Fender Master Built review out

[Raoul_Duke]

I’d rather have that Olinto he featured in an earlier video. It is difficult to make judgements about the quality of the bass by listening to Scott playing it because he could play a potato and make it sound like a masterbuilt bass.

If I had $7k just lying around, I’d probably be looking to update my kitchen or bathroom before buying a P-bass.

 

[JW56789]

I always say that you should play whatever lets you make your best music and feel best doing it, so I have no reservations about another player spending whatever they want to get there.

However, for me, 7 grand is a PILE of money. I've owned Alembics, am very familiar with their axes, was happy to be in that community in those days. They're Trust Fund Money expensive (although in a world of 6-grand Les Paul Customs, or in this case a 7 grand Precision, it's all relative, really), but I know where the money goes, and like all small builders, their costs and markups are extreme to perform at that level on a tiny number of billable instruments.

This kind of money is reflective in the Fender Custom Shop taking as long as it takes, and that puts them in the same economy as an Alembic, a Ritter, a NY State Spector or Sadowsky, etc.

IF I was in a position to spend that kind of money on a bass, there's no way on God's Green Earth I'd pay 7 large for a Precision Bass, but that's me. I'm glad for the folks that are into it, they can get FCS pieces, but it would not be for me.

I would somehow have to perform the mental calculation that it would play, sound, and last TWENTY times 'better' than a Squier CV 60's Precision, and I can't do it, or 10 times 'better' than a MIM, or 4 times 'better' than a MIA. I can't make that jump.

However, lots of other players can, and if that's their ultimate, my hat's off to them, and it IS a hoot to have an axe custom-built just for yourself, no matter who made it. Been there.

 

[Gothic]

My basses cost much less, my car costs much less. Still happy enough. I'd probably be happier if I were making enough dough to casually afford a 7 grand bass but I'd still be playing the same music so... Who cares.

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

Exactly how much does this precision bass cost? Several thousand dollars? To answer the question presented in the thumbnail of this video, no. It’s not worth it. That’s ******* insane, IMO.

Scott makes it sound quite right but it’s just a P bass, moreover quite ordinary in the finish compartment .. my LPB AO ‘60s P looks prettier IMO …

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I watched that. More power to those who A) can easily fit that in their budget and B) believe/think/feel that the difference in quality justifies the price (for those who haven’t watched it, $7000 + for a master built bass).

And before someone jumps in and mentions the price of pianos or trumpets, I get it, but you can buy a quite nice bass for under $1000. You can even get one from a luthier for under $4000.

With more than one pickup, and that doesnt look exactly like the bass that every player in the world has on their wall.

 

[Mastermold]

It is to the buyer to decide value of any item. I will say this. Given the choice of buying this Masterbuilt or a 48 year old 1963 pre-CBS P-Bass for $7000, hands down I would buy the brand new Masterbuilt...

Oh man I was thinking the opposite. Unless it’s been abused I’d take the real ‘63 in a nanosecond! (I’m also a fan of the EBMM stuff btw!)

 

[Relayer71]

As to price, a new NYC Sadowsky Will Lee or US Spector NS-2 is in the same ballpark, more or less.

That NS2 will have high grade figured maple, a fancy gloss finish, expensive pre, large abalone inlays, graphite reinforced neckthrough construction, solid brass nut and bridge, curved back body; it at least looks the part of an expensive custom bass. That just looks like a plain old P Bass.

 

[metron]

Im not against expensive stuff. For some reason I didn’t make it through the entire video. Sounds nice though.

 

[Katoosie]

Hey as long as fender doesnt screw up on a purchase like that, everything is fine.
Its when you get a messed up bass or no support if something goes wrong is when things start to get annoying.

Nice bass tho!

 

[Jazzjames]

When a relic bass starts to cost similar money to the real thing, I lose interest. I know that a ‘63 in good playing condition isn’t available in many places for 7k, but I’d rather get a decent vintage bass for that sorta money, or just save lots of money and get a Moollon or similar. Each to his own.

 

[Ed Goode]

$7000.00 ? It would take me 700 gigs to pay for that bass.

At $10 a gig it’s highly doubtful anyone would be doing this for a living … pretty sure there are some unintended math errors here

Nice bass and likely worth it to the player that paid out the money

 

[Energy]

Scott apparently just gone one .. seems to be happy with it.

That's just Scott being Scott.

 

[Marihino]

Olympic White? Olympic Urine & Nicotine, more like. An instrument that's had enough exposure to the elements to have yellowed this much, would be way more worn in all the other ways too.

 

[Bill Murray]

Exactly how much does this precision bass cost? Several thousand dollars? To answer the question presented in the thumbnail of this video, no. It’s not worth it. That’s ******* insane, IMO.

True, but you’re not paying for the fender you’re paying for the builders. This team is literally the best of the best.

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

When a relic bass starts to cost similar money to the real thing, I lose interest. I know that a ‘63 in good playing condition isn’t available in many places for 7k, but I’d rather get a decent vintage bass for that sorta money, or just save lots of money and get a Moollon or similar. Each to his own.

Moollon .. another element in the vast hype sea .. why should I buy a Moollon when there’s the Fender CS? With that super ugly headstock, and, for the rest, being a FCS?
No, wait, Moollon basses sound 10000 times better than any Fender .. bah .. highly disputable

 

[Bill Murray]

$7000.00 ? It would take me 700 gigs to pay for that bass.

The ultimate financial compass

 

[pedroims]

Right now a $7000 Fender custom doesn’t worth to me. I dont think I can hear the difference between a custom and a MIA standard.

But if tomorrow I win the lottery I might started feeling and hearing the differences.

 

[Chickenwheels]

I’d never heard of Masterbuilt. I guess I just got a valuable bass lesson. Maybe invaluable even.

 

[lfmn16]

I don’t understand this fascination some people have with what other people do with their money. Some seem very incensed about these expensive instruments.

I think there more than a little jealousy involved.

 

[Frank77]

I wouldn't buy it even if they somehow brought Leo Fender back from the dead to build it for me. Even if I had that kind of coin to drop on a bass I'm sure I'd still have better sense than to buy this.

I like my P-basses as much as the next guy, but there's absolutely nowhere near 7000$ worth of material and work there. No way José.