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Fender American Design Experience

#21
elBandito said:
It's because the P neck doesn't fit on J bodies that well. J heel is shaped pointier, so it fits in P neck pocket, but more blunt P heel doesn't fit in the J neck pocket. You can cram it in there, but it won't fit flush. Older bodies with mickey mouse ears will not have this problem.

At first, I thought it was just tollerance issues, but I have tried interchanging American P and J necks on all my fenders. No cigar. Those who don't believe me can try it out, instead of accusing me of making up "myths".
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I here ya, I tried it once back in 1991 and it didn't work, but was thinking they could tweek the P neck to fit in this custom building scheme. Jim
 
#22
i'm really disappointed.

I was expecting more options, like P/J pup configuration for both precision and jazz basses. Also, while you can choose jazz necks for the p bass, you can't choose p necks for the j bass. I was expecting at least more color options.

well... at least it's something...

Javier.
 
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#26
I've been waiting a long time for Fender to adopt this approach, and it's a big step in the right direction. The finish selection is pretty good for a start, and of course the J neck on a P-bass is cool. But the absence of a P/J config, fretless necks, and P neck on a Jazz bass are serious omissions. The prices are too high also, especially when compared to G&L, which offers many more options directly from the factory and higher quality IMO. I'd take an LB-100 over an American Standard Precision any day.

If this is successful for Fender, I would expect the options to expand over time. We'll probably see more finishes (or at least different ones each year) and fretless necks, for example.
 
#27
Would have loved to purchased one of these but like others have said, no fretless or cover options, No choice as to where the tugbar goes, and I take it that they all come as a Poly finish (which you should be able to choose between poly and nitro, especially at ~$1600) And no different neck shapes? All of them are C shapes, wish they brought the V's A's B's U's etc. into this builder. I would definitely order one if I could pick a V neck.

Not to impressed TBH, but maybe it will get better with time?
 
#28
I built a sunburst P with a Jazz neck(Rosewood) 62 pickups, vintage styling, and alder body.

I love this. Of course what I'm interested in is pretty much available. Just wondering if the fret size are vintage. Also wish for a choice on body weight and paint type.

A little pricey but like others said, a step in the right direction for Fender.
 
#29
LanOsb133 said:
Would have loved to purchased one of these but like others have said, no fretless or cover options, No choice as to where the tugbar goes, and I take it that they all come as a Poly finish (which you should be able to choose between poly and nitro, especially at ~$1600) And no different neck shapes? All of them are C shapes, wish they brought the V's A's B's U's etc. into this builder. I would definitely order one if I could pick a V neck.

Not to impressed TBH, but maybe it will get better with time?
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I think this is really meant to be a line to bridge the gap between the AS/AVRI and the custom shop basses. and from what I can tell, the vintage optioned basses are nitro(listed as lacquer) and the modern optioned are poly. I'm not a fender fanboy by any stretch, but I think people should give fender the benefit of the doubt by giving players more options for a somewhat personalized bass without going through the custom shop and without the price tag. this American Design Experience did start off as a factory only thing, meaning you had to physically go to the fender plant and option out your bass/guitar. people complained about that when it was first announced. now they have made it available through their website for the players who are either unwilling or unable to travel to their plant. this ADE line is still in it's infancy and I think that they will add more options further down the line, given that it is successful. just my humble opinion.
 
#31
Wow. A lot of whiners here. If you want all those other options, Fender offers them: it's called "The Custom Shop." Does it cost more? Yep. This, to me, is great marketing. Offer some of the standard options, configurable and built SPECIFICALLY for you. We could all buy a black and maple P-bass, but it was made on the assembly line and thrown on a truck randomly to wherever we buy it. This is made for your order. Pretty cool. Also, if they are wise, they are using this for real time market research and watching what people are ordering and building. Finally, it does give you many more options than what is currently part of the standard lines. I think it's a nice step forward. Quicherbitchin'... ;)
 
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#36
ShoeManiac said:
Since Fender opened their new visitor center in Corona, California a couple of years ago, they've had a new feature where you can build your own Fender guitar or bass. You pick all of the parts and put together your very own custom Fender instrument.

That concept has finally made it's way online! And now you can build your own Fender guitar or bass online at Invalid Link Removed. The options for basses include a number of variations of 4 string Precision and Jazz basses. Other options include:

-Vintage or modern appointments
-Right or Left-Handed (good news for lefties!)
-Alder or Ash bodies
-COLORS: 3 tone sunburst, 2 tone sunburst, Olympic white, Vintage blonde, Black, Lake Placid Blue, Candy Apple Red, Sunset Metallic & Silverburst
-Jazz or Precision necks with a range of options
-Varying pickup options
-Modern or vintage style bridges
-6 different pickguard materials
-Hardware finishes
-3 different case options


It's pretty cool if you may not be on board with some of the options on stock Fender models. The pricing seems a little high, but that's probably got to do with the increased labor involved with just such a build.
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I played with it yesterday & was annoyed at how few options there are. Also, the limited hardware choices (and some hardware is locked to certain neck models). Also, no bound/blocked P necks, just Jazz. -_-
 
#37
i think one thing people are forgetting is this functionality was just released. i think we can all agree it will be substantially more robust as time goes on. i think this is just one of those threads where the vultures circle waiting to say anything bad about fender in general.
 
#38
JavierFarias said:
i'm really disappointed.

I was expecting more options, like P/J pup configuration for both precision and jazz basses. Also, while you can choose jazz necks for the p bass, you can't choose p necks for the j bass. I was expecting at least more color options.

well... at least it's something...

Javier.
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Agreed. How hard is it to be able to offer an American P/J Bass in sunburst with a maple neck?? You're killing me, Fender! :crying:
 
#39
awilkie84 said:
I played with it yesterday & was annoyed at how few options there are. Also, the limited hardware choices (and some hardware is locked to certain neck models). Also, no bound/blocked P necks, just Jazz. -_-
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I agree. It's in its infancy. I think Fender is testing it to see how popular or profitable it gets. If it does, then they'll add more options for hardware, necks, and bodies and such.
 
#40
jazzonlyjazz said:
I agree. It's in its infancy. I think Fender is testing it to see how popular or profitable it gets. If it does, then they'll add more options for hardware, necks, and bodies and such.
Click to expand...


As a digital marketer by day, this seems clear to me. There are many "options" with one choice. It's clearly left itself open for lore bells and whistles.
 

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