Fender American Vintage vs Custom Shop

[peterpalmieri]

The 62 has a slab rosewood fingerboard the 64 has a capped board. The 62 has stacked knobs, the 64 is VVT. Full disclosure I own a AV64 and I think there is a significant enough difference. the 62 was not an accurate representation of a 1962 Fender jazz bass, while the 64 is for the most part period correct. Every bass is different so "better" would be a hard word to qualify but the specs are different.

 

[SGT. BAKER]

I agree. Every bass it´s different to another ones. But it seems that the quality in building, finishes, woods,... and more it´s a little bit higher in the CS that AV.

 

[bassgod76]

I agree. Every bass it´s different to another ones. But it seems that the quality in building, finishes, woods,... and more it´s a little bit higher in the CS that AV.

Is it even fair to compare CS and AV? That's like saying, "your BMW 3 series is nice, but my Bentley is much nicer".

 

[SGT. BAKER]

Is it even fair to compare CS and AV? That's like saying, "your BMW 3 series is nice, but my Bentley is much nicer".

Don´t get me wrong! You know that I don´t said that. The CS is the top of Fender

 

[bassgod76]

If CS is the top at Fender, why would you say it's better than AV? Isn't that kind of obvious?

 

[peterpalmieri]

I wouldn't trade my Avs for a CS unless I was spec-ing something I could get off the shelf.

 

[bassgod76]

I was told that the AV is one of the finer production copies of pre CBS

 

[SGT. BAKER]

I was told that the AV is one of the finer production copies of pre CBS

Ok. I don´t have been understood you so well. I found so strange that you´d think the opposite with CS and AV. Sorry if I´ve trouble you, but sometimes my english isn´t so good.

 

[bassgod76]

CS is great, but CS is a lot more money than an AV. So to say that a CS has better fit and finish, is logical and most likely true. Shrugs

 

[SGT. BAKER]

CS is great, but CS is a lot more money than an AV. So to say that a CS has better fit and finish, is logical and most likely true.

It´s a huge difference in the price.

Shrugs

I´ve just learned this new word.

 

[Rocky]

Is it even fair to compare CS and AV? That's like saying, "your BMW 3 series is nice, but my Bentley is much nicer".

In my case it was kind of. I sold a NOS LTD edition CS 64 J-bass, and replaced it with a AV 58 P-bass in white blonde. Honestly I like the 58 way more. The fit and finish is just as good as far as I can tell. The nitro finish may be even thinner than the CS. The neck pocket is just as tight, the woods used seem just as good, and it sounds just as good as any CS P-bass I have played. The new AV series kicks A** IMHO. I'm done with the CS at this point, but I am a guy who was just looking for stock vintage style Fenders as I could not afford a real vintage. I am totally satisfied with this bass, and would recommend to anyone that they seek out an AV to try before ordering any team built NOS bass from the CS.

 

[SGT. BAKER]

In my case it was kind of. I sold a NOS LTD edition CS 64 J-bass, and replaced it with a AV 58 P-bass in white blonde. Honestly I like the 58 way more. The fit and finish is just as good, maybe even thinner than the CS, the neck pocket it just as good, the woods used seem just as good, and it sounds just as good as any CS P-bass I have played. The new AV series kicks A** IMHO. I'm done with the CS at this point, but I am a guy who is just looking for stock vintage style Fenders as I could not afford a real vintage.

The CS 58 PBass is great too. His neck in soft V is really awesome. And was with a very low action.

But congratulations for your AV!

 

[Rocky]

The CS 58 PBass is great too. His neck in soft V is really awesome. And was with a very low action.

But congratulations for your AV!

Thanks! One thing that never seems to change with Fender is that each bass is different, and its always a crap shoot..

 

[SGT. BAKER]

Thanks! One thing that never seems to change with Fender is that each bass is different, and its always a crap shoot..

It´s true. You´ll never know how it will be untill you play it. But I´ve seen that in Fender seemed take too much care for avoid this differences in CS that of the rest of series.

 

[Rocky]

It´s true. You´ll never know how it will be untill you play it. But I´ve seen that in Fender seemed take too much care for avoid this differences in CS that of the rest of series.

lets hope so at their price point! The new AV's seem to be fairly consistent from what I have read here on TB. I have actually played more of the guitars as opposed to the basses, but every instrument in the AV line I have checked out ( 58 P, 63 P, 56 strat, 59 strat, 65 strat, 58 tele), have been very very well made. IMHO all were as nice as any NOS team built CS instrument. The master built models are probably a major step up, but I'll never know as they are way out of my league price wise. What is amusing to me is that back when Fender was still owned by Leo the whole concept was to build affordable instruments for those who could not afford or did not want to spend lots of cash on a Gibson or Gretch. I consider Leo Fender to be the Henry Ford of guitars in that he streamlined the building process, and was turning out instruments for players not collectors at a price for the working man. I wonder what he would think of the CS master built pricing?

 

[SGT. BAKER]

The new AV's seem to be fairly consistent from what I have read here on TB. I have actually played more of the guitars as opposed to the basses, but every instrument in the AV line I have checked out ( 58 P, 63 P, 56 strat, 59 strat, 65 strat, 58 tele), have been very very well made.

Lately, Fender fairly builds better. I found the newers Fenders Made In Mexico really well made for this range of prices, as well. Even they are better made that in the past. So I believe you when said that your AV it´s very very well made.

What is amusing to me is that back when Fender was still owned by Leo the whole concept was to build affordable instruments for those who could not afford or did not want to spend lots of cash on a Gibson or Gretch. I consider Leo Fender to be the Henry Ford of guitars in that he streamlined the building process, and was turning out instruments for players not collectors at a price for the working man.

This is one of the main reasons of some musicians played Fender in the past. Common prices for tigh budgets was the key. Fender could do it to produce´em infactory in chain production. Was the first.

I wonder what he would think of the CS master built pricing?

It´s a very interesting cuestion! I don´t know how to explain it with my poor english.

Fender´s factory is fairly a bussines machine. It spends a lot of money in publicity, great musicians endorsers and other. And Fender have seen that there´s a market/bussiness in this pricely budgets (sorry: so close of snobism). So, why let it scape it?

 

[peterpalmieri]

I haven't found a CS bass that was magically better than the newer AVs. What you can get are specs that aren't available in the AV or team built CS.

 

[Rocky]

I haven't found a CS bass that was magically better than the newer AVs. What you can get are specs that aren't available in the AV or team built CS.

This seems to be the general consensus from what I can gather. Lucky for me I wasn't looking for a custom Fender instrument. I'm extremely pleased with my new American vintage 58.

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

Count me in the camp that there generally isn't much difference between that AVRIs vs CS. I've owned a couple RIs that sounded/I liked better than CS basses.

However, it all comes down to the individual bass.

There's a video on YouTube where the CS Pino Palladino Precision is tested against a '63 AVRI, a '64 CS and a Select Series P bass.
The music is a fine melody played I think by a Korean guy.
Well I listened to it very attentively because I like the tune in the first place and also because I am checking on the available solutions in terms of vintage, rosewood P bass sound ...
Well for me the winner is the '63 AVRI, followed by the Select Series, then by the '64 CS and, hard to say but true for me, the Pino Palladino CS in thd last place ...
opinions?

 

[Tim1]

I stand clearly in the CS ahead of RI camp. Over the years I have owned several of each in both jazz and precision forms.
Of course YMMV but I think to really judge a bass you need to own and gig it for a while.