Potential Fender Mod-Shop Purchase (+Options Poll)

[Malak the Mad]

Bob help me, but Fender's Mod Shop has added an option that's making me seriously think about having one built! Curse them and their pearloid-blocked, slim "C", maple/rosewood Jazz necks!

Once I've sold some parts and pieces, pulling the trigger is practically assured, but the one "x-factor" I can't decide upon is which pickups to get. I've explored a number of demos and reviews, but even ones covering the exact, same pups sound considerably different. So, I turn to the "Collective All-Y'all" for some advice, experience and guidance.

If you had to pick one of their existing options, which would you choose and why?

The only non-standard option I'm including are the Fender Custom Shop '60s. I've used them in the past and they sound great, so that is the one, alternate option I'm including. Obviously, I can always change them up in the future, but there's something very appealing to the idea of keeping it completely stock. (...outside of a Drop-D tuner and possibly a Stealth String retainer, of course. I mean, DUH! )

To add more fuel on the fire a bit of clarity, here's a mock-up of what I have in mind...

 

[BaltBass5]

I actually built that Identical Bass about 5-6 years ago. I went with the Custom Shop 60's....It was killer!

 

[Elk]

It's all wire and magnets -- the perceived differences will be negligible in a mix, which is exactly why I'd go for the noiseless. Does what it says on the tin and you will be thankful in a venue with a lot of lighting.

 

[fhm555]

I bought a set of custom shop 60’s based on a guy telling me that’s what he had in a bass I really liked the sound of. I never installed them because I was using humbuckers in my Mexican jazz basses and was happy with the output of my Highway 1 (one??) jazz basses. Then my left pinky got compromised and I had to switch to 30” scale basses because I could no longer make the stretch required for 34” scale, and wound up selling the 60’s.

 

[MojoPin]

I'm honestly having the same kinda problem figuring out if they have what I want pickup wise for a Pbass I'm wanting. Already have a 60s style P bass and was looking to build something "modern" but in the vein of a 57 styled P bass with maple neck and ash body. Weeeeeeeeeeeellllllll they've got CHAMBERED ash bodies in the mod shop now (little bummed only two colors but white looks cool with grain visible) with roasted maple necks which seem like the better choice between non-roasted and non-chambered varieties but I can't get "57" styled pups. The "vintage" set they offer are already in my black Vintage II 60s and while I LOVE those pick ups, they aren't the same as the 57 style. But I wonder if it will still give me that 57's precision vibe with the body materials being a bit more rigid and more modern hardware or am I gonna get a slightly different bass with the same pickups that sound different because it has rounds. I really like the 57 pbass sound, I might just get a nash or something similar but that chambered ash body makes me really curious since no one else seems to offer them. I hate making decisions about basses I can't even try out....

 

[since197three]

Some info on the Corona Classics.
I have '97 and '01 American Standard Jazz basses that sound amazing. I emailed the Mod Shop asking which pickups would be closest to those and was told the Corona Classics.

 

[Malak the Mad]

Some info on the Corona Classics.
I have '97 and '01 American Standard Jazz basses that sound amazing. I emailed the Mod Shop asking which pickups would be closest to those and was told the Corona Classics.

Thank you for the very thorough detective work! That will point me in certain directions vis-à-vis demo and review videos.

 

[Malak the Mad]

I'm honestly having the same kinda problem figuring out if they have what I want pickup wise for a Pbass I'm wanting.

Ugh...I know, right?! Which to choose...which to choose...!!

 

[Malak the Mad]

I bought a set of custom shop 60’s based on a guy telling me that’s what he had in a bass I really liked the sound of. I never installed them because I was using humbuckers in my Mexican jazz basses and was happy with the output of my Highway 1 (one??) jazz basses. Then my left pinky got compromised and I had to switch to 30” scale basses because I could no longer make the stretch required for 34” scale, and wound up selling the 60’s.

There's a lot to unpack in such a small reply. To that effect...

On the "pinky" part, I am so sorry. Speaking as someone who works in therapy and pain management, that bites super-hard.

On the "Highway One/1" part, I've heard so many glowing reviews about them, so I'm not surprised you kept them. And, given Reply #6, as well as the Highways being a mix of Mexican and American parts, I'm wondering if they were similar pups, if not the same.

On the "Custom Shop '60s" part, is that a sale offer? I'm not against such an offer, but there is some fairly stiff shopping competition online.

 

[Killing Floor]

Do it NOW! I have several Mod Shop and keep threatening to buy another one.
ps
Any CS dealer can order Mod Shop even though some don't know it. Even Sweetwater or GC can. I have bought mine through a local dealer. Reason is you don't get a lot of notice when they ship so having them send to a dealer is safer than leaving on your door. Also, for Exactly the same cost the dealer gets paid a kickback to inspect it and set it up from Fender. You have to go to the shop and prepay with your card online and as soon as you order it the dealer replies with your reference number and enters their account. It's simple and secure. Plus it builds goodwill in case you ever need warranty help.

 

[Malak the Mad]

Do it NOW! I have several Mod Shop and keep threatening to buy another one.
ps
Any CS dealer can order Mod Shop even though some don't know it. Even Sweetwater or GC can. I have bought mine through a local dealer. Reason is you don't get a lot of notice when they ship so having them send to a dealer is safer than leaving on your door. Also, for Exactly the same cost the dealer gets paid a kickback to inspect it and set it up from Fender. You have to go to the shop and prepay with your card online and as soon as you order it the dealer replies with your reference number and enters their account. It's simple and secure. Plus it builds goodwill in case you ever need warranty help.

That's some pretty damn good advice! Thanks, chief! There's a pretty darn good Guitar Center near me, so dropping by is no problem. They could hold it for me for pickup AND giving them a wee "bump" in the process couldn't hurt.

I gotta wonder, though...if I made either a direct appeal to Fender...either by email, phone or if the GC does it for me...could it be possible for them to install a set of CS '60s, instead? I mean, the worst they can do is say "sorry, no".

Come to think of it, the last new/open-box Fenders I've ever bought were through that GC location. Perhaps, the third time's the charm, eh?

 

[fhm555]

There's a lot to unpack in such a small reply. To that effect...

On the "pinky" part, I am so sorry. Speaking as someone who works in therapy and pain management, that bites super-hard.

On the "Highway One/1" part, I've heard so many glowing reviews about them, so I'm not surprised you kept them. And, given Reply #6, as well as the Highways being a mix of Mexican and American parts, I'm wondering if they were similar pups, if not the same.

On the "Custom Shop '60s" part, is that a sale offer? I'm not against such an offer, but there is some fairly stiff shopping competition online.

The pickups in my Highway 1 basses sounded way better than the ones in my MIM J basses. I used humbuckers in the Mexican basses before I had my first Highway 1 and the bands I was in really liked the way my basses sounded so I just left them. The reason for the pickups was to put in one of my MIM because I had no single coil J basses, but then the first Highway 1 came along about 3 weeks after the 60,s arrived. As for what I’ve got left to sell, one Highway 1 and my old US Jazz Plus. TBH I’m still trying to screw up the motivation to let the Plus go. It is the only inanimate object I’ve ever been emotionally attached to. Silly I know, but it is what it is.

 

[Malak the Mad]

As for what I’ve got left to sell, one Highway 1 and my old US Jazz Plus. TBH I’m still trying to screw up the motivation to let the Plus go. It is the only inanimate object I’ve ever been emotionally attached to. Silly I know, but it is what it is.

Yeesh, do I know that sitch! I've had many occasions where circumstances demand I sell gear. I keep reminding myself "it's just stuff", but it still feels like I'm cutting off a part of me.

In no small amount of irony, one of those "sacrifices" was a Fender American Standard Jazz with the very same Custom Shop '60s pickups that has lead this poll.

 

[80jazz]

CS '60s AINEC.

The AV 66 workd be my next choice.

 

[fhm555]

Yeesh, do I know that sitch! I've had many occasions where circumstances demand I sell gear. I keep reminding myself "it's just stuff", but it still feels like I'm cutting off a part of me.

In no small amount of irony, one of those "sacrifices" was a Fender American Standard Jazz with the very same Custom Shop '60s pickups that has lead this poll.

I think that’s what is making this such an agonizing decision, I don’t need to sell anything, I just dislike having something I can no longer use. Why should it be sitting in a case in a closet when someone else could be giving it the attention it deserves.

 

[Malak the Mad]

In no small amount of irony, one of those "sacrifices" was a Fender American Standard Jazz with the very same Custom Shop '60s pickups that has lead this poll.

CS '60s AINEC.

The AV 66 workd be my next choice.

See?! This is what I’m talking about! The poll isn’t even 72 hours old and already 60% of the votes say “Custom Shop ‘60s”!

 

[Malak the Mad]

The majority still says "CS '60s", so maybe I should just look to Warmoth to commission a "foundational body" to start with, then build up from there. So, just to hedge my bets, I sent Warmoth an email with both mock-ups to see if they can fabricate something closer to the Mod Shop's Jazz...mainly, if their silver paint is similarly darker and come with a broader, more faded out burst.

Big picture...this would be a "dream bass" for me, so doing my due diligence is a very important step. "Measure twice...cut once" and all that, right?

For comparisons sake...

 

[Malak the Mad]

As I suspected, the Silverburst finish from Warmoth would look very, very close to their homemade mock-up and they cannot alter their style or color. To be honest, that's perfectly fine. I would much rather have something come to me as stated..."truth in advertising" and all that.

What's really nice is how quickly their sales associate is with reading and replying to emails. Top scores for customer service!

Ultimately, I've decided to pull the trigger on the Mod Shop bass. The order is in, so now I'll just have to wait for the shipping info.

For those who participated in the poll, I chose the Generation 4 Noiseless pickups. The demos I found were pretty good, but we'll have to see what they're capable of when I get it. If I like them, they'll stay...if not, I can always get a set of Custom Shop '60s in the future. However it turns out, I'll be sure to post something here for anyone who's interested.

Many thanks, y'all!