still only have to lightly press the strings to get great sound. The sustain is great too, I can get a note to ring for ages. It is impossible for me to convey the grandeur of this piece of art, but to any skeptics out there, I must say that you should give this one a go. If it weren't enough to have this awesome bass, I have also had the privilege of having David Pushic to carry my through the process. This guy has given me the best customer service possible without a doubt. Over the course of our transaction, Mr. Pushic provided me with ALOT of patience, professional opinions, VERY quick responses, regular updates, respect, and not to forget the nicest bass ever! I am deeply thankful for his services and hope to do business with him again. I CANNOT PUT THIS THING DOWN!!!

Daniel Shapiro, MD

"Dave, Thank you for the amazing bass, I have received literally hundreds and perhaps thousands of basses in my years at guitar center. I received them in Boston and I received them in Denver. I've seen what the highest and lowest humidity will do to an instrument. I have had to cut prices in half on countless high end instruments because they came out of the box in worthless shape. The woods were cheap and some were even so warped they couldn't be fixed or even sold discounted. Your bass came out of the box with a straight neck, and oddly enough even in 12 degree weather perfectly in tune. I plugged it in and sure enough dead center on every string. I have never played a bass so comfortable or so well set up right out of the box. Everyone that has seen it wants one so I hope you'll be taking (more) orders soon (none like mine though, I love that you did what all other custom designers refused to do. I did not get a cookie cutter bass, this is one of a kind!!). Everything I asked for was there exactly, If I ever get another it will be from you. I thought I would still keep my ibanez around, it plays so fast, but this plays faster. I thought I would keep my warwick around, it has such a growly wood tone, but this can have more of one.... Thanks "

Diego Diaz, Colorado

"DAVE, I got the bass on Friday just before a weekend of gigging. So it went right into the mix of things. The piece is beautiful. Well worth the wait!!!! You do a great job!!!! Construction is rock solid. You chose some beautiful woods. The sound is as good as it gets!!! I like the neck profile. Very interesting. It really keeps your thumb where it should be. I truly feel as though the neck will improve my fingerboard technique. Almost theraputic. Anyway, I am sure like many of your other satisfied customers, I am already thinking of the next bass I want to order. Thank you for getting a dream bass in my hands for a price I don't have to take a loan out for. You are truly an exceptional artist and an honest business man!!! You will surely hear from me in the future. "

Tony Qualls , IN, bassist for Groovatron

"Dear Mr. David Pushic Sir, What else can I say.......... My BASS arrived here today at my house in Los Angeles, Ca. I unpacked it and went to my BASS Rig (SWR). I then plugged in and started to play. Rightaway i noticed a change from the off the rack toy trash that is sold at every music store on the planet. The second I opened up the GIG BAG that came as standard issue with my BASS, I damn near had a heart attack. What appeared was the most beautiful bad ass 6 string fretless BASS I've ever seen. I've played and / or owned most of the high end butique BASSes out there in BASS land. This one is right there with the FODERA, "F" BASS, SMITH and the rest. I'm going to be honest here; I'm a working stiff now(don't let L.A. fool you) if it weren't for Mr. Pushic I could have never in my wildest dreams afforded a BASS like this and still eat and keep a roof over my head. The craftmenship alone, is...... stunning. The customer service....... blows my mind. The hardware and the electronics..............cool!!!!!!!!!!!!! OPB3 need not say more. Bart Quads NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The string Set Up for un-pack and play..... priceless. Speaking of customer service: I trusted a man with my hard earned cash, whom I have never met, never seen a picture of or spoke to... ever. This is the kind of feeling I received from him from an e-mail. WOW!!!!!!!!!! good vibes bro...... This man put up with me (i'm a persistant person) for almost a year. We corresponded via e-mail and he made me feel like I mattered. I'm going to purchase a second bass from Mr. Pushic. This time, a 4 string fretted. Some of friends have seen this and they are getting together some wood combo ideas to place an order with Mr. Pushic. If there is anyone out there who's willing to wait for a custom, hand made to your specs BASS... Dave Pushic is the man one I would go to. Thank you Dave, "

M.V. Hunter Los Angeles, Ca.

"Hi Dave, I received the bass yesterday well-packed and in excellent condition.When I opened the case, I was *very* pleased with what I saw! The look of the bass met all my hopes and expectations. The natual color of the maple and walnut is beautiful especially in contrast with black hardware and Gabon ebony fingerboard. The pictures you sent were fine, but didn't really show the full beauty of this bass. I may send you some pictures of my bass if you'd like to post them. The woodwork is very precise, almost flawless as far as I can tell. The neck is straight, the action low, pickups are lined up with the bridge and at just the right height. All screws, from what I can tell, are staight and unstripped. Your new logo on the headstock is nicely done. All the knobs turn smoothly and are not crooked - all arranged in a nice and functional pattern. The tung oil/paste-waxed finished is very smooth .....

The sound? You said it well: "sounds like one of my basses ... nicely resonant." The strings ring loud and without hindrance - the sound it somewhat comparable to that of a piano with the sustain pedal depressed. The active EQ allows a lot of adjustment without touching the amp. I really like being able to do two octaves on the neck. I can detect no hum, so I know the shielding must be good. ......

Your customer service has been great. I don't think that there was any email that you didn't answer. I appreciate the fact that you didn't let me design a bass that might not have balanced or that might have looked "silly". Thank you for all the work! The wait was well worth it. I hope you are able to do this for many more years!"

Jeff Gardner, NC

( click here for additional photos Jeff took of his bass: Jeff's Photos

"Dave, I absolutely LOVE the bass. It arrived perfectly fine. It is by far the best sounding/playing fretless bass I have ever heard/played. It sings! It is absolutely gorgeous too. The action and intonation were set up perfectly. I really love the headstock. It's really pretty. Thanks for the strap too. I thought I was going to have to buy a new one. The neck is really great too. I love the flatness of it. It's much more comfortable than most necks. The fingerboard is nice and smooth. The cavity cover is one of my favorite things though. It's incredibly nice. It's hardly noticeable. You have truly given me the fretless bass of my dreams. Thank you. I can't believe I own a bass this nice. Hopefully I'll be talking to you about a four string soon. "

Brent Stanton, CA

"Dave,,,i just want to thank you for building my bass for me,,,its an incredible instrument! I've played bass since back in the late sixtys and i have traveled with some of the biggest names in the business and ive never had a bass with such tone an playability! The neck is extremely fast and true all the way up. The pre amp and coil taps offer me way more settings than any commercial mfg. could think of. The fit and finish is excellent and my band members were equally impressed with the workmanship and the sound. I sure appreciate you and the way you answer my questions an the help you gave...you are an extremely gifted man!! thanks so much,

Jim Reece, bassist for Flashback Blues Band

"I am extremely pleased with my bass. The Cocoblo topcap and Zebrawood bottom compliment each other well, and I spent quite a bit of time staring at my bass before I even plugged in. Your website photos don't come close to the actual beauty of your finished product. The clarity and sustain of this bass are fantastic. I am able to dial in a number of different tones with my Bartolinis and a 2 band EQ. I have finally found that great slap tone I have been searching for. I'm really glad I found your website. It's refreshing to know that somene out there can build high quality basses and still manage to keep prices down. Your timely responses to my questions made this an enjoyable process. Keep it up. Thanks Dave! "

J. Zayle , NJ

"I have been having my DP custom bass for a month and a half. What can I say about this beauty? It has quite good polyurethane finish, top notch hardware and; my favourite: Two Bartolini Narrow Soapbar pickups, with an outstanding preamp, Bartolini too. I particularly like neck thickness, it is thick enough for slap, and yet fast enough for jazz or rock. Dave's customer service is incredible, if I had a question, I e-mailed and he answered in just hours!!!! The relation quality-price is unbelievable!, I have to recognize that this bass would cost more than 3 thousand bucks if it had been from a "boutique" brand. Actually, I investigated over 50 bass brands (from www.bassically.net links) and I found out that Dave has the best prices among them. Thank you Dave for being such an excellent luthier and a good hearted bussiness man, you don't squeeze every penny out of each musician, and I really appreciate that!!!!

Pedro Muñoz Ramírez, Costa Rica

"Dave, I've been playing this bass for about 2 and 1/2 hour now and i can't put it down, I'm actually still playing as I'm writing this. the tone is amazing, it has a nice fast neck with low action and your standard hardware is very nice. I recommend Bartolini pups and electronics to everybody, but this is my first jazz set and they sound killer. the inlay on the head is very nice as well. this bass has been well worth the wait ........ I hope you're still building when I have enough money to build a fretless twin. everybody at rehearsal last night said it was the nicest looking bass they have ever seen!"

Jared Lees, OH

"I had a chance to sit down and play my bass today ..... and i just want to say you did an amazing job. I've never seen such attention to detail. it's perfect in every way and I've never heard any instrument sound that pure. I just want you to know I'm going to recommend you to every bass player I encounter as I'm sure I'll be receiving comments every time I take this work of art out in public. I'm already coming up with ideas for my next one."

Brett Watson, KY

"I picked up my bass ... last Wednesday and I've been having too much fun to put it down and write to you. ... About the bass. It's beautiful. The woodwork is flawless, and every piece of wood is gorgeous. The setup is incredible - I've never played such a fast neck that had absolutely no buzz anywhere and the action is perfectly adjusted.

I took it out of its box (very well packed) and its brand new gig bag, which is great quality, and went almost directly to a rehearsal. I immediately had to adjust all of my amp settings back to flat because this bass speaks for itself and doesn't need any help in any frequency. Its natural lows are more full than any other bass I've played, without any help from the onboard eq or any boost from the amp. I think it's really interesting that the natural sound, balanced between the pickups, doesn't have any of that raspy midrange growl (though that sound is very easily achieved) but the bass still cuts through with plenty of bite and character.

One thing I truly can't get over is the sustain, which I think is a tribute to the construction. I'm playing in a musical production that calls for the bass to hold single notes for four or five measures, and I just pluck that string and sit back and let it ring. I'm use to playing with a fairly heavy hand, but I barely have to touch these strings to make them speak.

The next day I played an outdoor jazz gig for about 1500 people, and my bandmates were surprised that I was using a brand new bass on a big show so soon after receiving it, but I had no doubts. The drummer, sound engineer, and another bass player all commented on the full, rich sound, as well as the stunning appearance of that maple burl in the sunlight. I ended up taking a lot of chances during that performance because I couldn't resist the temptation of just having fun with my new bass. The other bass player there, who has heard me play a couple times, said "man, you sound great. Where did you get those chops?" My honest answer was, "They came with the bass."

I appreciate your professionalism, courtesy, and customer service as much as your craftsmanship........ I would have easily paid at least three times the price for a bass of comparable quality anywhere else. I can very honestly say it has been a pleasure to do business with you.

I can't imagine needing another bass after playing this one, but if I do, you'll be the first one I think of, and I'm only too happy to recommend your work to everyone who asks."

Adam Lord, NC

"Dave the bass arrived well protected and in excellent shape. I was immediately impressed on how solid it felt.

Woodworking: Very well done. The top cap of Bocote over Zebrawood was absolutely seamless and very smooth. The neck lamination's smooth and straight. The electronics cavity cover matches up perfectly with the grain pattern from which it was cut. The entire bass is satin smooth and beautiful.

Neck: It is amazing how well this neck fits my smaller hands. I asked for some asymmetrical shaping of the neck and the results are spectacular. The Maccasar Ebony fretboard is very smooth and the frets were dressed and polished nicely. I asked that the action be set low upon completion and with some minor adjustment I was on my way. This neck plays so easy as the thickness is maintained from the nut well into the heel. It is straight, true, has perfect intonation and stays in tune.

Hardware: Bartolini pickups with 3 band eq, Schaller bridge, tuners, & strap locks.

Tone: All I can say is WOW! Using Ashdown Engineering amps this bass produces every tone you can imagine. From the deep thunderous lows to crystal clear highs all with monster sustain, it doesn't get any better than this!

Conclusion: This bass is a tremendous value. Handcrafted to your specifications at a cost no one else can touch is amazing. Working with Dave was easy as he answers e-mails promptly with honest answers and opinions. One local music establishment estimated that it cost $2500 to $3000 to build. Sorry guys, not even close! Overall I am extremely pleased with this bass as are all of the people who have seen and heard it so far. Dave you might think about modifying your header on your website to state "The way a guitar should play and sound". I am happy to give my recommendation for your product. If anyone has questions about my experience feel free to e-mail me. My only regret is that I have not had the opportunity to shake your hand and thank you in person and if I get that chance I most certainly will. Thanks very much Dave!"

Ron DeLancey, MO

"Dave, I wanted to let you know the bass arrived safe and sound. When I opened the case I was blown away!!!!! The bass is GORGEOUS. The attention to detail is incredible, and everything we talked about was right on. The neck is perfect, with just the right feel. The electronics sound great. The balance is perfect with no neck dive. But most of all it is a piece of art work. I can't stop looking at this bass. You have done a wonderful job......Thank you for making my playing experience a whole lot better. Keep up the great work......"

and a year later...

"Dave, I have owned this bass now going on a year and I have to tell you it is by far the best sounding and playing bass I've ever owned. I can't seem to put it down. Every day I pick it up I find something new about it. Not only is it a beautiful piece of art, but all of your talents as a luthier shine thru on this bass. Thanks again for taking the time to build fine instruments for us everyday folks.....it is really appreciated....."

Gene Witte, Illinois

"Hi Dave, the bass arrived Friday. I have to say I'm very pleased with the way the bass plays and sounds. I'm loving it more everyday I play it! The fretless Cocabolo board is like glass and plays like velvet not to mention the most beautiful looking piece of wood I've ever seen on a fingerboard. I also love the tones you can get out of the Bartolinis. Thank you Dave I think this bass and I will be very happy together. "

Joseph "Bo" Bullinger, Colorado

"The bass is exactly what I hoped for, I am surprised at how well it fits without having touched it or seen it before, perfect balance. Now, the neck is something I am totally impressed with. Firstly the thickness of the neck all the way down is perfect, real players neck, I will have to live up to that, frets are perfectly polished, action is what it really should be. Great woodwork, I showed it to a friend who is a woodworker builds fine furniture, he was very impressed with quality of laminations, nice touches of the cavity lid with matched grain, and the absolute perfect taper of the fretboard, WOW. I must admit it is sceary to order a bass you never heard or held, but man was it worth it. I wish I'd done it sooner. I recommend to anyone not to waist time and money on run of the mill made in nowhere instruments, don't be afraid to go for what will be uniqly yours in sound, look, and feel. And ,Dave, you are the man to bring those ideas to life, Thank you. "

Andrei Fedorov, Canada

"Hey Dave , got the bass and it plays sweet I Did some recording with it and it sounds Sweet ..... Thanks again , now it's time to do some playing! "

Rob Lemas, California

"Thank You Thank You Thank You!!!!!! I like the bass very much!!!! I'm in Love with it.It plays very smooth and nice. Without an amp it sounds great already! I can't even find the right words cause I'm so HAPPY!!!!! It is just perfectfor me....I'm so blessed. When my friend sees this bass I know for sure he wanted to order a bass as well. Again thank you David for everything you are the best."

Wanda Lefeu, Oosterhout, The Netherlands

"I got the bass on Monday, literally unpacked it and headed out to a rehearsal. It was a long, hard rehearsal, so I couldn't pay a lot of attention to the bass, but I loved it off the bat. As the days have gone by, the more I dig into it the more I love it. I haven't touched any of my other electric basses since I got this one. I am really impressed with the craftmanship, you are a true artist. I played my first show with the bass last night, and loved every minute of it.

The bass is a dream to play. The neck is the nicest, flatest, fastest, comfortable neck I have ever played, I am very, very impressed with it. High end boutique basses such as Pedulla or Modullus don't match up to your neck, I've played a lot of them.........I love the logo on the headstock, and the initials where a very nice touch. I had three different bassists come up after the gig last night wanting to know what I was playing, so I did quite a bit of advertising for you, you might hear from one or two of these guys, they where very impressed." ( click for sound clip with his DP Bass :

Pablo Larios, bassist for Ghandaia

"I'm really impressed with your work. The bass is all I wanted & more. It plays very well.......the sound is excellent. That pre amp is so adjustable, I'll never have to turn around & screw with my amp on stage again. The wood is beautiful , the drop D tuner is a must, & the trick lights are a real attention getter. THANKS"

Jon Steinberger, Massachusetts

" The guitar arrived just fine - thanks. It's a great looking guitar and the thru neck is really nice providing excellent sustain. I also like the longer neck scale, which is really comfortable for my hands. Also, excellent tonal pallete with the various pickup combinations and splits........ I have a complaint. The picture on your website gallery does not do my guitar justice. ...... I found out that with the bridge and neck pickups mixed 50/50 and the coils split it gets a quacking sound that puts a strat to shame! Having lots of fun with the guitar. ". (sound clip of the guitar) :

Mark Miller, Ohio . more photos by Mark:

"Dave, I thought I would pass along to you that I am very pleased with my bass. It is a truly quality instrument. The tonal quality is remarkable and playability is even better than I was shooting for. I appreciate dealing with you as you are more than fair with your prices and deliver far more than what I paid for. Most sincerely,"

Wightman Harris , Little Rock, Arkansas

"Alrighty folks, here is my review of the Dave Pushic Viking Bass, that I received 06-17-04:

Appearance: What can I say? I’ve never seen a bass like this ever, and since I thought up the combination of the design, it’s exactly what I wanted. I pieced together the etchings in photoshop, and sent them to Dave, and he etched them into the body. The inlays are clean, and tight, no gaps,---it looks so professional. When I showed this bass to my friends and co-workers their jaws just dropped. It’s the most beautiful bass I have ever seen.

Playability: I played a 1964 fender 4 string once that this guy had and it was so great. It sounded awesome, you barely had to touch the strings and sound just flowed from that instrument. The action is low, but the strings don’t hit the fretboard at all. I’m truly amazed. I’ve played a lot of basses in my time too, and none of them can hold a candle to this bass.

Sound: It’s very hard to try to describe sound. But here goes—this bass sounds to me like piano strings. You know if you thump a piano string that the sound just goes and goes? If you brush your hands on the strings you get a crisp bell harmonic that just goes on and on. It slaps like a monster, bright, clear, yet deep and angry. It also sounds excellent on walking lines, etc. I haven’t heard a bass that sounds this good as well. The only thing that came close was that old fender, but it didn’t have the range this bass has, nor the crispness. I can’t put it down.

Customer Service: I will say that Dave is a great guy, and answers all emails promptly and politely.... He’s a great guy, and he doesn’t want to commit to a date that would compromise the integrity of the instrument.

Value: I challenge anyone to find a value like this anywhere. Where can you find a builder that will make anything you want, any shape, any form, of thousands of different wood combinations, that will customize it to the extreme, AND offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee, that if anything goes wrong, that he will fix it for free for LIFE?!? No where. You cannot beat this deal anywhere period.

Overall: I love this bass, and I will pass it on to my children. I have the ultimate instrument for me, and all my other instruments will be standby’s now. If I had to do it over I definitely would, and if I ever hit the lottery I will buy at least 5 more basses from Dave. I would not sell this bass even for more than 5 times for what I paid for it. It’s that great.

I am one happy Pushic Customer, and if I can answer any other potential customers questions, then by all means contact me, and I will try. I know that his site is a little daunting at first glance, being that it’s simple and all you have is reviews to look at. But reviews tell a lot. .............. You are receiving what you want from a bass builder at a price that is significantly lower than any other bass builders out there, with exactly what you want, AND a 100% guarantee for LIFE. Even if it means for the Life of Dave Pushic, It’s still an unbeatable deal.

Thanks Dave for building me this bass, and I will direct as many folks as I can your way when they want a custom bass. "

Jared Jenkins, Texas, with his "Viking Bass" (click on photo for enlargement)

"Hey Dave, I LOVE IT!............ Unfortuanely, your camera did not truly depict the beauty of this bass! I must admit that when you first sent me pics of the raw body I thought "that doesn't look like any zebrawood I've ever seen. Has he sent me the wrong pic?" I'm ashamed that I was second guessing the artist! True, it isn't like any other I've ever seen and now that to me is it's beauty. It's unique and better yet, it's MINE!! It makes other zebrwood bodies look boring!

Next opinions: Neck fretboard: beautiful & smooth; frets: great & even; LED's: awesome!; back: flat & thin; action: low & fast ; intonation: good .... sound Overall: bright & deep, but with full range. No dropouts; B string: Probably the tightest & clearest low B I've ever played ; Next opinion: finish: very good. More glossy than anticipated! Only complaint: Priced too low to be properly appreciated!"

Dan Sandusky, Lexington , KY

" (I) really played this baby for 3 consecutive days, and it sounds now unbelievable. It cuts through the mix so warm, clean and defined that I am stunned. Dave, without kissing your butt (grin), this is one of the best instruments I’ve ever owned/had the pleasure playing in my 37 years of bass playing.... I now honestly can hardly wait until the fretless is completed. I AM REALLY STUNNED. I can assure you that this beauty found the best home. It’s already my favorite instrument....Thanks Dave, you are doing a marvelous job."

"I've been playing it now for several weeks and I still can't believe how my sketch ended up to be my actual bass! The top wood is GORGEOUS!! Very deep figuring and great color! .........The upper frets are very accessible......... Overall, I'm very pleased and it was well worth the wait. Thanks to you, I have a one-of-a-kind bass that is THE ONE for me!"

Jon South, Cincinnati, OH

"Hello Dave, I've recieved the bass guitar. The cutting so beautiful. The neck so smooth and good for fast action, especially for upper register the cutting is perfect. And the sound really amazing. .....Thank you so much man, God bless you!!"

Irwan Santoso, Philadelphia, PA

"Thanks Dave, I received the bass a week ago , and I decided to give it a try before I write to you about the bass. Sincerely I love the bass, I received a six string neck- through fantastic bass with a wonderful sound; I honestly didn't expect so much sound from it , but sounds wonderful. Each detail about it is awesome; I can really see the effort that you Dave put in making my bass. I like the measure of my fingerboard it was exactly what I want it. The quality of the wood is great , the extra piece of mahogany in the back of the bass was a very nice detail from you, as the ramp ....which end up giving me a BIG SMILE . This instrument is what I always wanted , my dream bass arrived October , 7 2003 , and was a great surprise . I never though that I could own such a nice instrument , and you made it possible , it was a (pleasure) doing business with you , and of course I will talk to you in the future. "

Marcos Soto www.geocities.com/markossoto

"I received it yesterday -- I got home with enough time to get it out of the box and take it with me to a gig. The intonation was perfect and set-up so close to what I like, I used it all night. Just to get a second opinon, I used it again tonight as my main axe. It's now 3:30 am and I'm writing to tell you that you have done an amazing job. What you have created has exceded my expectations. I've always had a vision in my head for the perfect bass, the Ken Smith Elite 6 is the closest I've come to that, You have matched what was in my head perfectly. My favorite review of a piece of equipment is of the Bag End QX-10D -- it's a 4x10 cabinet that weighs 100 lbs and not easy to carry around. In Bass Player, the reviewer wrote "I don't know if God plays bass, but if he does, he needs to try this cabinet." I purchased one immediately and it was right. I never had the perfect bass to go with it, even my Pedulla Thunderbass didn't quite do it -- no matter what I did, I could not intonate it so that the B string was perfect. I have a test that I use -- I have a tapping arrangement I do of Pachelbel's Canon in D, and the voicing requires it to be played above the 12th fret. No bass has I've had has ever been able to be intonated well enough to handle the parts played on the B string (due to the fact that pressing the string down to the fretboard brings it out just enough) and it always sounds out when I play that part. I got to my gig last night, strapped on your bass, and started playing it. My band joined in with the melody as I played it, and all were amazed to hear that it was perfectly intonated. Needless to say, the rest of the gig went very well -- my bandmates were very pleased with the tone and the way it cut through the mix. It's very present and warm, yet clear and never muddy. I've never had a B string so tight and clear. It was so responsive to my right hand, I could feel the difference in tone when I changed my position even slightly. Everything from classic rock to modern to dance to funk all sounded amazing. My left hand didn't get fatigued due to your masterful carving of the neck -- it's so thin, yet when I showed up to play tonight, it was still perfectly in tune. I have a tendency to "hang" my left hand on the neck (I'm a little lazy sometimes, or just tired) and that didn't affect the tuning at all -- that's a hell of a strong neck! I really can't say enough. I got so many compliments. The parametric Mid works beautifully, as does the piezo volume (both I found made the real difference in going from the small club last night to the huge one tonight). I can't thank you enough for what you've done."

Jon Vandergrift, bassist, The Jerks

"The Fretboard is PERFECT. The neck is smooth across, and EXACTLY as I had requested..... Best Sounding Fretless bass I have EVER owned or played. From low B to High F it is flawless. I am about as happy as Anyone could be with the bass. .....My bass is exactly as I had ordered and hands down the best money I have ever spent on Music related gear. I am putting together the money right now to have Dave start another project for me. Don't let the reasonable price or a few smoke blowers fool you. This is a first class instrument, made by one hell of a guy, at a price this working stiff with kids can afford. .....And Have sold These since receiving my DP Custom, just had zero need for them since getting the new bass: 1988 Warwick Thumb Bass Fretless; 1994 Carvin LB76 Fretless.

"....On a trip to my favorite music store (electric City Music, Kaukauna, WI) I had taken my bass with me, as the owner had really wanted to check it out. ......the owner of Electric City offered to buy my bass from me. At 2.5 times what I paid for it. I thought about it for about 30 seconds, but this bass feels so much like "me" that I can't bear to part with it. "

"This bass hands down is the finest sounding bass I have EVER owned, it can be compared to nothing else, nor should it be. It is everything I had asked for, with influenence, sweat, passion, and love injected from Dave Pushic. Much to the dismay of my band I re-recorded all of my bass tracks on the Dimension X album after I got the bass. I simply could not have accepted the album with anything other than my DP Custom. To put that into finacial perspective we recorded our album minus one track before I got my bass, after receiving the bass, I made the whole band wait and re-tracked everything with th e new one spending upwards ! of another $1500 to do so. But the bass sounds that damn good"

DR Burkowitz, Bassist for Dimension X at Unicorn Records

(note: I'm very grateful To Dave Burkowitz for mentioning me in the liner notes to his CD "So ... This Is Earth" )

"...This afternoon was the first opportunity to even open it up never mind having some time to cut loose on it. One thing I can say though is that it didn't take too long to determine that it is one incredible bass. Where do I begin? The balance is perfect.....The neck is to die for......the craftmanship is superb.....and it SINGS. The nicest bass I've ever played and in 37 of my 51 years, I've played them all. Watch out "Big Boys", there's another Big Boy in town.....Dave Pushic !!!! Many thanks for putting up with me. It was definately worth the wait. "

Ken Thibeault, Massachusettes

'....if I would not have met you , I would have never gotten a custom built bass.God love you! And I will sure pass your name and handiwork around wherever I play. If you don't mind I will also include your name in the liner notes on every CD I use your bass on. " "I don't think any of the big boys have anything on you. To use a thoroughly worn out cliche...You Da Man!!!!!!! .............. Your Bass is an outstanding value. .....Hey , I could go on and on. If you ever need a testimonial you got five stars here brother! Thanks for putting up with me through this experience and I look forward to having another one done."

and he did!...

"You are a true craftsman. This Claro Walnut bass that I received today has brought tears to my eyes. The pictures that you emailed were beautiful but do not even begin to do justice to this instrument. I have no words right now to describe my feelings about this bass. ...... First of all having seen and played on a lot of high dollar basses, this my be upsetting to all of those who have spent $2,000, $3,000, $5,000, $10,000 or more on a bass, as I would and will hold yours up in comparison to ANY ot them! I do not know any other languages so Thank-You in English will have to suffice. Please feel free to refer anyone to me if they have questions about your products."

Bassist, Marlon C. Reed Sr., Virginia Beach VA.photo by Laine Rutherford

"the construction is very well done. the neck is super-straight and solid. the body is well-contoured and upper fret access is not a problem. i play through a SansAmp Bass driver into my SWR bass 350 and i was able to get some of the clearest bass tones i've heard. the resonance and sustain is just amazing. the B string is clear with no muddyness down the fretboard. i have found no dead spots, and the fret work is excellent. i am gonna have dave build me another bass soon, and my guitar player has already inquired about a guitar built.."

".....i had it set up this weekend and was able to rehearse with it on saturday. it really is amazing. the sound is so clear. the construction is very, very good. the sustain is great, and the b string is super clear. ...the B string really has a lot of definition down low. ....i mean, i can slap the b string. what is that all about? it's so bouncy! all the notes are clear!ahhhhh."

". it is PERFECTLY balanced, and the weight is a little more than my Fender, but not by much. i'm really in awe still, so i can't give a clear judgement. the woods, the pickups, the sound. i mean it is so comparable or better than some really high end basses i've played. ...the B string is CLEAR!!! my guitarist uses different tunings and i don't have to retune in order to keep up. the photos do not do this bass justice. the size is perfect, the weight, balance, everything about it. dave is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by me. i really just saved myself at least $1200-$1500 on a bass, and it's made to MY specs. not made how "joe manufacturer" wants them made.....had a great gig last night.. i got tons of comments on the bass, and the soundman was really stoked on it as well. the pickups were super clear. i have never used bartolini's in a live situation, and i was very happy with it. ....... dave has made me a quality bass. it performed very well in a live situation. ....ohhh, the bass sounds so nice... Dave does an excellent job. i can't believe that i own this bass. i'll stop flappin about it, just get yer own...

Gus Kendrick, bassist thicker than thieves

"When I stumbled on Dave's site I wasn't even looking for a bass. So I looked over the whole site and was completely blown away by everything he offered. Many of the things I wanted in a bass I couldn't get in my price range with the job I had, or I could get a few of the things I wanted but not all. So when I found Dave's site I just about fell out of my seat in disbelief. He was offering EVERYTHING I wanted. So after a while of saving my pennies, I put a down-payment in. Dave was incredibly easy to work with, and told me every little thing that happened during the manufacturing time. He even sent me "Happy Holidays" at Christmas!

The bass itself is amazing. It plays easy, sounds incredible, and is just beautiful. Once I got used to it, it felt like home. I tried playing my other bass once for about three minutes, but it felt wrong!

If any of you are looking for a well made, and affordable bass or guitar, ask Dave, you WON'T be disappointed.... Once again thanks Dave, I couldn't be more happy, and I can't wait 'till I can work with you again."

Zakk Luffman, Canada

"On a scale of 1 to 10, you get an 11+ Looks great, perfectly balanced, excellent playability, and it sounds fabulous!!"

Brian Surgi, 8 String Bass, Atlanta, GA

"OH MY GOD ..THANK YOU SO MUCH,I DONT KNOW HOW YOU DO IT ,BUT YOU DO IT, UNBELIVABLE ..THE SOUND IS OUT OF THIS WORLD DAVE...THANK YOU....arrived safe well packed up, everythings perfect action spot on ..i tuned her in and off i go ...thanks again dave,this is the frist night in 2years my fodera is staying at home. looking forward to working with you again soon . take care and god bless

Dermot Galvin, bassist

"The bass arrived today; when I opened the case I couldn't believe how great it looks! It's EXACTLY like the drawing I sent you, and EXACTLY what I've asked for. I can't believe I own a bass this nice. Right out of the shipping box I plugged it it, tuned just one string and played for hours. It is by far the easiest and best sounding fretless I have ever played, and I just can't get over the fact that the tone and action are this good. I didn't know I would ever be agressively slapping on the low B of a FRETLESS and get such a tight, punchy tone. The harmonics are warm and bright, the sustain infinite, and the clarity ... WOW! If I want that deep, bassy, fretless "dub" sound or the punchy, high treble this bass does it all and sounds perfect doing it. It's a work of art, and I feel privileged to own it. Dave, thanks so much for the opportunity to purchase a bass like this at a fair price , and for doing such a great job! The whole process was very easy and I look forward to ordering my next DP Custom."

Jason S. Potter, Oklahoma

"Received the bass yesterday. Arrived in great shape. Very well packaged. The pictures do not do it justice. It is absolutely beautiful. Great feel to the neck, action fast, comfortable to hold and play. I especially liked the headstock treatment. Still playing with the sound. It is very versatile, from the low solid punchy sounds right up the great wild growl. ........ I like everything about it, looks, sound, playability. Great work Dave! Well worth the wait. I still can not get over the quality for the price. Easily worth two to three times the price. Dream bass for sure!!"

Roger Diebel, Connecticut

"I got the bass! It's so great. It plays nice, feels nice, and looks beautiful! I really like the shaping of the neck. The headstock also looks great. Thank you so much, It's just what I had in mind. It's EXACTLY how I wanted it to look......I got it just in time for this big promo thing my university does and it got several complements. I'm still interested in getting another one (probably towards the end of the summer) if you're up for it.............Once again, Thank You. You are very easy to work with and I look foward to getting another one."

James Nitz, Tennessee

"I purchased a hand-made neck-through 5 string bass with a 35" scale from Dave Pushic.......Every time I use it on a gig with musicians who haven't heard it before, I get rave (and unsolicited) reviews about its tone. It sounds wonderful to me also. With the neck pickup backed-off about half way, it sounds like a wonderfully resonant Jazz bass. With both pickups on full it sounds deep, round and full. With the series switch engaged it sounds it gives a good "dub" bass tone.

The bass sounded wonderful from the first day I owned it,............. Dave spent alot of time adjusting the instrument to fit my needs for no extra charge. The price was almost unbelievably low. It is a very attractive instrument. ...........Just so you know that I not a pie-in-the-sky sort, here are some of the other instruments that I have (or had)available to gig with: '74 jazz bass, '65 p-bass, dano long horn, Warmoth 5 string, MM sting ray, a Rick,etc. I think the DP (Dave Pushic) bass I purchased, sounds as good or better than any other instrument I've owned---for alot less money than I've spent on other instuments. "

Bill Spangler , Elgin SCBill with an early flame top DP Custom...