The CP’s optional EMG PJ pickups (Seymour Duncans are an option) have an upgraded 18-volt EMG BT preamp with a master Volume, Blend, and concentric Bass/Treble control. Slap players, though will immediately benefit from the string spacing afforded by the wide-thin neck. Straight fingerstyle players may need a little time to acclimate to the Custom Pro’s neck profile, but its playability and low action make the transition worthwhile. Fret edges on our tester had been cut a little sharp on the high-end side, but overall the attention to detail was quite nice.
The bolt-on neck has a slightly wider profile than some Fender-inspired pieces, an ebony fingerboard, and lightly sanded finish that give it nice playability and a worn-in feel. This is partially due to the slightly smaller 7/8-sized body and slightly extended upper horn. Surprisingly, though Valley Arts found the sweet spot in the balance of putting as much mass in a headstock to improve tone without making the Custom Pro do a neck dive.
The headstock is a bit bulky and has a “take it or leave it” look. The tuners sport a durable matte finish that complements the instrument’s overall look. With its Schaller tuners, our tester bass balanced well and has an even tuning ratio. Acoustically, its low end tone is fat and focused even without using the string-through option. It was these relationships that inspired the creation of the Custom Pro Bass.ĭesigned to cover a number of modern and classic styles, the Custom Pro has an Alder body with a figured maple top accented with custom touches like finish and hardware.Īll Custom Pro basses use a Gotoh bridge that intonates very well and allows the user to string the bass through the body. In 2003, Valley Arts became part of Gibson and today it lives under the umbrella as a custom instrument manufacturer in Conway, Arkansas.įor years, Valley Arts has worked with some of L.A.’s finest guitar players, so a transition to working with bassists like Leland Sklar and Abraham Laboriel was inevitable. The company continued to flourish even with a brief detour in 1992 when it was acquired by Samick. Dubbed Valley Arts Guitars, the company spent the early and mid 1970s enjoying a prestige amongst repair joints, and in ’77 McGuire took the next step and built a guitar from scratch.
Contact: Valley Arts, c/o Gibson Musical Instruments, 309 Plus Park Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37217 phone 800-4GIBSON In 1969, when a North Hollywood guitar teacher named Duke Miller teamed up to start a music store with students Mike McGuire and Al Carness, the three likely didn’t envision the effort would evolve to become one of the premier repair shops in California.īut it did just that, thanks to a reputation that grew quickly and included a client list with names like Larry Carlton, Steve Lukather, and Lee Ritenour.
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