Well, I succumbed to the GAS and pulled the trigger a short time ago on a Fender mod shop bass I "built." I submitted the request to Fender on 10/18, and even though they are quoting a 30 day build time, received the bass on 10/28. Not too shabby!
The build is pretty standard P-bass, though I selected the following:
- Walnut stain: This has always been my favorite color, but could never seem to find a brown, or walnut P-bass outside of some of the special runs done in the 80s, or the recent roasted ash '58 reissue from 2017 - which seem to be very scarce these days
- Roasted neck: Advertising mumbo-jumbo or not, I'm a fan of roasted necks. This was probably the tipping point for me, seeing this as an available option.
- Pure vintage '63 pickups: These too have been a favorite of mine. To me a bit rounder bottom end, not too harsh highs, pair great with the alder body.
- 3 ply red tort guard: This is Talkbass after all!
Anyway, the fit and finish of the bass is fantastic. I was cautiously expecting maybe a slight neck gap or some other build anomaly, but none to be found. If I were asked to be a overly critical it would be that the poly finish has a few, very small, polish swirls. The only change has been the removal of the stock Fender strings for DR Pure Blues. This gets such a great KC era John Witten, Ray Shulman P-bass tone!
And now the crappy cell phone pics. And yes, I still haven't removed the little baggies from the tuners...
The build is pretty standard P-bass, though I selected the following:
- Walnut stain: This has always been my favorite color, but could never seem to find a brown, or walnut P-bass outside of some of the special runs done in the 80s, or the recent roasted ash '58 reissue from 2017 - which seem to be very scarce these days
- Roasted neck: Advertising mumbo-jumbo or not, I'm a fan of roasted necks. This was probably the tipping point for me, seeing this as an available option.
- Pure vintage '63 pickups: These too have been a favorite of mine. To me a bit rounder bottom end, not too harsh highs, pair great with the alder body.
- 3 ply red tort guard: This is Talkbass after all!
Anyway, the fit and finish of the bass is fantastic. I was cautiously expecting maybe a slight neck gap or some other build anomaly, but none to be found. If I were asked to be a overly critical it would be that the poly finish has a few, very small, polish swirls. The only change has been the removal of the stock Fender strings for DR Pure Blues. This gets such a great KC era John Witten, Ray Shulman P-bass tone!
And now the crappy cell phone pics. And yes, I still haven't removed the little baggies from the tuners...
