Carl Thompson (1940 - ) is a maker of high-quality custom bass guitars, based in Brooklyn, New York.

Born in Pitcairn, Pennsylvania to a large musical family, he moved to New York City in 1967 to pursue a career as a jazz guitarist. After working in a guitar shop to supplement his income, he started his own guitar repair business. He made his first instrument in 1974 and quickly gained renown in the craft.

Unusual custom bass guitars made by Carl Thompson are the piccolo bass - a guitar of the same dimensions as a normal bass but tuned an octave higher - and five and six-stringed contra-bass guitars.

Artists for whom he has built instruments include Les Claypool, Stanley Clarke and Anthony Jackson .

External links

• Carl Thompson Basses web site http://www.ctbasses.com