Our Story

Classic Bass Works proprietor, JD Pinckney, has been building and repairing musical instruments and parts since the early 1970s. He began experimenting with extending range basses in 1981. Many of JD's techniques were acquired by studying and mimicking some of his favorite Fender and Tobias basses. Over the years JD has honed his luthierie skills, building and customizing basses for himself, as well as a variety of discriminating bassists.

JD developed many of his woodworking skills as a child while helping his father build a sailboat in his back yard. He later built bedroom furniture for himself and his two brothers in his jr. high school shop class where he was mentored by master craftsman, Hank Brusselback. As a child he spent many hours playing in an upright bass repair shop owned by another mentor, Russell Brodine, who was a bassist in the St Louis Symphony.  One of JD's first jobs was re-hairing bows and repairing violins at Baton Music in St Louis, MO. JD built his first basses in his high school shop class.  Those were the instruments he actually gigged on for many years. 

To this day, JD continues in his passion for instrument building.  He is constantly on the lookout for special woods that look beautiful and sound great.  He loves experimenting with combining unique, innovative designs with tried and true, old-school techniques.