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Fender Rascal Bass

#42
To me this is the most interesting and fresh design I see in years. Original mix of different technical specifications (such all wood bolt on, lipsticks, three pickups, passive) i love put together with classy style (i think to the bridge design, turquoise color, matching headstock). Would really love to see this as production model in one fo those Fender line such as modern player. Something similar happened with the Cabronita family. A mim version priced around 600$ would really see me interested as a buyer.
 
#45
I'm not very impressed with the design, or the price of the Fender Rascal.

Totally off topic however, I vote for Lublin's avatar as the best avatar for a bass message board:
bestavitar.jpg
 
#46
I don't know... maybe it's just me, but I don't see the market for $10,000 basses these days. I applaud those who are doing well enough, but I think most of us who haven't lost our jobs, had to take pay cuts, or been furlowed look at this and go, really?
 
#47
BIGEJ2 said:
So its trendy and cool to drop big bucks on a Fodera or Alembic but not Fender?
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This. I cannot believe how some people act like Alembic just builds a better bass than the master builders at FCS. Most people who have played CS instruments have only played team builds. I have a hard time believing Jason Smith or any other builder in Fender's Custom shop is not just as good at building basses as any other name luthier, especially seeing as the guys in the FCS probably see a much more diversified type of work than most boutique shops.

Also, for those blasting the price, we are talking about a truly unique Fender. If you called up Alembic or Sadowsky and said "I want something unlike anything you usually do" I would imagine most of them would just tell you flat out "no we are not interested on taking on that project", and if they did, I bet the price would be far higher than this Fender.

On the topic of the bass, aside from the colour, I think it looks ugly and wouldn't even try it at the store out of fear of breaking it and being forced to buy it.
 
#49
DiabolusInMusic said:
Also, for those blasting the price, we are talking about a truly unique Fender. If you called up Alembic or Sadowsky and said "I want something unlike anything you usually do" I would imagine most of them would just tell you flat out "no we are not interested on taking on that project", and if they did, I bet the price would be far higher than this Fender.
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Higher than $11,000? For a bolt-on short scale? I very much doubt that.

I've liked every Fender CS bass I've played, and I'm sure the CS builders are world class. But c'mon.... $11 grand? How is that even possible?
 
#52
DiabolusInMusic said:
I cannot believe how some people act like Alembic just builds a better bass than the master builders at FCS. Most people who have played CS instruments have only played team builds. I have a hard time believing Jason Smith or any other builder in Fender's Custom shop is not just as good at building basses as any other name luthier, especially seeing as the guys in the FCS probably see a much more diversified type of work than most boutique shops.

Also, for those blasting the price, we are talking about a truly unique Fender. If you called up Alembic or Sadowsky and said "I want something unlike anything you usually do" I would imagine most of them would just tell you flat out "no we are not interested on taking on that project", and if they did, I bet the price would be far higher than this Fender.
Click to expand...

For me, the argument isn't whether Jason Smith is as good a builder as the Alembic or Sadowsky crew, but whether he is $3000-$7,000 better, depending on whose building.

I know Michael Dolan, former Alembic builder who has been building since 1977 could put one of these together, and it wouldn't be 10K. His prices start at $1700 and go between $2000-$3000 for something custom. When I say custom, I'm not talking about a Fenderesque bass with 3 pickups in a custom color.

I have not had the pleasure of playing a Jason Smith built CS but I do own a Fender CS 60's jazz from '97 which is like a Master Built considering who was building back then (Jay Black, John Cruz, John Page) and considering there were far fewer people building in the Fender CS back then. Though it's a lovely bass, it's not 10K lovely. I also have a John Kallas bass, which I would consider a Master Built bass and every bit as good as the Fender CS. Again, beautiful bass but not worth 10K,.... to me. Someone else may think it's worth 10K, and there in lies the worth of something. It's worth what someone is willing to pay.

Like I said earlier, kudos to those who can afford one if that's what gets them off, but personally, I would rather have 5 months mortgage paid.
 
#56
I think I may be getting a Mexican version of the Rascal. I've been looking for an affordable short scale, and many years ago I had a no-name bass with lipstick pickups. I really like the sound, so the Rascal looks like just the ticket for me.
 

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