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Well Dan it sucks that fenders going after the little guy. I'm very glad to hear you're still working on new basses, not letting big brother hold you down. By the way I'm still gathering up money to buy a retro body and retro neck...but...not put them together
But not the loaded bodies you are selling?
I ask for no sympathy.
Like I said, I knew exactly what I was doing. So do all the other builders, like Bill Nash, who do the same.
99% of us drive over the speed limit by 5-10mph on a regular basis. We knowingly break the law. Why? Because we assume those who enforce the law won't mind something so insignificant.
So I read the advice, considered it, and decided to continue offering my basses anyway. My hope was that if Fender were to ever get serious about this stuff they would pay more attention to guys like Bill Nash, who cranks out 100 guitars & basses per month, as opposed to my tiny operation making 1-2 basses per month.
Why did I decide to take the risk? Because it's a fun hobby, and I honestly believe that bassists should be able to buy a good, solid, workhorse custom bass that doesn't cost as much as a car. I've never made a ton of profit on my builds. On some, I have actually lost money.
But apparently I was wrong. Fender did come after me, not Bill Nash. My hunch is they never will. I know the reason - Bill probably has enough cash and enough incentive to fight Fender in court, whereas I don't. So Fender intentionally turns a blind eye to him and comes after guys like me. Do I went a sympathy card? No. That's the risk I took. Do I have a right to be irked? I think I do.
Bill's business model is different than mine. I only do custom orders. Someone contacts me, tells me what color they want and what hardware, and I make it happen. Essentially, my customers are buying a complete kit from AllParts, and paying me a few bucks to assemble it for them.
But Bill Nash doesn't do custom orders. He has a staff that cranks out Strats, Teles, J's and P's all day long. They are built for the purpose of retail sale, either over the internet or in music stores. If I was Fender, that business model would piss me off much more.
So let's compare Nash and me. Nash makes 100+ instruments per month, charges around $1600 for them, and sells them retail.
I make 1-2 instruments per month, charge around $900 for them, and do custom order only.
But I'm the guy Fender comes after.
I don't want to sound like I'm beating up Nash. He makes great stuff, and I'm glad he does what he does. I've owned a Nash bass, and it was great. I think I posted a glowing review on it here at TB. My point is strictly to vent. That's it. I'm annoyed by this whole thing. I think I have a right to be.
Rant over!
After being warned numerous times by pro builders and others in a thread a year ago ??? (linked earlier in this thread)
Nope, probably not. I'm FAR from perfect, but I'll tell ya this much....
If I were warned repeatedly, then rolled the dice and got bit in the butt, I doubt I'd be whining about it publicly.
I think I'd be eating a slice of humble pie ... in private.
