Design your own Fender

[smitty_p]

This is cool.

Design your own Telecaster, Stratocaster, Jazz Bass, or Precision Bass.

http://www2.fender.com/american-design/

I created one just to see what it would cost. With a tweed case my design came to $1749.99.

While that is expensive, it is neat to know there is an alternative to only Fender's main product line.

 

[eS.G.]

That is actually Freakin cool. And considering a STOCK Fender American Deluxe Jazz Bass is 1799.00 .........uhm seems totally INLINE and a good deal for your own custom model right???

http://www.americanmusical.com/Item...&utm_campaign=PL1&utm_content=FEN+0194582+721

 

[smitty_p]

That is actually Freakin cool. And considering a STOCK Fender American Deluxe Jazz Bass is 1799.00 .........uhm seems totally INLINE and a good deal for your own custom model right???

True, that.

Of course, I only included a few premium options in my test design. If I had added more it may have increased the price a few hundred more. The tweed case option alone added $100.00. The standard case was an ABS case...still plenty rugged.

But, the idea of being able to essentially design your own Partscaster, yet still be 100% genuine Fender and original is pretty neat.

 

[bea]

I cannot do a Mustang bass or shortscale Jag bass. So its useless for me.

 

[smitty_p]

Yes. Unfortunately, this is limited to Fender's four most popular electric instruments. So, those who prefer some of Fender's other instruments are, regrettably, unable to use this feature.

However, for those who would like to design their own Tele, Strat, Jazz, or Precision it does allow for many options.

For example, when I designed a Strat as a test, here are the options, in order. As you select options, an image of the guitar you selected changes to match your options so you can get a visual.

1. Select Modern or Vintage style body. I picked the Modern style. This choice is important, as it will determine your neck and bridge options later.

2. Select Left or Right Handed orientation. I picked right-handed.

3. Select Body Material - Ash or Alder. Ash adds $100.00. I picked Alder.

4. Select Body Color - There are nine selections and all are polyurethane. This may turn some off. Even the Vintage body is only available in poly. I picked black.

5. Select Switch Tip, Knob, and Pickup Cover color. There are four options. I picked black.

6. Select Pickguard Color - There are six options. Tortoise shell and Aged White Pearl add $25.00. I picked black.

7. Select Neck - There are several options. For the Modern style body, you can pick American Deluxe "V" style, American Deluxe "C" Style, American Standard, or American Special (the Large Headstock). All necks are available in maple or rosewood fingerboards and left or right-handed orientation. The American Deluxe necks have a compound radius and add $200.00. I picked American Special. If you chose a Vintage body, the neck selection is different from these.

8. Select Bridge - The Deluxe with cast saddles, or the Contemporary with stamped-steel saddles. Both of these are two-point bridges. The Deluxe adds $50.00. I picked the Deluxe bridge. If you chose a Vintage body, only the traditional 6-Point bridge with stamped saddles is available.

9. Select Pickups - There are six "packages" which include the neck, middle, and bridge pickups. Some sets add $50.00. I picked the Custom Shop Fat '50s. This added $50.00.

10. Select Hardware Finish - Gold or Chrome. Gold adds $200.00. I picked chrome.

11. Select Tuning Machines - Modern Locking or Standard. Locking adds $50.00. I picked locking.

12. Select Strings - .011-.049, .009-.042, or .010-.046. I picked .010-.046.

13. Pick Neck Plate - You can pick if you want your own custom message on the plate. This option adds $25.00. I did not choose this.

14. Select Case - ABS or Tweed. Tweed adds $100.00. I picked Tweed.

Once you finish your design, you have a "Buy Now" option right from the website. Or, you can Save your design and come back to it later.

My only disappointment was I would have liked a Floyd Rose option for the bridge and a lock-nut option for the neck. Other than this, you have a ton of flexibility in designing your own guitar. This is somewhat like the Carvin paradigm.

Like I said in my OP, these choices brought the total to $1749.99, not including shipping.

Anyway, being able to design my own guitar nudges my Prefer-O-Meter in Fender's direction vs. Gibson. I looked for something similar with Gibson and did not find anything. Of course, some options would be limited since Gibson is a set-neck vs. bolt-on design, but it would still be cool to be able to specify SOME options (i.e., Tuners!). I guess we have to be force-fed in Gibson land.

So, anyway, this is a screen shot of the website when I was done:

 

[Col Mustard]

I imagine this is a trial balloon... and when it takes off, the company will add other models so Bea can have some fun too.
Also, if this takes off, Gibson will be forced to comply. I personally have been calling for this for several years.
It's not such a difficult thing to do, because it's a perfect thing for a computer to organize: Take the orders from
the clients online, and setup the production based on what the orders are.

>Gibson could easily do this, instead of hiring MBAs to try and figure out (wrongly) what guitarists will buy. Right now they setup and manufacture the overpriced and under-appreciated models the MBAs predict will be the next big thing, and they put their marketeering geniuses to work trying to hype and sell the overpriced and under-appreciated models they think we should all line up to acquire. It doesn't always work, does it Henry?

>When they get it through their thick skulls that they should fire the MBAs and hire ME to read these boards and
let them know what their most loyal fans are willing (and able) to buy, they'll put the computer order-takers to
work organizing the factory guys to make what guitarists really want. And everyone will be happy. The end.

 

[thatbastarddon]

Yes. Unfortunately, this is limited to Fender's four most popular electric instruments. So, those who prefer some of Fender's other instruments are, regrettably, unable to use this feature.

However, for those who would like to design their own Tele, Strat, Jazz, or Precision it does allow for many options.

For example, when I designed a Strat as a test, here are the options, in order. As you select options, an image of the guitar you selected changes to match your options so you can get a visual.

1. Select Modern or Vintage style body. I picked the Modern style. This choice is important, as it will determine your neck and bridge options later.

2. Select Left or Right Handed orientation. I picked right-handed.

3. Select Body Material - Ash or Alder. Ash adds $100.00. I picked Alder.

4. Select Body Color - There are nine selections and all are polyurethane. This may turn some off. Even the Vintage body is only available in poly. I picked black.

5. Select Switch Tip, Knob, and Pickup Cover color. There are four options. I picked black.

6. Select Pickguard Color - There are six options. Tortoise shell and Aged White Pearl add $25.00. I picked black.

7. Select Neck - There are several options. For the Modern style body, you can pick American Deluxe "V" style, American Deluxe "C" Style, American Standard, or American Special (the Large Headstock). All necks are available in maple or rosewood fingerboards and left or right-handed orientation. The American Deluxe necks have a compound radius and add $200.00. I picked American Special. If you chose a Vintage body, the neck selection is different from these.

8. Select Bridge - The Deluxe with cast saddles, or the Contemporary with stamped-steel saddles. Both of these are two-point bridges. The Deluxe adds $50.00. I picked the Deluxe bridge. If you chose a Vintage body, only the traditional 6-Point bridge with stamped saddles is available.

9. Select Pickups - There are six "packages" which include the neck, middle, and bridge pickups. Some sets add $50.00. I picked the Custom Shop Fat '50s. This added $50.00.

10. Select Hardware Finish - Gold or Chrome. Gold adds $200.00. I picked chrome.

11. Select Tuning Machines - Modern Locking or Standard. Locking adds $50.00. I picked locking.

12. Select Strings - .011-.049, .009-.042, or .010-.046. I picked .010-.046.

13. Pick Neck Plate - You can pick if you want your own custom message on the plate. This option adds $25.00. I did not choose this.

14. Select Case - ABS or Tweed. Tweed adds $100.00. I picked Tweed.

Once you finish your design, you have a "Buy Now" option right from the website. Or, you can Save your design and come back to it later.

My only disappointment was I would have liked a Floyd Rose option for the bridge and a lock-nut option for the neck. Other than this, you have a ton of flexibility in designing your own guitar. This is somewhat like the Carvin paradigm.

Like I said in my OP, these choices brought the total to $1749.99, not including shipping.

Anyway, being able to design my own guitar nudges my Prefer-O-Meter in Fender's direction vs. Gibson. I looked for something similar with Gibson and did not find anything. Of course, some options would be limited since Gibson is a set-neck vs. bolt-on design, but it would still be cool to be able to specify SOME options (i.e., Tuners!). I guess we have to be force-fed in Gibson land.

So, anyway, this is a screen shot of the website when I was done:

Hahaha! The only differences between the one you built, and the one that I built were:
I chose an ash body, and Gilmouresque antique white plastics(knobs, and pickups).

 

[dbb]

Well I couldn't design the Tele I wanted. There is no option for a Fender humbucker or a P90 in the neck. They only offer standard Tele neck pickups in combination with the bridge.

I'd have thought that you could choose either pickup separately.

 

[smitty_p]

Well I couldn't design the Tele I wanted. There is no option for a Fender humbucker or a P90 in the neck. They only offer standard Tele neck pickups in combination with the bridge.

I'd have thought that you could choose either pickup separately.

Yeah, there are some limitations. It's not a completely a la carte sort of thing. They seem to offer what have principally been the most popular options.

The Strat designs are the same. You have to select sets of pickups. You can't choose them individually. The Strat design does allow for a pickup combo with a humbucker, however.

I can understand not having a P-90, though, because that is a Gibson pickup.

Like I said earlier, I would have liked a Floyd Rose option.

Even so, I think this is a neat idea. I hope it proves to be worthwhile for Fender to continue. Maybe, they'll increase the number of options as time goes on.

 

[smitty_p]

Hahaha! The only differences between the one you built, and the one that I built were:
I chose an ash body, and Gilmouresque antique white plastics(knobs, and pickups).

That is funny!

Few things say "Rock" like a black-bodied Strat with a maple fretboard and large headstock!

It's kind of a "Take no prisoners" Fender combination.

 

[smitty_p]

Also, if this takes off, Gibson will be forced to comply.

We can only hope. With Henry J. deciding Gibson guitars will take second place to "Gibson Brands," he may not even care.

 

[Metal89]

mine came out to $1,624.99

 

[bea]

I imagine this is a trial balloon... and when it takes off, the company will add other models so Bea can have some fun too.

Why should i buy a Fender if i can build one myself?

 

[wlewisiii]

Won't let me make the Telecaster I want: a mutant love child of a Les Paul & Telecaster. That's ok - the Jim Adkin's JA-90 is 90% of it already (thinline telecaster body, short scale set neck, P-90 pickups, gibson type controls, pity about the rosewood instead of maple fingerboard. ) so I'll just have to get one of them

 

[Metal89]

Its ok wlewisiii, I was planning on shoving dual seymour duncan humbuckers in the one i was designing, but it would only give me vague Hss, sss options. nor would it allow me a SILVER pickguard...pffftt...

 

[Col Mustard]

Won't let me make the Telecaster I want: a mutant love child of a Les Paul & Telecaster. That's ok - the Jim Adkin's JA-90 is 90% of it already (thinline telecaster body, short scale set neck, P-90 pickups, gibson type controls, pity about the rosewood instead of maple fingerboard. ) so I'll just have to get one of them

That might be because what you want is already available: The '72 Telecaster Deluxe! (replica)

I have one, and like mine very much. Maple neck, big '70s headstock, dual Fender 'Wide Range' humbuckers
wired exactly like a Les Paul... My Tele has a voice all its own. I replaced the wiring harness with high quality parts
including 500K Alpha pots, and this opened the sound up to the point that it's extremely versatile and lovely
sounding.... also mine's a pleasure to play.

 

[thatbastarddon]

That might be because what you want is already available: The '72 Telecaster Deluxe! (replica)

I have one, and like mine very much. Maple neck, big '70s headstock, dual Fender 'Wide Range' humbuckers
wired exactly like a Les Paul... My Tele has a voice all its own. I replaced the wiring harness with high quality parts
including 500K Alpha pots, and this opened the sound up to the point that it's extremely versatile and lovely
sounding.... also mine's a pleasure to play.
View attachment 14354 View attachment 14355 View attachment 14356 View attachment 14357 View attachment 14358 View attachment 14359 View attachment 14360

That's *THE* Tele that I like. The only one that has made me say to myself..."maybe I should check out a Telecaster"....

 

[wlewisiii]

Oh, I like the Deluxe too. I just really like the thinline body with it.

 

[Dave_Death]

Jazz

 

[dbb]

That might be because what you want is already available: The '72 Telecaster Deluxe! (replica)

I have one, and like mine very much. Maple neck, big '70s headstock, dual Fender 'Wide Range' humbuckers

Close - but I want the one with the regular Tele bridge and that humbucker in the neck: