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11-20-2012, 12:28 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: somewhere in middle America | | Quote:
Originally Posted by DWBass  Because stock Fenders are not great playing instruments out the box. Spotty QC, little to zero setup and attention to detail is nil unless it's Custom Shop. And Custom Shop may as well be Boutique. | Custom Shop prices are ZOINKS!  |
11-20-2012, 12:45 PM
|  | Registered User | | | | Quote:
Originally Posted by spade2you Custom Shop prices are ZOINKS! | +1 The Pino P Bass was the first Fender I ever played that seemed to have the attention to detail/quality that I've come to love in my Alleva-Coppolo, Sadowsky, Nordy, etc. And, it was more expensive than my Alleva-Coppolo, Sadowsky, Nordy 
To the OP, if you feel the custom shop Fenders are significantly better for you than the 'factory Fenders' (i.e., better finish, more choice wood, better neck pocket/neck construction, etc., etc., etc.), then you might enjoy the different 'Fender-like' takes of some of the other higher end luthiers.
If you think guys that buy Fender Custom Shop basses are as nuts as those who buy Sadowsky's, choose a MIM Fender that feels good to you, spent $75 on a full set-up, and be happy 
Last edited by KJung : 11-20-2012 at 12:52 PM.
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11-20-2012, 12:55 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: somewhere in middle America | | Quote:
Originally Posted by KJung +1 The Pino P Bass was the first Fender I ever played that seemed to have the attention to detail/quality that I've come to love in my Alleva-Coppolo, Sadowsky, Nordy, etc. And, it was more expensive than my Alleva-Coppolo, Sadowsky, Nordy
To the OP, if you feel the custom shop Fenders are significantly better for you than the 'factory Fenders' (i.e., better finish, more choice wood, better neck pocket/neck construction, etc., etc., etc.), then you might enjoy the different 'Fender-like' takes of some of the other higher end luthiers.
If you think guys that buy Fender Custom Shop basses are as nuts as those who buy Sadowsky's, choose a MIM Fender that feels good to you, spent $75 on a full set-up, and be happy | When I was playing guitar, I wanted a carved top Strat with a Floyd Rose, H-S-H pickups, reversed headstock, and a few other trimmings. $8k and this was more than 10 years ago. PLENTY of builders who could have built this for $3k or less if I found a luthier who doesn't require dealers.
I don't hate Fender, but I like to make fine tweaks here n' there. If I can get a McDonald's cheeseburger plain, I'd like to think it shouldn't cost an arm and a leg. Wanted a B-Bender Tele with a nice top and flat radius. Probably cost me at least $5k+ from Fender. I think it'll be less than $3k from Stambaugh.  |
11-20-2012, 01:27 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: santa maria,california | | all my favorite, best sounding and playing basses have the biggest neck pocket gaps and usually came to me in not the best playing condition. fender ftw  |
11-20-2012, 04:24 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Chester, Pa.,USA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by DWBass Because stock Fenders are not great playing instruments out the box. Spotty QC, little to zero setup and attention to detail is nil unless it's Custom Shop. And Custom Shop may as well be Boutique. | Incorrect. Not all are like that. You're generalizing too much.
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11-20-2012, 05:02 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2009 Location: Toronto (Markham), Canada | | | Also, some people want their Fender sound AND 10 other sounds. Sometimes, those boutique basses can pull that off. The Fender sound is just something they want to keep in their arsenal in their one bass.
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11-20-2012, 05:09 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Friday Harbor, WA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by DWBass Because stock Fenders are not great playing instruments out the box. Spotty QC, little to zero setup and attention to detail is nil unless it's Custom Shop. | Hahahaha.
Well, that was good for a chuckle.
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11-20-2012, 05:15 PM
|  | Johnny and Joe | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chicago | | Well shoot, the OP was actually polite and came back to thank everyone. I was all set to post "Why pay up for an MIA Fender when a Squier sounds the same?" Never mind.
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11-20-2012, 05:23 PM
| | | | I think there are some people like the idea of having a boutique bass just because they want to be different or are trying to impress other players. If you want a bass that sounds like a Fender, buy a Fender. If you want one that sounds like an Alembic, buy an Alembic, etc. |
11-20-2012, 05:25 PM
|  | The Funkfather
Kohlman Bassworks | | Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: SE Virginia via NYC | | Quote:
Originally Posted by D.M.N. Hahahaha.
Well, that was good for a chuckle. | Cute. Jump on the bandwagon. You're 20. I've been playing Fenders since the mid 70's. In my experience, all needed setups and tweaking to get to playing properly. Have yet to find one at Boutique quality or playability. Having said that, my main 4 string is a 2006 US Fender Jazz which was worked on by a pro luthier/tech. Electronics were garbage. Installed a full Bartolini package and it thumps like a mutha now! Great playing bass but still not boutique quality. Like my experience or not but it is MY experience. |
11-20-2012, 05:47 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: santa maria,california | | Quote:
Originally Posted by DWBass Cute. Jump on the bandwagon. You're 20. I've been playing Fenders since the mid 70's. In my experience, all needed setups and tweaking to get to playing properly. Have yet to find one at Boutique quality or playability. Having said that, my main 4 string is a 2006 US Fender Jazz which was worked on by a pro luthier/tech. Electronics were garbage. Installed a full Bartolini package and it thumps like a mutha now! Great playing bass but still not boutique quality. Like my experience or not but it is MY experience. | spend 100 dollars on a fretlevel on a thousand dollar bass and you get the playability of a multi-thousand dollar bass. easy. garbage? you may prefer hum cancelling pickups, but the single coil pickups and cts pots they use are no different than what many boutique guys use other than not being wound as hot. thats hardly an issue with quality. |
11-20-2012, 05:57 PM
|  | Supporting Member and fetch player | | Join Date: May 2003 Location: Colorado, USA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Rockbassist4 I think there are some people like the idea of having a boutique bass just because they want to be different or are trying to impress other players... | There are people like that. I know there are also people who buy a Fender because they want to follow the mainstream mindlessly.
Here's the thing, those people are in the minority. Most people buy a bass because it has the features and sound they want. It's really that simple. Personally, I would never question anyone's judgement for buying a Fender, nor would I question why someone would want a Sadowsky or Alembic.
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11-20-2012, 06:07 PM
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Endorsing Artist: Fender Basses, Ampeg, Curt Mangan Strings | | Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: South Shore, Massachusetts | | | I have been playing since 1978 and over the years have played Fender, Alembic, Carvin, Ibanez, Spector, Washburn and Music Man. They all have good points but I always seem to go back to Fender for my stage basses. I would like to try a Sadowsky but the closest dealer is over 300 miles away.
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Last edited by Kmonk : 11-20-2012 at 06:12 PM.
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11-20-2012, 06:27 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: England, United Kingdom | | Quote:
Originally Posted by mas502arc Also, some people want their Fender sound AND 10 other sounds. Sometimes, those boutique basses can pull that off. The Fender sound is just something they want to keep in their arsenal in their one bass. | Well said that man - this is almost certain to be the case. There seems to be a fashion these days for lots of people to want the same bass sound as each other - a rather generic one - rather like cars and stuff in old fashioned communist states - all the same make colour etc - good as they are, one sometimes gets the feeling that the Fender Jazz and Precision are the equivalent of Govt issue equipment in the music industry! This sometomes seems to permeate the current music scene but it doesn't suit all players.
Many bass players want to be able to get that sound and a whole range of others - but don't want (or feel the need, or can) carry ten basses to a gig. It's all about flexibility and variety
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Last edited by drTSTingray : 11-20-2012 at 06:30 PM.
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11-20-2012, 06:42 PM
| | Johnny and Joe | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chicago | | Quote:
Originally Posted by WoodyG3 There are people like that. I know there are also people who buy a Fender because they want to follow the mainstream mindlessly.
Here's the thing, those people are in the minority. Most people buy a bass because it has the features and sound they want. It's really that simple. Personally, I would never question anyone's judgement for buying a Fender, nor would I question why someone would want a Sadowsky or Alembic. | +1.
And hell, a lot of bassists have never heard of Lakland or Sadowsky. Not gonna impress them anyway!
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11-20-2012, 07:12 PM
|  | Registered User
Endorsing artist: Brubaker Guitars | | Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Gaithersburg, Md | | Quote:
Originally Posted by DWBass Because stock Fenders are not great playing instruments out the box. Spotty QC, little to zero setup and attention to detail is nil unless it's Custom Shop. And Custom Shop may as well be Boutique. | Custom Shop ARE boutique. And you should see the Fenders I've been seeing... the polar opposite of what you described. I'll leave it at that.
I agree about the desire to have a Fender vibe in a different package. I like it either way and I have non-Fenders that do the Fender thing AND other vibes too so the versatility is nice. 
Last edited by Brad Johnson : 11-20-2012 at 07:15 PM.
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11-20-2012, 07:17 PM
| | Registered User
Endorsing artist: Brubaker Guitars | | Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Gaithersburg, Md | | Quote:
Originally Posted by DWBass Cute. Jump on the bandwagon. You're 20. I've been playing Fenders since the mid 70's. In my experience, all needed setups and tweaking to get to playing properly. Have yet to find one at Boutique quality or playability. Having said that, my main 4 string is a 2006 US Fender Jazz which was worked on by a pro luthier/tech. Electronics were garbage. Installed a full Bartolini package and it thumps like a mutha now! Great playing bass but still not boutique quality. Like my experience or not but it is MY experience. | I said I'd leave it at that so I will.  |
11-20-2012, 07:22 PM
| | Registered User
Endorsing artist: Brubaker Guitars | | Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Gaithersburg, Md | | Quote:
Originally Posted by KJung +1 The Pino P Bass was the first Fender I ever played that seemed to have the attention to detail/quality that I've come to love in my Alleva-Coppolo, Sadowsky, Nordy, etc. And, it was more expensive than my Alleva-Coppolo, Sadowsky, Nordy
To the OP, if you feel the custom shop Fenders are significantly better for you than the 'factory Fenders' (i.e., better finish, more choice wood, better neck pocket/neck construction, etc., etc., etc.), then you might enjoy the different 'Fender-like' takes of some of the other higher end luthiers.
If you think guys that buy Fender Custom Shop basses are as nuts as those who buy Sadowsky's, choose a MIM Fender that feels good to you, spent $75 on a full set-up, and be happy | IMO the big thing that Fender CS has, all else being as equal as it can be, is the potential to really hold it's value down the road over the named competition. I'd definitely consider it if I were in the market for a more direct style Fender clone. |
11-20-2012, 07:25 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Johnson City, TN | | | I currently play a Nordy VJ5 for my Fenderish sound. The reason is I hate the neck on the fender 5 strings. The Nordstrand is much more comfortable to me. Some of the boutiques simply have more versatility. Also quality control is always much better on a smaller scale operation.
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11-20-2012, 08:13 PM
| | Registered User | | | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Brad Johnson IMO the big thing that Fender CS has, all else being as equal as it can be, is the potential to really hold it's value down the road over the named competition. I'd definitely consider it if I were in the market for a more direct style Fender clone. | Since I'm a 5 stringer, that doesn't seem to be an option. I think the custom shop focuses on reproducing classic Fender's, which are all 4's.
I will say, that Pino P bass wass simply stunning!
+1 also that the Custom Shop stuff might hold up a bit better than 'non Fender Fender's | | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | 
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