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Fender Custom Shop... am I missing something?
- Thread starter NeonVomit
- Start date
All I'll say is... you spared yourself the infuriating experience of discovering exactly what they ARE - and what they are NOT - over the phone. Like I had to. All I wanted was a left handed, 2- pickup version of their then-new Rascal bass. Boy, was I a fool. After a lot of dancing around the bush and lame excuses on their part, that degenerated into name-calling - from both ends of the phone line, I told them where they could stick their "Custom Shop", and slammed down the phone. The next morning, I ordered a left handed Dano Longhorn from a New England music store - and I've been happy ever since...
All I'll say to that is; "I hope you're left handed."All I'll say is... you spared yourself the infuriating experience of discovering exactly what they ARE - and what they are NOT - over the phone. Like I had to. All I wanted was a left handed, 2- pickup version of their then-new Rascal bass. Boy, was I a fool. After a lot of dancing around the bush and lame excuses on their part, that degenerated into name-calling - from both ends of the phone line, I told them where they could stick their "Custom Shop", and slammed down the phone. The next morning, I ordered a left handed Dano Longhorn from a New England music store - and I've been happy ever since...
Yes, I am left handed - very much so. Which has caused me no end of trials and tribulations over the course of my life. "Left handed" seemed to be the crux of my problems with those people, in fact. I started my... adventure... with them by doing what you're supposed to do - going to "my nearest Fender Custom Shop Dealer". Which, IIRC, was in Riverside, California - a pretty long motorcycle ride from Las Vegas. I should have given up right then. There was nothing in the store, but right handed stuff - which the store owner tried to pressure me into buying - no matter how many times I told him I didn't - and couldn't - play right handed. He was also VERY not interested in taking my order for something he didn't have in his store, either. He finally did; said that I might hear from him 'in a month or so" - then, more or less threw me out. I waited - for 2 months - but of course never heard a peep out of him. So, I called the Custom Shop myself - which, I was told, was a no-no. And, of course that Custom Shop owner had never sent them my order... So, as I said; it went down hill from there. They never actually said they never made - or wouldn't make - lefty instruments; but it was certainly implied. So... No, I'm not what you'd call a Fender Custom Shop fan.
I'm still happy with my Longhorn - and AFAIC? They can all take a long walk off a short pier, AFAIC...
I'm still happy with my Longhorn - and AFAIC? They can all take a long walk off a short pier, AFAIC...
Meanwhile Kramer is unhappy with the quality of his Mexican made bass, he takes it upon himself to make a complaint, the whole situation spirals and he ends up working as a QC in the Mexican factory, with hilarious consequences.
George thinks owner of the local guitar store is trying to con people by selling basses with warped necks, only you can’t tell because he sets the action so high.
“He’s jacking them up Jerry, jacking them up” - he wildly gesticulates.
He convinces Elaine to go into the store with him to distract the owner with her “womanly charms” whilst he sneaks in to adjust the bridge with a hex key.
He gets caught the owner gets mad, George finally tries to prove his point but after adjustment the bass plays perfectly. George and Elaine are banned from the shop for life.
As the theme music plays out the camera zooms in on the bass and the QC label on it says “Cosmo Kramer”.
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I’ll just add that there’s also the mighty StraTosphere on eBay since long ago.
They have lots of dark night bodies at the moment and even maple boarded compatible Am. Pro. II necks with or without the modern sounding pickups you seem to like.
You can just buy the components and put them together .. with the right preamp you likely won’t have to route the body (think about various EMG combinations of active pickups .. they can sound modern or vintage .. can produce almost any sound you may think of) ..
In addition, you’ll spend less than 2 grands.
My self-assembled P-bass with USA J neck I put together in this way is the best sounding bass I own, although equipped for ultra-vintage tones
They have lots of dark night bodies at the moment and even maple boarded compatible Am. Pro. II necks with or without the modern sounding pickups you seem to like.
You can just buy the components and put them together .. with the right preamp you likely won’t have to route the body (think about various EMG combinations of active pickups .. they can sound modern or vintage .. can produce almost any sound you may think of) ..
In addition, you’ll spend less than 2 grands.
My self-assembled P-bass with USA J neck I put together in this way is the best sounding bass I own, although equipped for ultra-vintage tones
In fairness to EBMM their 'Custom Design' is more like a much better Fender 'Mod' Shop and Basses are only a few hundred more than off the rack Specials; they never claimed more; They offer 2 neck sizes with freetless option and Cosmetic Design options
Like it or not Stingray Special is 'The Stingray' now and they now have the Retro 70's for those who think Pre-EB is 'The Stingray'
Not sure EB wants a bunch of 'Frankenstein' Specials out there
If you want; Special Body, 2 band pre-amp, ceramic pickup, vintage mute bridge with string through, Special tuners, Vintage 7.5 radius neck, with 6 bolt design but wheel truss adjustment, Etc.
For that Bass they would need a new division 'Hand Built Custom' and the nightmare logistics that go with it; Name those Basses Stingray Custom[not Special] and you also would get to pay Fender Custom Shop, Sadowsky NYC, Lull and Fodera Prices
IMHO You got 2 choices Don't buy a Special or buy one to your aesthetic preferences and pick you favorite MM Style preamp and pickup maybe bridge tuners etc
Many Boutique Shops like one's I mentioned use aftermarket stock and [modified to builders spec] those same options
PS; Obra you always sound great in your Video's with Special, Classic Stingray and Fender Custom Shop Precision
"You can't always get what you waaaaannnt...but if you try sometimes, you'll find, you get what you need!"
Call Fender, lavish them with praise, suggest the model you want, negotiate the price. My money is on your success!
Call Fender, lavish them with praise, suggest the model you want, negotiate the price. My money is on your success!
George takes the bass into the store bathroom so he can hear its unplugged tone in a more quiet space. The owner then forces him to buy it because it’s been “defiled”. He attempts to return the bass later when the owner is away but cannot because it’s been flagged in the store’s computer system.
Elaine is gonna have to flirt with someone at the shop.
George takes the bass into the store bathroom so he can hear its unplugged tone in a more quiet space. The owner then forces him to buy it because it’s been “defiled”. He attempts to return the bass later when the owner is away but cannot because it’s been flagged in the store’s computer system.
Do you really need to ask this? Actually, I know it's rhetorical, and believe me when I say that I share your sentiment.
In fairness to EBMM their 'Custom Design' is more like a much better Fender 'Mod' Shop and Basses are only a few hundred more than off the rack Specials; they never claimed more; They offer 2 neck sizes with freetless option and Cosmetic Design options
Like it or not Stingray Special is 'The Stingray' now and they now have the Retro 70's for those who think Pre-EB is 'The Stingray'
Not sure EB wants a bunch of 'Frankenstein' Specials out there
If you want; Special Body, 2 band pre-amp, ceramic pickup, vintage mute bridge with string through, Special tuners, Vintage 7.5 radius neck, with 6 bolt design but wheel truss adjustment, Etc.
For that Bass they would need a new division 'Hand Built Custom' and the nightmare logistics that go with it; Name those Basses Stingray Custom[not Special] and you also would get to pay Fender Custom Shop, Sadowsky NYC, Lull and Fodera Prices
IMHO You got 2 choices Don't buy a Special or buy one to your aesthetic preferences and pick you favorite MM Style preamp and pickup maybe bridge tuners etc
Many Boutique Shops like one's I mentioned use aftermarket stock and [modified to builders spec] those same options
PS; Obra you always sound great in your Video's with Special, Classic Stingray and Fender Custom Shop Precision
Thanks
, and yes, You are right. The closest specs I would love is Tim Commerford. It's a hybrid between Special and Retro/Classic.Since I can't have what I want on one MM bass, I'll probably sell one of my current basses and buy a Classic or Retro to go with my Special.
Although I can't agree with You that they would need a ''special division'' for something like that. They already have all the necessary parts, just need to connect them together.
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Thanks
Since I can't have what I want on one MM bass, I'll probably sell one of my current basses and buy a Classic or Retro to go with my Special.
Although I can't agree with You that they would need a ''special division'' for something like that. They already have all the necessary parts, just need to connect them together.
This. The point most EBMM fanboy defenders miss is that they are producing Classics, etc and have the ability (but not desire) to do a lot of the basic things a lot of us want.... except producing an unlined fretless neck for the "Classic" 2-band/slab body platform apparently. We don't even need the 'Custom Shop' if they'd offer things like that as a 'stock' option.
