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Fender American Design Experience

#781
Mastermold said:
Rob always good to see you "pop in" these threads. Don't know if you can say but one thing I've inquired about with Fender ADE was whether there was an option to select for light weight wood. The response I got was something like not at this time. Seems to me that's an option a lot of players would appreciate if it could be added.
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Hiya Mastermold!!---good to see you as well! I agree that being able to sort for weight is a nice option. I'm glad they aren't ruling it out. For myself, when I pick up a heavy guitar or bass, my brain immediately does the math---"How will I feel wearing THAT on a 4-5 hour bar gig?" At the same time, the process of having to sort can add some time and effort to the whole manufacturing deal, so i can understand why they don't want to commit to it right now.
All the best,
rob
 
#783
RobSatFender said:
Hiya Mastermold!!---good to see you as well! I agree that being able to sort for weight is a nice option. I'm glad they aren't ruling it out. For myself, when I pick up a heavy guitar or bass, my brain immediately does the math---"How will I feel wearing THAT on a 4-5 hour bar gig?" At the same time, the process of having to sort can add some time and effort to the whole manufacturing deal, so i can understand why they don't want to commit to it right now.
All the best,
rob
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Yeah I'd assume there would be a sorting fee associated with it if they added the option. I think G&L does that. Hope they keep this going, the more people hear about it I'm sure it will grow.
 
#784
RobSatFender said:
Hiya Mastermold!!---good to see you as well! I agree that being able to sort for weight is a nice option. I'm glad they aren't ruling it out. For myself, when I pick up a heavy guitar or bass, my brain immediately does the math---"How will I feel wearing THAT on a 4-5 hour bar gig?" At the same time, the process of having to sort can add some time and effort to the whole manufacturing deal, so i can understand why they don't want to commit to it right now.
All the best,
rob
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That's the biggest problem I have with most basses I pick up. I own a Fender MP Jazz Satin that plays beautifully, but I don't like to gig it because it's around 10 lbs. If it was in the 8-9 range that MOST USA Fenders are, I'd be super happy with it.
 
#786
I ordered two basses... for what it's worth, my vintage P with an alder body is 8.55 lbs and my modern jazz with an ash body is 8.25 lbs.

Not that this is any kind if guarantee that you'll also get a lightweight bass, but it goes to show that it's certainly possible.
 
#793
I am Soma said:
The craziest part of ADE is that its marketing department failed to mention you dont actually have to order a bass. People that want a warmouth or another brand can still do so. Seems to be quite a bit of confusion out there.

"I'd rather get a...." no one cares but you.
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BUT, that is something that Fender should be keeeping in mind with their options & pricing. Like it or not. Warmoth, USACG, and even Carvin are competition for this service. Moreso Warmoth & USACG.
 
#796
awilkie84 said:
BUT, that is something that Fender should be keeeping in mind with their options & pricing. Like it or not. Warmoth, USACG, and even Carvin are competition for this service. Moreso Warmoth & USACG.
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i totally disagree. fender is offering two options for customization. in their custom shop you can get anything under the sun - much like the vendors/brands you are referencing. in their ADE shop you can make little tweaks to make a semi-standard american fender your own for a much lesser price than the custom shop. want a full on menu of options? go custom shop. want a little tweak on a classic? go ade. dont want either? come on talkbass and complain

if you actually search on the ade thread you'll find many happy customers that have actually ordered one - especially lefties. just like every brand, program, vendor, etc youll find happy customers who like it and just as many unhappy talkbass people who have never tried it. it is talkbass after all :)
 
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#797
4andnomore said:
Both Carvin and G&L offer unlined fretless with little or no up charge - I'm hoping Fender will follow suit.
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+1 - I hope they would just offer a MIM unlined fretless maple neck. I already have a nice body to match it.

Yes, that is really something I think many of us would like.

Yessiree. Maple unlined. $250. They already sell a fretted one.

Yea, maple unlined.

Yep.
 
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#798
The key to keep in mind with regard to the American Design Experience can be distilled down to a single word: CHOICE. Fender is offering customers a choice for a *SOMEWHAT* custom instrument according to the options they're providing via this program. That CHOICE is one for a customer to decide if they like or not. Likewise, other shops like Warmoth are offering similar services. And again the customer is offered a CHOICE. All of these choices come with their own positives and negatives.

So why has this particular thread been such a lightning rod? Probably because Fender is one of the biggest musical instrument manufacturers in the world. Their basses helped to define the sound of electric bass in popular music. That kind of status draws lots of fans along with plenty of detractors. And when Fender decided to offer up the American Design Experience to customers? Very likely the same people who were criticizing Fender before are also doing it with the ADE now.

That begs the question that if there are SO MANY big fans of Warmoth, where are the mega-threads discussing what you can get from them?
 
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#800
ShoeManiac said:
The key to keep in mind with regard to the American Design Experience can be distilled down to a single word: CHOICE. Fender is offering customers a choice for a *SOMEWHAT* custom instrument according to the options they're providing via this program. That CHOICE is one for a customer to decide if they like or not. Likewise, other shops like Warmoth are offering similar services. And again the customer is offered a CHOICE. All of these choices come with their own positives and negatives.

So why has this particular thread been such a lightning rod? Probably because Fender is one of the biggest musical instrument manufacturers in the world. Their basses helped to define the sound of electric bass in popular music. That kind of status draws lots of fans along with plenty of detractors. And when Fender decided to offer up the American Design Experience to customers? Very likely the same people who were criticizing Fender before are also doing it with the ADE now.

That begs the question that if there are SO MANY big fans of Warmoth, where are the mega-threads discussing what you can get from them?
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I love Fender and they are all I play but if you piece together an american standard bass on the ADE then it should reflect the same price. That is where my negativity for the program stems from. Also, they should offer the options of an American deluxe neck and body since the ADE basses are the same price as the American Deluxe.
 

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