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Fender Custom Shop experiences?

Mike Vee

Mike Vee

Inactive
Oct 8, 2012
3,718
8,234
Los Angeles
#1
I have never held or played a FCS bass. However, when I found this bass online at Empire, I just HAD to have it - so I bought it. Never seen anything quite like it. It's a 1966 NOS Precision in natural. Beautiful. It will be here next week!

If I get at LEAST the best of "American Original" quality, I'll be quite happy. I've had a few and those are amazing basses.

For those of you that have a Custom Shop bass, how does it compare to your other "general release" Fender instruments?

05FenderCS66PBASSNOSRW-NAT_CZ5849999lbs1ozFront-copy.webp
 
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#5
Having owned a few FCS Basses they have all been as advertised… beautifully finished and great sounding.
Great quality control and the case candy & case are always well done.

I have sold them off since I purchased a 63 P Bass reissue that rivals any FCS bass at a fraction of the price. Also the USA Geddy Lee basses are pretty amazing and beautifully crafted and rival any FCS instrument at a fraction of the price.

Congratulations on your new purchase..it’s really nice.
 
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#6
That's one very cool looking bass! Congrats and I hope that it surpasses your expectations.

I got into the CS game fairly early on - somewhere around '92 I believe - and went through several guitars and basses. Never have I personally owned a bad one, but have come across a few that I wouldn't want in my possession.

While I don't play/own any FSOs any more, the CS pieces that I did own compared favourably to "run of the mill" FMIC U.S. instruments IMO/IME.

My experiences only.
 
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#10
I was in Pittsburg a couple weeks ago on tour and stopped by Empire. I'm 90% certain I played your bass....if it wasn't yours, it was one very similar....Great playing instrument. You're going to love it. Congrats. Btw, Empire is an amazing shop. You've gotta go in person to really appreciate it.
 
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#12
jeffbrewer said:
I was in Pittsburg a couple weeks ago on tour and stopped by Empire. I'm 90% certain I played your bass....if it wasn't yours, it was one very similar....Great playing instrument. You're going to love it. Congrats. Btw, Empire is an amazing shop. You've gotta go in person to really appreciate it.
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Oh man that’s good to hear. I’m sure it was the same bass. I saw it in a video they made and Anthony was saying how he wanted to buy it for himself haha.
 
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#13
Mike Vee said:
I have never held or played a FCS bass. However, when I found this bass online at Empire, I just HAD to have it - so I bought it. Never seen anything quite like it. It's a 1966 NOS Precision in natural. Beautiful. It will be here next week!

If I get at LEAST the best of "American Original" quality, I'll be quite happy. I've had a few and those are amazing basses.

For those of you that have a Custom Shop bass, how does it compare to your other "general release" Fender instruments?

View attachment 7219476
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I've owned and still own several CS and AVRI basses, and I have a friend who used to work in the Fender Custom Shop who explained how they do things. What you get with the FCS over their standard USA production basses is generally prettier wood grain, better matched wood, and quartersawn necks which aren't available on their standard models. So, it's more about how they look, and to some extent how they feel. You can find standard models of equal quality build, and I've got a few genuine pre-CBS Fender Precisions that are on par with them, but for new production guitars and basses the Fender Custom Shop instruments are as good as Fender gets. I'm sure you'll enjoy yours for many years!
 
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#15
Mastermold said:
I've owned and still own several CS and AVRI basses. What you get with the FCS over their standard USA production basses is generally prettier wood grain, better matched wood, and quartersawn necks which aren't available on their standard models. So, it's more about how they look, and to some extent how they feel. You can find standard models of equal quality build, and I've got a few genuine pre-CBS Fender Precisions that are on par with them, but for new production guitars and basses the Fender Custom Shop are as good as Fender gets. I'm sure you'll enjoy yours for many years!
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I agree with this. My FCS P basses are obviously a little bit more 'broken in' compared to my AV basses, given the various degrees of relic treatments - and they have nicer woods. The fretboards are especially nicer on the CS basses. The Candy Apple Red P here has the best neck of any bass I have played.
IMG_6164.jpg
 
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#16
Nice Bass! I took a shot with a Fender CS Jazz bass. It was ok. Didn't light up the "Wow" meter. I usually go to my Highway One when I need a Jazz. I have tried their Master Build line and the Wow meter moved some. I have owned a Fodera, Sadowsky, and still play Roscoe and I feel the CS basses are a tad overpriced.
 
#19
Mike Vee said:
I have never held or played a FCS bass. However, when I found this bass online at Empire, I just HAD to have it - so I bought it. Never seen anything quite like it. It's a 1966 NOS Precision in natural. Beautiful. It will be here next week!

If I get at LEAST the best of "American Original" quality, I'll be quite happy. I've had a few and those are amazing basses.

For those of you that have a Custom Shop bass, how does it compare to your other "general release" Fender instruments?

View attachment 7219476
Click to expand...
That should be a standard finish option I the American Pros. It looks beautiful 😍
 

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