The Fender Custom Shop is a Joke

[flipper_gv]

I can't imagine too many people would jump on a $4K Fodera because they can't afford $8K and a 5 year wait. Hell, I'd need the five years to get the dough saved up

Consider what happened to Spector, Tobias, Steinberger and other high-end builders who tried to deal with high demand by getting into lower-cost models.

the point is to reduce the wait. I'm not talking about selling the company, I'm talking about getting more than 2 dudes to make some basses. I'm pretty sure 4k Fodera (that are the same that the ones built by Vinnie and the other guy) with a wait of let's say a year (because there are more people building the basses) would sell really good.

 

[USAJO]

Fender Custom Shop is not a joke just maybe mislabeled or not fitting the description or definition you've given it. It's not called Fender Custom Order Shop. And they evidently will do the special orders but at a price that they believe makes it worth it for them although not worth it for the average guy. I will say that I have and have owned several CS basses and guitars and I am very happy with what they produce although I prefer to buy them used. At the used market price points I think they are great values.

 

[spade2you]

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Looks pretty custom to me...not a whole lot of "custom" options, but there's enough for most people and the highest price you can get is like $3400 or thereabouts unless you contact the custom shop in person and get something crazy.

edit: Better yet, look at the one for guitars:
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They're not THAT custom. They're customizable, but I wouldn't call them a true custom shop. Can you get: left handed, different scale lengths, different electronics, different string spacing, hand selected lumber, different body thicknesses, different body shapes, different neck shapes? IMHO, it's a cookie cutter list that's decent, but there are lots of things that they can't do much outside their finite list.

I own several Peavey custom shop basses and they're pretty good, but the options aren't particularly flexible. Furthermore, I had strong problems with a lack of organization. A real custom shop knows how to communicate and doesn't fudge the obvious details. Besides, for what Peavey was wanting to charge me for my wacky designs, Cliff Bordwell was much more flexible, reliable, knowledgeable, AND less expensive.

 

[Mutant Corn]

I know it's not the most flexible thing ever, and I acknowledged that in my first post. "..not a whole lot of "custom" options..."

Yes, it's industrialized, but the fact remains that you can custom order the thing.

 

[OtterOnBass]

Sorry, but why did you call Fender? They are the biggest bass manufacturer of all time, cranking out the same 2 basses since they started. They're not into building customized instruments - that's not where their money comes from.

It's like calling General Motors to order a race car. They're busy selling the standards to the public, they're not a custom shop. They will sell you a 'sports car' that is faster than their others, but nothing serious. Call a reputable race shop, the local motor builders (or a high school auto shop ).

 

[Thunderthumbs73]

What an odd thread. I'd think you'd go to the Fender custom shop to get a customized Fender, not to have the Fender custom people make a bass you could get just as easily from a hundred "you design it, I'll build it" luthiers - most of whom are just as good as the guys at Fender.

And what's a "customized Fender"? I'd say, a standard Fender model with carefully selected woods and extraordinary attention to detail. And, of course, the Fender logo. Anything beyond this but still basically Fenderish, you'd go to Sadowsky or LEJ or Lull or Pensa or Valenti to get an absolute top-quality "near-Fender" with (let's say) your own choice of pickups, tuners, bridge etc. not part of Fender's ordinary stock.

Something even *more* different, you've cast loose from Fender altogether, and the FCS would be a much worse choice than (say) Stambaugh or Warrior - not as good a bass, WAY overpriced, and why bother? Just so you could try to convince people Fender (and not you) put a Fender decal on some very different design?

That is one way to look at it. But another way to look at it is that:
a.) Fender has the capability to do tons of custom things to a bass, but yet most designs are only "mild" custom versions or close derivatives of standard instruments.
b.) Fender has capacity and economies of scale in production which SHOULD translate to "custom" instruments which are cheaper, and perhaps much cheaper than they really are.
c.) The bass you mention which you can just as easily get from a hundred luthiers, only puts an exclamation point on the C minus at best I'd give them as a "custom" shop, considering Fender's corporate resources.

It's not that I don't like Laklands, Sadowskys, Lull's, etc... I do. And they have their place. Iin my mind though, that doesn't absolve FCS. It is frustrating that for all Fender's capacity/potential to be such a custom bass bonanza, it seems like you're gonna pay through the nose for something that's not terribly different than standard models. I can handle not having the Fender signature on my instruments if necessary, but it's the "business model" for lack of better word that frustrates me.

Yep, I know I can't change Fender, but venting just a little anyways...

 

[Thunderthumbs73]

It's like calling General Motors to order a race car. They're busy selling the standards to the public, they're not a custom shop. They will sell you a 'sports car' that is faster than their others, but nothing serious. Call a reputable race shop, the local motor builders (or a high school auto shop ).

As a lifelong automobile enthusiast, I fell compelled to respond. Perhaps a bit of a rant/ramble on a sad note:

Used to be you could actually special order GM cars, and some of them were indeed literally race cars. In the 60s, Some of them were called COPO cars, or Central Office Production Order cars. There were also "factory lightweight" specials with race motors http://www.348-409.com/z11.html ready to take the track with minimal prep. This was the big GM, used to turning out millions of cars being able to produce very special models. To boot, these cars were not 7-12 times the cost of the standard models (as is with Fender Custom Shop versus their standard models) and it precisely those days in retospect which are among the most storied and glorious in GM's history. Also as an average joe customer, you used to be able to pick and chose from a long list of specific options to give the you a sense that they were getting something a little bit special and unique and that it could reflect you just a little bit even if it wasn't an outright custom build. No longer. Now it's option packages, and you can't order the sunroof by itself. But it doesn't have to be that way...

Maybe some lessons for FCS????

 

[sound of bass]

Exactly. I obviously didn't go near it at that price (ended up with a gorgeous, used Sadowsky 4-string NYC for less than 1/3 the cost). It was a simple build with relatively basic woods and a simple finish. Basically a mix and match "greatest hits" (IMHO) Fender Bass...

Im also a Fender user, lucky enough to have 2 "good ones", but 12G's?.........ridiculous!!!! Unless YOU really have the cash. But congrats on the Sadowsky, but you know the rules, no pics....no Sadowsky.

 

[Just Thumpin']

Just re-read your original post, and correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the Victor Bailey a 22-fret neck? That basically means they would have to redesign the '64 body to accommodate a 22-fret instead of a 20-fret neck. That's probably what accounts for the exorbitant price more than anything else.

Yes, it is a 22 fret neck, but we are not talking about a major cutom job here, certainly not something that 50 or more other great builders couldn't do pretty easily

 

[Just Thumpin']

Im also a Fender user, lucky enough to have 2 "good ones", but 12G's?.........ridiculous!!!! Unless YOU really have the cash. But congrats on the Sadowsky, but you know the rules, no pics....no Sadowsky.

I will post the pictures over the weekend!

Overall, I really appreciate all of the great discourse on this thread. Lots of great points and insights. Thanks everyone!

 

[Mushroo]

Yes, it is a 22 fret neck, but we are not talking about a major cutom job here, certainly not something that 50 or more other great builders couldn't do pretty easily

But if the bodies are made with a CNC machine, then setting it up to make a whole new body shape and neck pocket is a really big job; I can see why they would charge a lot to do that if it was just for one bass. Warmoth, for example, will not make you a 22 fret neck and body; you're limited to the shapes their machines are set up to make.

 

[Eminor3rd]

That is completely idiotic. (Not you, the price!)

$12k? Wow. Has anyone (besides Ritter) built a fairly normal guitar for $12k? Pri-cy!

Custom Alembics START at 17k

 

[Thunderthumbs73]

Some could argue that the quality and features that you get out an Alembic are already custom and certainly boutique quality, even the least expensive of their instruments.

 

[Fender32]

Custom Alembics START at 17k

Isn't it also possible to spend 5 digits on a PRS bass?

Now that really would be nuts !!!

 

[hands5]

I agree. I love anything Fender and certainly Custom Shop instruments, but they are more an image thing than an actual practical shop.

I assume they are up to capacity already just servicing their roster of artist, so their prices to the general public are simply ridiculous to keep people away.

And close to what you said, I don't see a reason why anybody would ever order a new Custom Shop Fender is you can get, say, an Alleva-Coppolo for around $3000.

Now, off-the-rack CS are decent, I guess, and more affordable, but I'll still put my money somewhere else. Used CS Fenders, though, is where the deals are.

I paid $2300.00 for my 64 Relic,but I'll tell you my very 1st bass instructor A/B'ed my bass to his real 64 and said he was "Shocked that the Relic felt, and sounded just like his.....it' pretty "damn good but it should be for the price

 

[hands5]

Correct, but not sure it's rubbish. The implication is that these basses will have a better build quality....Is that true? I'm sure that's another thread.I own a 64 Jazz CS Relic and while I love it (I wasn't a big fan relic'd basses either) I wonder if the build quality is better or they just took a stock Jazz and relic'd it? Granted the color on it is custom, but how much more care do they take in building it as opposed to their stock American basses? Good question and I hope someone that knows more about it than I do has an answer.

Let me ask you this
Do you still own the bass and if so,do you like it a lot or a little

What made you go the CS 64 Relic route ?......just asking

 

[Toshiro]

A) I don't believe the $12k quote

Sounds like shenanigans to me. Try another deal

B) Threads like this crack me up

Nobody is forced to buy Fender's CS prices nor are that forced to think that the CS offerings are good values or good instruments. So I find it supremely amusing when people work themselves into a frenzy over stuff like this. I mean the outrage, the OUTRAGE I SAY, is comical.

C) Alleva-Coppola/Sadowsky etc..

I someone wants a *Fender* instrument, then all of those small boutique builders simply won't do. They just won't.

 

[selowitch]

Fender's main mission is to protect the prestige of the Fender name and logo, because that is the source of much of its profit margin. Too many mere mortals getting true customized instruments would dilute the brand, and as others have pointed out, take attention away from artists like Sting, Marcus Miller, Stu Hamm, Steve Harris, and Pete Wentz whose presumed endorsements bring in customers.

 

[Just Thumpin']

Fender's main mission is to protect the prestige of the Fender name and logo, because that is the source of much of its profit margin. Too many mere mortals getting true customized instruments would dilute the brand, and as others have pointed out, take attention away from artists like Sting, Marcus Miller, Stu Hamm, Steve Harris, and Pete Wentz whose presumed endorsements bring in customers.

I think there is something to this...it seems that the Fender Custom Shop does not really need to sell to us mere mortals. Couple that with their 2009 price increases for regular gear and I am beginning to wonder who they DO want to sell gear to...

Look I love the Fender sound, the Fender vibe, I have owned plenty over the years and my intent of the original post was merely to express my frustration with trying to buy a truly custom instrument from what I thought was a Custom Shop.

I not only got over it quickly...I got myself a Fodera (for less than 1/2 the price I was quoted for a glorified Fender Jazz Bass) and I am mighty happy that I did!

 

[Bass Viking]

Correct, but not sure it's rubbish. The implication is that these basses will have a better build quality....Is that true? I'm sure that's another thread.I own a 64 Jazz CS Relic and while I love it (I wasn't a big fan relic'd basses either) I wonder if the build quality is better or they just took a stock Jazz and relic'd it? Granted the color on it is custom, but how much more care do they take in building it as opposed to their stock American basses?

You'd think the build quality would be better, but there's a Jazz CS Relic at my local music store with quite a sizable neck pocket gap. For a > $3000 instrument I expect better. Spend less money on relicing and more on better fit.