Joey Naeger, a professional luthier in Houston, Texas, expertly repairs and crafts basses for players throughout the Houston area and beyond. He is highly sought after for his specialized setup work, tailoring each bass to the client’s genre and style of playing. Beyond his luthier work, Joey is an active bassist, performing with ensembles like the Symphony of Southwest Texas.
A native of Sugar Land Texas, Mr. Naeger attended the University of Houston where he studied bass with Dennis Whittaker. During his studies, Mr. Naeger apprenticed as a bass setup specialist at Lisle Violin Shop under Dorian Barnes. There, he gained extensive experience setting up and repairing hundreds of double basses for school systems across the greater Houston area. In 2019, he left the Lisle Violin Shop to open his own workshop. Committed to continuous improvement, he hones his luthier skills by attending prestigious workshops like the Oberlin Bass Maker’s Workshop, Rodney Mohr Bow Rehair workshop, and the UNH Bass Restoration Workshop. His mentors include esteemed luthiers such as Dorian Barnes, Arnold Schnitzer, and Raymond Schryer. Additionally, his practical experience as a performer provides invaluable insight that directly informs and enhances his luthier work. His basses have received a Certificate of Merit for workmanship at the 2016 VSA competition, a Certificate of Merit for tone and a Silver Medal in workmanship at the 2019 ISB convention, and a Silver Medal for tone at the 2023 ISB convention . He currently lives in Katy, Texas with his wife Hope Cowan and fluffy cat Hilda.
As a maker, Joey strives to build beautiful, classically styled basses that serve the needs of contemporary bassists. Utilizing both modern CAD software and renaissance drafting technique, Joey makes original models for his basses inspired by the classic beauty of Cremonese violin making. On the repair side, Joey is committed to working one on one with players to optimize the sound and playability of their instrument.
For information on instrument availability and repair inquires, please visit the contact page.