FS: 1996 Fender Custom Shop Cunetto Relic Jazz (Daphne Blue)

weary hobo · #1 06-05-2011, 05:11 PM

For Sale: A 1996 Fender Custom Shop Cunetto Jazz Relic in excellent condition.

Overview: When the Custom Shop wanted to create a line of instruments that looked like they had been played for decades, they turned to Vince Cunetto, a Missouri builder who had been working on various techniques to produce cosmetically distressed Fender replicas. From 1995 to 1999, he fabricated such "aged" parts for Fender; the guitars and basses of which they’re made, now known as “Cunetto Relics," are among the most sought-after instruments to emerge from the Custom Shop.

While most Cunetto Relics are Teles and Strats, he did work on some Jazz basses, almost all of which were finished in either Sunburst or Olympic White. This one is an utterly beautiful Daphne Blue, making it among the rarest of a rare breed.

History: I have owned this instrument since December. I purchased it from a fellow TBer; to my knowledge he is the second owner and I am the third. I am selling it for a very simple reason: I'm a Precision guy, and this instrument, as collectible as it is, deserves to be played.

Condition: The instrument is in excellent condition. The body relicing is moderate, and, as someone who has owned (and loved) a number of more recent Custom Shop Relics, I can say with confidence that the aging of the chrome parts on this instrument is more subtle than those of the current "Time Machine" series. The neck is straight, smooth, and fast, with a profile that most closely resembles that of the current American Vintage line. (CS Jazz necks of the past decade or so tend to be a little chunkier from about the 12th fret down.) The frets are in good condition, and the rosewood board is chocolaty and nicely streaked. The neck pocket bears two stamps: "Oct 16 1996" in ink and the debossed word "RELIC." The Custom Shop logo, located on the back of the headstock, is also debossed--a so-called "Cruz" stamp, named after the Custom Shop craftsman who applied it, John Cruz.

The bass was set up at Corner Music here in Nashville in December; the strings are Thomastic-Infeld Superalloy Nickels and the action is low. The weight is somewhere between 9.0 and 9.5 lbs. The case is mocha tolex with gold plush; the middle latch is broken, but the case is in good condition.

The instrument comes with a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Mike Eldred, head of the Fender Custom Shop.

Price: The price I paid is the price that I am asking: $2450 shipped, payable by PayPal or USPS Money Order. Upon receipt of funds, I will professionally pack and ship the instrument via Fed Ex Ground, providing the buyer with the tracking number. No international sales, please, and no trades.

I invite interested parties to contact me with any questions that they may have. In the meantime, some pics:

weary hobo · #2 06-05-2011, 05:12 PM

And more pics. . .

weary hobo · #3 06-05-2011, 05:13 PM

and more pics. . .

weary hobo · #4 06-05-2011, 05:15 PM

and even more pics. . .

weary hobo · #5 06-05-2011, 05:15 PM

and even more more pics. The debossed "Cruz Stamp" is on the back of the headstock.

weary hobo · #6 06-05-2011, 05:16 PM

and still more pics. . .

weary hobo · #7 06-05-2011, 05:18 PM

and still even more pics again. . .

weary hobo · #8 06-05-2011, 05:19 PM

and two more:

mackb12 · #9 06-08-2011, 08:11 AM

Another quick bump. These are GREAT instruments. I have owned one for close to 15 years, and I have had lots of experience with Cunetto in particular. A non-Cunetto relic is not the same thing. These basses really hold their value.

jdsteckling · #10 06-09-2011, 12:49 AM

Is that the least you will take? Tell me about the neck size again. Is it like the pre-cbs ... narrow?

weary hobo · #11 06-09-2011, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mackb12

Another quick bump. These are GREAT instruments. I have owned one for close to 15 years, and I have had lots of experience with Cunetto in particular. A non-Cunetto relic is not the same thing. These basses really hold their value.

Thanks Steve! A ringing endorsement from one of Nashville's finest players.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdsteckling

Is that the least you will take? Tell me about the neck size again. Is it like the pre-cbs ... narrow?

The neck could certainly be described as "pre-CBS narrow"--as I mention above, in terms of profile, the closest thing in production today would be the American Vintage '62 Jazz neck. It feels absolutely wonderful in your hand.

As for the price, yes, it's the least I would take. As it turns out, though, it's also the most!