It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:47 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 16 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
Post subject: "Time Machine Series"
Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2016 5:41 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2007 4:18 pm
Posts: 1921
Location: Upstate, NY
So, apparently the new production Time Machine 57 Precision has a 9.5" radius. Because, you know. Fender was doing that in 57. Honestly, I've really kind of written off the Custom Shop at this point. I love my Time Machine 55 P, but let's be honest. This Custom Shop is just turning into another boutique shop that churns out high end look alikes. There are already far too many non-vintage spec Fender basses. You can get them at every single level this company produces ad nausseum, and at the majority of the Custom Shop series instruments. Shouldn't the Time Machine series be a platform that at least STARTS with vintage specs? Like the American Vintage series? Shouldn't production pieces for that series actually target the customers who might appreciate them? We get one P bass this year in the Time Machine series and you have to special order it to get it spec'd out correctly. That seems... kind of sad to me. What is the point of having any of the series at all? Is this Fender, or Nash?

Anyone else feel like we're just sitting in an echo chamber, and no one in the office gives a damn?

_________________
http://www.reverbnation.com/casanovafrankensteinandthevoodoomachine
https://www.facebook.com/CFandtheVM

2012 Fender Custom Shop 55 Precision Bass
2012 Fender American Vintage 57 Precision Bass RI
2014 Fender Super Bassman and Bassman 100T/410 Neo


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: "Time Machine Series"
Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2016 7:10 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Sun Aug 31, 2014 3:38 am
Posts: 32
Location: Athens, Greece
Although I share your feelings about pure vintage specs (that's what I prefer) and would change the 9.5" radius to 7.25" in a heartbeat, I believe that the answer to why they preferred a more modern radius is precisely that:
TheKingofPain wrote:
Shouldn't production pieces for that series actually target the customers who might appreciate them?
Apparently, most of their Time Machine orders mentioned 9.5" radiuses, so they went with that as the standard this year. Since I can order whatever I want though, I am less affected by that choice. In the end, this is the whole CS essence to me: custom-order your desired bass/guitar. I do understand that it may be more time-consuming because of the bigger waiting, but you get everything you want the way you want it from day one. And please, don't chime in and bombard me with stories about orders/specs turning bad, because I don't think that they represent the average case.

_________________
2007 Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass
2014 Fender Custom Shop '64 Jazz Bass


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: "Time Machine Series"
Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2016 8:28 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2007 4:18 pm
Posts: 1921
Location: Upstate, NY
Then why call it a "Time Machine" series, at all? Because that's not what it is. It's just another pile of Fenders that don't play like Fenders. They play like Nash basses. I believe that most SHOPS order 9.5" radius necks. Because most shops are own and ran by guitarists, or people who cater to guitarists. It's the same thinking that led to the bass radius being changed. "If it is better on a guitar then it must be better on a bass". That's Gibson style thinking. As someone who plays exclusively newer American Fenders with vintage specs it gets ridiculous to have to travel 5 hours to get to a shop that stocks Custom Shop or AVS series instruments and not only is the selection laughable, but it's not even representative of what I'm looking for. We've basically had the same basses for 34 years in the AVS series. No single coil option. Now, to make matters worse. The Custom Shop seems to be turning into just another subdivision of Fender that is churning out "fast money" mainstream basses.

Sure, I could order everything exactly the way I want it. Oh, wait. Actually, I can't. Because I tried that. Apparently if an option is available on a signature instrument for an artist, the Custom Shop won't sell it to you. So ordering a 51 Precision in CAR, with the only modern applications being the RSD bridge and the mute system they originally designed for Bob Babbit can't be done. Because Sean Hurley has it on his sig now. So, no. Ordering from the Custom Shop isn't the way to get exactly what you want. It's a way to get dicked around and told that you don't matter enough to them because you're not Musician's Friend, or a "name". Whatever the hell that nonsense means.

Again, why even bother building a "Time Machine Series". The bass they have in that series does not even meet the quota of a "Time Machine". It's just another Custom Shop bass they made for the Musician's Friend market. You know, the ones that sit in a warehouse for a couple years til they "deep discount" them for a sale and someone who can live with the compromise decides to scoop it up.

_________________
http://www.reverbnation.com/casanovafrankensteinandthevoodoomachine
https://www.facebook.com/CFandtheVM

2012 Fender Custom Shop 55 Precision Bass
2012 Fender American Vintage 57 Precision Bass RI
2014 Fender Super Bassman and Bassman 100T/410 Neo


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: "Time Machine Series"
Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2016 10:03 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 8:11 pm
Posts: 558
As a guitar player who now will only play "vintage specs" 7.25 radius and small frets, I don't even look at custom shop Fenders anymore. I love the new AVRI series, but it seems Fender all but stopped adding or updating this series, did they even have any at NAMM? I really feel sorry for you as a bass player because at least I had a few different options with AVRI series models. And don't even get me started on custom ordering from the CS, did that once and it did not go well, I would never do that again.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: "Time Machine Series"
Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2016 10:11 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Sun Aug 31, 2014 3:38 am
Posts: 32
Location: Athens, Greece
TheKingofPain wrote:
Sure, I could order everything exactly the way I want it. Oh, wait. Actually, I can't. Because I tried that. Apparently if an option is available on a signature instrument for an artist, the Custom Shop won't sell it to you. So ordering a 51 Precision in CAR, with the only modern applications being the RSD bridge and the mute system they originally designed for Bob Babbit can't be done. Because Sean Hurley has it on his sig now. So, no. Ordering from the Custom Shop isn't the way to get exactly what you want. It's a way to get dicked around and told that you don't matter enough to them because you're not Musician's Friend, or a "name". Whatever the hell that nonsense means.
I am sorry to say it, but if you want a vintage-spec bass, yes, you can have it the way you want it. I don't like it that the mute system isn't available for any custom-order (Fender's policy is that even if Clapton wanted it, they wouldn't feature it unless the order was a Sean Hurley signature), but if you want to go pure vintage, you can.

my56strat wrote:
As a guitar player who now will only play "vintage specs" 7.25 radius and small frets, I don't even look at custom shop Fenders anymore. I love the new AVRI series, but it seems Fender all but stopped adding or updating this series, did they even have any at NAMM? I really feel sorry for you as a bass player because at least I had a few different options with AVRI series models. And don't even get me started on custom ordering from the CS, did that once and it did not go well, I would never do that again.
If your goal is a vintage-spec bass/guitar (the TheKingofPain's mute system spotted on Sean Hurley's Precision Bass is not a vintage bass part), then it is just funny to claim that with the NAV Series one has more options than with the Time Machine Series. What is more, I customed-ordered my CS '64 Jazz Bass and the whole process, from the making of the order to the arriving of the bass to the how it turned out, was flawless.

_________________
2007 Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass
2014 Fender Custom Shop '64 Jazz Bass


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: "Time Machine Series"
Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2016 10:27 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 8:11 pm
Posts: 558
only referring to limited year/color options for AVRI basses, because he also prefers the vintage neck specs as I do, 7.25 radius/small frets, not referring to a mute system because obviously that would not fit into a AVRI spec. He mentioned that if he were going to custom order to get his vintage neck specs he would add the mute system, and a custom color, BUT they would not do it for him. Glad to hear your custom order was a good experience for you, for many it does not turn out that way, his is an example of such.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: "Time Machine Series"
Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2016 1:28 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Sun Aug 31, 2014 3:38 am
Posts: 32
Location: Athens, Greece
Given that the OP wanted the mute, no NAV bass would be able to satisfy him. So, when it comes down to a true vintage-spec bass/guitar, the CS wins, both in terms of options and quality; I personally love the NAV line, they are wonderful instruments, but the CS stuff is a notch above. About the bad custom-order experiences, I believe that through a good CS dealer such incidents are minimized.

Last but not least, I do understand that in situations where you put in a great deal of money you expect everything to be fine; and this is the way it should be, everything should be fine. However, don't lose your faith when something eventually goes wrong.

_________________
2007 Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass
2014 Fender Custom Shop '64 Jazz Bass


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: "Time Machine Series"
Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2016 2:15 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2007 4:18 pm
Posts: 1921
Location: Upstate, NY
While the mute system may put me out of the vintage spec my point still stands. Why put out a "Time Machine" Series at all? These aren't "Time Machine" instruments the way they were even back when my CS 55 P was built. To act like it's not ridiculous to use a non-vintage correct production model as examples of a "Time Machine" Series is silly. It's flat out ridiculous. The entire Series has NO meaning. Sure, I could "Special Order" a Time Machine that's vintage correct. However, the fact that I have to "special order" an instrument from a series that is founded upon being vintage correct kind of makes my point. It'd be like Fender saying "Check out the new Fender American Elite Stratocaster" and they give you a link to a Strat with American Special specs. It's idiotic.

Moreover, the fact that I was willing to pay the premium for a one-off, and then was told I then couldn't get extras is even worse. So Clapton can get special treatment gratis, but we can't pay for it? F*ck Eric Clapton. What makes him better than you? Not a damn thing. He's just another guy with a guitar, and pretending any different is silly.

So I have to pay extra, and wait a year for a Time Machine that actually has true Time Machine specs? That's total BS. That's a hell of a sales pitch. "Want a Fender the way Leo used to make? Try the Time Machine Series!" Just don't expect to be able to try it first, or go buy one in a store. You've gotta wait a year and pay 6k. I bet Leo'd be real proud of that.

_________________
http://www.reverbnation.com/casanovafrankensteinandthevoodoomachine
https://www.facebook.com/CFandtheVM

2012 Fender Custom Shop 55 Precision Bass
2012 Fender American Vintage 57 Precision Bass RI
2014 Fender Super Bassman and Bassman 100T/410 Neo


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: "Time Machine Series"
Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2016 2:39 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Sun Aug 31, 2014 3:38 am
Posts: 32
Location: Athens, Greece
TheKingofPain wrote:
While the mute system may put me out of the vintage spec my point still stands. Why put out a "Time Machine" Series at all? These aren't "Time Machine" instruments the way they were even back when my CS 55 P was built. To act like it's not ridiculous to use a non-vintage correct production model as examples of a "Time Machine" Series is silly. It's flat out ridiculous. The entire Series has NO meaning. Sure, I could "Special Order" a Time Machine that's vintage correct. However, the fact that I have to "special order" an instrument from a series that is founded upon being vintage correct kind of makes my point. It'd be like Fender saying "Check out the new Fender American Elite Stratocaster" and they give you a link to a Strat with American Special specs. It's idiotic.
I never said that it is not ridiculous that they don't have the correct 7.25" radius; I said that since I can get a vintage-spec bass the way I want it, I don't care so much, even though if it was in my hands I would definitely change the 9.5" radius.

TheKingofPain wrote:
Moreover, the fact that I was willing to pay the premium for a one-off, and then was told I then couldn't get extras is even worse. So Clapton can get special treatment gratis, but we can't pay for it? F*ck Eric Clapton. What makes him better than you? Not a damn thing. He's just another guy with a guitar, and pretending any different is silly.
Again, I don't think that you quite understand what I said. I said that even if Clapton himself wanted the bass you wanted, Fender wouldn't build it for him, they wouldn't allow him to add the mute in any other instrument than the Sean Hurley Signature Precision Bass itself. So, Fender treated you the way they would treat Clapton. What is more, don't be rude with the man, ok?

TheKingofPain wrote:
So I have to pay extra, and wait a year for a Time Machine that actually has true Time Machine specs? That's total BS. That's a hell of a sales pitch. "Want a Fender the way Leo used to make? Try the Time Machine Series!" Just don't expect to be able to try it first, or go buy one in a store. You've gotta wait a year and pay 6k. I bet Leo'd be real proud of that.
You will have to wait an average of 8 months and pay something close to 3k$, which is pretty close in analogy to what you'd have to pay back in the '60s for a Fender bass.

_________________
2007 Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass
2014 Fender Custom Shop '64 Jazz Bass


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: "Time Machine Series"
Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2016 2:55 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 8:11 pm
Posts: 558
IMHO the idea of the "custom shop" has kind of lost it's way. I'm glad to have two strats, the way I think they should be, as vintage correct as possible and no longer am always searching for something better. I thought if Fender expands the new AVRI series they may give me a reason to buy another, but looks like that line is at a standstill so my wallet stays in my pocket. I agree, waiting a year or more for something that may, or may not be what you expect(if they even get it right) and dropping 5 or 6 grand is not even something I would consider, even if they did add all the specs you request(which in your case I don't get, whats the big deal about adding a mute to your order? who cares if it's on a signature model, this is where a "custom order comes in).


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: "Time Machine Series"
Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2016 2:58 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2007 4:18 pm
Posts: 1921
Location: Upstate, NY
Midak wrote:
TheKingofPain wrote:
Moreover, the fact that I was willing to pay the premium for a one-off, and then was told I then couldn't get extras is even worse. So Clapton can get special treatment gratis, but we can't pay for it? F*ck Eric Clapton. What makes him better than you? Not a damn thing. He's just another guy with a guitar, and pretending any different is silly.
Again, I don't think that you quite understand what I said. I said that even if Clapton himself wanted the bass you wanted, Fender wouldn't build it for him, they wouldn't allow him to add the mute in any other instrument than the Sean Hurley Signature Precision Bass itself. So, Fender treated you the way they would treat Clapton. What is more, don't be rude with the man, ok?


Actually, you're dead wrong. This is categorically not true. I was explained by a former representative of the company while going through this ordeal that artists can make their features exclusive. YOU cannot. Hence. My original color request was nitro Oxblood as that would match the grille cloth on my Bassman Pro rigs. However, there is a guitarist with that color on a guitar, and I cannot select it as it's been made exclusive to him. Moreover, it's not like Sean Hurley even designed the mute. Fender designed it as a take off of the old Jazzmaster mute for Bob Babbit back in the day and they built basses for Bob with it. Now Hurley has it. However, it's been made exclusive to his bass. If you think I'm incorrect go ahead and order a Strat in a custom color and tell them you want to make it exclusive and you don't want anyone else to ever be able to use it. See how that works out for you.

_________________
http://www.reverbnation.com/casanovafrankensteinandthevoodoomachine
https://www.facebook.com/CFandtheVM

2012 Fender Custom Shop 55 Precision Bass
2012 Fender American Vintage 57 Precision Bass RI
2014 Fender Super Bassman and Bassman 100T/410 Neo


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: "Time Machine Series"
Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2016 3:05 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2007 4:18 pm
Posts: 1921
Location: Upstate, NY
my56strat wrote:
IMHO the idea of the "custom shop" has kind of lost it's way. I'm glad to have two strats, the way I think they should be, as vintage correct as possible and no longer am always searching for something better. I thought if Fender expands the new AVRI series they may give me a reason to buy another, but looks like that line is at a standstill so my wallet stays in my pocket. I agree, waiting a year or more for something that may, or may not be what you expect(if they even get it right) and dropping 5 or 6 grand is not even something I would consider, even if they did add all the specs you request(which in your case I don't get, whats the big deal about adding a mute to your order? who cares if it's on a signature model, this is where a "custom order comes in).


Exactly. I LOVE my Custom Shop Time Machine 55 Precision. It's perfection. It's an absolute dream and I honestly can't imagine ever having or needing a finer instrument. Between my AVS 57 RI and my CS 55 I have everything I could ever NEED. I'd love a Custom Shop vintage correct 51 Precision. Maybe in a custom color, but I'd buy one even in Blonde. However, they aren't making them. My concession was that if I'm going to have to order something specific for me. Pay the premium and deal with the wait then I should build the bass that would give me everything I could ever need in one package. So, Slab body, single coil, high mass bridge with flats for sustain, but the built in mute for easy access to that tubbier sound. It would give me everything I could ever want to do, or sound like at the flick of a thumb. That to me would be worth the wait and premium. Paying the difference between a production run team built Time Machine 55 P (1500 for the one off), and having to wait just to have them not put contours on it (ie do less work than the base model) and change the neck shape from a V to a U seemed kind of silly. Call me crazy.

_________________
http://www.reverbnation.com/casanovafrankensteinandthevoodoomachine
https://www.facebook.com/CFandtheVM

2012 Fender Custom Shop 55 Precision Bass
2012 Fender American Vintage 57 Precision Bass RI
2014 Fender Super Bassman and Bassman 100T/410 Neo


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: "Time Machine Series"
Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2016 3:08 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2007 4:18 pm
Posts: 1921
Location: Upstate, NY
Midak wrote:
TheKingofPain wrote:
So I have to pay extra, and wait a year for a Time Machine that actually has true Time Machine specs? That's total BS. That's a hell of a sales pitch. "Want a Fender the way Leo used to make? Try the Time Machine Series!" Just don't expect to be able to try it first, or go buy one in a store. You've gotta wait a year and pay 6k. I bet Leo'd be real proud of that.
You will have to wait an average of 8 months and pay something close to 3k$, which is pretty close in analogy to what you'd have to pay back in the '60s for a Fender bass.



I don't know how long it's been since you bought a custom shop bass, but my quote for a Time Machine 51 in Candy Apple Red was at least 10 months and $4900 USD. That was over a year ago. So I think you're misinformed on a lot of things.

_________________
http://www.reverbnation.com/casanovafrankensteinandthevoodoomachine
https://www.facebook.com/CFandtheVM

2012 Fender Custom Shop 55 Precision Bass
2012 Fender American Vintage 57 Precision Bass RI
2014 Fender Super Bassman and Bassman 100T/410 Neo


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: "Time Machine Series"
Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2016 3:44 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Sun Aug 31, 2014 3:38 am
Posts: 32
Location: Athens, Greece
TheKingofPain wrote:
Actually, you're dead wrong. This is categorically not true. I was explained by a former representative of the company while going through this ordeal that artists can make their features exclusive. YOU cannot. Hence. My original color request was nitro Oxblood as that would match the grille cloth on my Bassman Pro rigs. However, there is a guitarist with that color on a guitar, and I cannot select it as it's been made exclusive to him. Moreover, it's not like Sean Hurley even designed the mute. Fender designed it as a take off of the old Jazzmaster mute for Bob Babbit back in the day and they built basses for Bob with it. Now Hurley has it. However, it's been made exclusive to his bass. If you think I'm incorrect go ahead and order a Strat in a custom color and tell them you want to make it exclusive and you don't want anyone else to ever be able to use it. See how that works out for you.
I didn't realize that you were referring to that; that indeed is unfair, to make a feature exclusive to yourself. I don't think that Clapton would be able to use something exclusive to another person for him, though.

TheKingofPain wrote:
I don't know how long it's been since you bought a custom shop bass, but my quote for a Time Machine 51 in Candy Apple Red was at least 10 months and $4900 USD. That was over a year ago. So I think you're misinformed on a lot of things.
My order was placed early September 2014 and the bass arrived early January 2015, at a total cost of 2519€ that equaled 3250$. I don't think that it was that long before.

_________________
2007 Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass
2014 Fender Custom Shop '64 Jazz Bass


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: "Time Machine Series"
Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2016 3:54 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2007 4:18 pm
Posts: 1921
Location: Upstate, NY
Midak wrote:
TheKingofPain wrote:
I don't know how long it's been since you bought a custom shop bass, but my quote for a Time Machine 51 in Candy Apple Red was at least 10 months and $4900 USD. That was over a year ago. So I think you're misinformed on a lot of things.
My order was placed early September 2014 and the bass arrived early January 2015, at a total cost of 2519€ that equaled 3250$. I don't think that it was that long before.



It may not have been, but you have to remember. There have been a LOT of changes in recent times to the way the Custom Shop is run. From what I've gathered. None of them good. I doubt you'd hear these complaints (with the exception of the exclusivity possibly) when Mike was in charge. Even then, having Clapton have an exclusive custom finish on his current CS axe is one thing. (It was also a pretty labor intensive special finish) Having me ordering a finish that is available on a guitar that is produced in Japan on a Custom Shop bass being off limits is a little ridiculous, imo. Especially when it's just an old Dupont color. It's not like it's anything out of the ordinary.

_________________
http://www.reverbnation.com/casanovafrankensteinandthevoodoomachine
https://www.facebook.com/CFandtheVM

2012 Fender Custom Shop 55 Precision Bass
2012 Fender American Vintage 57 Precision Bass RI
2014 Fender Super Bassman and Bassman 100T/410 Neo


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 16 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: