RYAN MARTIN
BASSES
In just four years, Dan Becker and Ryan Martin
have gone from being disgruntled workaday
drones giving their musical inclinations short shrift
to being passionate luthiers of custom guitars and
basses that have gotten the attention of notable
players like Primus’ Larry LaLonde and Umphrey’s
McGee’s Jake Cinninger and Ryan Stasik.
BY LINDSAY TUCKER
When this author met gui- tar maker Dan Becker in
2008, he said he had built fewer
than 15 guitars. That estimate
was surprising, because standing
in his workshop meant standing
beneath dozens of ornate guitars
and guitar skeletons, elaborate
unfinished models, and prototypes hanging from the ceiling.
It was like being in a room full
of nude mannequins, some
without necks or bodies. It was
impressive that such a small
operation could produce so
many pieces, and all by hand.
Becker and his business
partner, Ryan Martin of Ryan
Martin Basses, are unique
custom builders who’ve based
their reputations on quality
craftsmanship and one-of-a-kind
artistic designs. Using exotic
colored woods and state-of-the-
art materials, the two experi-
ment with shape, color, and feel
to create the custom stringed
instruments they’ve come to col-
lectively call ElectriCandyland.
Each piece is carved, dyed, and
finished entirely by hand. With
the amount of attention put
into each piece, it’s no wonder
they’ve racked up an impressive
list of professional clientele that
includes guitarist Jake Cinninger
and bassist Ryan Stasik of
Umphrey’s McGee, moe. guitar-
ist Chuck Garvey, and bassist
Marc Brownstein and guitarist
Jon “the Barber” Gutwillig of
the Disco Biscuits.
Each instrument is animated by
vibrant colors and paired with
an unconventional shape and
design, and the designers say
they draw inspiration from life’s
smaller pleasures, such as Disney/
Pixar films or Medieval Times.
Martin says the real challenge is designing something
that’s unique, yet still has that
familiarity guitarists expect.
“Most good guitarists play a
Strat or a Les Paul,” he says. “So
if you make a guitar that feels
better than a Strat or a Les Paul,
it’s going to be undeniable,
whether the artist is in the market for a new guitar or not.”
