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The Fender Custom Shop is a Joke

#121
Brad Johnson said:
There are so many exceptions to that, it's clear that "ANYONE" is an exaggeration. They're nice basses but many people still prefer Fenders... especially if they're not looking for a Fender styled instrument.
:cool:
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Really? I see the smiley and all but I was not exaggerating anything. I was stating my opinion very simply that I think anyone who is interested in a Fender or a Fender styled instrument would be "very well satisfied with either one of these". Here I will say it again for kicks:

"I submit to you that ANYONE looking for a Fender or Fender styled instrument would most likely be VERY well satisfied with either one of these. Most people would most likely find them to be superior to most Fenders in every way..."

I did not make my statement to draw the ire of anyone here. I own Fenders, Sadowskys and an Alleva Coppolo and have another on the way. I feel very quailifed to state my own opinion about the subject and do not need anyone else to "clarify" my opinions for me. Notice if you read my statement very clearly I tempered it by saying "most likely". I did not make a statement of empirical fact at all, Just my opinion, nothing more nothing less. As far as I know that is still allowed around here isn't it? You may disagree and that is cool but I do not need to have my opinions "fixed" by anyone else. That seems to go on a lot around here and for the life of me I can't figure out why? Thanks for the courtesy. If you want to debate the topic that is cool I would be happy to do that but please refrain from "helping" me with my opinions if you don't mind, I really don't need any assistance nor policing of my ideas...I promise I will show you the same courtesy whether I agree with you or not....

:cool:

Peace,

T
 
#122
Brad Johnson said:
Then you must've bought the Foderas used. New ones can take a pretty substantial hit, just like most boutique basses.
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Actually, IME, unless you go crazy with options, Foderas tend to hold their value far better than most. I have bought several of mine new and several used. By way of example, used Monarch Deluxe 4-strings in great condition generally seem to go for between $4,500 and $6,000 (depending on woods, options and condition). A new Monarch Deluxe 4-string lists for $6,483 (2009 price) and can be had for less than that if you make yourself a good deal either direct through Fodera or at one of the larger dealers...
 
#123
lefty007 said:
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.
Click to expand...

+1. I tried out an off-the-rack CS Jazz with active electronics. Nice looking bass but nothing really extraordinary. Then I looked at the price. 3700 Canadian $$ !!!:eek: If you aren't adamant about having Fender on the headstock, you can get much better bang for your buck elsewhere.
 
#124
tommixx said:
Really? I see the smiley and all but I was not exaggerating anything. I was stating my opinion very simply that I think anyone who is interested in a Fender or a Fender styled instrument would be "very well satisfied with either one of these". Here I will say it again for kicks:
Click to expand...

Understood, Tom, it was clearly your opinion. I disagree based on many people I know of who've done just that with a different result. That's all.

"I submit to you that ANYONE looking for a Fender or Fender styled instrument would most likely be VERY well satisfied with either one of these. Most people would most likely find them to be superior to most Fenders in every way..."

I did not make my statement to draw the ire of anyone here.
Click to expand...


Do you think you drew the ire of anyone?

I own Fenders, Sadowskys and an Alleva Coppolo and have another on the way. I feel very quailifed to state my own opinion about the subject and do not need anyone else to "clarify" my opinions for me. Notice if you read my statement very clearly I tempered it by saying "most likely". I did not make a statement of empirical fact at all, Just my opinion, nothing more nothing less. As far as I know that is still allowed around here isn't it? You may disagree and that is cool but I do not need to have my opinions "fixed" by anyone else. That seems to go on a lot around here and for the life of me I can't figure out why? Thanks for the courtesy. If you want to debate the topic that is cool I would be happy to do that but please refrain from "helping" me with my opinions if you don't mind, I really don't need any assistance nor policing of my ideas...I promise I will show you the same courtesy whether I agree with you or not....

:cool:

Peace,

T
Click to expand...

Wow. "fixed"? "clarify"? I did neither. Nor did I "help" you since I simply and I thought politely disagreed. "policing"? So far the only ire appears to be yours. As such is the case...

I apologize for responding to what you said, Tom. Obviously I should've let it should stand without comment. I should've known better.

:cool:
 
#125
Just Thumpin' said:
Actually, IME, unless you go crazy with options, Foderas tend to hold their value far better than most. I have bought several of mine new and several used. By way of example, used Monarch Deluxe 4-strings in great condition generally seem to go for between $4,500 and $6,000 (depending on woods, options and condition). A new Monarch Deluxe 4-string lists for $6,483 (2009 price) and can be had for less than that if you make yourself a good deal either direct through Fodera or at one of the larger dealers...
Click to expand...

Cool. That doesn't reflect what I've seen on the market.

I've seen the same thing said about other brands, people saying that buying XYZ bass new is a good deal because if you do sell you can recoup most of your money. I've seen people who took that advice and when they tried to sell ended up selling for more than a thousand less than they paid new. And they were surprised by that, based on what they were told.

I think some may mistake a high price used with retaining a high value vs. new. Not the same thing.

I only bring this up as a counterpoint and another POV. I hope that's allowed. Sometimes I wonder.
:cool:
 
#126
Brad Johnson said:
Understood, Tom, it was clearly your opinion. I disagree based on many people I know of who've done just that with a different result. That's all.




Do you think you drew the ire of anyone?



Wow. "fixed"? "clarify"? I did neither. Nor did I "help" you since I simply and I thought politely disagreed. "policing"? So far the only ire appears to be yours. As such is the case...

I apologize for responding to what you said, Tom. Obviously I should've let it should stand without comment. I should've known better.

:cool:
Click to expand...

I gues it is all a matter of perception...the net allows for a lot of ambiguity and this is pretty much the response I expected...you see nothing wrong with the way you responded to my original post, I see nothing wrong with the way I responded to you...we agree that we don't agree...I can live with that. BTW - I expected your response to this and did know better....but I still stand by my original statement.

:D

Peace,

T
 
#129
Bass Viking said:
If you aren't adamant about having Fender on the headstock, you can get much better bang for your buck elsewhere.
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That's been what I've found. This stands true at just about every price range of Fenders imo.

Yamaha,Ibanez,Peavey at the Mexican level.
Skyline,G&L at the Am.Standard level...
Lakland US,Sadowsky at the CS level... etc.

I guess that's what people mean when they say todays corporate Fender is selling a brand name.

That's not to say I or anyone can't feel satisfied with the return for their money on a purchase (not bashing the brand,just a point) .
 
#130
chiplexic said:
That's been what I've found. This stands true at just about every price range of Fenders imo.

Yamaha,Ibanez,Peavey at the Mexican level.
Skyline,G&L at the Am.Standard level...
Lakland US,Sadowsky at the CS level... etc.

I guess that's what people mean when they say todays corporate Fender is selling a brand name.

That's not to say I or anyone can't feel satisfied with the return for their money on a purchase (not bashing the brand,just a point) .
Click to expand...

+1. I'm not particularly brand loyal, so to me an item is overpriced when you're paying a premium for the name.
 
#133
jmcy2k said:
It appears to me that what some are missing is that the exhorbitant pricing quotes being handed out are via the dealership, not Fender. $12k for a CS is probably double what it should be, ie, major gouging by the dealer. So, find another, and more honest, dealer.
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If I'm not mistaken, it was the CS that quoted him that price via person to person conversation....... I could be wrong.
 
#135
A custom built guitar from any manfacturer should be along the lines of what they do,
which is of course the main reason why you would go to them - but certainly be tailored
to your own specifications, within the limitations of what the maker normally does.

They should be able to go quite some way to meeting your more exacting specs and not
just offer you a choice of what they already make (or have in stock ready-made) as that
is not really offering a custom shop service, just hiking their prices thru the roof, cos they
think / know that they can.

There's the prime difference between Warwick - who give you lots of choices and options
and actually enjoy giving the customer a bass that no-one else has .... and Fender - who
charge astronomically stupid money for nothing that's really that extra special (IvMHO).

I'd rather spend extra money above the price of a standard Fender on one of the P or J
copyists like Sadowsky, etc, for a bass that ARGUABLY beats a normal Fender hands
down and doesn't hurt the wallet ridiculously, like a custom shop Fender.

Or I'd get in the queue for a Wal or an Alembic.
 
#138
The other day I saw a CS Fender Jazz with a slanted neck PU. It had all the CS marks and was a very nice instrument. The guy who had it claimed it was bought through a friend that is endorsed by Fender. The cost? $1350. I trust the guy. Any other stories like tihs?
 

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