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Fender Custom Shop Club

#2,301
Update -

I went to the mountain for some sage advise from one who knows about all things Fender.
As a mechanically challenged soul, I've never been hesitant to do so ;)
I am happy to report that the Fender 50's Roadworn Precision Bass 10 hole pickguard is an exact match for the anodized gold 10 hole pickguard on the Custom Shop Journeyman bass.
I opted for no finger rest holes. WD does great work - Now the bass looks like mine :thumbsup:
The previous owner said the pickup was grounded to the metal pickguard - but that's not the case.
Also, this Fender advert specs the pickup on a 2017 Postmodern Bass as being a '63.
That's interesting, because here's a photo of a like 2017 Postmodern Bass with the pickup listed on the COA being a '62.
Maybe having a '62 pickup is a custom order, per the COA. Any Fender aficionados with info on this?
Anyway, the two pickguards are interchangeable - just be slow and careful : )
IB
IMG_7551.jpeg 2017-FCS-COLLECTION-23-590x443 3.jpegIMG_0394.jpeg
 
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#2,302
InnerBass said:
Update -

I went to the mountain for some sage advise from one who knows about all things Fender.
As a mechanically challenged soul, I've never been hesitant to do so ;)
I am happy to report that the Fender 50's Roadworn Precision Bass 10 hole pickguard is an exact match for the anodized gold 10 hole pickguard on the Custom Shop Journeyman bass.
I opted for no finger rest holes. WD does great work - Now the bass looks like mine :thumbsup:
The previous owner said the pickup was grounded to the metal pickguard - but that's not the case.
Also, this Fender advert specs the pickup on a 2017 Postmodern Bass as being a '63.
That's interesting, because here's a photo of a like 2017 Postmodern Bass with the pickup listed on the COA being a '62.
Maybe having a '62 pickup is a custom order, per the COA. Any Fender aficionados with info on this?
Anyway, the two pickguards are interchangeable - just be slow and careful : )
IB
View attachment 4106156 View attachment 4106157View attachment 4106195
Click to expand...
Yep I did the same...got a sweet tort pickguard for mine. Although you were smarter about it..I just went willy nilly and counted the 10 holes and ordered (not thinking it might NOT fit) lol. Good job on your part.
 
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#2,303
View attachment 4107921
5B2CE771-9C15-4557-90B7-FB25E6ED415F.jpeg
Looking for opinions from the club on this one...kinda sorta J shopping (not really...ok kinda) and I’m digging two Basses in particular...one is a “typical” Sunburst ‘60 Heavy Relic and the other is a Chocolate Burst NOS ‘64 with a rosewood neck.anyone with experience with a rosewood neck..?..I have no real experience with an NOS neck..does it still have the good ol Custom Shop broken in feel or is it different somehow...kinda just wanna do a mini poll on what you would choose and why...
 
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#2,305
The reason I was initially interested in a CS Postmodern bass is because I really like a 1.5” nut width. But I was on the fence about a Fender “boutique” bass. So after a ton of research (and patience) I first pulled the trigger on a mint 2012 American Standard Jazz bass. I’m really picky about necks / playability so I immediately had it plekked and then I set it up to my liking. That’s just the way I roll.
Anyway, the 2012 American Standard Jazz just blew me away. I used to have both a ‘69 Jazz bass and ‘83 Fullerton ‘62 RI and this plekked 2012 Am Std just leaves them both in their collective dust, IMHO. It’s alder, a hair over 9 lbs, RW board, string thru bridge, and with rounds the whole bass feels absolutely “alive” with resonance. But it’s the raised pole/CS J pickups on the 2012-2016 models that take this bass to another level. I’m still floored by how good they sound. They can do vintage, but they can give you 3D tone as well. I just love them.
Playing the 2 basses side by side now, the CS Postmodern P with TI flats is SO smooth and comfortable. The 60’s J neck still has that girth around the 7th-9th fret that I really dig on a P bass, and rarely get on a J bass. It feels/sounds completely “vintage” and my left hand just loves it - perfect for me.
The CS is a luxury ride. The Am Std Jazz is a corvette. But neither plays better/easier than the other (after the plek on the Jazz), and the quality really is super close - at least with these two basses. Maybe one of the differences between a CS Jazz and the Am Std Jazz is neck profile? The 2012 J feels a bit more of a modern C shape frets 1-5, as opposed to a 60’s U.
The CS definitely didn’t need a plek, Btw : )
Custom Shop quality is definitely unparalleled and someday I hope to go for a CS Jazz. But I’m thinking it will be a fretless, seeing as this particular Jazz bass is going nowhere.
Fender definitely stepped up their game in 2012.
Two bucks from a happy Thumper :cool:
E0E63041-D8CD-4EEC-A0AA-FD764CC831DC.jpeg
 
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#2,306
Ace Of Bass said:
Here’s The sunburst...
Click to expand...

Both are more than likely exceptional instruments. The chocolate burst and rosewood neck is something truly different. Can't comment on the NOS part. If there's no way for you to try out both of them, I'd also have a hard time picking one. For now, I'd say, I would lean towards the heavy relic. The neck will certainly have that "worn in" feeling that the CS shop do so well, and I personally like the more traditional look of the maple and rosewood combo. But I'm pretty sure you can't go wrong with either one.
 
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#2,307
Ace Of Bass said:
View attachment 4107921 View attachment 4107920 Looking for opinions from the club on this one...kinda sorta J shopping (not really...ok kinda) and I’m digging two Basses in particular...one is a “typical” Sunburst ‘60 Heavy Relic and the other is a Chocolate Burst NOS ‘64 with a rosewood neck.anyone with experience with a rosewood neck..?..I have no real experience with an NOS neck..does it still have the good ol Custom Shop broken in feel or is it different somehow...kinda just wanna do a mini poll on what you would choose and why...
Click to expand...

I have a 57 P with a rosewood neck. It’s one of my favorite CS basses. I like the fullness of the tone. It also a wider range of tones than I anticipated.

As others have said, you probably can’t go wrong, but I like the rosewood neck.


B86EFD3F-9449-4BD8-82B4-05DF8079F424.jpeg
9DC5DF6F-4B2D-47CB-941A-9340EE64E11D.jpeg
962921E6-7C52-4DFC-91E9-39581A61CAA3.jpeg
 
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#2,308
BassJuju said:
I have a 57 P with a rosewood neck. It’s one of my favorite CS basses. I like the fullness of the tone. It also a wider range of tones than I anticipated.

As others have said, you probably can’t go wrong, but I like the rosewood neck.


View attachment 4108085 View attachment 4108086 View attachment 4108087
Click to expand...


Wow! That’s beautiful.
Our guitar player has a 2018 all rosewood Fender Tele and it’s the most musical sounding Tele I’ve ever heard.
I’ll bet that bass sounds amazing :thumbsup:
 
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#2,309
#2,310
Ace Of Bass said:
I’m guessing that’s NOS...how’s the neck feel.?
Click to expand...
I think it’s a journeyman relic... I’ll double check the traveler when I get home. It has checking, dents, and chips. The fretboard has some wear as well, but the back of the neck doesn’t have the well worn finish. I do prefer that finish to be fair— I have the relic in the neck of my Mary Kay. However, this one feels pretty good. It isn’t sticky like my AO’s were. Nothing a scotchbrite can’t fix, but I like the neck. It’s one of my favorite things about the bass.
 
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#2,311
BassJuju said:
I think it’s a journeyman relic... I’ll double check the traveler when I get home. It has checking, dents, and chips. The fretboard has some wear as well, but the back of the neck doesn’t have the well worn finish. I do prefer that finish to be fair— I have the relic in the neck of my Mary Kay. However, this one feels pretty good. It isn’t sticky like my AO’s were. Nothing a scotchbrite can’t fix, but I like the neck. It’s one of my favorite things about the bass.
Click to expand...
Thanks...super helpful..!
 
#2,312
Ace Of Bass said:
View attachment 4107921 View attachment 4107920 Looking for opinions from the club on this one...kinda sorta J shopping (not really...ok kinda) and I’m digging two Basses in particular...one is a “typical” Sunburst ‘60 Heavy Relic and the other is a Chocolate Burst NOS ‘64 with a rosewood neck.anyone with experience with a rosewood neck..?..I have no real experience with an NOS neck..does it still have the good ol Custom Shop broken in feel or is it different somehow...kinda just wanna do a mini poll on what you would choose and why...
Click to expand...
Love the relic'd body - but i also love the rosewood neck because the headstock just screams tough. Others have mentioned how musical the rosewood neck is - i have never owned one - but have played one - i did not find it much different other than it did have some neck dive - it was a P bass IIRC...it was a few years ago. Looked super cool though.
 
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#2,314
projectapollo said:
I've had a couple MusicMan rosewood necks. Very nice, but I would go with the traditional burst relic, myself. I would want a great CS J bass and avoid the odd combo even though it ma be tempting right now. Get a great classic.
Click to expand...
Hard to pass up a classic for sure..you really think it’s an “odd” combo..? I’m wondering how different the tone would be overall...I do feel that maybe one day, o could possibly go with a real vintage ‘69 Jazz which will prove in sunburst because there are a million of them...still, the duo tone knobs on the ‘60 make it just as tempt as the all rosewood neck....but the rosewood neck is an option no longer available outside of a Masterbuilt order and would cost at least $6k to obtain down the line.
 
#2,315
Ace Of Bass said:
Hard to pass up a classic for sure..you really think it’s an “odd” combo..? I’m wondering how different the tone would be overall...I do feel that maybe one day, o could possibly go with a real vintage ‘69 Jazz which will prove in sunburst because there are a million of them...still, the duo tone knobs on the ‘60 make it just as tempt as the all rosewood neck....but the rosewood neck is an option no longer available outside of a Masterbuilt order and would cost at least $6k to obtain down the line.
Click to expand...

Rosewood neck is still an option on the 2020 CS build sheet.
 

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