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Fender American Design Experience

#461
tbz said:
... My main beef is with the price premium; you literally throw away $350 to redesign an American Standard. That will not come back in resale....
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Or said another way, depending on the options you select with the ADE you are paying about $200 less than buying an off the shelf MIA and then modifying the MIA to the same spec as a the ADE while at the same time losing your warranty and even more resale value in the process.

I don't understand why the same people on this thread keep rehashing how it would be cheaper to buy a stock MIA vs an ADE spec'd to match the over the counter bass specs. I doubt few people will approach the ADE process that way. Heck, it's cheaper to buy a MIM than an identical MIA and its cheaper to buy a nearly identical Squier than an MIM. Lets compare apples to apples folks!

If someone has spec'd an ADE with options that are not available for that bass off the shelf then compare what it would cost to bring an off the shelf bass to the same spec. In some cases (like pickguards and pickups) it is cheaper to go stock and mod, in some cases it isn't. Thats all part of just being honest and not trying to manipulate the discussion to your advantage with non similar comparisons.
 
#462
awilkie84 said:
Ah, so years of experience means you're right? Far from, my friend. I work with many people with years of experience in my industry and I prove them wrong all the time. Experience =/= knowledge. A little bit of humility would do you wonders.
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I didn't say I was right, I said most would agree with me.

A little bit of reading comprehension would do you wonders.

;)

awilkie84 said:
No but, as I stated above, the ADE does not give you custom options.
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It most certainly does.

It doesn't give you as MANY, obviously... but you have many ways to customize your own instrument.
 
#467
One of the greatest benefits of the American Design Experience is for lefties. The options for left-handed instruments made by Fender were so few and far between that this is turning into one of the great benefits of the ADE product line.

As for the general benefits of the ADE line? You're getting an instrument put together according to a range of specs that are generally available across the American Vintage, American Standard and American Special lines. This instrument is being assembled and QC'd as if it were being produced as one of those American series instruments. The custom options mean a little bit more time and labor in the process, and I think that's reflected in the pricing. And the buyer also gets a Fender warranty.

Clearly, you're not getting the level of service that comes along with a Fender Custom Shop instrument. But there is definitely an increased level of attention to detail that's been introduced by way of this new ordering process.
 
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#468
GBassNorth said:
Or said another way, depending on the options you select with the ADE you are paying about $200 less than buying an off the shelf MIA and then modifying the MIA to the same spec as a the ADE while at the same time losing your warranty and even more resale value in the process.
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Not trying to be argumentative, but can you show me a case where that's actually true?

If a ADE built identically to an AMS is $350 more, where do you save that $550 that lets you save $200 overall. On the installation? Are they charging less for upgrades on the ADE site than those components cost street? When I checked upgrade costs seemed to be around the actual component street price, but I was NOT cross checking and absolutely could be mistaken.

I'm honestly curious, not doubting, just wondering. I had a hard time seeing any value there, but I could be missing info.
 
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#470
As for resale value? We have to wait and see how that's going to work out. Some Fender lines have become more sought after than others. And some retain their value better than others. So clearly you have to wait and see.

Now if you were to compare the American Design Experience with something like an Allparts or Warmoth parts instrument? Collectively, TBers have seen plenty of these instruments make their way through the classifieds as well as eBay. THOSE instruments don't seem to retain their value as much, and we've seen the evidence.

Will the ADE instruments follow suit with those Allparts and Warmoth instruments on the secondary market? I don't know. And we'll have to wait and see how the market responds. Eventually someone is going to get their ADE instrument. And someone is bound to not love it as much as they thought they might. Give it some time, and these questions will answer themselves.
 
#471
ShoeManiac said:
Will the ADE instruments follow suit with those Allparts and Warmoth instruments on the secondary market? I don't know. And we'll have to wait and see how the market responds. Eventually someone is going to get their ADE instrument. And someone is bound to not love it as much as they thought they might. Give it some time, and these questions will answer themselves.
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Terribly sorry if I miscommunication and insinuated this. They'll at worst sell at the same price as a AM Standard, IMO. If the program never catches on, and few instruments are produced they could end up extremely collectible to the right buyers.

At $350 or so over street, without upgrades, it means a noticeably bigger loss on resale if they end up reselling for AM standard prices. In no case though would they hit a Warmoth level of loss on resale.

If you're buying your dream Fender that you could never get otherwise, and never plan to resell then it's a great program.
 
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#474
tbz said:
Not trying to be argumentative, but can you show me a case where that's actually true?

If a ADE built identically to an AMS is $350 more, where do you save that $550 that lets you save $200 overall. On the installation? Are they charging less for upgrades on the ADE site than those components cost street? When I checked upgrade costs seemed to be around the actual component street price, but I was NOT cross checking and absolutely could be mistaken.

I'm honestly curious, not doubting, just wondering. I had a hard time seeing any value there, but I could be missing info.
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No offense taken, and as a Spector brother I hope I haven't offended you or Awilkie84.
Funny thing is I don't even have a dog in this fight. I just got a steal of a deal on a non Fender custom bass that I take delivery on today hopefully, so no plans on buying any Fenders new or used for quite some time. I just don't like to see people who've made or are planning on making purchases get discouraged about their decisions. That said, as bass brothers we all owe potential buyers an honest heads up so they can make informed decisions.

Here's a reply i gave a few pages ago to the to the spec question ...

GBassNorth said:
...The ADE option costs $500 to $700 more than a stock MIA that doesn't have the same options. Not exactly apples and oranges but certainly different apples.

My point is that if you use the ADE route and spec a precision bass with the sunset metallic paint and a maple fb jazz neck and vintage hardware its going to cost about $1600.

A typical off the shelf MIA will have about a $1200 sticker price but could probably be had for closer to $1000 with discounts, coupons and dickering. Now remember you've got your heart set on those options in the configurator so if you want to match that exact spec going the stock off the shelf route you'll need to have the body repainted, replace the neck with a jazz neck, remove and replace the headstock stickers so it doesn't say jazz bass, refinish the headstock, and possibly swap out the hardware for vintage options. I bet you're now at or over the cost of an identical ADE and your bass value has been diminished because its no longer stock or under warranty.
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I still stand by that reasoning, but have since found out that Fender isn't changing headstock stickers (a major error on their part). Still a professional body refin will run about $300 including shipping, a complete new official Jazz neck from Fender (if thats even possible to obtain, many companies will not sell spare necks and instead only sell replacements to certified repair shops) will run you at least $300 probably much more. Swapping out the hardware might run $100 and if the pickups need to be replaced to match the ADE spec that will be another $100. So now, including the new MIA bass you just wheeled and dealed on and got down to $1000 out the door (which would be a real challenge) you're sitting at $1800 out of pocket not including your time and grief and to boot, you no longer have a bass that's under warranty and truly would be considered a Frankenbass. Good news is, if you didn't need to return the old neck you could sell it and the old pickups and hardware for about $200 if you're lucky which would bring your Frankenbass down to about the same cost or maybe a little more than the ADE model.
 
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#476
GBassNorth said:
....if you didn't need to return the old neck you could sell it and the old pickups and hardware for about $200 if you're lucky which would bring your Frankenbass down to about the same cost or maybe a little more than the ADE model.
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With that example you're right, it's close and it's worth paying a bit more to keep the warranty, and not deal with the hardware install. If you sold the neck you could probably recoup $400 or $500, as Fender necks go for a lot of money on eBay, but your warranty would be void, and resale on your AMS would go down to below that of a stock instrument.

ADE would be substantially better in that case.

As-is I'm glad to see folks supporting the app/program with their dollars; the more you spend now, the more they'll expand the program. I'd love to be able to get block inlays on a modern Jazz body, with my choice of tuners. If the program takes off, there's a chance they'll add that type of customization in.
 
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#479
Guys - in the grand scheme of things, these are not that much money. Who cares about resale value? Go worry about that for a REAL investment item, not a bass. Totally unimportant here. Play your basses and live your life and stop worrying about a few hundred dollars. You'll drive yourself mad and look like a cheapskate at the same time. Life's too short.
 
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#480
Can someone with experience with all three describe the tonal differences between the three pickup choices for the Design Experience Modern Precision Bass?
They are: Pure Vintage '58, Pure Vintage '63, and American Series

I know if you hover over the images you get the description. That's like reading how microbrews taste. Sexy adjectives galore. I just want to know how they sound..
 

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