Actually, that would depend on the business you are in. Certain studios and producers will scoff at anything less than an American Standard, which can hinder getting future jobs. It's stupid but it does happen.
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Differences between 4-string Fender Am Standard vs Boutiques
- Thread starter taylor16
- Start date
Actually, that would depend on the business you are in. Certain studios and producers will scoff at anything less than an American Standard, which can hinder getting future jobs. It's stupid but it does happen.
The big thing here, which I haven't heard anyone mention, is that you get the exact bass you want. The issue I had with Fenders was I liked this ones sound, that ones neck, the other ones weight, etc., etc., etc. When you build your own bass you get exactly what you want. It's also why I may say my boutique is fantastic, but you may play it and not like it. It was built to MY specifications, not yours.
The value in a boutique instrument is that you don't have to compromise and you get everything you want. Some people may find that in a production instrument; if they do, more power to them.
Okay, then I'll take my AM J should I ever get one of those jobs, but I don't like recording that much anyway. I know you're right and it is stupid.
Often, bassist with some years under their belt may buy a boutique bass for years dedicated to the craft. I always thought a P or J bass can do anything any other bass can do, and I still think that. I have many basses in my possesion. A few are truly boutique. I think its real cool to check out a Carvin someday and custom build it to your specs. I had a PB4 and a V49 made to my delight and still within reasonable cost and they look stunning.
I greatly prefer the Fender American Vintage basses to the American standands. I've owned a number of the boutiques and I believe they shine in comparison when looking at 5 string basses or active electronics. That all being said there is a big price gap between a Fender American Standard and let's say a USA lakland/Sadowsky.
If you are asking the question then you have obviously not experienced any benefit to justify spending $3000 on the lakland rather than $1400 on the Fender. While I wouldn't try to push you to not look at or buy a boutique I'm not sure I'd spend twice as much money because some folks think "they're" better.
If you are asking the question then you have obviously not experienced any benefit to justify spending $3000 on the lakland rather than $1400 on the Fender. While I wouldn't try to push you to not look at or buy a boutique I'm not sure I'd spend twice as much money because some folks think "they're" better.
I was doing a trade here on TB a few years ago which involved an amp I had for a USA Fender jazz bass. A new 2012. In mint shape.
I got the bass and it played ok so I went to set it up and when I got the relief set up and put the strings back on
the truss rod was rattling in the neck at certain frequencies. I called the person I got it from and he said he never had that problem. Big surprise.
So around and around I went with first a local authorized Fender repair center and he said he would have to call Fender get an RA number and also he commented that Fender was really slow in paying for warranty work. He also said I needed a copy of the bill of sale and he couldn't go off the serial number alone. The bass came from AMS so I thought the original owner would have it. No luck. Finally I called Fender myself and they said that they would not authorize a repair or RA number to deal with the issue. THIS WOULD NEVER, EVER, EVER HAPPEN with a Lull or a Lakland. I had a USA Lakland that I bought used and the truss rod was completely stripped out. Dan Lakin sent me a NEW NECK at no charge. This was on a bass from 1998.
Do you think Fender would do that? Also the main point here is QC. A builder like Lull, Wilkins, Lakland would never let a bass with a bad neck go out the door. USA Fenders are a little bit of a crap shoot. Hope you never warranty work done. YMMV.
I got the bass and it played ok so I went to set it up and when I got the relief set up and put the strings back on
the truss rod was rattling in the neck at certain frequencies. I called the person I got it from and he said he never had that problem. Big surprise.
So around and around I went with first a local authorized Fender repair center and he said he would have to call Fender get an RA number and also he commented that Fender was really slow in paying for warranty work. He also said I needed a copy of the bill of sale and he couldn't go off the serial number alone. The bass came from AMS so I thought the original owner would have it. No luck. Finally I called Fender myself and they said that they would not authorize a repair or RA number to deal with the issue. THIS WOULD NEVER, EVER, EVER HAPPEN with a Lull or a Lakland. I had a USA Lakland that I bought used and the truss rod was completely stripped out. Dan Lakin sent me a NEW NECK at no charge. This was on a bass from 1998.
Do you think Fender would do that? Also the main point here is QC. A builder like Lull, Wilkins, Lakland would never let a bass with a bad neck go out the door. USA Fenders are a little bit of a crap shoot. Hope you never warranty work done. YMMV.
Boutique basses don't interest me at all. I don't care for their looks. I don't want to own one and I don't want to play one. I'll take Fenders all day.
- Aug 21, 2003
- 11,605
- 18,644
- Disclosures
- A-Designs Mike Lull GK Tsunami Cables GHS Strings RMI Basswitch Nordstrand Pickups Darkglass
I think that is starting becoming a thing of the past...(With more exception in certain spots in Nashville).
Its funny, because producers love goofy rertro falling apart guitars too, but it feels that bass is under a different scrutiny.
- Aug 21, 2003
- 11,605
- 18,644
- Disclosures
- A-Designs Mike Lull GK Tsunami Cables GHS Strings RMI Basswitch Nordstrand Pickups Darkglass
+1
I have never been a rosewood / alder fan...and it seams that is the most common combo. Great if you love it BUT...
Yep, I've noticed the same thing. The last session I had the producer pulled out an old Silvertone thing that sounded like an electric sitar, although I don't think it was supposed to sound like a sitar
Well, based on my experience, the Sadowsky and Moon Jazz basses I have played, felt "tighter" to me, than the usual cast of Fender characters I find in music shops.
I know that the term "tighter" is difficult to describe, but those basses all seemed to resonate throughout the instrument, where most of the Fenders I have played, well, don't.
To me, that means that the energy created by hitting the strings, gets translated throughout the bass and in turn, the p/u's. The difference can certainly be minimal and in a live context, probably not heard, but to the player, I think it helps to inspire and build confidence in what ever they are doing.
Fishheadjoe
I know that the term "tighter" is difficult to describe, but those basses all seemed to resonate throughout the instrument, where most of the Fenders I have played, well, don't.
To me, that means that the energy created by hitting the strings, gets translated throughout the bass and in turn, the p/u's. The difference can certainly be minimal and in a live context, probably not heard, but to the player, I think it helps to inspire and build confidence in what ever they are doing.
Fishheadjoe
Passive or set to passive mode? In my limited experience an onboard preamp can have an impact on the tone when the bass is played in passive mode. Of course, the pickups are going to have an impact on the sound as well. If both the Fender and the boutique in question have the same pickups and shielding will they sound identical? Probably about as identical as two Fenders with the same specs will (which could mean anywhere along the spectrum from almost identical to significantly different). As far as playability goes, the fretwork is almost certainly going to be better on a boutique than on a Fender, allowing for lower action if that's what you prefer. In terms of neck profile that's entirely a matter of personal preference. Soundwise every bass is a little (and sometimes more than a little) different. Sit in a music store and try out several basses in the same model and none are likely to sound identical. This goes for boutiques just as much as it does for Fenders. Not long ago I was at the Sadowsky shop in New York. While there I tried out several basses - some of which had the same specs and some of which had minor to considerable enough variations (e.g., single coil Js vs soapbar pickups) It was a great reminder of how important it is to use your ears when selecting a bass. That might sound obvious enough but prejudice can often influence us before we engage our ears. That particular day I started off by trying out the basses that I was sure I'd like best (either because of wood type or because of electronic type/configuration). In the end my favourites were the last basses I expected to be at the top of my list.
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I'm going to repeat something a college professor once told me that honestly annoyed the hell out of me at the time.
You're just going to have to sort this out for your self.
You're just going to have to sort this out for your self.
Have a Fender Jazz (American) and it plays great and sounds like a Fender Jazz bass with passive electronics. That's what it should sound like.
I love this bass but don't love all the American Fender Jazz Basses I've played in stores or that my friends have. But the same is true for some high end basses I've played or owned.
I have a NYC Sadowsky (and a Metro). Different feel...different sound (active with Sadowsky preamp and pickups)...craftsmanship can't be compared. But neither can the price.
The Sadowsky neck joint is seemless, the frets are perfect, parts are a higher quality. I did buy this bass in 2000 for about half of what it would cost to purchase today.
I have a few other 'boutique' basses that all have a similar quality...but I've had a few that weren't.
It's all in the player's feel for a bass.
Try as many as you can...there are some outstanding basses out there but not everyone feels the need for a Sadowsky, Suhr, Lakland, Alleva-Coppolo, FClef, MBass, Roscoe, Lull...to each his own.
I love this bass but don't love all the American Fender Jazz Basses I've played in stores or that my friends have. But the same is true for some high end basses I've played or owned.
I have a NYC Sadowsky (and a Metro). Different feel...different sound (active with Sadowsky preamp and pickups)...craftsmanship can't be compared. But neither can the price.
The Sadowsky neck joint is seemless, the frets are perfect, parts are a higher quality. I did buy this bass in 2000 for about half of what it would cost to purchase today.
I have a few other 'boutique' basses that all have a similar quality...but I've had a few that weren't.
It's all in the player's feel for a bass.
Try as many as you can...there are some outstanding basses out there but not everyone feels the need for a Sadowsky, Suhr, Lakland, Alleva-Coppolo, FClef, MBass, Roscoe, Lull...to each his own.
The greatest bass I've ever had my hands on was an Elrick singlecut 5 string. The bass was so easy to play and sounded so good that it didn't even sound like me playing. You could just feel how well made it was, like the difference between driving a Toyota and a Lamborghini. Using the car analogy, both will get you there and if you can only afford a Toyota, that's what you buy. The Elrick is in the ballpark of $4700 new, used they're still crazy expensive. I picked up my Fender American Standard 5 for just under $800 used but in like new condition. On a recording, no one will know the difference. On a stage, no one will care. If you have money to burn, sure buy a boutique bass. If you're like everyone else, a Fender will be more than enough.
I have had many Fender Ps and Js (all MIA), just don't own one now, but I do have a Lull 54P with the Jazz neck and love it. Also have a few Sadowskys, but the Lull is closer in price to a Fender Amer Deluxe. I can definitely feel a difference in the necks but for me (my personal hangup) the biggest plus with my "boutiques" is the weight. I love a light bass. My Lull is around 7.25 lbs, my Sadowskys are 7.45 and 8.20. I even got Vinny Fodera to build an 8.25 lb Monarch Elite! I'd love to get one of the Adam Clayton basses, or the recent Lake Placid Blue Jazz w/ matching headstock, I think it was an Amer Deluxe, but they all seem to be in the 9-10 lb range. I know, that's not that heavy, but with some neck and back problems it seems to be. Besides that, I would agree with some posters that you're getting a better quality bass overall. I waited 9 months for a Fender Custom Shop Custom Classic Jazz, and it was one of the most disappointing basses I've ever owned. Didn;t like the neck, swirl marks all over the finish, the pickguard and control plate were off by 1/8". Terrible quality control. Sold that and bought my first Sadowsky, a Metro Hybrid P/J in Oly White. Fit and finish was flawless, sounded incredible in passivie or active. It cost around $300 more than the C.S. did. That experience put me off of Fender.
I've noticed a lot of my peers who've all been into boutique gear the past 5-15 years getting bored of the often overwhelming number of choices and low returns-to-dollars-spent. Lotsa folks selling large quantities of gear or trying out more economical or interesting approaches. They most often are going back to stuff like American made Fender and Gibson instruments, higher quality Korean stuff, and even older Peaveys, yamahas, and weird instruments. This is also a reflection of the fact that there are fewer gigs out there all in all. The boutique stuff is beautiful and a joy to play, but ultimately either you can play or you cant.
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I think the American Ps or Js are a better buy than most of the Custom Shop models. Probably just me, but I've never understood the prices Fender charges for these models especially when you can get into a Lull, Nordy, Sadowsky, Elrick (completely handmade, better series) or even the standard Foderas now for those prices. As others have said here, if you can afford a premium bass, they're great. If not, a Fender P will cover you for just about anything. It's probably on 70% of ALL the music we've ever heard.
I just sold a Sadowsky Metro j in favor of a American Special j with an Audere pre-amp.
The new Fender and pre were about 1k the Sadowsy was 2300.
I think the Sadowky was great but not 1300 better.
No regrets.
The new Fender and pre were about 1k the Sadowsy was 2300.
I think the Sadowky was great but not 1300 better.
No regrets.
