Fender Custom Shop | Advice

[Matt R.]

Just received mine last month after a 2 year wait.

 

[jnewmark]

View attachment 4788304 Just received mine last month after a 2 year wait.

Just curious, as I have often wondered about a CS bass. What is so different about this Jazz, excepting the left handed build and matching headstock, that you could not find in a used or new Jazz ?

 

[aprod]

Squier would never let this happen

No one orders a custom shop beginner/ student bass.

 

[BASSDROID]

I once waited almost 5 years for a custom build, but I knew it would take that long going into it. Communication is the key.

In your case, if it were me I would have canceled that order and immediately pivoted to G&L. But I'm biased that way.

 

[perfektspace6]

No tips or tricks I can think of outside of getting famous and being pushed to the front of the line.

Any sense for why it is taking so long? Things have been pretty messed up from the supply side since COVID. If you really want it then I would stick it out at this point. If not, try to get your money back but good luck on that.

 

[Matt R.]

Just curious, as I have often wondered about a CS bass. What is so different about this Jazz, excepting the left handed build and matching headstock, that you could not find in a used or new Jazz ?

‘66 specs, perfect fretwork, quartersawn neck, nitro finish… basically the ability to have whatever options I want. That’s the whole point of the custom shop.

 

[Mister Magic]

Squier would never let this happen

omg...this made my day. Thank you!

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

I placed the order for my 66 P in Fiesta red in December of 21, Sweetwater rep told me it would he done around February of next year. I’m going to call him now and see if it’s still going to be done around that time. I wouldn’t be too disappointed if the wait time was extended, it gives me extra time to save money, these custom shop basses are expensive!

 

[Hambone70]

View attachment 4788304 Just received mine last month after a 2 year wait.

And they made it backwards! So much for Custom Shop attention to detail.

 

[gtmalone]

The executive complaint can work wonders. I've done that a couple of times (before covid) to resolve customer service problems I had been dealing with for over a week. It's amazing how quickly you get a response from someone.

Search the internet for "fender CEO email". Write a brief, well worded email to the CEO explaining the problem and your experience with customer service. It may not solve the time problem but you should at least get a clear explanation.

 

[mikewalker]

"Tis the Season!!" - my recent custom BassLab build ran about a year over original build time estimate. (Was ordered just before COVID was a thing).

However, in my case I got detailed updates every month or so, or whenever there was (another) unexpected supply chain issue.

It's unacceptable that a big corporation like Fender cannot manage custom build communications in a civilized manner. I dunno how many luthiers they have assembling instruments there, but I used to run a guitar&bass custom shop with twelve crafters building (generally each had two or three in rotation on their benches) and EVERY customer got build status updates at the very least once a week! Customer Service: It's not Rocket Science...

 

[alembicbones]

Actually, ordering a Custom instrument is always a bit of a gamble. It may not turn out like you hoped and the aggravation doesn’t help with the stoke factor.

I suppose that can happen. When you order a custom bass, you have to go in knowing the exact details in you want in your order. I've done this 3 separate times over the years. I knew exactly what I wanted in each build. Alembic, Sadowsky and Dingwall delivered perfectly each time. Prior to each build, I had owned either used or Asian versions of each bass. When it came to my Alembic, I had owned three used ones and took what I liked from each bass to order my custom. With my Dingwall, years back I tried an Afterburner I that had a Glockenklang preamp. I really loved it and knew it was a feature I wanted in my custom. With the Sadowsky, I knew single coils were going to be necessary after my experience with their hum cancellers. If you don't know the exact details in your build, the possibility for disappointment becomes more a likelihood.

I gave the OP the benefit of the doubt that they knew exactly what they wanted in their build. If this is the case, I think the stoked factor is going to be there upon delivery.

Bones

 

[tsl]

Ordered a custom shop bass in March of 2021. Timing estimate was 5 - 8 months. It has been 17 months. Every inquiry through my dealer is met with “the portal says it’s another month out.” I called the CS customer support line and they just routed me back to my dealer, who then makes an inquiry and the ship date moves out another month. I have been doing this dance since December. Last status I was given was late July, early August — no word yet. I don’t expect anyone on this thread can make my bass arrive sooner, but rather looking for any advice on whether there is a way to just find out what’s happening. I have waited this long, I am not going anywhere, but hopeful I can get a realistic estimate somehow. Months ago my dealer received CS guitars ordered around the same time as my bass. Anyone have any tips / tricks? Anyone know someone at the CS?

I can't help you with a name, and it is frustrating to have your build keep moving out. On the Mesa Subway thread, the same thing is happening to orders for cabinets.

I ordered a CS Precision at the end of July 2021. My dealer was given a 14 month lead time. I checked at 8 months (end of March) and was told that lead time from order was now 18 months The explanation that my dealer received from the Custom Shop was parts shortages, COVID delays and restrictions, and the CS being maxed out. I checked back with my dealer at the 12 month point, and they're still at 18 months with the build scheduled to start in October and finish late December/early January. I will check back in October to see if the build started.

As long as the build has not started, I assume that you could cancel your order and receive your deposit back (if you placed one). I have kept looking during my wait but haven't seen a FCS Precision new or used that I like better than what I ordered, and the used ones are being advertised for nearly as much as what I am paying for one new.

My understanding is that your dealer is the best way to communicate with the custom shop. I would recommend finding out if your build had started and when. That should give you an idea of completion, barring any issues during the build.

 

[AlexanderB]

CS, yep, apparently.
I own one and its the worst Custom I have, but the point is more that their order book is probably pretty healthy and therefore total build time is long

I was thinking more in terms of actual products, where (reportedly!) very few of the CS basses would be mentioned in the same sentence as Fodera, Skjold, Dingwall, Ritter, Tobias, Status, Marleaux and so on...

But I think Fender need to get their act together! I am one to say that I would love to buy a five string Jass Bass from CS, if I knew it was a smooth deal, and a reliable product (no errors, and no built in QC issues pending).

 

[HardNHeavy]

Fender just layed off over 300 employees, including some upper management people, dunno if that has anything to do with it.
FENDER REPORTEDLY LAYS OFF HUNDREDS OF CALIFORNIA EMPLOYEES

 

[STR8 UP BASS]

Honestly, if I ordered anything where they told me 5 to 8 months, I'd have cancelled the order in a year or less. Any shop that doesn't come close to meeting its estimates is not a well run shop, and I wouldn't want anything from them.

The fact that they're not telling you what is going on - you have to inquire, and you get the same (obviously not true) story repeatedly is unforgivable. I work on basses for some of the other players in my local scene, and if someone's bass is going to be in my shop for more than a day or two, I'll send them daily updates (with pictures) so they can see progress, and understand what's going on. It's not just good business, it's treating customers like fellow humans.

A Custom shop is not a magic place, and it's not a "better" shop - it exists to do things that are..different than what's on the production line - different paint colors, maybe different woods, relicing, that sort of thing. If what you want is somethng different, I understand that - all my instruments are one offs (that I made) - having a bass made that's exactly what you want is a powerful thing, but the fact that Fender's Custom shop instrument may cost 2 or 3 times what a production one does doesn't make it 2 or 3 times better in general - its only worth it if that REALLY is EXACTLY what YOU want. To someone else, it won't be worth that - it's not their ideal bass. Anyway, the point is to ask yourself if the promise of what you're asking for is worth being jacked around (yhes you are being jacked around). If so, maybe you hang in there (I wouldn't, but I can make exactly what I want (in far less time)). If not, cancel.

Uh, you might want to check out what this guy has to offer!

 

[roccobladr]

My guess is that someone forgot to put your order in and they don’t want to own up to it.

Fingers crossed for you that I’m wrong!

 

[pepj]

I was thinking more in terms of actual products, where (reportedly!) very few of the CS basses would be mentioned in the same sentence as Fodera, Skjold, Dingwall, Ritter, Tobias, Status, Marleaux and so on...

But I think Fender need to get their act together! I am one to say that I would love to buy a five string Jass Bass from CS, if I knew it was a smooth deal, and a reliable product (no errors, and no built in QC issues pending).

Frankly, it wasn't a great buy but I swapped out Pre, Bridge and Tuners and improved it immeasurable imv.
All those parts go back easily with no extra holes but basically its just a bit more than an Elite, with the CS logo and case. So basically, I've bought the wood. It's not like I have enhanced woods though.

However, I've knocked it into shape..but its lost its place on my gig rosta.

 

[okabass]

Sorry off topic. I have never understood why buy a 7ender CS instrument, especially the awfully reliced ones. In the USA you got very good vintage instruments available, and not so high price like here in Europe. But even here if you put 1000 to 2000 € more to CS price you can have a very good real vintage instrument. In my opinion new instrument just does not have the mojo that a vintage has. Plus a vintage bass is quite good investment. Some of my basses have gain 50-60 % in less than five years.

 

[Bass Viking]

I suppose that can happen. When you order a custom bass, you have to go in knowing the exact details in you want in your order. I've done this 3 separate times over the years. I knew exactly what I wanted in each build. Alembic, Sadowsky and Dingwall delivered perfectly each time. Prior to each build, I had owned either used or Asian versions of each bass. When it came to my Alembic, I had owned three used ones and took what I liked from each bass to order my custom. With my Dingwall, years back I tried an Afterburner I that had a Glockenklang preamp. I really loved it and knew it was a feature I wanted in my custom. With the Sadowsky, I knew single coils were going to be necessary after my experience with their hum cancellers. If you don't know the exact details in your build, the possibility for disappointment becomes more a likelihood.

I gave the OP the benefit of the doubt that they knew exactly what they wanted in their build. If this is the case, I think the stoked factor is going to be there upon delivery.

Bones

I hope the OP doesn't go though months of frustration only to find out he could have bought something cheaper and just as good off the rack.

Glad your custom orders worked out but I'll bet the the classifieds are full of ones that didn't.