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Fender American Design Experience

#41
I emailed Fender about various options yesterday. Here is their response:

"We hope to offer just about every option we feature on our production line in the future. Unfortunately, Marketing and R&D is pretty tight lipped as to what they are cooking up. Therefore, I have no information as to when this option will be available in the future. I would keep your eyes on the website (Invalid Link Removed) and listen to what comes out of future NAMM shows."

Very promising and I like the idea that they are taking baby steps. Better to do it slow and right then quick and problematic.
 
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#42
This is a strange concept - very half baked. It could be GOOD if they offered some real options, like a vintage (1.75) P neck, block inlays on a Jazz, fretless, etc. What, no PJ option on the P bass??

So I rate this CLOSE, but NO CIGAR.
 
#43
Baby steps. Makes sense to start with limited options to get things started. From the previously mentioned email from Fender it sounds like they're open to adding other options in the future. Are they the ones people want? We'll see...

Here's my take on one:
 

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#47
Fletz said:
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'... ;)
Click to expand...


Couldn't have said it better myself!!! I imagine if there's any success with this build your own option, more possibilities.
 
#48
Agreed with the above, even though indeed there wee more options, but on the overall it is a good offer for someone like me, that does not want to pay $3+ for a custom and also does not have to have everybody's bass. It is a nice compromise, especially for us lefties which are generally left with little choice...
 
#49
BIGEJ2 said:
I emailed Fender about various options yesterday. Here is their response:

"We hope to offer just about every option we feature on our production line in the future. Unfortunately, Marketing and R&D is pretty tight lipped as to what they are cooking up. Therefore, I have no information as to when this option will be available in the future. I would keep your eyes on the website (Invalid Link Removed) and listen to what comes out of future NAMM shows."

Very promising and I like the idea that they are taking baby steps. Better to do it slow and right then quick and problematic.
Click to expand...

Cool, sounds like it will just get better as time goes on. I'm going to keep checking the options. The concept is great, definitely could get me to spend money I wouldn't otherwise spend just to make my own bass.
 
#58
I wonder if Musician's Friend and Sweetwater are sweating this. Maybe not. This isn't instant gratification. You have to pay full price and then wait up to 90 days. (I wonder what the real turnaround time will be.) I'm also wondering if the big online retailers aren't the cause of this. If they have tightened up inventory and forced Fender to ship to them quickly, Fender might have decided to cut out the middle man.
 
#60
Bob Rogers said:
I wonder if Musician's Friend and Sweetwater are sweating this. Maybe not. This isn't instant gratification. You have to pay full price and then wait up to 90 days. (I wonder what the real turnaround time will be.) I'm also wondering if the big online retailers aren't the cause of this. If they have tightened up inventory and forced Fender to ship to them quickly, Fender might have decided to cut out the middle man.
Click to expand...

I would guess they aren't too worried. The American Design Experience Precision that I am about to order is clocking in at $1,749 - a little less than list for an American Standard ($1,799). An American Standard generally sells for $1,200-$1,300 in a store. Which means, honestly, I am overpaying for a standard.

To be fair, I am building it with a Jazz neck with pearl blocks and the badass-like bridge. It also will have the AVRI 58 pups in it. (The AVRI's go for $1,800-1,900 new ... so maybe they will annoy their dealers ...)
 

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