Fender Custom Shop Relic - Worth it?

[murphy]

Raising the dead thread

[JimS]

Originally Posted by Gecko 5

Look into a Nash

+1 or a K-line.

[slapmachine]

Hey, I'm going to say things that are going to almost certainly be unpopular, but guys, please know that my #1 go-to bass is a Fender J of some sort and I'd never part. Beside the fact, I was in LA last week doing some casual bass browsing around some of the music shops and, I tried a handful of original 60's J's, P's and a slew of Fender CS J's and P's. Quite frankly, I was surprised, but I was not fond of some of the Fender CS's I played and same goes for the 60's. What I've learned is that every bass is different, it has nothing to do with quality control, but the same tree isn't used for every bass, same metals mined up and used in every magnet pole. In saying that, I played several Fender CS that I did like, same goes for the 60's especially a near-mint stack-knob, but I digress.

What I'm trying to get at, is, can you accomplish tonally, aesthetically, and all-around what Fender CS is producing for a lesser price? Yes. Will it have the Fender name on it? Possibly not. That's a deal-breaker to some, but being as though basses are but mere tools for our craft, it seems as though the name on the instrument should be of least importance, as the product and the music that we make with it are what actually matter. So I do challenge you to play it, see if you can justify spending the money, for me if I'm considering spending that much or more on an instrument, the thing has got to speak to me. I've been constantly shopping for the duration of my bass-playing experience, like many here, and I own one bass, because that's the only one that has REALLY spoken to me. Will I find another in the future, I'd like to think so, but for me I have my personal "Holy Grail" of a bass, it just boils down to finding that one in the particular style that you're looking for at a price that appeals.


I wish you the best in your deliberations.

Best regards,

Brooks

[999Brent]

I have a CS 64 Jazz Relic, may main bass I use now, totally love it, if I lost it I would be on the Fender CS in a heartbeat, would get a Relic again too..(I like em)
It has all the tones I want, and I have not wanted to own another bass since I got it as nothing I have tried comes close IMO.
I even got rid of a Warwick Streamer Stage 2 as I did not want to play it anymore, I know many would say this would be a better bass, but I guess not for me.
2 years on and I have no regrets...
IMO if you want a Fender sound, get a Fender...

[57pbass]

Try a Nash..sometimes his finishes are fake looking but he does get it right on many of his basses.

I have a Nash 57 P Bass which has been my main bass for the past four years....

Used market is the best route to go....if you are going to spend $2500 on a Fender look for a nice original Fender 70's P Bass ......

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Jaco Relic neck is still my favorite Fender neck ever played... I wish wish wish they made a fretted version, I would be all over that!

[pbass888]

Originally Posted by SLaPiNFuNK

Jaco Relic neck is still my favorite Fender neck ever played... I wish wish wish they made a fretted version, I would be all over that!

I just got a 64 cs time machine relic... Jason it's the fretted version!! ..at least this one from 08 is! They stopped making them in 2010 but they come up enough on here. If you are ever out on this coast let me know. I love the jaco relic but don't play fretless. I've a/b the tone against a 60 stack and a 62 and it's bang on.
Try it out if you can.
Best
Sri

[nukes_da_bass]

Thing about "Fender Custom Shop" is they offer about 5 bass models with no custom options.
What precisely is "Custom" about that?
I would feel better if they renamed themselves "Fender Boutique Shop".

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Originally Posted by pbass888

I just got a 64 cs time machine relic... Jason it's the fretted version!! ..at least this one from 08 is! They stopped making them in 2010 but they come up enough on here. If you are ever out on this coast let me know. I love the jaco relic but don't play fretless. I've a/b the tone against a 60 stack and a 62 and it's bang on.
Try it out if you can.
Best
Sri

I haven't played that version, but to my understanding they are all different. I'll keep an eye out and hope to play one! Id love to find a Fretted Jazz I love that is not an actual 60's instrument!

[Fretlessboy]

Go buy a bass...play the hell out of it...in 10 years it will be a relic

[pbass888]

Originally Posted by nukes_da_bass

Thing about "Fender Custom Shop" is they offer about 5 bass models with no custom options.
What precisely is "Custom" about that?
I would feel better if they renamed themselves "Fender Boutique Shop".

This is wrong info ! they actually build to your exact spec if you want it

see below..
http://support.fendercs.com/download...te%20Guide.pdf

[P. Aaron]

Gotta say my 2010 MIA P-v has much of that dried-out vintage-vibe stuff going on at the off the rack price. Many of the recent MIA P-basses I've played play & feel great too.

If I was shopping and could afford to spend 2-3k on a bass, I'd run the Fender MIA rack at the local music stores at the same time as considering a CS model.

Of course, looks come into play too. If the current line-up ain't doing it for you.

[brad houser]

every Nash I've played was awesome.

[Octaves]

I have a custom shop Jazz bass 60 NOS and it rocks! It is perfectly balanced, sounds great and looks amazing.

[murphy]

I had a 64 relic Fender custom shop Jazz....most beautiful and amazing feel and sound.
sonic blue.
I do love the look of JOHNK basses on this forum...He would certainly get my dollars.

[Spinal Tapper]

Brand new CS's seem way overpriced IMO.

I personally think I'd shoot for a refinished mid-early 60's Jazz or P bass if I was in the $4k market for a cool relic bass. I flip my basses too much (except for my vintage ones), so I know I'd end up taking a massive hit on what I spent if I got a CS brand new...

Now, if a real nice used CS Relic came up on the market for around $2k or so, I'd definitely consider it. No doubt they're fantastically made basses. Just not $4k fantastic, IMO

[D.M.N.]

Originally Posted by Fretlessboy

Go buy a bass...play the hell out of it...in 10 years it will be a relic

This. I have a AVRI 62 Preicion, and I've pretty much played it every day for something like 5 years, and it's really starting to show. Chips, dings, wearing through the finish on the arm contour, red fading out of the burst. Looks awesome. Also and amazing bass, which I would happily take over any CS Precisions I've played.

[Calaverasgrande]

Relicing is probably the most asinine trend to come along in a very long while.
Sure I understand that poly will never relic the way the old nitro finished basses did. But if that is indeed the case, why not just buy a nitro finished bass?
The whole relic thing didn't really bug me until I started seeing thrashed but otherwise okay "player guitars" that were being offered as "reliced".
Those used to be the ones you could get for a reasonable discount BECUASE they were thrashed!

[pacojas]

the 64 Jazz Relic is smokin' hott!!!

(i will get one soon)

[pbass888]

Originally Posted by pacojas

the 64 Jazz Relic is smokin' hott!!!

(i will get one soon)

I just got one in trade and it is top self. A real vintage tone machine.