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Fender Custom Shop Built Question

your idol

your idol

Oct 13, 2008
3,012
101
Murfreesboro TN
#1
Anyone here ever had a REAL custom bass done by Fender?

Do you have to stick with stock necks and bodies or can you choose custom neck scale and length and body design and have em made to pre existing spec?

Closest shop to talk to about this is Michigan so i figured I'd ask here first..If they stick to stock scales is there any place you can suggest that mill make bodies custom neck scales ect at a (somewhat) reasonable price?

thanks in advance
 
#2
If you're not looking for a vintage replica of a Fender bass, the Fender custom shop is a waste of your time and money. There are a multitude of smaller scale luthiers who will build you exactly what you're looking for at a fraction of the price, and probably with better service.

Hell, even if it is a Fender style bass, a lot of them will still probably give you more bang for your buck.

There are definitely nice instruments which come out of the Fender custom shop, but it doesn't sound like they're what you're after.
 
#3
yeah i dont care if it says fender on its and what i got on my mind is totally not some re issue material. so fender might be a cash dump for what i want..any suggestions on where to get my ideas from paper to my hands for a couple grand (within 2-3 range) so any suggestion
 
#4
superfunk47 said:
If you're not looking for a vintage replica of a Fender bass, the Fender custom shop is a waste of your time and money. There are a multitude of smaller scale luthiers who will build you exactly what you're looking for at a fraction of the price, and probably with better service.

Hell, even if it is a Fender style bass, a lot of them will still probably give you more bang for your buck.

There are definitely nice instruments which come out of the Fender custom shop, but it doesn't sound like they're what you're after.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Perhaps a certain luthier who shall remain nameless *cough* (Mike Lull) *cough* who happens to reside in your home state of Washington would be a good person for the OP to check out. And yeah, I'm biased - I own two of his basses and as far as I'm concerned nothing Fender has to offer will give you as much bang for the buck. The Fender Custom Shop stuff is very nice indeed - I owned a CS classic strat for a while - but it is VERY expensive. At those prices I'd rather go US Sadowsky or Lakland, but for nearly a grand less Mike Lull gets my overall vote.

Nino Valenti would be another choice.
 
#5
superfunk47 said:
If you're not looking for a vintage replica of a Fender bass, the Fender custom shop is a waste of your time and money. There are a multitude of smaller scale luthiers who will build you exactly what you're looking for at a fraction of the price, and probably with better service.
Click to expand...

I'm not saying the OP should or shouldn't buy a Fender CS bass, but there are very few luthiers who can do what the Fender CS can do. There are indeed many folks (builders) who can build nice basses from parts they have speced from a CNC shop, but most of them can not do truly custom work. There is a difference between luthiers and builders. Most guys making basses are builders. The Fender CS is expensive, but they can make anything you want if you can afford it.
 
#6
OK there are a LOT of helpful hints here on who to go to if i listed a basic outline of what i want this bass to be would it help more with suggestions of who i should maybe start considering? i dont want to go to one custom cat with an idea that dosent fit their "forte" style
 
#7
"the Juggernaut"

Body: Precision Bass 5 string, string thru body with extended upper horn like that of my "boner" 93 P plus
Paint: flat burgandy
Pickups: Bartolini P/J Deep Tone set (passive)
Switching/controls: 1vol 1 tone, full size 3 way toggle switch aged amber knob on toggle
dark maroon tort PG

*all hardware (bridge knobs switch tuner) in a distressed brass finish

Neck:
Dimensions of a Marcus Miller 5 neck, Maple board, pearl block inlay, creme binding, all darkened and aged. 22fret 34"
headstock painted to match body
very thin finish on back of neck

If this sounds like it up a certain someones alley let me know! then i promise ill go bug them but i figure all the money i could possibly piss away chasing things that have characteristics of what i REALLY want i could prob save space and over all money having EXACTLY what i want.
 
#8
your idol said:
Anyone here ever had a REAL custom bass done by Fender?

Do you have to stick with stock necks and bodies or can you choose custom neck scale and length and body design and have em made to pre existing spec?

Closest shop to talk to about this is Michigan so i figured I'd ask here first..If they stick to stock scales is there any place you can suggest that mill make bodies custom neck scales ect at a (somewhat) reasonable price?

thanks in advance
Click to expand...

You should ask SamJ.......he's quite the expert!
 
#9
your idol said:
"the Juggernaut"

Body: Precision Bass 5 string, string thru body with extended upper horn like that of my "boner" 93 P plus
Paint: flat burgandy
Pickups: Bartolini P/J Deep Tone set (passive)
Switching/controls: 1vol 1 tone, full size 3 way toggle switch aged amber knob on toggle
dark maroon tort PG

*all hardware (bridge knobs switch tuner) in a distressed brass finish

Neck:
Dimensions of a Marcus Miller 5 neck, Maple board, pearl block inlay, creme binding, all darkened and aged. 22fret 34"
headstock painted to match body
very thin finish on back of neck

If this sounds like it up a certain someones alley let me know! then i promise ill go bug them but i figure all the money i could possibly piss away chasing things that have characteristics of what i REALLY want i could prob save space and over all money having EXACTLY what i want.
Click to expand...

Mike Dolan in Santa Rosa, CA may be able to help - he can pretty much make anything you ask. He does great work - don't know how much this would cost you or how long the build process would be. You can find him online or in the classified section of Bass Player magazine.
 
#10
There are a lot of reputable builders who could do something like what you described. Mike Lull and Nino Valenti pop right into my head because this is right up their alley (and someone else mentioned them right above me :)).

There are a lot of other guys out there who are deeper into the art of creating unique, one-off instruments, and I wouldn't hesitate to call them luthiers - but Fender style stuff isn't usually what they're asked to make. That's not to say that Chris Stambaugh or Tom Clement could do something like that, but I think the instrument you're describing would be just what Valienti, Lull, or Dolan could give you.
 
#11
Marcus Miller speced neck? I know Michael Dolan can actually make his own necks, which means you could get anything you want as far as shape/dimensions. I don't know about Lull, but I don't think Nino can offer any neck size that is not offered by US Guitars/Warmoth, etc. (bodies either) -- He's not actually making necks and bodies AFAIK, and he's not doing any finish work himself.
 
#12
after researching everyone mentioned Mr.Lull seems to be 90% the right decision for me. i like the body shape now i suppose i just have to hammer out the details with him.

as for the MM neck i like the feel and spacing of the neck ...most P5s have logs for necks and i like a jazz style neck. the MM5 has personally suited me for looks and feel
 

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