What happens to damaged Fender basses?

[sirmuppet]

So I'll give you a little backstory. A company in the US comissioned a custom Fender bass. The neck is specific to this instrument, the body colour is only available on this bass, the pickup routing is unique to this bass. They made  a short run and I got one. It arrived and had been damaged. The headstock has taken a little bash causing the hole where the nub of the back of the tuner where it sits in the split through and the body has a large dent and crack on the lacquer. 

 

All that aside it's a stunner, plays wll and sounds good. The dent/crack is more to the back and only cosmetic and the tuner issue is fixed by tightening the nut of the tuner and making sure it's set correctly. 

 

I've been promised that they will replace it with another but this will need specially made. My concern is does anyone know what happens to an intrument like this? It's not like the neck or body can be reused on another model as it's specific to this. I'm going to offer to buy this one as well if I can but I'ld like to know all the information prior to discussing this with them. If it's going to be destroyed then I don't want to offer too much. Since it's a custom order I can't see if being reused, perhaps the hardaer but not the neck and body. There will also be return shipping at their cost to consider.

 

Any one know what happens to something like this or had experience of this?

 

Thanks.

[AndyTravis]

Things may have changed…but there used to be a warehouse in Essex (East grinstead…)

 

Shops would be invited down to b-stock sales and receive big discounts which would be passed on in store as “b-stock” sales.

 

the level of discount would obviously be according to the level of b-stockness 😏

 

could well be different now.

[PaulThePlug]

Keep Quiet and Wait on what they ask... cost of return may be prohibative...

When (If) they provide return detail, enquier about a cost to retain v return expenditure....

[sirmuppet]

5 minutes ago, AndyTravis said:

Things may have changed…but there used to be a warehouse in Essex (East grinstead…)

 

Shops would be invited down to b-stock sales and receive big discounts which would be passed on in store as “b-stock” sales.

 

the level of discount would obviously be according to the level of b-stockness 😏

 

could well be different now.

It's similar still. I know my local store can go on and see items that have either been demoed by Fender or may have a blemish etc... 

 

The specific thing here is Fender wouldn't be able to do that. This bass was ordered specifically for one store and only to be sold through them. So I can't imagine Fender could take it back and resell it like that. 

 

[sirmuppet]

1 minute ago, PaulThePlug said:

Keep Quiet and Wait on what they ask... cost of return may be prohibative...

When (If) they provide return detail, enquier about a cost to retain v return expenditure....

Yeah, I'm not contacting them first. Am doing exactly what you're saying. Just if/when it comes to that I'd like to know all the info. If Fender can't reuse/resell it then it will be a greater loss for them so I would have that on my side which I think it the case here. Certainly unless they reroute and also fill the body, they couldn't use that. The neck is a 63 p-bass with block inlays but labelled under a different model of bass. So they'd have to re-badge that to even have a chance of reusing it. So I'm guessing it's just hardware value. 

[tauzero]

Relic.

[neepheid]

What happens to damaged Fender basses?  They just get played don't they?  They're broken as designed!

 

Sorry, I'm here all week, try the veal etc.

[Sibob]

Almost certainly wouldn't go back to Fender I don't think. Fender would just offer some ridiculous discount to the shop and they'd then sell it as B-stock.

Cheaper for Fender to do than pay for it to come back to them and then junk it.

 

Si

[sirmuppet]

52 minutes ago, Sibob said:

Almost certainly wouldn't go back to Fender I don't think. Fender would just offer some ridiculous discount to the shop and they'd then sell it as B-stock.

Cheaper for Fender to do than pay for it to come back to them and then junk it.

 

Si

This is the odd thing. Another store can't sell it as it was a specific custom design for this particular store. The store I bought it from isn't even a guitar store, they're more of a clothing store. So they wouldn't want to sell a B-stock bass I would think. If they did they'd still have to get it uplifted back to them. From what they said, Fender are replacing the bass and taking responsibility for it, but it would take some time since it would need to be worked into the schedule and is below the minimum 50 for a factory custom order. 

 

To give a little insight the bass normally features a PJ configuration but in this instance has only a P pickup that is reverse. The birdge is normally top loading but has been spec'd with a USA string through version. The neck is normally a J style with do inlays but is spec'd to have a P-bass with block inlays. Neck plate and gig back have company logo on them. Even the pickguard is a custom shape. 

 

I'm going to make them an offer to keep this one but if it's gonna be junked and just reuse the pickup and tuners then I'll make a lower offer. I think this will probably be the case. The only other option is they fix and respray what's damaged and hope that the store order more. I'm just trying to get a grip on what might happen so I can go in with all the info.

[PaulThePlug]

If it was a Super Special Limited Run, Is it likely they (Fender) will make 1 more?

What is the company etc -  if they have all now been sold can you let us know who's and what, pics etc. 
Is it the clothiong shop who are offering you a replacement and negotiating a Single (Another One) from Fender?
You say company in the US, are you and/or the shop UK or US...

[Maude]

Just tell us what the damn bass is and put a picture up! 

 

Please 😁. 

[sirmuppet]

23 hours ago, PaulThePlug said:

If it was a Super Special Limited Run, Is it likely they (Fender) will make 1 more?

What is the company etc -  if they have all now been sold can you let us know who's and what, pics etc. 
Is it the clothiong shop who are offering you a replacement and negotiating a Single (Another One) from Fender?
You say company in the US, are you and/or the shop UK or US...

No gaurantee they will make another run. There is talk of it but nothing as yet. There were more than one damaged in this batch, I think someone said 10 in total. 

[sirmuppet]

1 hour ago, Maude said:

Just tell us what the damn bass is and put a picture up! 

 

Please 😁. 

It's not to everyone's taste but I like it. The colour is hot pink 

 

[neepheid]

I need help, I saw the block inlays first.

[PaulThePlug]

1 hour ago, sirmuppet said:

It's not to everyone's taste...

When did the damage start!

Only Jokin'
Very Much of the Jag-esq and Squier Paranormals...
Nice 'n Simples

what was the 'Brand'

I feel it would be unlikely of a re-run...

I'd be seeing what discount you can get from the supplier to keep it.
I'd be hoping on a reply starting at Half Price...

Edited August 25, 2022 by PaulThePlug

[sirmuppet]

56 minutes ago, PaulThePlug said:

When did the damage start!

Only Jokin'
Very Much of the Jag-esq and Squier Paranormals...
Nice 'n Simples

what was the 'Brand'

I feel it would be unlikely of a re-run...

I'd be seeing what discount you can get from the supplier to keep it.
I'd be hoping on a reply starting at Half Price...

Haha. 

 

Yeah, nice and simple. One pickup, one volume. The neck is lovely. 

 

The brand was HMNIM. They got in touch with Fender to produce the bass. 

 

There's talk of another run but nothing solid yet. They were talking about doing one in Sonic Blue. So that might be more likely. 

 

The plan is  exactly that. I know I'm getting a replacement but until thet tell me what's happening with this I'm not pressing it. I'm guessing unless there's another run then Fender won't be able to reuse the body and neck, nor the neckplate or gigbag. So the value to them would be in the remaining parts. I just wanted to know if I was right in my thinking or if there was something Fender may do with it that I hadn't thought of. This would have an affect on the offer I made to them or counter offer to any made to me I guess.

[Geek99]

I like it

[OliverBlackman]

2 hours ago, sirmuppet said:

Haha. 

 

Yeah, nice and simple. One pickup, one volume. The neck is lovely. 

 

The brand was HMNIM. They got in touch with Fender to produce the bass. 

 

There's talk of another run but nothing solid yet. They were talking about doing one in Sonic Blue. So that might be more likely. 

 

The plan is  exactly that. I know I'm getting a replacement but until thet tell me what's happening with this I'm not pressing it. I'm guessing unless there's another run then Fender won't be able to reuse the body and neck, nor the neckplate or gigbag. So the value to them would be in the remaining parts. I just wanted to know if I was right in my thinking or if there was something Fender may do with it that I hadn't thought of. This would have an affect on the offer I made to them or counter offer to any made to me I guess.

I think your problem here is you are asking people who don’t know the answer to your very specific query.

[sirmuppet]

2 hours ago, OliverBlackman said:

I think your problem here is you are asking people who don’t know the answer to your very specific query.

It was a long shot but if I'm going to ask and someone is going to know then here would be the best place.

[Maude]

I had to Google HMNIM (Hi my name is Mark) and now the one pickup one volume makes sense, being that the Mark in question is Mark Hoppus. 

 

If it's a strictly limited run then Fender might not have a say whether they let you keep it or not. 

I don't know if this is the case, but say it was a run of fifty. Yours is damaged so they are making you another. If they let you keep the damaged one then there will be fifty-one out there. The number of basses may have been stipulated as part of the deal so an extra one is a no go. Who knows. 

 

Nice bass though, I like it. 😎👍

[OliverBlackman]

24 minutes ago, sirmuppet said:

It was a long shot but if I'm going to ask and someone is going to know then here would be the best place.

You may have already tried but a query to Fender customer service may get a response

[sirmuppet]

12 hours ago, Maude said:

I had to Google HMNIM (Hi my name is Mark) and now the one pickup one volume makes sense, being that the Mark in question is Mark Hoppus. 

 

If it's a strictly limited run then Fender might not have a say whether they let you keep it or not. 

I don't know if this is the case, but say it was a run of fifty. Yours is damaged so they are making you another. If they let you keep the damaged one then there will be fifty-one out there. The number of basses may have been stipulated as part of the deal so an extra one is a no go. Who knows. 

 

Nice bass though, I like it. 😎👍

It's not a limited number run, it's a run based upon interest. They did 50 but a lot missed out so they did another 300. If there's enough interest they will do more. They've said as long as people want it they will keep doing runs albeit small ones. So no guarantee there will be more or not. 

 

I actually got an email from HMNIM last night saying they're awaiting the delivery of the replacements to the California factory. So sounds like they're already made which is was, way quicker than I thought (less than 2 weeks). So when they get in touch about delivery I'll maybe ask the question then. 

 

Thanks. The one pickup thing without a tone makes it sound really agressive. So as long as you set up your tone for that bass you're fine. The colour is weird as it's way brighter and pink in person.

[sirmuppet]

12 hours ago, OliverBlackman said:

You may have already tried but a query to Fender customer service may get a response

 

I did think about this. Since it's coming direct from the states I didn't know if I should contact US or UK customer services.

[Ruiner]

What did it set you back with postage and import fees if you don't mind me asking. Been keeping a (not very good) eye on these runs and keep missing out.

[sirmuppet]

Just now, Ruiner said:

What did it set you back with postage and import fees if you don't mind me asking. Been keeping a (not very good) eye on these runs and keep missing out.

 

Not at all. That was a question I kept asking so I knew too 😁. I remember the import fees were £273.56. $129.21 for shipping but not sure what that is in UK pounds.