At this point, I kind of feel like any answer outside of "We'll do anything you want for practically nothing" wouldn't be good enough anyway.
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Fender American Design Experience
- Thread starter ShoeManiac
- Start date
At this point, I kind of feel like any answer outside of "We'll do anything you want for practically nothing" wouldn't be good enough anyway.
...right...
All what I want to know is what is so bloody hard about having all the neck options in 1 pool? I get the body hardware differences, but the neck separation MAKES ZERO SENSE. They share the same bolt pattern & same neck pocket. Why not just have all the necks from both categories available on either?
My best guess is that they aren't exactly the same specs like you think they are. Maybe "close enough" isn't good enough for them.
OR...
Maybe they are purposely limiting some of the ADE available options so it won't be a conflict of interest with the Custom Shop. If they offered EVERYTHING that EVERYONE wants, why have the Custom Shop at all?
But... If this is the ONE THING that is keeping you from placing an order and you're not just trying to just be an internet critic... rather than asking people on TalkBass who don't work for Fender, why not send a quick email to their CS department and ask them directly?
Whatev, dude.
Fender ADE doesn't offer rainbow LEDs for fret markers and a built-in kickstand on their Jazz Basses. They won't be getting dollar one from me, Mr. Logic.
You know, I really got to thinking about this thing last night.
Fender has a problem: Their bread and butter is these four objects (2 basses, 2 guitars) and to try to grow the company, they keep tweaking them to get folks to keep buying. I understand this - it makes sense.
What I find interesting is that the price of a FDE bass is actually considerably less than it would be MSRP for the same stock bass. Of course, no one pays MSRP, and the price for a FDE is quite a bit more than "street" price - it's just not a great price. Looks to be about 25% higher than street - just not higher than MSRP. To me, that's fairly amazing.
MF has the US standard J listing for $1890, with a sale price of $1350;
FDE will build me my "dream" fender for $1690 - still $200 under MSRP (but $340 above street).
Fender cannot sell these near street value - they would alienate their dealer network. They COULD, however, offer this as an upcharge through their dealers - you design your instrument at the dealer (or through the dealer web portal) and pay a $200 upcharge for getting exactly what you want - I'll be that would generate some interest.
But that $340 delta... that's non trivial, but you'd get a bass exactly the way you want it (within the limitations Fender imposes - no active electronics, exotic tops, etc).
Fender has a problem: Their bread and butter is these four objects (2 basses, 2 guitars) and to try to grow the company, they keep tweaking them to get folks to keep buying. I understand this - it makes sense.
What I find interesting is that the price of a FDE bass is actually considerably less than it would be MSRP for the same stock bass. Of course, no one pays MSRP, and the price for a FDE is quite a bit more than "street" price - it's just not a great price. Looks to be about 25% higher than street - just not higher than MSRP. To me, that's fairly amazing.
MF has the US standard J listing for $1890, with a sale price of $1350;
FDE will build me my "dream" fender for $1690 - still $200 under MSRP (but $340 above street).
Fender cannot sell these near street value - they would alienate their dealer network. They COULD, however, offer this as an upcharge through their dealers - you design your instrument at the dealer (or through the dealer web portal) and pay a $200 upcharge for getting exactly what you want - I'll be that would generate some interest.
But that $340 delta... that's non trivial, but you'd get a bass exactly the way you want it (within the limitations Fender imposes - no active electronics, exotic tops, etc).
The heel (the only part of the neck that matters for pairing with a body) is the same on virtually every 20 fret fender bass to come out since their inception (Save the tele bass' square heel). It must be to try to impose artificial limitations to not take away from the CS.
That really is the only thing stopping me from ordering. I just want a LPB P-bass with gold anodized guard, maple P-bass neck & the BA2-style vintage mount bridge...but don't want to buy a MIM, or spend an extra $1-2000 on a CS.
But ... the $340 difference probably has an upgraded neck ... no? It was just a $250 diff on the P-bass I built.
Isn't this exactly what you just described?
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I went to the site and put it together in two minutes.
All I know is that if/when they open it up to 5 string basses as well, a Silverburst Jazz V with a rosewood neck and block inlays is going to be pretty hard to pass up. If they include the active electronics package from the Am. Deluxe, there's no possible way I'll avoid it.
Isn't this exactly what you just described?
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I went to the site and put it together in two minutes.
Well @#%^%#. lol It's not an Am Spec neck, but Am Std will do. lol
Order placed.
I think the ADE is a good option for Fender to offer to their customers. Nothing will please everyone, but so what? I don't have the scratch right now to order one, otherwise I would, but I'm glad there are players that can (and have). I hope that Fender really takes the time to get the QC spot on for these models. I love my 2 Fenders, and I hope this program takes off, and who knows? If it does, these first-year ADE basses may even be collectible down the road (not that this is personally a priority for me).
Yeah, I hear you... I'd literally flip out for a maple-boarded lefty 5-string Jazz bass of ANY color... but I wouldn't hold your breath.
The ADE has been "live" in Fender's Corona, CA visitor center for a year or so already, and it's never been anything but their traditional line-up of 4-strings.
I think that this venture would have to be a HUGE success for them to open it up to their line of 5-strings.
Well @#%^%#. lol It's not an Am Spec neck, but Am Std will do. lol
Order placed.
It's a VERY different neck. I spent an hour with a '58 AVRI and '63 AVRI at Larry Hartke's lounge at Sam Ash in NYC. The 63 was very difficult for me to play (as I play a standard P-Bass). The 58 (shown here) was not bad at all, but definitely different from the standard. I ended up with a modern American Jazz Standard neck on mine (but I also don't like the BA-II bridge).
Modern necks have flatter 9.5" radius. As much as I like the looks of vintage necks, vintage radius doesn't work for me.
Yeah...my preference would be an American Special neck, but I can play a Standard comfortably, too.
You can get the same exact configuration in the "modern" version (LPB p-bass with maple fingerboard and gold pickguard) with an American Standard neck on it... the only thing you'd be sacrificing is the Badass bridge clone and you'd get one of the modern high-mass bridges that has the string-through option, which are actually really nice bridges... and arguably even better than the Badass clone.
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NOICE!Sure, it has some serious limitations. But I got this. And I think it's pretty cool.
I'd be fine with that neck, too. I didn't think they'd use AVRI necks on any of these, especially at THAT price!
I like the HMV, but the there's a difference in string tension with the BA clone that I find appealing.
And I like the look of the longer bridge.
