So, I've been thinking....Fender Bass Designer

[tbz]

i think if you visited the american design thread youd get different opinions than that on this thread

Sort of. Lefties on that thread mostly love it since they can buy and design things that are actually not available.

In terms of true custom options, there are some, not a whole lot in factual practice though. I know I'd love to see bound necks available on more models.

Upside, you get your mods installed by Fender at the factory with a COA so resale will be untainted by those additions. Downside, it's often cheaper to buy stock and modify to those specs.

I'd also suggest you read the thread. I know a few folks have had issues with their orders; more than you'd expect based on the number of people involved with the thread.

 

[pedroims]

Very few options, I tried it and was not able to "design" a basic model: modern jazz with block inlays plus according with the Fender Design Experience thread there are a lot of quality issues and to make it worst they are more expensive than the American Standard.

 

[Osztertag2112]

Its not a custom shop, its simply taking the parts they are using in their production models and mixing them up. Everything is probally all assembled all ready for the avri and std lines, they just mix and match pieces. If you want a custom bass, buy one this isnt it

 

[lz4005]

Sort of. Lefties on that thread mostly love it since they can buy and design things that are actually not available.

Are actual left-handed pots available? All the current factory models of lefty Fenders have the pots wired backwards in a way that makes them almost non-functional.

 

[tbz]

Are actual left-handed pots available? All the current factory models of lefty Fenders have the pots wired backwards in a way that makes them almost non-functional.

I'd definitely ask in that thread, they would know for sure.

 

[Slpbass81]

The fender design experience is garbage. They have basically the same options as the american standard series but you can get a binded/blocked neck but it will cost you $400-500 more than the American Standard.

If they really want this to take off offer everything from the past. Vintage paint jobs (not talking about relic'd but the actual paint new), painted headstocks, bridge/pickup covers, every body color (such as walnut, sea foam green, etc). If it included all of this and it was a reasonable price I would buy at least 2 basses. For not I will stick with my American Standards.

 

[I am Soma]

The fender design experience is garbage.

Nope.

 

[metalhead398]

I looked on the Fender website a while ago and saw the new custom thing. At first I was super excited, thinking it was similar to ESP/LTD or Carvin, both of which are awesome, very "custom" basses. The Fender is basically choosing color, pickguard color, and (I think) upgraded hardware/electronics. Not worth my money when for the same price I could have the Carvin. There's not even an option for 5+ strings, at least when I was there.

 

[BigBigGuy44]

You guys know the American Design Experience is completely different from the Custom Shop, right? I ask this because if you did, then you would know that the ADE allows you to build a bass using readily available components while the CS allows you to go hog wild and build anything you can think up. The two concepts are actually quite single and are kept separate for a reason.

 

[Osztertag2112]

You guys know the American Design Experience is completely different from the Custom Shop, right? I ask this because if you did, then you would know that the ADE allows you to build a bass using readily available components while the CS allows you to go hog wild and build anything you can think up. The two concepts are actually quite single and are kept separate for a reason.

I think most people are thinking this feature is run by the custom shop. All the ignorant negativity towards it is getting frustrating

 

[Slpbass81]

I think most people are thinking this feature is run by the custom shop. All the ignorant negativity towards it is getting frustrating

The same exact bass but the "American Design Experience" will cost you $375 more. A business move like this will lead to negative comments.

 

[BlueTalon]

You guys know the American Design Experience is completely different from the Custom Shop, right? I ask this because if you did, then you would know that the ADE allows you to build a bass using readily available components while the CS allows you to go hog wild and build anything you can think up. The two concepts are actually quite single and are kept separate for a reason.

But why? It's rather ridiculous to make a customizing tool to mix and match a few basic options, and then have nothing online to play with for custom shop options. The American design experience is really interesting... for a couple of minutes, and then you've done almost everything you can do with it. The same kind of tool on the custom shop site would be really helpful if they had one.

As it is, I'd much rather spend time perusing Warmoth's online stock of necks and bodies, or playing with their build-it tool. They have a lot more options.

 

[fourstringdrums]

View attachment 456440View attachment 456441

The same exact bass but the "American Design Experience" will cost you $375 more. A business move like this will lead to negative comments.

I agree. What is the point of allowing someone the option of ordering the exact same thing that they can get for cheaper by buying an American Standard? They should be offering colors and features NOT available on American Standard, otherwise what's the point of the upcharge?

 

[BigBigGuy44]

But why? It's rather ridiculous to make a customizing tool to mix and match a few basic options, and then have nothing online to play with for custom shop options. The American design experience is really interesting... for a couple of minutes, and then you've done almost everything you can do with it. The same kind of tool on the custom shop site would be really helpful if they had one.

I agree that having the same builder for CS would be fun and interesting but there are so many options that it wouldn't be easy to build. And then when people started to see the price, another thread would be opened titled "Fender wants $$$$$$ for that? Ridiculous!"

I agree. What is the point of allowing someone the option of ordering the exact same thing that they can get for cheaper by buying an American Standard? They should be offering colors and features NOT available on American Standard, otherwise what's the point of the upcharge?

You seem to be missing the point. Maybe I want a sunburst jazz body with block neck. That's what the builder is designed to do. But, my dad always said that if you are dumb enough to buy it, someone will be dumb enough to build it. And who would actually build exactly what's currently available as a standard model anyway?

 

[Hank Scorpio]

If you take the ADE as what it is (a basic option for putting together off-the-shelf parts, at slightly above AS prices) it's actually pretty good. It's a slight upcharge to get what you want; and I'd imagine it works out cheaper than, say, buying a new Jazz & Precision, switching the necks and selling off the bits you don't need.

If you expect it to be a fully customised experience that'll offer everything (a Bass XII? really?), then you'll obviously think it's a waste of time. The Custom Shop will mock one up for you if you wanted, I'm sure, but how on earth would they even design a builder that'd cover every eventuality? Moving pickups just isn't feasible on a mass produced instrument like those.

We should be annoyed at ADE for it's real flaw - not letting you stick a P neck on a Jazz body

 

[pedroims]

I agree that having the same builder for CS would be fun and interesting but there are so many options that it wouldn't be easy to build. And then when people started to see the price, another thread would be opened titled "Fender wants $$$$$$ for that? Ridiculous!"




You seem to be missing the point. Maybe I want a sunburst jazz body with block neck. That's what the builder is designed to do. But, my dad always said that if you are dumb enough to buy it, someone will be dumb enough to build it. And who would actually build exactly what's currently available as a standard model anyway?

All I wanted was a jazz bass in CAR with blocks inlay neck and to my surprise it was not available unless I also get the crappy old bridge, how can Fender consider his own high mass bridge a custom option.

And I am not bashing Fender, I bought a Fender select bass yesterday but this builder experience is very limited on features to the point that is mostly useless for many people.

 

[Ralph Notoro]

Do they have the option of having the trust rod adjustment at the top instead of having to use that stupid long wrench?

 

[fourstringdrums]

Do they have the option of having the trust rod adjustment at the top instead of having to use that stupid long wrench?

No

 

[tbz]

If you take the ADE as what it is (a basic option for putting together off-the-shelf parts, at slightly above AS prices) it's actually pretty good. It's a slight upcharge to get what you want; and I'd imagine it works out cheaper than, say, buying a new Jazz & Precision, switching the necks and selling off the bits you don't need.

If you expect it to be a fully customised experience that'll offer everything (a Bass XII? really?), then you'll obviously think it's a waste of time. The Custom Shop will mock one up for you if you wanted, I'm sure, but how on earth would they even design a builder that'd cover every eventuality? Moving pickups just isn't feasible on a mass produced instrument like those.

We should be annoyed at ADE for it's real flaw - not letting you stick a P neck on a Jazz body

Tbh I think Fender missed the mark with their marketing on this one. They didn't market it as "a basic option for putting together off-the-shelf parts, at slightly above AS prices."

It's the Fender American Design Experience. That does communicate a certain level of prestige, and as many have pointed out, as many folks have mentioned they expected more based on the marketing.

IMO that word, Design, is where they really get themselves into trouble. Mixing and matching parts in a very limited and controlled way doesn't seem like "designing" to me. It's at best the equivalent of guitar/bass Duplos, when we all expected Legos.

 

[Slpbass81]

I love Fender, it is all I play. But this really is a fail and makes me feel they are trying to see how they can more more money off their customers. They don't even offer the option of adding an american deluxe binded/block neck to the modern jazz bass.