The Dark Lord Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 Hi. Has anyone here ever placed an order with Fender, via their custom shop, for a bass to their own specification? I'm thinking of ordering a Precision bass to my own exact spec - black, 4-string, maple fingerboard, medium relic, overwound passive p-bass pickup, brass hardware, black pickguard, neck between P bass and J bass. Cost won't be an issue - but I'd like to know if anyone has done this before, what did it cost, time from order to delivery and your general impression of the experience. ....... and did the bass end up being what you wanted? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 I seem to remember Basschatter wesfinn did this. I don't suppose he is the only one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 [quote name='mercuryl' post='1286664' date='Jun 29 2011, 05:07 PM']Hi. Has anyone here ever placed an order with Fender, via their custom shop, for a bass to their own specification? I'm thinking of ordering a Precision bass to my own exact spec - black, 4-string, maple fingerboard, medium relic, overwound passive p-bass pickup, brass hardware, black pickguard, neck between P bass and J bass. Cost won't be an issue - but I'd like to know if anyone has done this before, what did it cost, time from order to delivery and your general impression of the experience. ....... and did the bass end up being what you wanted?[/quote] Considering how close that is to a standard bass, plus a few minor alterations, you would be paying hideously over the top for the Custom shop to make you one. You could get a new Roger Waters sig and upgrade the hardware and electronics. Maybe get a luthier to slim the neck? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 (edited) [quote name='EssentialTension' post='1286790' date='Jun 29 2011, 06:39 PM']I seem to remember Basschatter wesfinn did this.[/quote] Yep, it was lovely, but I doubt FCS are going to do that again (Wes might explain) I don't know if either of the guys concerned will post here, but I know of two BC members who were, to say the least, underwhelmed by the basses they commissioned by FCS. The problems were not simply in terms of expectation verses reality - which will always be the case when you ask a company who specialise in mass-production to build you a custom instrument - but were in relation to poor finishing and incorrect specification. [quote name='Cosmo Valdemar' post='1287746' date='Jun 30 2011, 02:09 PM']Considering how close that is to a standard bass, plus a few minor alterations, you would be paying hideously over the top for the Custom shop to make you one. You could get a new Roger Waters sig and upgrade the hardware and electronics. Maybe get a luthier to slim the neck?[/quote] +1, I can't see the point in spending upward of £3000 on something so close to stock? Or at least, I'd get UK luthier to make something at the same price that would no doubt be a whole lot better. Edited June 30, 2011 by Beedster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schnozzalee Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 I like the Pig playing Double Bass Teehee! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartelby Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 [quote name='Beedster' post='1287768' date='Jun 30 2011, 02:21 PM']+1, I can't see the point in spending upward of £3000 on something so close to stock? Or at least, I'd get UK luthier to make something at the same price that would no doubt be a whole lot better.[/quote] Another +1. I had a quote of £1400 from Shuker to build a bass very similar to the on the OP wants (The differences were Chrome hardware, inc a Badass bridge, and a chrome pickguard). With the quality that Jon puts out I'd love to know what he could do for the price of a FCS bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noisyjon Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 (edited) [quote name='EssentialTension' post='1286790' date='Jun 29 2011, 06:39 PM']I seem to remember Basschatter wesfinn did this...[/quote] He did and I would suggest a PM to Wes to get all the goss. I would say from my experience that there's the same potential to be let down by a small luthier too and that if it's a CS Fender you want then go for it. Keep us posted, Cheers, Jon edit: Spelling! Edited June 30, 2011 by jonthebass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 [quote name='jonthebass' post='1287832' date='Jun 30 2011, 03:08 PM']I would say from my experience that there's the same potential to be let down by a small luthier too and that if it's a CS Fender you want then go for it.[/quote] Sorry to go OT but did you get the issue sorted out with the small luthier Jon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noisyjon Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 [quote name='Clarky' post='1287837' date='Jun 30 2011, 03:09 PM']Sorry to go OT but did you get the issue sorted out with the small luthier Jon?[/quote] Yes and The Gallery are setting it up this week... Watch this space for the post match report. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 [quote name='jonthebass' post='1287832' date='Jun 30 2011, 03:08 PM']I would say from my experience that there's the same potential to be let down by a small luthier too[/quote] I completely agree, but if it does happen, you're not in another country*, which present potential problems and costs (remember import duties, costs of returning the bass etc are all down to you), and the luthier in question isn't protected by California retail law, which is a very different beast to the UK version. If I were having a custom build, I'd be knocking on Martin Simms' door, and I would be popping in every couple of weeks for a cuppa and a progress update * Which reminds me of the classic "Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes" "Why" "Because that way, when you're judging him, he's a mile away and he can't chase you 'cos you've got his shoes" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 [quote name='Schnozzalee' post='1287790' date='Jun 30 2011, 02:37 PM']I like the Pig playing Double Bass Teehee![/quote] Interestingly, he goes by the name "Jazz Pig". He has been with my better half most her life, and we only became aware of his Jazz virtuosity after a heavy night's 'entertaining' chez Beedster. Whilst it's been suggested that his style's a little agricultural (it's been described as 'truffling'), and that he seems more at home with root vegetables than root notes, he brings home the bacon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fender73 Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 [quote name='mercuryl' post='1286664' date='Jun 29 2011, 05:07 PM']Cost won't be an issue[/quote] Jealous Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dc2009 Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 Never understood the want for reliced basses, I mean, I will happily relic whichever bass you get for you for significantly cheaper than what Fender will charge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.