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Fender Custom Shop Club

#3,541
Does anybody know what Fender uses to finish the back of the relic necks on their basses? I suppose they could just be very finely sanded, but it feels like there is some sort of something on there as opposed to just bare wood. I’m considering trying to do something similar to my AV 63 precision to get it to feel like the custom shops do…
 
#3,542
Like you, I believe there might be something on my sanded down CS Jazz neck but I wouldn't get too hung up on the particulars. If I was considering what you are regarding your AV P, I'd sand it down with an eventual fine grit and throw some linseed oil on it. Plenty folks leave 'em raw too.
 
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#3,543
Muggs said:
Like you, I believe there might be something on my sanded down CS Jazz neck but I wouldn't get too hung up on the particulars. If I was considering what you are regarding your AV P, I'd sand it down with an eventual fine grit and throw some linseed oil on it. Plenty folks leave 'em raw too.
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I did find in another forum that somebody claimed they wrote to Fender and were told they use a product called “Good Stuff” finish…

woodweldedwest.com

“The Good Stuff” Urethane Gel

• Non-toxic, Food-safe• Easy-to-use Cloth Application• Clear Satin Finish• Resealable Aluminum Can• Quart Coverage: Approx. 180 sq. ft.; Pint Coverage: Approx. 90 sq. ft.
woodweldedwest.com woodweldedwest.com

Take that for what it’s worth ha ha
 
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#3,544
I purchased this back in March of this year. I was reluctant about creating a NBD post too soon as the often "best bass I ever played" posts seem to find their way to the classifieds - something I've been guilty of as well..!

It's an Empire music 58 build. One-piece roasted quartersawn neck, roasted alder body, lacquer finish (not nitro) which admittedly I prefer. I've had two other CS bases in the past, a J and a P - this one really does top them both. It's pretty damn amazing.

PXL_20250507_180327623.jpg
 
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#3,545
Yogi Bear said:
I purchased this back in March of this year. I was reluctant about creating a NBD post too soon as the often "best bass I ever played" posts seem to find their way to the classifieds - something I've been guilty of as well..!

It's an Empire music 58 build. One-piece roasted quartersawn neck, roasted alder body, lacquer finish (not nitro) which admittedly I prefer. I've had two other CS bases in the past, a J and a P - this one really does top them both. It's pretty damn amazing.
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Beautiful bass! Congratulations.

Just trying to learn something here. What type of lacquer finish does Empire specify if it's not nitro?

I'm guessing you have a nitro laquer finish. If you look at your Shop Floor Traveler, it says "Body Finish Laq", which is how Fender describes the nitro finish on a majority of their Custom Shop basses.
 
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#3,546
Yogi Bear said:
this one really does top them both. It's pretty damn amazing.
Click to expand...
They do a good job of showcasing these things on YouTube. I've lusted after a few them, myself and have threatened to make the 4-ish hour drive to see Anthony. Congrats on your score! Those Empire P pickups sound really good to my ears and your natural roasted w/ tort combo... spectacular!

Folks in this thread will probably wonder about your choice to pass on the nitro, so I'll go ahead and wonder... you seem to infer a sweetheart deal or something similar.
 
#3,547
Yogi Bear said:
I purchased this back in March of this year. I was reluctant about creating a NBD post too soon as the often "best bass I ever played" posts seem to find their way to the classifieds - something I've been guilty of as well..!
Click to expand...

Awesome!

Is this your first Fender Custom Shop? I feel like it’s a pretty magical feeling to own. Anyway, enjoy, nice mix of specs!
 
#3,548
dmk said:
Beautiful bass! Congratulations.

Just trying to learn something here. What type of lacquer finish does Empire specify if it's not nitro?

I'm guessing you have a nitro laquer finish. If you look at your Shop Floor Traveler, it says "Body Finish Laq", which is how Fender describes the nitro finish on a majority of their Custom Shop basses.
Click to expand...

It may be, but the traveler just indicates LAC, as shown in the photo. The neck finish does indicate NCL, which I had always assumed was nitrocellulose lacquer..?

PXL_20250823_200258777~2.jpg
 
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#3,549
Muggs said:
They do a good job of showcasing these things on YouTube. I've lusted after a few them, myself and have threatened to make the 4-ish hour drive to see Anthony. Congrats on your score! Those Empire P pickups sound really good to my ears and your natural roasted w/ tort combo... spectacular!

Folks in this thread will probably wonder about your choice to pass on the nitro, so I'll go ahead and wonder... you seem to infer a sweetheart deal or something similar.
Click to expand...
It was already spec'd from Empire Music. But I'm finding it may be nitro. However I guess I should have said, "it seems" like a poly finish. But as I've gotten older I'm finding I could definitely be wrong about that. 😁
 
#3,552
davidak said:
Finally replaced tort with mint, I think it matches gold just better.
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I struggle with mint sometimes but yours looks fantastic! It seems to have that "leached up from beneath" look that I love. I don't care for the mint that looks like "Institutional Green". It was a fine color for the walls at the YMCA where I grew up but not on a pick guard. I wouldn't mind having a realistic vintage looking mint guard for my Sonic Blue Jazz to swap out occasionally with the tort.
 
#3,553
tb-player said:
What's up FCS Club? Just picked up this FCS Empire '58P from Empire Music. It is absolutely stellar. Great neck, very playable, 8lb and the pickup is really responsive. I think it may be one of the top two precisions I've ever played. Ridiculous!!

View attachment 5407261 View attachment 5407262 View attachment 5407263 View attachment 5407264
View attachment 5407480
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Is it weird that I think about this particular bass often? This one really looks like the quintessential Precision Bass… I happened to see it in person before it left Empire, and it was pretty memorable (obviously!).
 
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#3,554
Brandon Shea said:
Is it weird that I think about this particular bass often? This one really looks like the quintessential Precision Bass… I happened to see it in person before it left Empire, and it was pretty memorable (obviously!).
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Yeah, that finish was really special. But I recall not loving the pickup in that particular bass. The instrument looked and felt fantastic, but I did not get along with the harshness of the tone. Empire has a VERY short evaluation/return period, so I had no choice but to send it back quickly.
 
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#3,555
tb-player said:
Yeah, that finish was really special. But I recall not loving the pickup in that particular bass. The instrument looked and felt fantastic, but I did not get along with the harshness of the tone. Empire has a VERY short evaluation/return period, so I had no choice but to send it back quickly.
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Hey, that’s the way it goes sometimes. Thank goodness for return periods, even if they’re short!
 
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#3,556
I recently got a quote for a Masterbuilt bass. It wasn’t going to be anything crazy. The dealer I talked to initially said he expected the cost to be around $8,300, which seemed in line with what I’ve seen from people talking about their recent Masterbuilt purchases.

Once he worked with Fender to get the official quote, the price Fender came up with was $13,200. This was more than 50% higher than what the deal expected or I did. Obviously, I declined to place an order. I guess the custom shop is busy enough cranking out the set CS basses for the various shops around the country that they don’t want actual custom orders.
 
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#3,559
T McClure said:
I recently got a quote for a Masterbuilt bass. It wasn’t going to be anything crazy. The dealer I talked to initially said he expected the cost to be around $8,300, which seemed in line with what I’ve seen from people talking about their recent Masterbuilt purchases.

Once he worked with Fender to get the official quote, the price Fender came up with was $13,200. This was more than 50% higher than what the deal expected or I did. Obviously, I declined to place an order. I guess the custom shop is busy enough cranking out the set CS basses for the various shops around the country that they don’t want actual custom orders.
Click to expand...
Completely nuts. If I may ask, how did they account for such a wild difference between the initial price and the eventual quote?
 

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