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fender custom shop

#2
Why would you if you could get a really nice, quality bass from a company like f bass, bee basses, etc. They'd probably cost the same amount anyway. BTW, I doubt fender actually makes custom in the first place.
 
#3
...!

You have to get in contact with an authorized Fender Custom Shop dealer (some Guitar Centers qualify) who will then put you into contact with the Fender Custom Shop about ordering your bass.

You know it's expensive...right?
 
#4
jpfbass said:
Why would you if you could a really nice,quality bass from a company like f bass, bee basses, etc. They'd probably cost the same amount anyway. BTW, I doubt fender actually makes custom in the first place.
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I agree!! I've had a couple of top of the line Fender Custom Shop Master Built basses that were huge disappointments considering what they cost.
 
#15
I've done work on a number of Fender basses. You ask me, they all have their quirks. The Custom Shop basses are way worse than the Mexican made basses. Terrible fret jobs....hack job nut.....nowhere near worth what the pricetag says. Get a Sadowsky. It's like a Fender after you've taken it to someone like me & payed 'em to fix all of the problems. AND, the pickups & preamp are quieter.
 
#16
line6man said:
It was my understanding that Fender does any custom work you want them to, however, it comes at a price.
I heard one guy say they quoted him at $12K for a custom job.

I could be wrong though.
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I once wanted a Fender Custom guitar. It was quoted for about $12k. There were several other builders willing to build it to the same specs for less than $4k. This was before I switched to bass.

Getting something custom and with the Fender logo is extremely expensive. There is a plethora of talented builders who will typically be about 1/2 the price, but the only catch is that the general public values the logo just a bit.
 
#18
Note they will only build Fender style custom instruments, and will not touch radically different designs (unless maybe you are a world famous player, even then I doubt it).

For that kind of scratch I'd buy a nice vintage one, or have one made by another builder if you have a desire for exact specs that are not available otherwise.

Be aware that the resale value would be horrendous compared to what you would pay.
 
#19
Brado
I've done work on a number of Fender basses. You ask me, they all have their quirks. The Custom Shop basses are way worse than the Mexican made basses. Terrible fret jobs....hack job nut.....nowhere near worth what the pricetag says. Get a Sadowsky. It's like a Fender after you've taken it to someone like me & payed 'em to fix all of the problems. AND, the pickups & preamp are quieter.
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I respectfully disagree Brado, I own a 64 limited J-bass NOS and its the nicest Fender I have every owned. The fretwork is flawless, the neck pocket is tight, the nut is perfectly cut, and it sounds just like one would expect. I Payed 1800.00 plus tax for this bass new because Fender wanted to move some product, and I was lucky enough to be able to swing it. Would I pay the original 3500.00 price? No, but I'm not about to pay 4K for a Sadowsky either. To say the MIM Fenders are better than the custom shop models makes me wonder how you can come to that conclusion. I know the MIM can be decent, but there is no way they compare to a CS model. The wood selection alone is a major deference, and the craftsmanship is not as good as a CS model in my opinion. The electronics in a MIM bass is typically the first thing most guys change as they aren't as good as the MIA models, and the custom shop PU are better than the MIA models. Sadowsky does makes a fine instrument, and the metros go for around 2100-2500 bucks, but when I was looking at them the NYC I wanted was over 4k, and I can't justify that kinda cash right now. Additionally, the Sadowsky does not sound like an old school Fender by their own admission. It does have a great modern sound, and I'm sure it can come very close to vintage Fenders depending on the model of course, but it's not the same. Also, although the Sadowsky bass does hold its value, but I bet it will be easier to sell a CS bass over the Sadowsky if you needed to do that.
 
#20
I bought a used mint NOS '64 CS J for $1500 a few years ago and it plays, sounds and looks as good as just about any passive J I've played. Perfect fretwork, finish, lovely R/W board, quarter-sawn neck, rock solid even with the extremely slim profile, etc.

These basses are fat-bottomed articulate growly no-issue monsters, and mine is a reggae machine with Sadowsky flats.
 

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