CS is of higher quility then a Standard Warwick?

[golem]

IOW, you [reasonably so, marketingwise ... ] are
of the belief that LE models tend to offer us some
CS touches, the enjoyment of a less common ax,
at less than the "a la carte" pricing for the total
of custom alterations included in an LE package ?

Makes sense to me, since the CS doesn't hafta
cater to individual orders, and can batch-produce
a few hunnert identical special basses at once.

My mind was drawn both ways. On one hand, as
above ... a good marketing ploy, plus increased
player loyalty ... but OTOH my cynical belief that
manufacturors love to rake in some extra profits
for exclusive or unique special offerings, above
and beyond the value of any legitimate material
enhancements included in those special versions.



Bottom line: I really dig my 2004 LE, which cost
me, used but super clean, about the same as the
new BO Vett $$ I bought on clearance. Since it's
basically a hotrod Vett, I find that a fair price. If
I had shopped both basses brand new, at typical
discounts, then the LE woulda cost double what
the Vett cost ... and so I would not own it today.

​

 

[EVOLVEBASS]

I believe so, yes. Although I think it can go beyond "some CS touches". If you compare the production model Corvette $$ to the LE Corvette $$, I would consider it to have "legitimate material enhancements". Same pickups, but 3-band EQ; and every piece of wood has been modified: mahogany body with olive top, maple neck with mahogany stripes, and rosewood fretboard. "Some CS touches" might just describe the nacre inlays and matching headstock...

I'm rambling aren't I?

 

[babebambi]

I sometimes wonder how much cost difference
would result. Frinstintz, I dig my FNA JazzMan
2004 LE, but how much am I paying for HPW's
autograph and an "LE" s/n ? The LE's fretboard
inlays are a fancy touch I would just eliminate.

If it were a CS order, why even start with an
expensive model like the FNA when I could as
well start with a Vett ? In either case [FNA or
Vett foundation] I'd still be paying for custom
PU routing cuz the 2004 LE has J-TJ PUs which
are a bit different than normal JazzMan PUs.

So, starting with an ash Vett, you add the koa
top, ebony FB, J-TJ PUs [and routing], and the
3-band EQ from the '04 LE. Thaz all ! Would my
CS clone of the '04 LE cost less than the actual
limited run bass ? Even if you add the fancy FB
inlays ... if the CS version still costs less, then
the amount less equals the cost of "exclusivity",
of an LE s/n, and HPW's autograph !

Any experienced estimators wanna take a shot ?
I have no real intentions of ordering a clone of
my LE, so I'm not gonna get a dealer quote. I'm
just curious what the autograph and LE s/n cost.


​

I think the LE SHOULD be more expensive, factoring in the trials of different combo of woods and electronics as development cost. Of koz, I am not talking about actual quote, just in theory.

 

[EVOLVEBASS]

I think the LE SHOULD be more expensive, factoring in the trials of different combo of woods and electronics as development cost. Of koz, I am not talking about actual quote, just in theory.

I'm glad mine wasn't!

 

[babebambi]

I'm glad mine wasn't!

well then you got a great deal :lol:

 

[golem]

Yah, OK, so the degree of enhancement will
vary from one LE or SE to another, but it's
the underlying concept we're tryin to scope
out ... will the batch production price saving
[of an LE/SE run vs a one-off CS ordered ax]
outweigh any surcharge for "prestige" ...

And seat-of-pants so far seems to be "Prolly,
why shouldn't it ?" Not definitive, but fun.

​

 

[EVOLVEBASS]

well then you got a great deal :lol:

Thanks to Greg at Rocket Music! When I asked for a quote, I was positive he typed it wrong... :lol:

 

[EVOLVEBASS]

Yah, OK, so the degree of enhancement will
vary from one LE or SE to another, but it's
the underlying concept we're tryin to scope
out ... will the batch production price saving
[of an LE/SE run vs a one-off CS ordered ax]
outweigh any surcharge for "prestige" ...

And seat-of-pants so far seems to be "Prolly,
why shouldn't it ?" Not definitive, but fun.

I hear ya. And the "HPW autograph" factor...

 

[Pedro]

This is actually a really interesting thread. I think the simple fact that a CS bass is literally one of a kind will always make it a little more expensive than a LE, although as mentioned above there is a lot more work involved in creating a LE range (because of testing etc) than a custom shop model.

 

[EVOLVEBASS]

True. Although "one of a kind" is pretty loose... there are plenty of CS copies.

 

[Pedro]

Yeah fair point.

That would proper annoy me, if I had a CS bass made and then someone copied it

 

[EVOLVEBASS]

:lol:

Yeah, me too. Maybe a nameplate should be required!

 

[golem]

OK, but the 'one-of-a-kind' thing is not
guaranteed. Copying is allowed. Still, a
CS bass hasta be made one-at-a-time
[even tho it's prolly integrated into the
normal production for glueing, cutting,
etc] which cost extra for the extra work
in singling out the bass for special stuff.

While the LE/SE may incur developement
or testing costs, these would be partially,
or more than totally, offset by the size of
the production run ... and that queston of
"partially, or more than totally offset"
is of course THE question, vs a CS build.
And it's a question somewhat clouded by
whether the LE/SE includes an upcharge
for HPW's autograph, and for prestige.

I gotta say one thing ... Wick's SE's tend
to have rather substantial enhancements
compared to [most of] EBMM's SE's which
are usually all about unique cosmetics. Of
all the EBMM SE's paraded before me, the
only one I snagged was a 30th yr Ray. It
has an all-hog body, toadally unique in all
Raydom ... and I looooves me some hog !

Acoarst, cool cosmetics are included. And
as usual, Golem paid less for this SE than
the price of the dead stock base model SR
hanging right next to it !​

 

[EVOLVEBASS]

Off point, but I'm not sure the SE's would have development or testing costs. They are essentially a CS order made by a distributer rather than a person. If I remember correctly, 10 or more have to be ordered...

 

[golem]

Prolly very true.

I'm just being 'PK-thorough' by
saying "LE/SE" and I spoze I've
overdone it. "LE" ... not "LE/SE"
... as per your observation !

​

 

[EVOLVEBASS]

No worries, I was just being anal... a side effect of a slow day at work. By the way, I may be hitting you up for some G&L advice...

 

[golem]

So here's a puzzle for all you all ....
Pic below is a section of my EBMM
SR4 30th Anniversary SE ... but as
it's Golem's SE, it is non-original ...

Can you find 4 [reversible] mods ?​

 

[golem]

Answers way below ....​

1. Torty PG
   
2. Relocated strap button to bridge
   
3. Rubber bumper in orig button location
   
4. Hook/clip for cord on control cover

 

[EVOLVEBASS]

Getting back to the point of the thread, I think the answer is no, but certainly the CS opens the door to some very 'select' woods (or at least non-standard) plus some 'special' details (inlays, etc.)... My two cents.

 

[Crossdrop]

Getting back to the point of the thread, I think the answer is no, but certainly the CS opens the door to some very 'select' woods (or at least non-standard) plus some 'special' details (inlays, etc.)... My two cents.

As long as you consider tonal qualities, this might be correct, but as Greg said above: The pieces of wood chosen for CS basses are the nicer looking ones. I can confirm that everytime I look at Pelokghale