I had a similar thing with Custom Shop Fender basses. I travelled to Mansons in Exeter once to play a pink Jazz bass, I was fantasizing about Flea's and couldn't wait to try it out. Soundwise it was nice but build quality, Jeepers. It was sh1te, if you ask me. Very 2 dimensional and soulless. They had stimulated crazing to the lacquer but it looked so "phoney." Defintely a £500 bass with a £2,300 price tag, in my opinion.