Fender: Vintage or Custom Shop?

[Robert Darby]

I currently own a fender 70s p an j bass. It took my several trys to get keepers though. I have owned a reissue 60 j bass and the jaco (cheaper one) fretless. I sold both though they were both great basses. I currently have two CS a jazz and precision. I just don't see myself dropping more than the CS price point. The CS p bass is great hay its a p bass. The CS jazz is a dream but then again I have a Warmoth Jazz I threw together for around a 1000 that will give the CS jazz a run for her money at a third of the cost. I have played alot of Jazz basses and this one tops them all. It is a tough call. The vintage ones do hold their value and will increase in value. I bought my CS both with a nice discount. If you go with a real 60s make sure you try it first or have a very forgiving return policy. I personally would go the CS route and seek out a used one.

 

[Mastermold]

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?

Good rule of thumb: Don’t spend more than you can responsibility afford. Whether that’s $500 or $50,000 depends on your disposable income.

 

[kurpak]

I've owned at least a dozen CS Fenders. Also pre CBS years 57, 59, 61,and 63 multiples of each.
Out of all those basses, there were a few amazing custom shop standouts, and a few magical pre CBS.
My favorite years are 1959 and 1963.
One thing about the CS is they're consistent, they all sound very similar (pretty good ok to great.) Pre CBS you can hit the jackpot, or be stuck with a hunk of expensive lumber. They can all sound wildly different, some are bright and nasaly, while others are very dark and thumpy. Some will also have neck issues, high frets, or the flattest straight neck you've ever seen.
If you have the cash and find an old bass you bond with there's nothing better, I have a 1959 gold guard that is unbelievably good. Better than any other precision I've played new or old. But I also have a CS 59 that is 90% of the way there I also really like. Mail order CS you're pretty safe getting a good instrument. Vintage definitely play in person if you can.

 

[Texaspandj]

Considering you're thinking of long term value (for your daughter), I'd go vintage.

 

[tvbop]

Or just do as i did. Had old Fenders over the years, sold the lot recently, made a few bucks and with the change bought my avatar CV 70's P bass and I can think of only one of those vintage basses that is equal to the CV...yep its that good.

 

[marchone]

Fender Custom Shop is the easiest way to get a good to great Fender Bass. You could say laziest, too. I don’t mind that moniker. I own both a vintage, and a new CS. I treasure them both equally.

If I were starting over I’d go Custom Shop exclusively and never look at vintage. But I’m that way about a lot of things. Cars, camera gear, more.

 

[_Obra_]

I'm a bit late to the show, but the topic is still actuel.

 

[Malak the Mad]

Recognizing that the OP has probably made his decision, I'll simply throw in my 0.02¢ for posterity and to keep the thread going.

If it were my money, especially that kind of money, if I only had the two choices, I'd go Custom Shop. The parts would be brand-new, plus science and technology have advanced more than a little bit over the past fifty to sixty years.

In my personal reality, I ended up splitting the difference and got a Fender Mod Shop Jazz. I won't call it "hedging" or "punting" since they finally got the right "not quite off-the-shelf" parts I had been jonesing for...so, yay!

 

[Longwheelbass]

Currently looking for soul buyers so I can get me one of these.

 

[Jhili]

Currently looking for soul buyers so I can get me...

It the conscience used?


Real beauty.

 

[mikeswals]

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.

My son is left handed but learned to play righty, he became a bassist, and also learned tuba. So he eventually gets my stuff.
When I grew up playing in school since the 4th grade, all the kids in band classes learned to play righty.

 

[RSmith]

I'm a bit late to the show, but the topic is still actuel.

I watched the video and was surprised he removed sound from the criteria for deciding which is best.. The author of the video contends that these days with technology we can make any two basses sound so similar that we can remove sound from the comparison altogether. I do not have that technology and found it interesting when I compared my 1962 relic Fender Custom Shop with Lindy Fralins and a J_Retro Pre to a1972 Fender J with original pick-ups. The CS has a rosewood board so it sounds warm with just a slight bit of active pre mixed in and the 72 was ash with a maple board. The tone difference was pretty evident and the 72 won the tone battle by a landslide. It just had the sweetest mids and had a pillow soft bottom. But the 7.25 radius was a deal breaker for me as my CS with a 9.5 radius is much easier for me to play. I thought about switching necks.. but cooler heads prevailed, and I traded here on TB. That dude loves it to death at last report.

 

[_Obra_]

I watched the video and was surprised he removed sound from the criteria for deciding which is best.. The author of the video contends that these days with technology we can make any two basses sound so similar that we can remove sound from the comparison altogether. I do not have that technology and found it interesting when I compared my 1962 relic Fender Custom Shop with Lindy Fralins and a J_Retro Pre to a1972 Fender J with original pick-ups. The CS has a rosewood board so it sounds warm with just a slight bit of active pre mixed in and the 72 was ash with a maple board. The tone difference was pretty evident and the 72 won the tone battle by a landslide. It just had the sweetest mids and had a pillow soft bottom. But the 7.25 radius was a deal breaker for me as my CS with a 9.5 radius is much easier for me to play. I thought about switching necks.. but cooler heads prevailed, and I traded here on TB. That dude loves it to death at last report.

Thanks for watching the video and for your comment

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

I like changing things I don't like. I wouldn't pay $$$$ to a vintage instrument as I'd mod it but I'm more of a player and not a collector really. I'd build myself a bass from Warmoth, or from somewhere else.