That's a wonderful and very profound question Taylor...
I believe, a custom is not something you do for fun and games. For me, it's a accumulative process of playing Musicmans, Fender Jazz Ps, Ibanez Musicians, Gretchs, BC Riches, Rickenbockers and other fine basses including Sears catalog guitars and basses from the 60'-70's
I asked myself: If I wanted a custom bass, and guitar -- what brand would I feel captures the essence and the quality...
Well, in the 80's I got my first Alembic Series I.
Man, I thought I was finished for it was a custom (but I didn't have a hand in it...), but, for whatever it was worth, I had achieved the best sounding bass known to earth. It was huge, fat and bold -- but heavy ass hell! I was well fit and my body was stronger (back in the day...), and it didn't matter because the music it made was so good
After acquiring my second Alembic a 1976 Series i Short body, (Shorty), I still got the sound, and it was lite to hold for longer sets.
Frankly, I am happy to hold off from having customs made in my 20's and 30's, because I was not able to focus enough of the required time it takes to cover the necessities, and I had to gain more knowledge about myself, and understand definitively, my likes, dislikes, loves, and hates... on music and guitars in general.
So to answer your question, the Toma_Hawk is my first, and I hope The Devon to be my last. Now, as far as other custom things I made... the list is too long.
(Message edited by hendixclarke on June 21, 2009)