Fender Fretboard Conspiracy?

john nam · #1 04-23-2011, 12:20 PM

Most MIMs I've played have a fretboard that slightly raises up towards the last frets, like 1-2mm around fret 17 and on. You can see it if you look down the fretboard with the bass upside down. Some MIM owners are going to say that they don't see this raise on their bass at first glance, but look carefully because it's very subtle. Most Americans are flat there and Sadowskys purposely dip down about 1-2mm there. Obviously, if a fretboard is slightly raised there, it's virtuously impossible to get low action without buzzing. Could it be that Fender is purposely designing their MIM fretboards like this to maintain a difference from their American and CS line? By the way, I don't think the Squier CVs and Vintages have this raise, which could be a great marketing scheme as well!

Personally, I don't buy the "it's just a lack of craftsmanship" theory because IMO, this fretboard difference is pretty consistent because it always happens on the same place on an MIM's fretboard, which to me, would be a very simple problem to fix during the fingerboard truing process that Fender must have been aware of.

spade2you · #2 04-23-2011, 12:59 PM

The bass is not meant to be played up there. Obvious.

allexcosta · #3 04-23-2011, 01:07 PM

It's cheaper and easier to make true fretboards than consistently making them with this kind of imperfection.

It's just coincidence that you noticed the same characteristics on more than one MIM Fenders... I doubt Sadowsky makes a board that isn't true. Where did you get this info from?

Marton · #4 04-23-2011, 01:10 PM

Probably just a bad set-up. If your truss rod is too loose, the higher frets will look higher.

jkramer5 · #5 04-23-2011, 01:10 PM

It's not uncommon at all in any 4 bolt on neck bass, commonly referred to as the "ski jump"

Marton · #6 04-23-2011, 01:13 PM

I just checked out, my american deluxe have it. They had probably done it on purpose, because they want me to buy a Custom shop...

Kwesi · #7 04-23-2011, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkramer5

It's not uncommon at all in any 4 bolt on neck bass, commonly referred to as the "ski jump"

Why specifically four bolt necks? I feel like this is something you'd be able to hear VERY easily even if you can see it and I can't say I've had much of an issue with that concerning Fenders or any other bass. Then again, I've never played an MIM, just MIAs and Squiers.

electracoyote · #8 04-23-2011, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john nam

Could it be that Fender is purposely designing their MIM fretboards like this to maintain a difference from their American and CS line? By the way, I don't think the Squier CVs and Vintages have this raise, which could be a great marketing scheme as well!

You must not have played the most recent 2010 run of MIMs.

The Fender 15th fret hump is a well-documented reality, but totally absent from both of my 2010 MIM Precisions I bought for road work this summer. I was pleasantly surprised by the lowest action I've ever put on a stock Fender bass (4/64ths inch at the 12th fret).

And my Squier CV 50s P also has no 15th fret hump, allowing very low action.

Kwesi · #9 04-23-2011, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marton

I just checked out, my american deluxe have it. They had probably done it on purpose, because they want me to buy a Custom shop...

How does it sound? Wouldn't it produce buzzing at the higher frets? I haven't looked at my MIA but I know that it sounds like magic above the 12th fret.

Rano Bass · #10 04-23-2011, 01:29 PM

Its not just on MIM Fenders.

I used to have a Roscoe Beck V with that problem, very nice bass but impossible to set up to my liking

jkramer5 · #11 04-23-2011, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kwesi

How does it sound? Wouldn't it produce buzzing at the higher frets? I haven't looked at my MIA but I know that it sounds like magic above the 12th fret.

Yes it would produce buzzing on the upper frets and it does on many instruments that aren't set up correctly set up to take it into account. It doesn't matter where it's made, or by who, it's a "feature" of the bolt on neck design

I said 4 bolt because the necks that have more than 4 have those extra screws in part to help rid the bolt on neck bass of this problem.

The ski jump is a part of the reason some techs add a "fall off" to the frets on the upper part of the neck when they do a fret level. Buy cutting a little more off the upper frets it takes into account the angle of the jump, or try's to.

From what I've read, and seen on some of my bass's, the string tension causes a bow in the neck, the truss rod allows one to adjust that bow, the upper part of the neck, being attached to the body by screws doesn't flex like the rest of the neck and remains straight. Since the bow of the neck is stopped where the neck meets the body, the stress has to go somewhere. It results in the ski jump.

Here's a thread searching "Ski Jump" in the setup forum for reference

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f18/be...d-help-708253/

**WoodyG3** · #12 04-23-2011, 01:47 PM

It's a government conspiracy. Fender is just following the orders of the CIA. Now, go take your medication like a good boy.

Marton · #13 04-23-2011, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kwesi

How does it sound? Wouldn't it produce buzzing at the higher frets? I haven't looked at my MIA but I know that it sounds like magic above the 12th fret.

It would produce buzz at the lower frets. Anyways the bass have a medium-high action, I like my jazz bass that way

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