"higher end" Fender basses

[Lozz196]

4 hours ago, chris_b said:

I played a Pino Precision once. Everything about it was better than any other Fender I'd played. A fantastic bass.

 

The Custom Shop Fender Precision I played was one of those too - @Clarkys one - was simply superb.

[MacDaddy]

My Fender custom shop bass was actually a Kubicki.

I had 2 Kubick's, one made by Kubicki, the other (for some reason) made by the Fender custom shop.

The only difference was the Fender had a nicer neck (for me). A tad slimmer and faster.

[chris_b]

1 hour ago, Mrbigstuff said:

For not much more than a new US made artist series Fender bass, I purchased a handmade jazz new from Overwater. The difference in quality is undeniable.

 

I've played a couple of Overwaters and they are amazing instruments. Sadly too heavy for my back, ho hum!

[Terry M.]

On 30/06/2025 at 22:27, uncle psychosis said:

I'm definitely of the opinion that mass produced instruments with bolt on necks definitely have a quality:price ceiling where the diminishing returns get silly but I'm not sure I know at what price point that happens. 

I tried a Squier Affinity Jazz Bass V in a store once followed by a Fender American Ultra ii Jazz Bass V and for the life of me couldn't understand the price difference. I'm not saying the Fender wasn't better but they're both essentially two pieces of wood screwed together (I know I'm gonna pay for saying that 😂). So I too don't know where the price point you mentioned happens either.

[Beedster]

If you buy a car, a TV, or a washing machine, the more you pay the better the features, at least within a brand. It's simply not the case with Fender, where you can find a Squier that blows a Custom Shop out of the water. A good example for me is my Classic Vibe '51 Precision which plays, feels, and sounds as good, if not better, than my old Custom Shop relic 51 that retailed for almost 10 times more. There is variability in wood for sure, but far too much of all of this is smoke and mirrors; Fender would love you to think that a Custom Shop instrument is infinitely better than a Squier, but they know damn well the differences are often random, and that the purchase of a FCS instrument is often as much about bragging rights as about quality  

[Terry M.]

7 minutes ago, Beedster said:

If you buy a car, a TV, or a washing machine, the more you pay the better the features, at least within a brand. It's simply not the case with Fender, where you can find a Squier that blows a Custom Shop out of the water. A good example for me is my Classic Vibe '51 Precision which plays, feels, and sounds as good, if not better, than my old Custom Shop relic 51 that retailed for almost 10 times more. There is variability in wood for sure, but far too much of all of this is smoke and mirrors; Fender would love you to think that a Custom Shop instrument is infinitely better than a Squier, but they know damn well the differences are often random, and that the purchase of a FCS instrument is often as much about bragging rights as about quality  

I'm totally with you on this.

[Beedster]

On 01/07/2025 at 08:27, Steve Browning said:

For me, this. The Japanese Fenders are consistently well manufactured instruments. 

 

This has been my experience, if I needed to buy a Fender blind, I'd happily buy and MIJ/CIJ, less so a MIA, even less so an MIM, and infinitely less so a Custom Shop given the price:risk ratio

[Terry M.]

I gigged my sub £1k Mexican Player Plus Jazz V just last night and it did everything I needed it to do. Would it have done more if it was a £4k Custom Shop model? I vote no. I like my Fender but at heart I'm a Warwick fan.

[uncle psychosis]

Of course, one of the "interesting" things Fender do to muddy the waters is that the specs always tend to vary across the ranges - the neck shapes are different, different finishes, etc. so it's not that straightforward to directly compare them. 

 

I do think at some point in my future I'm going to go on a quest to try some "expensive" Fender J basses and I'm genuinely not sure what to expect. I do worry that none of them will match up the awesome cheapo Vintage (JHS) jazz bass that @mcnach stupidly sold me, then I stupidly sold back to him, then I think he stupidly sold it to someone else 😝

[Bagman]

Invercargill BassChat has Victor Bailey Jazz Bass - I have always thought they look the business 

@basshead56

[Mrbigstuff]

26 minutes ago, uncle psychosis said:

Of course, one of the "interesting" things Fender do to muddy the waters is that the specs always tend to vary across the ranges - the neck shapes are different, different finishes, etc. so it's not that straightforward to directly compare them. 

 

I do think at some point in my future I'm going to go on a quest to try some "expensive" Fender J basses and I'm genuinely not sure what to expect. I do worry that none of them will match up the awesome cheapo Vintage (JHS) jazz bass that @mcnach stupidly sold me, then I stupidly sold back to him, then I think he stupidly sold it to someone else 😝

The bass gallery have a wall full of fender basses. You’d easily find one there that suits you, and hopefully in your budget.

[basshead56]

9 hours ago, Bagman said:

Invercargill BassChat has Victor Bailey Jazz Bass - I have always thought they look the business 

@basshead56

Sure do! It is ABSOLUTELY ye olde business!!! Easily nicer than some Custom Shop stuff from the same peroid (the couple i've played). It juat feels like it has a hearbeat or a soul, or... something. Not sure how to put it, but it just sing! Every time I open the case I giggle 😁

Also, in terms of excellent build quality, I have to say the early 2000's American Deluxe QMT Jazzes are also INCREDIBLE! have an 03 and im afraid to pick it up because each tine I do, I cannot put it down for days at a time!!!!

 

I have had some incredibly lovely Mexican and Japanese Fender basses over the years (including my forst Fender, a white 2002 Standard Jazz) and some absolute planks too. Though not many out of Japan. My current Roadworn 60 Anniversary Jazz in Firemist Silver is a true thing of beauty. It just feels amazing. Does have a whiff of Custom Shop about it, more so the feel than the heavy relic, but amazing instrument!

The American made stuff I've experienced has been mostly great with the odd 'meh' unit and one absolute dud Jazz that could not be redeemed. Put me off Jazzes for years lol.

 

Picked up a 98 USA Jazz in March and despite being an absolute boat anchor in weight, it is easily worth that weight in solid gold. 

The boomiest, smoothest Jazz Ive ever played in terms of the low end - i use it for gigs a lot.Most of the late 90's stuff I've played has been excellent.

And my 2 American Pro 2's Jazzes are both spectacularly nice!

A very good friend had a Pro 2 P Bass and said it just felt flat and lifeless despite endless tinkering. He returned it and bought a never Japanese Hybrid thingy in a cool lava kind of colour.

 

I think there is a decent level of QC across the Fender group as a whole but hey, the odd Friday arvo builds do get through now and then. One of the concessions in large-scale production.