FENDER ROAD WORN PRECISION = Righteous!

[Lowbrow]

I played this scarred ’61 Precision for 15 years. I found it left in a closet by a departing housemate, who has since reclaimed it.



I know I’ll never be able to find or afford another like it. Timeworn and true, it had that pre-CBS magic that many try to describe, but that can only really be appreciated by having one of these fine instruments in your hands. The newer MIAs are fine basses, too (I’ve owned two ‘08s), but for me, it’s like comparing a luxury car to a hotrod: the ’61 is/was far more the stripped-down high-performance vehicle. Lightweight, rock-solid, resonant – it epitomized the feeling of a ‘great’ P-Bass. It’s a feeling I thought I’d never come close to experiencing again.

Until I got my new Road Worn Precision. I’ll preface my assessment by stating that the whole RW aesthetic for years kept me from even considering one of these instruments. Boy, what I missed. I’d be nuts if I said that the RW is as good as the ’61… but I will say with total honesty and conviction that it is the closest I’ve come in the 10 years since the old bass has left me. Lightweight, rock-solid, resonant, with plenty of both zing and thump.



In my overall approach to judging basses for my own use, “good wood” rules – electronics/pickups/hardware are elements easily compensated for or upgraded. I actually swapped out the p/u the day I got this bass; I put in the DiMarzio Model P I use in all my performing basses, and the RW only took one rehearsal to earn its spot as #1 in my arsenal. It's good wood. The RW Precision is a beautiful thing – and if you want to approach the feel of pre-CBS without breaking the bank, I highly recommend it.


NOTE on the ‘61’s finish – we assume it started life as a sunburst. It was stripped to bare wood sometime in the later 60s, and whoever did so also carved along all the grain lines with some sort of incising tool. It was then shellacked. My old housemate acquired it in this state sometime in the mid 70s, and he painted it black with gloss house paint - right on top of the shellac! He didn’t even remove the pickguard when doing so. Naturally the paint wore off where you’d expect it to wear off, and also settled into the carved grain lines. A unique look resulted that I nicknamed ‘calico.’ It would probably be difficult to replicate if you actually tried!

[bh2]

Great story... congrats on the RW... I've severe gas for one meself.

[bassist4dalord]

Great story! That RW looks really nice. Congrats!

[Yodhan]

Nice. I should have one by the end of the week.

Nice Acoustic head also.

[Surly]

Great story. You ever play a Custom Shop to compare to the real thing?

[bh2]

Yes... I must say the RW Jazz I tried was the closest to my own 62. I really fancy the P though, being from 1957 meself.

Must stop the gas.

[Lowbrow]

Originally Posted by Surly

Great story. You ever play a Custom Shop to compare to the real thing?

Nope - I have no idea how a Fender CS recreation compares to a real early 60s Precision, but the Road Worn is proof to me that it's possible to capture the feel to a degree. And if a Custom Shop bass is of 'better' quality as one would expect, I'd imagine it would come even closer.

[AMJBASS]

I have, and IMO the Road Worn approximates the 60's P-Bass better. The custom shop uses quarter sawn maple necks. I have had several Road Worns, and a CS Relic(which was a killer bass too), and compared to a '65 and a bunch of 70's I have had, the Road Worns are closer in feel and tone.

[svtb15]

Everyone that i have played was great... Good story.. Zev Katz is playing one with Daryl Hall. And The Meatlaofs bass player is using one too.. great basses.

[Kirk Bryant]

I have a RW I bought from a friend that is the Lightest one I have played and I have played about 5 or 6.
When I brought mine home I immediately did some tweaks to the Relicing so it doesn't look just like every other one. I will say it's a great bass and very close to vintage but I am going to replace the PU as I think it's a little weak and doesn't quite cut it for me personally.
What are other people subbing in for the stock one?

peace Kirk

[Pet Sounds]

You nailed it: The RW is an incredible piece. I got one at a good price when a local music store went out of business, and it's unbelievable.

[MattyH]

Has anyone compared the RW Jazz to the P? This thread reminded me to ask. I'm a Jazz Bass guy, but the RW P destroys the RW J IMO. I know it's basically the 60's MIM reissue, just relic, but I've done side by side a few times at local shops and the P always wins. This was to my surprise, because for me, the J always won! This is a P Bass I'd pick up in a heartbeat.

[MattyH]

Originally Posted by svtb15

Everyone that i have played was great... Good story.. Zev Katz is playing one with Daryl Hall. And The Meatlaofs bass player is using one too.. great basses.

I saw at least 6 bassists at last years Lollapalooza with them. Off the top of my head, Dhani Harrison's bassist, and Ben Shepherd of Soundgarden. Sounded amazing.

[Tusec]

Originally Posted by MattyH

...the RW P destroys the RW J IMO.

How so?

I know it's basically the 60's MIM reissue, just relic...

I've owned both a MIM 60s Classic and a RW J and compared them closely and it's pretty clear to me that they're not the same bass. There are the obvious finish differences, but also the body is different (RW is thinner, lighter), the neck is different (RW has different frets, different dots, different nut, and a thicker fingerboard with rolled edges), and the pickguard material is a little different. The pickups and hardware are the same though, just aged on the RW. But overall they're different basses.

[Lowbrow]

Originally Posted by Tusec

How so?



I've owned both a MIM 60s Classic and a RW J and compared them closely and it's pretty clear to me that they're not the same bass. There are the obvious finish differences, but also the body is different (RW is thinner, lighter), the neck is different (RW has different frets, different dots, different nut, and a thicker fingerboard with rolled edges), and the pickguard material is a little different. The pickups and hardware are the same though, just aged on the RW. But overall they're different basses.

Beneath the pickguard is carved 'Road Wrn' which suggests that there's some selection process - maybe light-weight bodies make the RW cut.

[Mojo-Man]

I think the Road Worn is one of fenders best deals.
Why in gods name won't fender make a early 60's Road Worn
P-Bass Rosewood fingerboard ?
The 1957-P, and the Jazz are nice.

[AMJBASS]

Originally Posted by Kirk Bryant

I have a RW I bought from a friend that is the Lightest one I have played and I have played about 5 or 6.
When I brought mine home I immediately did some tweaks to the Relicing so it doesn't look just like every other one. I will say it's a great bass and very close to vintage but I am going to replace the PU as I think it's a little weak and doesn't quite cut it for me personally.
What are other people subbing in for the stock one?

peace Kirk

I actually really like the stock RW Precision pickup. Its just a standard Alnico vintage style, but it is a bit weaker. I think this does in fact add to the tone though. Its a bit smoother and less aggressive sounding. If I HAD to replace it, the Nordstrand, or the Fralin seems like a good replacement. IMO the RW Jazz would be better off with replacement pickups as I find them alright, but a bit underwhelming.

[Surly]

I've heard that a lot of Custom Shops have medium frets and 9.5 neck radius for improved playability, as do the Laklands. Of course this is subjective. My 60's Squier has vintage frets and after adjusting the action I can't really feel a difference. I also have only played one neck with a 7.5 radius, which was a MIM 50's P at a local music store. I don't remember the actual feel, just remember thinking what a nice bass that was.

[jfh2424]

+1 on the smoother tone of the RW. I don't know if it is because of the pickup or what, but to me it is smoother. And that "smoothness" is what makes it sound more vintage than other Ps, in my opinion.

But then again, that's just me.

John

[RickC]

Nice thread.

I wonder if Oteil has done a pickup swap on his; anyone know? He's still using it; it was at the Beacon last week.

I've been contemplating putting an SD Quarter Pounder in mine; anyone else done that switch?

/rick