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Fender: Vintage or Custom Shop?

Which would you buy, if there can be only one (Fender)?

  • Custom Shop

    Votes: 143 60.6%

  • Pre-CBS

    Votes: 93 39.4%
  • Total voters
    236
#101
el murdoque said:
Depends on whether or not second hand CS is okay with you.
I recently was close to buying a CS Precision for two and a half grand (€uros, mind), but passed it up because it had a relic job and I can't stand those. That one had an invoice attached for €5.900,- which is the kind of money that gets you into pre-CBS territory.
I like that kind of shopping where you're not in a hurry because you're well set and want to fulfill a dream. No compromise. Find the one you want to be buried with.
Click to expand...
If I go CS it will definitely be to my specs. As for burial, that kinda goes against the point—I want my daughter to inherit it. But I WOULD like to be buried with an axe—probably would be my Squier PJ in British Racing Green. No one would miss that.
 
#103
I have a boat anchor 72 and my other Fenders are 80's MIJs. I have never had to play a CS instrument , I thought that sans active pre-amp, my basses sound as good as any American Standard or performer. I voted pre CBS but get a player condition one. MY buddy had 2 pre CBS jazz, and the one that was played more played better. Pots were changed, possibly a refret, but many of the mods and repairs just made it play better. The second one was in nice cosmetic condition. Still sounded great but not as nice in the hands. What is surprising though is that both were open sounding and sustained like a modern instrument maybe a bit shorter. I always though that they would be "vintage" sounding.
 
#104
The only problem with vintage these days is price. Not that CS is cheap, but pre-CBS has become unaffordable IMHO unless you are willing to accept mods. Twenty years ago you could still get refins for $1500, but not any more.

The old AVRI series were very good, I had a 62 J that was really, really sweet. I have not tried the more recent reissues. I'd only go CS if I needed something really unique and I would defintely skip relics. Just my opinion.
 
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#105
So, after you guys were more than helpful and gave me a lot to think about and I had just made a decision, I realized a major wrinkle—all signs point to my daughter being a lefty, and I am righty. So, unless she learns right (which I’ve heard can be done but I don’t want to mess her up), she’s not going to be able to play any instrument I get.

So what I’m thinking is get her into music, and when she’s older and if she sticks with it get her the best possible instrument that she chooses.

But I’d still like for her to have a high end bass, which will be the only one in my possession when I pass. But I can focus more on my preferences. A final decision later.
 
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#108
Craig Orndorff said:
What WOULD you spend that kind of money on, basswise, out of curiosity?
Click to expand...
10-20 years savings?
For 1 bass?

Nothing, to me that’s ludicrous.

If the idea is to set aside such a small amount each time you don’t notice and in 10-20 years you feel like you got a free bass, I get it, but I don’t think I could decide now what I’ll get then. You’ll have to set aside enough to outpace inflation.

Does your daughter have college fully funded?
 
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#109
Rabidhamster said:
10-20 years savings?
For 1 bass?

Nothing, to me that’s ludicrous.
Click to expand...

Well, the actual savings would probably be more like 1-2 years, if I start now, continue at my current rate and don’t touch the account. I have an account specifically for music stuff, so in all likelihood it’ll see some action, but we’re talking about $5k. I feel like I could get an awesome bass and combo of my choosing for that.

So let’s phrase it a different way—what’s the most you would spend on a bass?
 
#112
There are plenty of vintage basses out there that are good players. Original condition is another story altogether.

So there three choices. Custom Shop, vintage original, and vintage player with mods to it done.

My vintage original is now a vintage mod. It happens with normal maintenance.
 
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#113
Craig Orndorff said:
Well, I recognize that if I go vintage I’d probably have to save another two or three years, but that should hint at my decision.
Click to expand...

I can only wish you the best of luck.

The prices will keep on going up IMO, and you'll have to come up with a great plan in order to keep up with the upcoming inflation *and* get ahead in the game from your current position.

I'm just glad I got to play all and own some of that stuff before the world went nuts ~25 years ago.
 
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#117
I am always baffled when people use "Fender" and "high end" in the same sentence. Fenders are - by intentional design - utilitarian, tools to get a job done. They're not fancy, and their design doesn't allow for the kind of showcasing of craftsmanship seen in, for instance, an Alembic, or a Status, or a Fodera. Those are "high end". Mate the neck to the body using ordinary wood screws? Uh, no.

Pre-CBS prices are ludicrous, from the perspective of wanting a good quality instrument that you can make music with. Custom Shop prices are similarly ludicrous, unless you're looking for a particular combination of features (woods, contouring, electronics, etc.) that simply isn't already available off the rack.

If your goals are financial, consider a pre-CBS Fender (but there are other avenues that provide better ROI).

If your goals are musical, buy what feels good, sounds good, and inspires you to play, regardless of price or provenance.

If you are into the Fender aesthetic, and want a good quality variant with modern improvements, EBMM and G&L (and imitators like Sadowsky) are where it's at.

Good luck, I hope you find what you want!
 
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#118
Pet Sounds said:
A few random thoughts:
As others have said, a vintage piece is more likely to hold its value and there are great ones to be found. But how comfortable would you be taking it to gigs? If it's meant as an heirloom and would be something you'd enjoy owning, vintage could be the way to go.
I own pre-CBS and early CBS stuff, and I wouldn't rule out CBS instruments, especially from the 1960s and early '70s. I have a '67 P-Bass that I like every bit as much as my '64.
Custom Shop stuff can be great -- I own a FCS P-Bass, also. But recently I had a choice between a CS '60 Jazz and a USA 60th anniversary Jazz, and I bought the '60th.
I Just preferred the sound of it.
Anything you hand down to your daughter will be a special bass, because it came from you! So I'd get a nice bass that speaks to you, be it pre-CBS, CBS, CS or vintage reissue, and play the check out of it. Your daughter will love it when the time comes for her to have it.
Click to expand...
Love my 60th Anniversary Jazz.
 
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#119
Craig Orndorff said:
So, after you guys were more than helpful and gave me a lot to think about and I had just made a decision, I realized a major wrinkle—all signs point to my daughter being a lefty, and I am righty. So, unless she learns right (which I’ve heard can be done but I don’t want to mess her up), she’s not going to be able to play any instrument I get.

So what I’m thinking is get her into music, and when she’s older and if she sticks with it get her the best possible instrument that she chooses.

But I’d still like for her to have a high end bass, which will be the only one in my possession when I pass. But I can focus more on my preferences. A final decision later.
Click to expand...
FWIW, a lot of us on TalkBass are lefties who learned to play righty.
 

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