Cancelled Fender Custom Shop order

[kim workman]

I don't understand why the Fender custom shop don't care about their customers or their reputation. After nearly 18 months of waiting and being straight up lied to by the custom shop I cancelled my order this week.
It was just a 63 Precision bass with a roasted body and a roasted maple neck painted lake placid blue.
It should have been so easy... I have purchased well over $25,000 dollars of custom shop basses and amps from music stores in the past and figured I would get something special but not anymore. They lied when after 8 months they said it would be ready in ten days, then 4 months later they said the neck had a problem and it would be another 30 days... then 3 months later they said the body was bad... So I finally cancelled the order. The music store I was dealing with was lied to as well and they will no longer be carrying custom shop stuff. I will get it done with a local boutique guitar builder instead.
Thanks for the rant....

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

That is ridiculous !! Same thing is happening to folks waiting for US Geddy Lee models ordered almost a year ago.
Something is going on with Fender and it isn’t a good thing.
Thank goodness you have other options

 

[lomo]

As they say in Latin: Bummer to da max :-(

 

[Dr. Cheese]

It would be better to be like Fodera and say it will take a longtime.

 

[lomo]

It would be better to be like Fodera and say it will take a longtime.

Totally. Underpromise/ overdeliver.

 

[Bassclef46]

Probably a blessing in disguise. Just buy a lake placid American Original 60s p bass. I don’t see anything special about the custom shop that causes it to be twice as much as the original line.

to me their custom shop is just another production line with slightly more options.

 

[stuntbass77]

Sorry to hear that !!! Maybe a Sadowsky, Lull, or G&L may lessen the pain. Hopefully you find something that makes you just as happy !

 

[KOOL BREEZE]

+ 1 on the Lull. Being in state you can go deal face to face with them if so inclined. Plek setup out of the box is nice too.

 

[roller]

Call Nino Valenti and have him build you a P-Bass. He does excellent work in a timely manner and offers lots of options you can't get from Fender. Seriously fantastic basses.

I don't understand why the Fender custom shop don't care about their customers or their reputation. After nearly 18 months of waiting and being straight up lied to by the custom shop I cancelled my order this week.
Thanks for the rant....

 

[alembicbones]

Sorry to hear about your hassle. Another vote here for Lull or Sadowsky. My NYC custom took around 8 months from order to delivery. Couldn't be happier with the outcome. Lull makes sense too since they are local and make world class instruments.

Hope all works out in the end for you.

Bones

 

[bass12]

Yeah, Lull and Valenti are both great options.

 

[FRoss6788]

Crappy communication is definitely a bummer...
One, however might consider what has been going on the past 16 months that could contribute to a significant delay.
Again, not excusing poor communication, but if you placed an order pre-covid and expected it anywhere near on time, you're dreaming.

 

[hotrodjohn]

So I’m guessing a Wal bass with a 4 year wait and $9k price tag would be entirely out of the question...

 

[Wambemando]

They should fire more people, that might help.

 

[Snaxster]

It would be better to be like Fodera and say it will take a longtime.

Totally. Underpromise/ overdeliver.

Right. In brief my experience (three custom orders in recent years), that is exactly what Fodera does. For me, Fodera is a benchmark for how to properly manage a custom instrument order.

 

[Huw Phillips]

I have just been through this with MJT I ordered a body in January should have been ready March, no communication unless I contacted them, then the body arrives totally checked I ordered it clean unaged, they offered to change it if I paid all the transport, in the end I gave up and kept it NEVER order from MJT

 

[BobKos]

That is ridiculous !! Same thing is happening to folks waiting for US Geddy Lee models ordered almost a year ago.
<SNIP>

Please elaborate. I've been thinking about one of these.

 

[lizardking837]

Crappy communication is definitely a bummer...
One, however might consider what has been going on the past 16 months that could contribute to a significant delay.
Again, not excusing poor communication, but if you placed an order pre-covid and expected it anywhere near on time, you're dreaming.

One of my Astrologically inclined friends told me that mercury is in retrograde. So beware of deals made during this time and be prepared for miscommunication

 

[Lesfunk]

Call bluesman vintage .
You’ll get the owner on the phone and he will build you any fender type bass you want for less than half the price of FMIC

and it’ll be killer

 

[FRoss6788]

One of my Astrologically inclined friends told me that mercury is in retrograde. So beware of deals made during this time and be prepared for miscommunication

Ok...

Whatever man