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Hello there!
The '60s J-Bass U-Shape nominally measures 0.79" at 1st fret, 0.99" at 12th fret.
For detailed neck shapes, see page 38 of the designed guide found here:
http://www.fmicassets.com/sites/fen...omshop/2020/2020_Custom_Shop_Design_Guide.pdf
Hey y’all, I’m faced with a decision. For the first time, I may actually be able to afford a real vintage Fender P bass. It’s hanging next to a really nice FCS P bass. I’ll absolutely play them side by side and that will be the largest factor in decision. Money isn’t a decision factor; albeit there is a vast difference in cost. I don’t need either. I’d love to have both, but that isn’t feasible.
So, which would you choose? Fender Custom Shop or Vintage Fender.
So, which would you choose? Fender Custom Shop or Vintage Fender.
By Vintage, how old are you talking about? I guess a bass made in 2000 is now technically vintage. I've owned many vintage P's. Currently have a 67 as well as a few Custom Shops. Both are great. Some old ones are duds. But some are really great.
Depends on each bass really. Playability and price. I would love to have a vintage P but I wouldn’t pay double or triple the cost of a FCS P For a dog.
yeah, I agree. Tone is key and wouldn’t buy something just because it’s old.
I’m not opposed to purchasing vintage but would have to play before buying. Definitely would not buy now with the market soaring above 3 times what it should be in some cases.
Definitely would have to play the vintage P first...had a ‘65 with the worst neck I’ve ever played...as much as I tried, it could not be saved...my FCS P is the best Fender neck I have ever played and it’s probably not that close...I’m getting a pro setup done on a ‘76 I picked up recently, so that has potential, but the neck on the FCS is freakin amazing and the tone is close enough for me that I may never hunt for another Pre CBS P again...
This is the Custom Shop Club, so I say go Custom Shop. I've had advice from a vintage P owner that in the end, they are not worth the headaches. So, unless it has collectible value to you, the Custom Shop may be a better ride. I have two and like them both a lot.
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Pre-CBS P-basses (like all pre-CBS instruments) become more scarce with time like anything else vintage. Those basses that are still around in circulation and being played tend to be good ones--hence the reason they are still in circulation and being played. So I would suggest looking for played but not abused instruments. The closet queens are nice from a collector standpoint but the ones that have been played a lot generally were for a reason so being pretty doesn't necessarily mean its a gem. If you're serious about a pre-CBS bass I'd suggest looking at reputable dealers first, get to know what you're looking for. As for me, I've got two '64 P-basses that are wonderful and while I also have wonderful CS basses I tend to favor playing the originals over the reissues. Good luck!
+1 on finding player grade gear...I like the beat up stuff myself...I’m also a strong believer in the difference betweeen the closet queens and the old pros...the years of those strings resonating through the body is a big part of “the magic”, IMO..
Question out to the group. I have been under the impression that the Fender Custom Shop stamped the custom shop logo in the back of the headstock during 1995 to around 1999-2000. Is this correct? I'm mainly doing research on a bass from 1998 that has a Fender Custom Shop sticker on the back of the heastock instead of the stamped version. It was a custom order. Can anyone help me clarify this?
The bass I'm questioning from 1998 has a logo like this.
The bass I'm questioning from 1998 has a logo like this.
Don't know the logo story, but I would ask the selleR to send me pics of neck heel and pocket stamps..
By the way One interesting thing - upper edge of tuners base plate does not line with Headstock edge at all.. on the other hand neck seems to be qs which is a good (not 100%) sign of CS neck.
Here are a few picture of the neck heel.
The replacement COA says it is a 60's Jazz Bass and has the same serial number on the COA which corresponds to the serial on the neck plate. "R" for Relic.
The issue I'm having is that the Fender Custom Shop logo during the Cunetto Years was stamped into the back of the headstock so not to be confused with a real bass from the 60's. Also, if the neck is from a Relic from that time, it should have the ink stamp RELIC on the neck heel as well as mine does from 1997.
Thoughts? I may as well share the link as I think I've talked myself out of the bass anyway. Maybe someone else who knows this bass or the seller could chime in.
Fender Custom Shop Jazz Bass 1998 Burgundy Mist | On My Azure Table | Reverb
The replacement COA says it is a 60's Jazz Bass and has the same serial number on the COA which corresponds to the serial on the neck plate. "R" for Relic.
The issue I'm having is that the Fender Custom Shop logo during the Cunetto Years was stamped into the back of the headstock so not to be confused with a real bass from the 60's. Also, if the neck is from a Relic from that time, it should have the ink stamp RELIC on the neck heel as well as mine does from 1997.
Thoughts? I may as well share the link as I think I've talked myself out of the bass anyway. Maybe someone else who knows this bass or the seller could chime in.
Fender Custom Shop Jazz Bass 1998 Burgundy Mist | On My Azure Table | Reverb
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There was a short period late '98 to early '99 where these relics were transitioned for Cunetto's shop to CA. In that period, they were made at both facilities. Perhaps it was made in that period in CA and not stamped, using the decal instead?
Source: The untold story of Fender’s relic guitars
I read somewhere else, that during the transition, Vince Cunetto did not turn over any techniques or methods he had developed. CS started from scratch on their relic process. Interesting.
Source: The untold story of Fender’s relic guitars
I read somewhere else, that during the transition, Vince Cunetto did not turn over any techniques or methods he had developed. CS started from scratch on their relic process. Interesting.
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