• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Why Do Fender Custom Shops sounds so good?

CDweller

CDweller

Oct 24, 2009
1,212
166
Clearwater, FL
#1
I currently have a spectacular sea foam green Fender Custom Shop Jazz. The tone is to die for. This is my third custom shop Jazz Bass. The other two were a Lake Placid Blue Jazz (had to return it to Sam Ash cuz I couldn't afford it at the time), and the other a fretless Jaco tribute which sadly got stolen. They all sound as good as a jazz gets- I have a '65, and it is just behind these Custom Shop basses in tone.

I've tried to replicate the Custom Shop tone by using Frahlins and Fender Custom Shop 60's pickups in a couple of basses I assembled, but nothing has come even close. I'd bet money that Fender does not sell whatever pickups they're using in the C.S. Jazz basses.

I have three jazz basses that I'm putting together right now (two fretlesses and a Daphne Blue w/matching headstock), but I fear that I'm just wasting time and money- I should have just bought another Custom Shop J-bass and be done with it.

What does Fender do to make the Custom Shop basses have such fantastic tone?
 
#7
Bass building is more than just pickups. Good wood selection and hardware plays an important part in it also. CS builders hand select and match body and neck. Neck construction is a big part of bass building. If the neck is wrong the bass is wrong. Let the people who can build, do so. Call the custom shop people.
 
#8
RCCollins said:
just like getting a custom made bass except that you don't get to choose any options
Click to expand...

Then it wouldn't be a P or a J anymore. Why would I want to change that?

But kiddng aside, my CS P is a great player. Although P's are the last thing I use in my arsenal, it never seizes to put a grin on me with how good this bass feels. But I have to admit, the stock (single coil) pickup had string balance issues and a Lollar worked better...but still.
 
#9
It's because they're made of money. Legal tender is liquefied then left to dry. The resulting material is very woodlike and is used to build the neck and body of the bass. The tone is, as you hear, frikken sweet. All the electronics are made with NASA grade platinum and are first tested in space before going into any CS bass.






Seriously.
 
#10
Kwesi said:
It's because they're made of money. Legal tender is liquefied then left to dry. The resulting material is very woodlike and is used to build the neck and body of the bass. The tone is, as you hear, frikken sweet. All the electronics are made with NASA grade platinum and are first tested in space before going into any CS bass.






Seriously.
Click to expand...

+1 on this for humor and creativity
 
#11
Last year ordered in and purchased a CS59 Precision. The shop also brought in its "sister" - a CS 64 Jazz. I smugly told them I would not be ineterested in that as I have my Mecca of jazz basses in a genuine 69 Jazz. I have owned many USA jazzes over the past 35 years and for me this 69 was "the One". I went in to collect the P and took in my 69 J just to compare with the CS Jazz and to show them what a "real" jazz should sound like. I was stunned - the CS was clearly superior in tone , feel , grunt, playability. From the first note it was appatrent to all. I went to and fro from one to the other on a variety of amps and the conclusion was the same each time. I had a fellow bass player play the two while I listened. Don't get me wrong, the 69 was a great J and I DO know my jazzes - the CS jazz was just clearly a greater J on each count. My 69 was well set up and sounding good. I left my 69 there and bought the custom shop jazz as well as the CS precision. 18 months later and I have never once regretted my decision and both Custom Shop basses continue to provide me with pleasure and groove.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Midak
#12
Tim1 said:
Last year ordered in and purchased a CS59 Precision. The shop also brought in its "sister" - a CS 64 Jazz. I smugly told them I would not be ineterested in that as I have my Mecca of jazz basses in a genuine 69 Jazz. I have owned many USA jazzes over the past 35 years and for me this 69 was "the One". I went in to collect the P and took in my 69 J just to compare with the CS Jazz and to show them what a "real" jazz should sound like. I was stunned - the CS was clearly superior in tone , feel , grunt, playability. From the first note it was appatrent to all. I went to and fro from one to the other on a variety of amps and the conclusion was the same each time. I had a fellow bass player play the two while I listened. Don't get me wrong, the 69 was a great J and I DO know my jazzes - the CS jazz was just clearly a greater J on each count. My 69 was well set up and sounding good. I left my 69 there and bought the custom shop jazz as well as the CS precision. 18 months later and I have never once regretted my decision and both Custom Shop basses continue to provide me with pleasure and groove.
Click to expand...

This is what I'm talking about. The basses are good. Mine was not excessively pricey, as I purchased it on ebay used. I was hoping someone might have some insight into the pickups they use- I am sure they're not the CS pickups you can buy.
 
#13
If the guru of all that is vintage, George Gruhn has been making comments to the effect, that Fender's Custom Shop has been making some instruments that are as good as any time in it's history; then they must be doing something right.
 
#14
I have yet to try a CS bass, but I do own a AV57, although not a CS the feel of the neck the sound the pup is unlike any MIA deluxe or standard bass. I can only believe that a CS bass takes an AV to the next level.

I am in on the CS thing. Holding out for a CS 59 or a Pino Pallidino, but on a push for dough I would settle for an AV62.
 
#15
A local big box Music store here in Vancouver is trying to unload some CS Custom Classic jazz 4s for around $1950 CAD. I see Bass central has them "on sale" for $2899 USD.
Is the $1950 a crazy good deal or is the $2899 just too high for these ones?

Tooned
 
#17
do they have a www site?
Click to expand...

Yeah, but really not much info there from the actual store. I think it's just the national website with general info and not actual store stock.
Anyway, it's the Vancouver Long and Mcquade. Terminal Avenue near Main st. Here's the link you can call 'em if you want.

http://www.long-mcquade.com/location/35/

When I was there there was a Ice Blue Metallic one hanging on the wall and a white one in the used rack for rental or sale. Both fours both the same $1950-ish. I asked the guy about the price and he said they need to get rid of stock. Not sure if the other CS stuff is on sale too.
 
#18
CDweller said:
I've tried to replicate the Custom Shop tone by using Frahlins and Fender Custom Shop 60's pickups in a couple of basses I assembled, but nothing has come even close. I'd bet money that Fender does not sell whatever pickups they're using in the C.S. Jazz basses.


What does Fender do to make the Custom Shop basses have such fantastic tone?
Click to expand...

I've got some good news for you- for the most part the CS uses the same PUPs in the TM series as they do on the AV basses, sold aftermarket under the Original moniker, IIRC, not the Custom Shop PUps.

You can try as many PUPs as you like but the bulk of the aftermarket ones by other makers have their own tone tweaks, for obvious reasons, unless they are supposed to nail the vintage Fender tones (e.g. SD Antiquities). To my ears the Fenders are still the closest, they just nail that subtle combination of grit, and the balance through the frequencies of the originals. Fralins are great but the highs are slightly different, for example).

I'd bet if seekers of tone would try the Fenders out instead of going automatically to other more expensive options, many would be very happy with them.

I'm also of the opinion that the simple act of matching necks to bodies is the key to getting a great sounding fender, which probably explains the variance in tone more than anything from one mass produced Fender to another. I own three identical Tokai hard Punchers ('80s P copies) and I had an interesting time noting how different each combination of neck and body made by swapping them in various combinations. Entwistle made an art of this, probably by necessity at first...

Whatever the reason, my CS '64 Jazz stands up to any passive J style bass I've played for tone and playability, and I've been lucky enough to play quite a few vintage ones as well, including some that were owned and played by pros for years. They can be had used and mint for not much more than a new Am. Standard, which is a deal in my book (a lot of them seem to get bought by hobbyests seeking 'the best' Fender available new who flip them barely having played them, for whatever reason).
 
#19
I have read that CS basses are made to more exacting stanadards - so they are very nearly as well made as a Lakland or Sadowsky - which most folks agree are superior to the mass-produced US fenders. So they are just made better - that's all.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back