Boodang Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 I noticed Fender custom shop have announced new models for 2024… if you’ve got £5k to spare you can buy two badly bolted together pieces of wood! Out of interest, does anyone here think there’s something magical in these custom shop specials? Would you spend 5k on one of these or for that money might it be possible to buy something of better value! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolo Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 If I had to spend 5k on fenders I'd get 5-6 Japanese models secondhand. 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 I’ve only played one Custom Shop instrument, a Pino Palladino Precision. It was awesome. Not sure I’d pay £5k for one (not that I could anyway) but it really was a superb instrument. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 I’ve had custom shop fenders and they are amazing instruments, don’t know where you get the badly bolted together bit, they have gone up in price considerably and I wouldn’t now pay 5k for one, I’d rather go vintage for that money 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boodang Posted February 21 Author Share Posted February 21 5 minutes ago, Reggaebass said: I’ve had custom shop fenders and they are amazing instruments, don’t know where you get the badly bolted together bit, they have gone up in price considerably and I wouldn’t now pay 5k for one, I’d rather go vintage for that money I can imagine that a Fender Custom would hold its value but not sure it’s worth it! As for ‘badly bolted together’… well, if I had 2 pieces of would, no skill and no money, I’d put one on top of the other and put 4 bolts thru it. If I wanted to join them elegantly and, imho, properly I’d do this; 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueMoon Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 2 hours ago, Boodang said: Out of interest, does anyone here think there’s something magical in these custom shop specials? Would you spend 5k on one of these or for that money might it be possible to buy something of better value! I'm a Fender fan-boy, but..................................no! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 2 hours ago, Boodang said: Out of interest, does anyone here think there’s something magical in these custom shop specials? Would you spend 5k on one of these or for that money might it be possible to buy something of better value! Maybe the CNC machines to make them are gold plated. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman666 Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 7 minutes ago, tauzero said: Maybe the CNC machines to make them are gold plated. no but the luthiers Rolex's are. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 £5k ? Get started on a proper custom bass...you know, where you choose stuff, not just a zooshed-up stock model. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christhammer666 Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 for that money i could get around 8 geedy mij seconhand. crazy times Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr4stringz Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 2 hours ago, Bolo said: If I had to spend 5k on fenders I'd get 5-6 Japanese models secondhand. This. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 50 minutes ago, tauzero said: Maybe the CNC machines to make them are gold plated. They`re the ones that make the new Fender Blingycaster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiram.k.hackenbacker Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 1 hour ago, Boodang said: I can imagine that a Fender Custom would hold its value but not sure it’s worth it! As for ‘badly bolted together’… well, if I had 2 pieces of would, no skill and no money, I’d put one on top of the other and put 4 bolts thru it. If I wanted to join them elegantly and, imho, properly I’d do this; All in the eyes on the beholder, but to me, that doesn’t look elegant. My eyes want to see those two stripes from the body go all the way up the neck. Instead, there’s a piece of wood of nearly but not quite the same colour, with a single stripe. Plus, that cavity plate 🤮. Not for me, but we’re all different, so I’m glad it works for you. As @Lozz196 and @Reggaebass have said, in my experience, FCS basses are far from two badly bolted together pieces of wood. The ones I’ve had/have definitely are not. I’m not sure I’d go to £5k for one, although the burl top J does look very nice 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lidl e Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 I built a fender from parts and it is as good as any bass I've owned. It's my new main. I spent around 1200 but went all high end bits. I cannot imagine the CS ones are that much better. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 Me also, mine was £300 to build and I honestly think £100 to a luthier would have made it at least as good as a lo spec CS 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 They also recently introduced the Fender American vintage II models, although they are much cheaper than the custom shop. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 20 minutes ago, Hobbayne said: They also recently introduced the Fender American vintage II models, although they are much cheaper than the custom shop. Still insanely expensive 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boodang Posted February 21 Author Share Posted February 21 1 hour ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said: All in the eyes on the beholder, but to me, that doesn’t look elegant. My eyes want to see those two stripes from the body go all the way up the neck. Instead, there’s a piece of wood of nearly but not quite the same colour, with a single stripe. Plus, that cavity plate 🤮. Not for me, but we’re all different, so I’m glad it works for you. As @Lozz196 and @Reggaebass have said, in my experience, FCS basses are far from two badly bolted together pieces of wood. The ones I’ve had/have definitely are not. I’m not sure I’d go to £5k for one, although the burl top J does look very nice I agree about the stripes but the set neck join makes upper register playing a joy as opposed to the clumsy restricted bolt on. However, the body is walnut and something my luthier had made ages ago and done nothing with. I got him to put on a mahogany set neck with a ‘62 jazz profile (although compound radius), and the single stripe was a necessary product of its construction. Looks aside it plays like a dream and because of the way it was made only £800! Which is one reason I feel a Fender Custom is not good value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 3 hours ago, Lozz196 said: I’ve only played one Custom Shop instrument, a Pino Palladino Precision. It was awesome. Not sure I’d pay £5k for one (not that I could anyway) but it really was a superb instrument. This. I once played a Pino and it was one of the best Precisions I've touched. These days £5k is beyond my budget by a mile, but it is within the budgets of many and they are the intended audience for these instruments. Good luck to them. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebrig Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 (edited) Here's two I built using Fender bodies, necks, Fender Custom Shop ‘62 and Nordstrand NP4 pickups, with Schaller BM Tuners on both. Total cost for the two = £1600 I've had many "high-end" Fenders over the years and these two play as well as any of them, and would a CS model be £4,200 better than one of mine? I doubt it.🫢 Edited February 21 by thebrig 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 19 minutes ago, Boodang said: I agree about the stripes but the set neck join makes upper register playing a joy as opposed to the clumsy restricted bolt on. However, the body is walnut and something my luthier had made ages ago and done nothing with. I got him to put on a mahogany set neck with a ‘62 jazz profile (although compound radius), and the single stripe was a necessary product of its construction. Looks aside it plays like a dream and because of the way it was made only £800! Which is one reason I feel a Fender Custom is not good value. What you doing up there anyway? 1 1 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 Hell no. I would set fire to a grand of it as a symbolic gesture then use the remaining FOUR GRAND to buy a G&L or two. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skin Lewis Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 6 hours ago, Boodang said: badly bolted together Well, no. I've had two CS Fenders, a Sean Hurley sig P, and a 60 Jazz, both beautifully built. Comparing the CS Jazz directly to the 95 MIJ Jazz I had at the time, the CS was far better in terms of build, materials, sound and playing experience. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonesy Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 Hmmmmmm, what would I buy if I could afford to spend £5k on a bass.......like others have said, probably something vintage. There's likely not many people here that are the target market for them though and I've no doubt they'll sell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 6 hours ago, Boodang said: I noticed Fender custom shop have announced new models for 2024… if you’ve got £5k to spare you can buy two badly bolted together pieces of wood! Out of interest, does anyone here think there’s something magical in these custom shop specials? Would you spend 5k on one of these or for that money might it be possible to buy something of better value! Also, we get it - you don't like bolt on construction. You're off base with your description though. I've seen many pieces of wood screwed together with military precision, with lovely recessed screw heads and sculpted heels. A well done neck join is a joy to behold, regardless of the method. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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