Fender Custom Shop prices are SOARING!

[Mister Magic]

I agree that the Fender bashing is ridiculous. I think it is childish, actually. I suppose it would be a little different if the bashing was relevant, but it is not relevant here.

There is clearly a very high demand for Fender Custom Shop orders and it isn’t because everyone can afford them. It’s because of demand; people want them. And people want them because, among other reasons, they think they are great instruments.

 

[RichterScale]

There's nothing physical about that bass or how it's made or the materials used that justifies a $10k price tag. It's coming from other factors.
If pointing that out makes you feel insulted because you look at everything through Fender colored glasses, that's your issue to deal with, not mine.
Too many people take it personal and call it Fender bashing.
I don't hate Fender. But there's nothing special about their instruments from a design or construction perspective. And things like roasted necks, extra fret polishing and a custom paint color, don't justify doubling, tripling and even quadrupling the price. It barely justifies calling it "custom" and certainly doesn't justify calling it "master" anything. I'll take the liberty of asserting that anyone who builds instruments can agree with that to some extent.
I'm sorry if that offends anyone. Being realistic almost always does.

 

[RichterScale]

And yes, everything I just said is absolutely relevant to the topic.
Which is about why they are charging so much for this bass

 

[micguy]

Fender doesn't need your business. But at a bit over $10K, they'll change their mind.

They have enough orders that they can either:

1) Hire a lot more people to try to run things through their shop, expand the shop, buy more machines, train everybody, etc., or

2) Raise prices to "right size" the demand to their shop size and labor force.

Raising prices is more sustainable; if demand goes down, they can lower their prices some and still be profitable. Hiring more people, if demand goes down, it's far dicier - you end up laying off people, you have a bigger shop and more machines than you need, etc. Unless you're absolutely convinced that bigger demand is a permanent thing, it's a smarter business move to increase prices.

Fender is a a very lucrative position right now - they have a bunch of designs where the bulk of the R&D was paid off decades ago, they're designed so they can be built pretty much anywhere on the planet (with no special skills or materials needs) for very reasonable prices, and, by changing a few minor details, they can cover price points with 1 design from $200 to $10,000

 

[Grinderman]

As far as I know, I'd probably never bash Leo Fender.

As far as I can tell, FCS's business model is successful and they make nice instruments. If people want them enough to spend their money, however much that may be, then good for them and FCS.

For me, my preferences and money, there are better options.

 

[Mister Magic]

There's nothing physical about that bass or how it's made or the materials used that justifies a $10k price tag. It's coming from other factors(s).
If pointing that out makes you feel insulted because you look at everything through Fender colored glasses, that's your issue to deal with, not mine.
Too many people take it personal and call it Fender bashing.
I don't hate Fender. But there's nothing special about their instruments from a design or construction perspective. And things like roasted necks, extra fret polishing and a custom paint color, don't justify doubling, tripling and even quadrupling the price. It barely justifies calling it "custom" and certainly doesn't justify calling it "master" anything. I'll take the liberty of asserting that anyone who builds instruments can agree with that to some extent.
I'm sorry if that offends anyone. Being realistic almost always does.

I don’t find it offensive…at all. I find it ridiculous and childish, which I clearly stated above. I’ll go ahead and throw in slightly “irritated” but I’m not near the offended threshold.

However, you do appear to be offended and bent out of shape that other people don’t find your mean-spirited criticisms relevant to the post. Nothing in the OP invited your unproductive and irrelevant opinions.

I do appreciate the other relevant, friendly and helpful advice given by some others.

 

[user362432]

Real story.
Friend of mine, painter. He is not with us anymore, some 25 years ago came to me to talk. He said, couple of months ago, he consider to start making some paintings, his gallery was getting empty. So, he said, I sip a glass of wine and consider to start working. Since, he could not get inspiration, he kept sipping wine. After about 5-6 glasses, something pops up in his mind and he started painting. It was late at night and in the morning he found himself sleeping, drunk as hell, painting was crap. But, never mind, he is going to put it in gallery and see what happens. He calculated about 15 glasses of wine to be worth $500 and that was minimum price for that painting.
It was staying in the gallery and nobody was paying attention to it.
However, day before he came to me, some couple came in and they were interested in that painting, asking how much. He said:
- Give me your best offer! (considering to sell it even bellow $500).
The guy said - "Not more than $4000".
- Dang! SOLD!
So, he said, I've got money, I need to do something with it. What I would like? Hm, I would like to have some satellite antenna to pick up all of the programs I can get. I am going to that electronic guy (I had a shop for electronics)!
So, he said: "How much for the most advanced sat. system you can offer to me?"
- "That would be about $3200", I said. -"motorized antenna with about 300 programs."
- DEAL! When you can deliver it?
- Saturday!
- DEAL! Let's do it!
So, I install the set, he payed and said:
- I am sure that fools run the World around! The Earth will stop without fools!
- How is that?
- Well, since I've got "my fool" to pay me $4000, You got your fool to pay you $3200, I am sure there is another guy waiting for you, foolish, to buy something you don't need!

And, the story repeats to this day.

 

[quilanthegreat]

I’m also convinced you might have been quoted a master build price. Probably wouldn’t hurt to get a second quote and confirm it’s a team build (assuming you haven’t already). Also, when I was in the market for a vintage style P Bass I had Nash build me what is now my absolute favorite instrument I’ve owned. If the FCS prices you out, Nash, Bluesman Vintage, Olinto, Moollon are all very comparable options (some may say even exceed FCS). I’m sure any of those companies can build you exactly the aesthetic you’re looking for.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Apart from the decal, I fail to see what you're getting from FCS for even $4k that you couldn't get from Warmoth for $1500, next month.

Isn’t that the truth.

 

[Katoosie]

Yeah for what it is, its ridiculous even for a masterbuilt (if it is) imho. No way worth the 10k price tag even given the expertise of whoever would build it.

But other than that, yeah OP - check out some other options if you want a really high quality fender wsque bass. There are many options out there

 

[Bonafide]

I'm sorry if that offends anyone. Being realistic almost always does.

Nah, it's always been the opposite. Being 'realistic' for you is in your world only.

The irony I have witnessed for 25 years on forums is that the only reason someone insults or bashes a company or what others choose to do with their own resources is that they feel offended by the price and/or another's choice or justifications for spending 10k on a parts bass or for the company charging for it. They absolutely must speak up about the injustice.

 

[DuluthDank]

There's a ton of opportunistic pricing going on out there, for vendors too busy and not really caring if they scare people away.

I've seen quotes for $13k lift gates that were $8k in 2019 (price for the actual lift gate from the Manu went up maybe 5-7% since then), and repairs for Viking range at $3950 and $1980 for the same work, same parts. The $3950 one, they acted like a breakdown was a pain in their ass, of course.

With things as busy as they are, people are just quoting crazy poopie and seeing what sticks.

Maybe I'm old and out of touch, but when I see what people are pricing their used gear for in the Talkbass classifieds, I tend to feel the same way.

 

[Katoosie]

Maybe I'm old and out of touch, but when I see what people are pricing their used gear for in the Talkbass classifieds, I tend to feel the same way.

Does it matter though? If people think its too much, no one will buy it. If not, it will sell. I don't see the problem.

 

[RichterScale]

I don't agree that anything I said was mean-spirited, or that it wasn't relevant to the topic.
And I'm trying to look for some part of it that I can apologize for, as compromise and an olive branch,...but I didn't find anything.
I mean, the thread is essentially a bitchfest about Fender charging $10k for a bass. This is something that should be left to the more positive and mature folks to work out? What kind of comments were people expecting in a conversation like this?

 

[Snert]

The irony I have witnessed for 25 years on forums is that the only reason someone insults or bashes a company or what others choose to do with their own resources is that they feel offended by the price and/or another's choice or justifications for spending 10k on a parts bass or for the company charging for it.

No, that's your projection.
I could afford a FCS MB if I chose, or a new Alembic SII, but having tried a couple of FCS as well as a whole slew of other FSO, I simply don't see the value in them (FCS), especially for such a basic spec as in the OP. You spend your money however you want, but it's a public forum and the topic was the pricing of the FCS gear, so comments on value are relevant and on topic.

 

[RichterScale]

Also, the OP wants a bass and just realized they almost trippled the price. A big part of the "Fender bashing" is to make the OP feel better. As in: "meh, who needs 'em, it ain't worth $10k anyway. Go geta G&L or build a warmoth".
And I still can't appreciate why it would bother anyone.

 

[DuluthDank]

Does it matter though? If people think its too much, no one will buy it. If not, it will sell. I don't see the problem.

It matters to me insofar as I care about how I spend my money. I feel like this "does it really matter" style reply could more or less be made in response to a strong majority of content on Talkbass. Do your feelings matter? Does your hobby matter? Will Talkbass matter after the heat death of the universe?

 

[Matt R.]

Their wait times are soaring too. I’m still waiting for a basic no-frills lefty ‘66 Jazz. It’s a year behind schedule. Ugh.

 

[Bass Viking]

In any case, what is the big fuzz with roasted necks? Do they smell like barbacue?

I just gave my new Warmoth roasted maple Telecaster neck the sniff test and it does have a pleasant roasted aroma, a bit like BBQ. Roasted maple needs no finish and feels very smooth. It's supposed to mimic the sonic characteristics of an older neck. Who knows but I have 3 roasted necks and I like them all.

 

[frankie5string]

That has to be a Masterbuilt price. Those prices are set as a deterrent.

If you really want it, you'll pay for it, but in the meantime, those builders have work to do. Im sure they don't want any kind of wiggle room for regret returns.

At that price, with whatever boilerplate agreement they have for the build basically makes sure it's handled by one guy and out the door - never to be seen by the FCS again.