Fender Custom Shop... am I missing something?

[Tom Winter]

Have you considered faxing them?

 

[Geri O]

I ain't paying for long distance call!

I didn’t know anyone paid for long distance calls for the last 10 years.

 

[JazznFunk]

I feel the same way about EB's new 'custom experience.' I want a slab body, 2-band, thru-body stringing option bridge, unlined fretless StingRay, in tobacco sunburst. I can get none of those things all at one time. Maybe call it the 'Select Experience' since you can select from X amount of options.... but don't call it truly 'custom.' They do make the 'Classic' line with a lot of the attributes I want in a 'Ray (or did) at one point, but offer nothing as a fretless unless you get a BFR special, or you get a fretless within the more modern-leaning 'select' line.

 

[hennessybass]

This ia 2024 they gotta get with the program

They gotta get with the program?
You are worried about paying for a long distance call? WHAT???
It's 2024. Who pays for long distance?

You are willing to pay for a custom Bass, but not a long distance call?

I've looked through like 2 pages of this thread, and none of this makes any sense.

Maybe some kind of trolling thing?
The Fender CS is a hot topic that gets people worked up.
Try a thread about tonewoods after this - you'll get lots of attention.

 

[FRoss6788]

You are willing to pay for a custom Bass, but not a long distance call?

Doesn't want to talk to a human on the phone without being paid for it either, weird.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I ain't paying for long distance call!

Then you probably don’t want to pay what a Custom Shop instrument is going to cost. It’s going to be a one off, so expect something like $7k and that’s in the US. I’m assuming you’re not in the US since you mentioned long distance. So, there will be additional costs.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Start here and find a dealer close to you. Email the dealer or have someone call for you.

Fender® Custom Shop

www.fendercustomshop.com

 

[NeonVomit]

Doesn't want to talk to a human on the phone without being paid for it either, weird.

Have you met other humans??

 

[NeonVomit]

I've looked through like 2 pages of this thread, and none of this makes any sense.

Exactly! They call themselves a Custom Shop when they're not actually a custom shop. How is anything coming out of that going to make sense?

 

[5StringBlues]

I posted in this thread.

 

[tom-g]

Doesn't want to talk to a human on the phone without being paid for it either, weird.

Nothing weird about it. It's just his preference. Not everybody is the same.

 

[Guitalia]

The OP isn't trolling. They're clearly having some wholesome fun routining a bit for an upcoming sitcom pitch to a network: "What's the deal . . . with the Fender Custom Shop?!??" (Subplot: Elaine gets a perm!)

 

[Guiseppe]

I think you're talking a Masterbuilt Custom Shop bass. It seems that there are the Custom Shop basses and guitars, and then for the TRUE custom bass it's Masterbuilt.

 

[tvbop]

Well Ive read the entire thing and Im getting troll. First ur username.. NV? Not nice is it. You sound hostile and you dont sound a like a musician to me. You fly to and from the UK? If nothing else your loaded. And finally I just know your response to this post will be scary as hell.

 

[gln1955]

I posted in this thread.

Are you human? If you are not a human, you can call the OP directly with your comment.

 

[FRoss6788]

Are you human? If you are not a human, you can call the OP directly with your comment.

Thanks for the laugh this morning, much needed.

 

[DWBass]

C'mon.............we're talking about Fender!! Buy the bass that comes close and have it refinished.

 

[sissy kathy]

I didn’t know anyone paid for long distance calls for the last 10 years.

The OP is in Cyprus, international calls are nearly ALL long distance. Then there's the time difference, cultural differences, probable language problems (even if he speaks conversational English), attitude problems, high tides, hostile neighbors, and possibly a wife carping about the expense of a new bass.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

There are two Custom Shop dealers in Italy. Those would be the closest.

 

[sissy kathy]

Ok so, I was casually considering adding a Fender to my collection.

What I want is a Fender PJ-bass with the Dark Night finish, with a maple neck and it would be cool to get one with active electronics. Basically, a USA Ultra, but in dark night finish with a maple neck. The American Pro II P bass comes in Dark Night finish, with a rosewood fretboard. I want maple. Yes the 5-string version comes in maple, I don't want a 5-string.

We're not talking anything that crazy here. I'm not after different scale lengths, crazy finishes or weird shapes. Sure, I could buy two AMPRO II P basses, swap the necks over, then have the one routed and add the active electronics and J pickup and what have you, but by going to all that effort I might as well just go the custom route and be done with it, right?

So I download the Custom Shop Design Guide.

The options you get are:

1. Do you want it to look old, very old, or 'tossed around the yard and then hit with a belt sander' old?
No, I want something that looks like it was made this century. Oh, you don't offer that.

2. Do you want your pickups to sound like they are from 50 years ago, or 60 years ago?
No, I want the modern ones you use in your USA models. Oh, you don't offer that.

3. Do you want this (admittedly extensive) selection of finishes?
No, I want the dark night finish you have on your American Pro II models. Oh, you don't offer that.

4. Do you want this or this passive wiring option for the Jazz Bass?
No, I want an active preamp like you have in your USA Ultra models. Oh, you don't offer that.

The crazy thing is all I want is stuff they already offer in other products of theirs, but just different features all in one instrument. And it seems that's a no-go.

I mean... are my expectations out of line?

You didn't read the Custom Shop Design Guide book thoroughly. ALL of the options you want are available except the a preamp, if you look through the color options page, I'm pretty sure the color you want is there but with a different name. An example of you failure to properly read the guide is the relic options available. The options you listed are at the top of the second column. Take a look at the bottom of the first column. The first option listed is Time Capsule and the second is NOS New Old Stock... that translates to pristine condition.. You had the same failures in neck selection, you completely overlooked the maple, flame maple, quartersawn flame maple, and the one piece maple neck. You did it again in the fretboard selection. Read the entire guide before you go ballistic over the thing. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the preamp is available, if you just include that requirement in the NOTES section of the selection sheet.