yes and no!
Each time Fender did something else (and they did!!!) It did not sell half as much as their 50s designs!!!
And when someone wants to produce a bass that sells, I would tell him to make it a sunburst, tort PG, P- bass copie
greetings
Wise
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
Welcome to TalkBass! Want to remove ads? Register an account and login to see fewer ads, and become a Supporting Member to remove almost all ads.
yes and no!
Each time Fender did something else (and they did!!!) It did not sell half as much as their 50s designs!!!
And when someone wants to produce a bass that sells, I would tell him to make it a sunburst, tort PG, P- bass copie
greetings
Wise
I'd like to think everyone is getting their angst out in preparation for a new year of goodwill to all men, but it's a TB/Fender thread so no doubt it will run through to spring at least...
I agree for the most part. However, my main & only bass right now is a LTD Gabe Crisp PJ model. It has string thru body, no fret markers on fingerboard & matching head stock. It was $499 w/ a killer ESP gig bag but I got it for $399 because it was a demo.
Like the price or not, the truth is Fender doesn’t frequently offer a matching headstock outside of its Custom Shop. Us matching headstock snobs have been fortunate over the last couple of years. We currently have the green Adam Clayton, purple Adam Clayton, the American Elite posted by @jd56hawk and the Noir P. Before that was the Opal J, 66 J and Hot Rod Red Jaguar. Not many at all considering how many models are currently in production.
On a side note, Surf Pearl looks much better in person. It has a subtle metallic hue to it that is super sharp.
On a side note, Surf Pearl looks much better in person. It has a subtle metallic hue to it that is super sharp.
Tape it off in under 2 minutes. Another 10 minutes to spay about 30 necks. This isn't brain surgery. They need to look at what's being done overseas, for 1/3 the cost. Leo was frugal and new how to cut cost. That legacy is long gone. He's rolling in his grave.
Last edited:
The difference between mass-produced and handmade instruments might have been bigger in the past, but modern production- especially on basses in the $1000-$2000 bracket- has narrowed the gap significantly. To the point that anyone even moderately handy with a screwdriver, some fine sandpaper and enough time to watch some tutorials could get their instrument to an equal quality.
I'd say that telling young players to buy $3000 instruments is bloody appalling advice! You know how much the cost of living has gone up in the past decade? I like a nice bass but I do prefer to eat. Anyone who thinks they need a $3000 bass for reasons other than custom specs is being taken for a ride. If you want one because you want something handcrafted, fine- but I wonder what on earth you think you're gaining apart from that?
Fender has dipped a toe into custom orders with the Mod Shop. It's simply half-assed. Compare what you can do in the Mod Shop with what you can do with the Maruszczyk configurator. For something comparable, the Maruszczyk will be less expensive and the build quality is at least as good as the run of the mill MIA Fender.
Custom Shop | Public Peace
Fender is a big outfit with inflexible production flow. They just can't, or don't want, to do what the smaller more nimble makers do.
My wife plays at the guitar some. One day we were at a store and she asked "Do you think we could find room for another guitar?", I responde "let me introduce myself."
Ductapeman
Ringmaster and Resident Geriatric
- Feb 7, 2016
- 556
- 640
- 4,571
- 73
- Disclosures
- I started life as a drummer, but I got better
I do love the look of the matching headstock, but I also work in a production machine shop, and I get the flexibility that not having to match head color to body color gives the assemblers-- basically they have to mate the neck and body first and then send them to Spray in such a fashion that they don't get separated-- it sure looks nice when they bother to do it, but I can easily see why it is a "special" deal on the better instruments. Lucky for me I have no fashion sense, and get along fine with nakey head stocks--
Also the Troy Sanders Jaguar.
(I wouldn't normally add a comment for something so small normally, but I do love that bass).
If you really want a matching headstock and don’t have one, then send your bass to Pat Wilkins. He will fix you up right and proper and for very reasonable cost. And, he’s a great cat to work with.
For me, matching headstocks are for the guitarist.
ETA: I just realized my V59K has a matching headstock, but the match is wood. My comment above is for painted headstock which seem out of place on a bass to me.
ETA: I just realized my V59K has a matching headstock, but the match is wood. My comment above is for painted headstock which seem out of place on a bass to me.
Holy crap, what a great point. Never thought of it that way.How incredibly disappointing.
Musicians must be the cheapest consumers out there. Nobody blinks about a t.v. that costs 1k and might last 6yrs or an $800.00 phone that's obsolete in 3.
A $1200.00 bass will last at least 3 generations if it's even half-way looked after. Sure, they're simple devices but if you fancy playing bass you'll need one.
Compared to fishing, motorcycles, skiing or mtn. bikes playing bass is CHEAP. Real cheap.
You really, really want a Fender with a painted headstock? Pony up I guess or try your cheap luck at Alibaba......
Happy Holidays all....
When Yugo was selling cars they charged extra for coat hangers in the back seat. On one hand they were being cheap. On the other hand not everyone wanted coat hangers in the back seat.
Wow. Such angst. I guess the Christmas spirit has a shorter shelf life than the Christmas dinner. I never noticed the shortage of matching headstocks on Fenders. My natural P with a maple neck has a perfectly matched headstock. 
For those of you who insist on custom colors, what would happen if you decided to slap a new neck on your Daphne blue baby and the only one available had a Sherwood green headstock? Hmmm? The beauty of Fender basses is that they are utilitarian instruments that are designed to be almost indestructible, and easily reparable in the event of a catastrophe. Perhaps the notion of plain headstocks was to make the replacement necks a universal fit. I can't imagine an attractive version of sunburst on a headstock. The downside of this is that counterfeiters have less work to do. Slap on a decal and you're good to go.
For those of you who insist on custom colors, what would happen if you decided to slap a new neck on your Daphne blue baby and the only one available had a Sherwood green headstock? Hmmm? The beauty of Fender basses is that they are utilitarian instruments that are designed to be almost indestructible, and easily reparable in the event of a catastrophe. Perhaps the notion of plain headstocks was to make the replacement necks a universal fit. I can't imagine an attractive version of sunburst on a headstock. The downside of this is that counterfeiters have less work to do. Slap on a decal and you're good to go.