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Post subject: Fender Custom Shop Basses
Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2011 9:37 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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I just purchased a custom shop bass. I purchased the bass "blind" from an online store so I haven't even held one much less play one (delivery is this friday). I am fortunate enough at this time to be able to afford one and I have to admit that just looking at the pictures of the bass online..... well you know. This will probably be the last bass I purchase so I thought why not go out in style. :D I know, not the best way or reason to buy a new bass.

I'm sure Fender's custom shop makes very good basses, but I do wonder if they're worth the extra cost. The '92 Jazz that I own now is a very good bass. Easy to play and with the active electronics it's easy to get a variety of good sounds.

So what makes the custom basses better? I would appreciate any and all opinions or facts from anyone who owns one or knows anything about them.

Thanks in advance.

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2012 American Standard Precision V - Candy Cola Red
2012 Squier Vintage Modified Jazz V - Surf Green
2011 FCS Custom Classic Special Jazz Bass V - Violin Burst
1996 MIM Stratocaster HSS - Black
1975 Precision Bass - 3 Tone Sunburst


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Post subject: Re: Fender Custom Shop Basses
Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 3:52 am
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Aspiring Musician
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Location: Alabama, Michigan, Florida, Wisconsin, Mississippi and Tennessee seasonally
I have compared several FCS basses with the MIM, MIJ and USA assembly line styles over the years, and the FCS basses are hand fit, modified with higher quality components and just seem to sound a bit richer than their regular counterparts. I have never owned an FCS bass, but have handled enough to see the differences.


"P-L"


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Post subject: Re: Fender Custom Shop Basses
Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 5:06 am
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Aspiring Musician
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Thanks.
I'm kind of putting the cart before the horse asking about the FCS after I purchased the bass. I did read what I could find about the FCS basses, but that's not the same as holding and playing one.
When playing my current bass, I wonder just how much better can they be?
I guess I'll get to find out first hand this Friday. :D

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2012 American Standard Precision V - Candy Cola Red
2012 Squier Vintage Modified Jazz V - Surf Green
2011 FCS Custom Classic Special Jazz Bass V - Violin Burst
1996 MIM Stratocaster HSS - Black
1975 Precision Bass - 3 Tone Sunburst


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Post subject: Re: Fender Custom Shop Basses
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 7:28 pm
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Joined: Wed Mar 23, 2011 2:18 pm
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I have the same bass in trans blue.The best bass I have ever owned and played It's been my main axe for like 5 years now.nothing comes close to these basses fender custom shop is the best you can get hands down.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Custom Shop Basses
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 8:16 pm
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Rock Star
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Location: Albemarle, NC
It all starts with the wood. When the wood blank shipments arrive the very best blanks in each shipment will go to the Custom Shop. Body blanks with the best grain and fewest pieces in the blank plus neck blanks with superior graining and other desirable attributes are pulled for CS production. There is no other way to get such choice wood in a Fender. Even in the coveted pre-CBS era, the truth is that wood was hit or miss. So from the very start you are getting cream of the crop woods far superior to an average 59 P-Bass or 62 Jazz. Each and every piece of hardware is also cherry picked. The pickups are usually hand wound, often by Abigail Yberra who has been working at Fender so long that her tenure predates every instrument in the Fender line with the exceptions of the Telecaster, Stratocaster and P-Bass. She wound the pickups for the very first Jazz Bass. Nobody has more experience making Jazz pickups than her. Each Custom Shop instrument is built by one Master Builder. They are not built assembly line fashion. That way you don't have one person doing one thing while someone else does another thing. There is no way to have these peoples' hands on an assembly line instrument, they only work on Custom Shop issues. The CS Master Builders are all OLD HANDS. These are people with skills which only experience brings who craft instruments for the finest players in the world. You are about to have a world class instrument.

In an effort to reassure you about buying your CS bass blind, with a regular production instrument it is almost imperative to try an instrument before buying, however such is not as much the case with a CS issue. That is because so many variables have been eliminated and they are all the absolute best the Master Builder can do.

I have never owned one but I have played quite a few. I have a tremendous respect for the people that work in the CS. Many of them, like Ms. Yberra, have been at Fender their entire working lives. And yes, the extra cost is worth it to know you got the best instrument that a Master Builder could turn out and not an instrument subject to the fifty or so variables in a mass production instrument.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Custom Shop Basses
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2012 10:21 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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I've had mine for almost a month now. I've played just about everyday. Like Darcy Patrick, it's the best bass I've layed my hands on. I've played a couple of live gigs and done a few recordings as well as practicing at home and with the band. The bass seems to surpass my expectations every time I pick it up.

Thanks for the great info brotherdave.

_________________
2012 American Standard Precision V - Candy Cola Red
2012 Squier Vintage Modified Jazz V - Surf Green
2011 FCS Custom Classic Special Jazz Bass V - Violin Burst
1996 MIM Stratocaster HSS - Black
1975 Precision Bass - 3 Tone Sunburst


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Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Custom Shop Basses
Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 5:24 pm
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Joined: Sat Dec 01, 2007 6:36 pm
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Location: Cooperstown, N.Y.
I've owned and played both exclusively for 30 years,Custom Shop for seven.The production basses are great and it all depends on the setup.That being said I have noticed the better wood and chrome on the custom shop along with a comfortable neck.

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