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Fender Lame-o American design experience Fail
- Thread starter Kirk Bryant
- Start date
Phooey on this "entitlement" crap. I've worked hard for everything I have, and when I stop working hard, they're likely to take it all away. What so "entitlement" about that? The only ones that irk me are the kiddiez who think they deserve to be entertained (music, video, whatever) for free. Whether you like Kurt Cobain's work or not, he captured (and skewered) that attitude as perfectly as anyone ever has.
Yes, but it is not as easy as it sounds. There is a guy over at Fender called Fred Fleaman, and he is considered their Master Dragger.
I think the point of all of this is that if you want a Fender you will have to settle for what Fender makes because Fender only makes the Fenders that Fender makes.
What about the Fenders that Fender doesn't make? We have at least one thread about them every week. I'm seeing a "Fake Fender Design Experience" in our future.
I can see it now.......
"The Rondo Music SX Design Experience Mega Thread part XII"
"Is this a real Rondo Music SX Design Experience fake Fender?"
"What's the best Rondo Music SX Design Experience bass for metal?"
"The Rondo Music SX Design Experience Mega Thread part XII"
"Is this a real Rondo Music SX Design Experience fake Fender?"
"What's the best Rondo Music SX Design Experience bass for metal?"
Hey, if he wants to wear a Fodera on his head and play a Fedora, that's his business!
I say Fodera - you say Fedora...
Curse that wretched automatic spell check on my iPhone! (Fixed now.)
My confusion and disappointment regarding the ADE stems from one simple issue. The whole damned point of a "build-your-own" program is that in exchange for handing over more of your money, a manufacturer will provide options not otherwise available. Otherwise, there is no point to the exercise. So the ADE, by design, should be set up to cater to people NOT satisfied by Fender's off-the-shelf products. I count myself among these who want to own a Fender, but am uninterested in their current offerings.
For example, I'm cheesed off by Fender's color palette. This is a historically-minded company that built millions of guitars in fantastic colors across decades. So why, exactly, wouldn't the ADE include colors to satisfy the people like me, who want a Fender, but not in a traditional color? This is a simple request, and one that does not step on the toes of the Custom Shop.
If I want a standard (or lightly modified) P Bass in Shell Pink, the solution should not be, "spend $4K at the Custom Shop," because no sane person ever would. No color is worth that much money. But I WOULD pay an upcharge to get a Shell Pink P through the ADE. Neither should the solution be, "Build a Warmoth." The whole point of the ADE is to direct new business TO Fender, not away from it.
There is a huge gap between Fender's regular offerings and their Custom Shop instruments, and it'd be straightforward to slot the ADE in this space. I've never seen a Mustang, Jaguar, or Cabronita bass made by the Custom Shop. So why not include these instruments in the ADE? If I could get a bone-stock Jaguar Bass in Shell Pink or Firemist Silver with a matched headstock, I'd probably own both. If I could get a mix-and-match Mustang, I'd buy one of those, too. These options could attract new buyers, rather than being ignored by the same old P/J customers who are going to be happy buying off-the-shelf and the high rollers who are headed straight to the Custom Shop. That seems to be the whole point of the ADE -- to entice customers dissatisfied with standard Fenders, and uninterested in/unable to spend $4k.
It's easy to dismiss these criticisms by saying, "You're a spoiled consumer -- just throw money at the Custom Shop and shut it." But that response totally misses the point of the ADE. It should be satisfying all of us who want something a little different than what's available in the shop, and are willing to pay a reasonable fee for the privilege. We have nothing at all to do with the Custom Shop's clientele, and we shouldn't be pushed to build a Warmoth just to get a neat color, or a TV Jones pickup.
For example, I'm cheesed off by Fender's color palette. This is a historically-minded company that built millions of guitars in fantastic colors across decades. So why, exactly, wouldn't the ADE include colors to satisfy the people like me, who want a Fender, but not in a traditional color? This is a simple request, and one that does not step on the toes of the Custom Shop.
If I want a standard (or lightly modified) P Bass in Shell Pink, the solution should not be, "spend $4K at the Custom Shop," because no sane person ever would. No color is worth that much money. But I WOULD pay an upcharge to get a Shell Pink P through the ADE. Neither should the solution be, "Build a Warmoth." The whole point of the ADE is to direct new business TO Fender, not away from it.
There is a huge gap between Fender's regular offerings and their Custom Shop instruments, and it'd be straightforward to slot the ADE in this space. I've never seen a Mustang, Jaguar, or Cabronita bass made by the Custom Shop. So why not include these instruments in the ADE? If I could get a bone-stock Jaguar Bass in Shell Pink or Firemist Silver with a matched headstock, I'd probably own both. If I could get a mix-and-match Mustang, I'd buy one of those, too. These options could attract new buyers, rather than being ignored by the same old P/J customers who are going to be happy buying off-the-shelf and the high rollers who are headed straight to the Custom Shop. That seems to be the whole point of the ADE -- to entice customers dissatisfied with standard Fenders, and uninterested in/unable to spend $4k.
It's easy to dismiss these criticisms by saying, "You're a spoiled consumer -- just throw money at the Custom Shop and shut it." But that response totally misses the point of the ADE. It should be satisfying all of us who want something a little different than what's available in the shop, and are willing to pay a reasonable fee for the privilege. We have nothing at all to do with the Custom Shop's clientele, and we shouldn't be pushed to build a Warmoth just to get a neat color, or a TV Jones pickup.
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IS THAT A REAL FENDER?
There was some photoshop involved. I have a thing for whitewashed/natural finish Fender and Ricks.
It IS a basic right to have exactly what you want delivered to you in a handbasket, if you are paying for it.
I'll speak for myself. I don't feel entitled to anything necessarily. But if I'm spending money, I have expectations, and obviously the more money I spend, the higher my expectations. If I'm going to part with around $2000, knowing it is quite a privilege to live in this time when there are so many choices available to me isn't going to placate me at all, when some of those choices aren't available when they very well could be. I can't think of any good reason why Fender wouldn't offer, as an option in their Design Experience, anything they have available in their parts bins. The Design Experience is supposed to help me "turn my own vision into reality" -- well, my vision includes black hardware, something Fender has available but chooses not to offer it. If there is no good reason for not making choices available that could easily be available with no additional effort or cost, then asking me to accept more limited choices is unreasonable.
That's how I feel as a customer. Like I said earlier, I don't care either way. I don't expect the Design Experience to offer bubinga necks with wenge fretboards, I think that would be an unreasonable expectation from me since it involves additional effort/cost. But because my vision includes not only black hardware but also a bubinga/wenge neck, I already know Fender's Design Experience won't work for me, and that my best/only source for a new Fender style bass is Warmoth.
I heard about it when my friend got a new Telecaster as a birthday gift from his wife. He picked this and that and got a customized neck plate inscription. So, I checked out the bass guitar options and it seemed like just giving more options on an American Standard, so I think that's why they didn't use the word "custom". Not a bad idea for someone who wants an American standard with some choices. At least you get a hard case. I think if they went with customizing an American Deluxe, total sales would be lower due to the price range.
When I started the whole online process, I was thinking it was going to be like the Carvin guitar builder with a ton of options. It was a total letdown of epic proportions.
I haven't played around with the Fender Design Exp.
How does it compare to other manufacturers' Design Experience tool?
Does the one at EBMM work better?
How does it compare to other manufacturers' Design Experience tool?
Does the one at EBMM work better?
- Aug 21, 2003
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I have said it before.
I'm eternally greatfull Leo Fender and Fender in general for what they have invented.
Absolutely without a doubt and like so many others I love the J bass platform.
However
With that being said...other companies / manufacturers have improved the process with snifigenty more to offer in every way without a shadow of a doubt.
That Fender in and off itself would be one of the last options now (at least for me).
I'm eternally greatfull Leo Fender and Fender in general for what they have invented.
Absolutely without a doubt and like so many others I love the J bass platform.
However
With that being said...other companies / manufacturers have improved the process with snifigenty more to offer in every way without a shadow of a doubt.
That Fender in and off itself would be one of the last options now (at least for me).
