New Fender Design Experience

[bassbo2112]

Want to design your own Fender but can't afford a custom? Read on!

Found out some great information after posting in another thread and then doing some digging so I wanted to share in case there are others out there that were looking for this. (Not sure yet if you have to be there in person to do this). Will only include P Basses (but I'm hoping that Jazz necks are available)

From the Fender Forum:
We’ve been seeing a number of questions here about the new American Design Experience at the Fender Visitor Center. Here’s the story direct from Fender CEO Larry Thomas:

The American Design Experience at the Fender Visitor Center in Corona, Calif., was recently launched to give Fender enthusiasts the ability to become directly connected to the creation of the guitar of their dreams. Any guitarist now has the ability to hand select exotic or standard-shaped necks, combine them with unique or standard-painted bodies, and the pickguard and pickup configuration they most desire. By choosing among the components of high-quality U.S. production-made Fender instruments before they are assembled, customers can create the specific look, feel and weight of their dream guitar.

Once selected, piece by piece, the guitar is then assembled, set-up and inspected by the team at the Fender factory in Corona and shipped to the customer’s home. As many of the painted bodies or selected necks are entirely unique, the customer truly has a one-of-a-kind experience that cannot happen anywhere else on earth.

Neck sizes vary in thickness and shape, and include many options from the vast assortment of Fender models. A selection of pickups and pickguards is made from assembled parts also freshly produced from the factory floor. Prices for completed guitars range from around $1,600 for a standard model up to around $2,400, depending on specific materials and options selected. Neck plates are then engraved as “American Designed” and are personalized for the customer, including the guitar’s specific “birth” date.

“It’s like going to an automobile factory and designing your own car,” Thomas concludes. “It caps the amazing experience of being directly connected to Fender’s legendary factory.”

American Design instruments are only available at the Fender factory in Corona, Calif. Although dealers are invited to bring their customers, the products conceived and designed there are not available at stores or anywhere online. Once you have enjoyed Fender’s American Design Experience for yourself, offer your feedback on the process here on the Fender community forums at Fender.com, as we have many other ideas for this innovative program and we want to know what you think.

We look forward to seeing you soon.
-Larry Thomas

Here is a video where the Fender CEO talks about the Design experience (in the design experience room). He starts talking about the Design Experience around 7:30

Fender Visitor Center Tour - YouTube

[ProfGumby]

IT'S ABOUT TIME!!!!!

WOO HOO!!!

Sorry...but this has been possible for a very long time and not at the "Custom Shop" level. I am glad to see Fender going this way and hope it causes others to do the same...

I have been saying for years that if a customer wants a Lake Placid Blue Jazz bass with a Rosewood board/bound and blocked neck why can't they just order one? Well, it looks like now it can happen! Of course Fender is going a half step further and personalizing the instruments, but then that's just cool.

[EighthNotes]

Well, I just found my next bass Now I just have to get to California...

[TMart99]

So I have to go to California to have one built for me?

Wow, that sucks barbwire.

Can't have have mu authorized Fender dealer contact them, so we can do this by phone?

I'm going to call them tomorrow and see what they say.

Should be interesting.

[j.kernodle]

that's fantastic! wonder if non standard colors will be optional? I'd love to put together a new version of a american hot rod P with a PJ setup.

[mmbongo]

Only Fender could make a huge deal out of doing something that other companies have been doing for 40 years

[j.kernodle]

help me out here bongo... I'm trying to think of another production manufacturer that allows a customer to go into a private room and hand select their own body and neck from a wall of options?

it's a step beyond ordering from an option sheet a la g&l.

[sevdog]

Unless they charge a pretty high price I have a feeling there'll be a waiting list in no time flat.

[king_biscuit]

I presume Fender will be able to take phone orders on these? If so are they going to allow returns? Also, this closes the dealers out of sales, as this will go directly through Fender.

[loendmaestro]

Already scheming a family vacation to the greater Orange County area.

[mpdd]

this information may prove to be useful, i'm always driving past corona on the way to the desert

[SlingBass4]

VERY cool

[bassbo2112]

To answer a few questions:

* I believe you will have to go there, but it is worth a look.
* Cost is between $1600 - $2500
* This will only be available for P Bass (no J or P/J)
* The guitar will have a neck plate engraved with your name...no returns.

Hey, it's better than nothin!

[dustklose]

I have a new goal for myself... Once I complete Dave Overthrow's Mastering Electric Bass, I will buy a shell pink P bass, matching headstock, Maple board MOP block inlays, MoP pickguard.....

wait.....

I'm getting a little ahead of myself here

[roadkill2309]

Some of you are mistaking a cool visitor centre feature for a new marketing effort.

[mmbongo]

Originally Posted by j.kernodle

help me out here bongo... I'm trying to think of another production manufacturer that allows a customer to go into a private room and hand select their own body and neck from a wall of options?

it's a step beyond ordering from an option sheet a la g&l.

Spector, Carvin, Roscoe, Fodera, Sadowsky, Warrior...just off the top of my head. I'm sure there are 200 more if I stop and think about it

[C.Linton]

Regardless how many others are doing it, the point here is that Fender has decided to do it, which, to a lot of Fender fans is something they've been waiting for.

[GM60466]

who says you can't teach old dogs new tricks. Maybe a Tractor bass is in the works

[sevdog]

Originally Posted by bassbo2112

To answer a few questions:

* I believe you will have to go there, but it is worth a look.
* Cost is between $1600 - $2500
* This will only be available for P Bass (no J or P/J)
* The guitar will have a neck plate engraved with your name...no returns.

Hey, it's better than nothin!

Only P's?

So, it's really just a "pick your finish" thing not a "build you own bass" thing.

[Dark Horse]

Originally Posted by mmbongo

Spector, Carvin, Roscoe, Fodera, Sadowsky, Warrior...just off the top of my head. I'm sure there are 200 more if I stop and think about it

Did you watch the video ?

I don't think that any of those companies have a room with 30 different necks, 30 different bodies, a bunch of pickguards, etc, etc that you can hold in your hand and mix/match parts to design exactly what you want. Sure, a few of those companies might have one of each model in a showroom (if the company even HAS a showroom), but you won't be able to try "neck A" with "body C", and "pickguard L" to see and get the feeling of EXACTLY what you're getting. Of the companies you named, perhaps Carvin is the closest. The rest of the companies (if I'm not mistaken...and sometimes I am) give you lots of "options" for ordering custom instruments, but you aren't actually walking into the company and "mix and matching" from existing parts.

Watch the video ...it's actually pretty cool. I copied the URL at about the time they start showing the design room....

Fender Visitor Center Tour - YouTube