In Praise of the Fender Road Worn Jazz Bass - Page 2

Clearwave · #21 02-09-2013, 07:34 AM

I've played 2 RW J basses and the played and sounded great!

I think the relic concept is genius. I have a 1996 American Standard P bass that I bought in 1998. I plays and sounds great too. I've played this thing for many, many gigs, rehearsals, studio sessions. I usually keep it in a corner in a busy recording studio and its picked up and played by anyone and has been on tons of records. The thing is- this bass still looks brand new! As a bass player, I wish it looked more like the mojo filled rock machine that it is. I think I'll be dead by the time this bass looks cool.

Congrats on your Jazz Bass! I dig it!

JimB52 · #22 02-09-2013, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soxhats

A few weeks ago, I bought a 2011 Fender Road Worn Jazz Bass. . .

. . . I believe the Road Worn series is somewhat of a minor miracle. The wear may be fake, but the comfortable, broken-in feeling isn't. I adore how this bass feels and, yes, looks. As for how it sounds, the pickups IMO are hot and ballsy. I'm getting no more hum than I've experienced with other single-coils. The neck is like a glove.

All this for under $800.

I now see why folks-in-the-know know these basses are so good. Some players will never get past the relic'ing. To each his own. But it's now my firm belief that, for the money, these basses are among the most incredible values in bass-dom. I'm not sure I need to say "for the money." I don't think about the value aspect when I play this thing. Just how wonderful it plays and feels.

Thanks for the review.
I tried one out at GC. I was a little put off by the 'worn' part, but I gotta say that they feel and sound great. One of Fender's better efforts, especially at that price point.

SneakyT · #23 02-09-2013, 07:49 AM

I have never understood how relicing could piss so many people off but man does it. You nailed it with this review. It's just a great bass. This line has to be the most consistent I've seen in years. I'm sure they exist but I have yet to play one that was lame. Wish they would offer some color choices.

soxhats · #24 02-09-2013, 10:40 AM

I'm glad Fender offers only the two color choices because if there was white or LPB, I might have to get a second.

atomicdog · #25 02-09-2013, 10:46 AM

Congrats on the purchase. I've played them and dig them. I went went with the 62AVRI JB though and am still GASing for the JB RW (which is a better bass IMHO).

shoot-r · #26 02-09-2013, 02:49 PM

I've had my R.W. Jazz for a couple of years now...
Still absolutely LOVE it !!!!!

thedudebrah · #27 02-09-2013, 03:15 PM

I have the fiesta red road worn P and I love it. One of my go to basses for sure and since I play hard, I don't mind a few more dings and scratches!

rodl2005 · #28 02-13-2013, 08:36 PM

RW-P owner for a cuppla yrs. Still love it. Great bass at any price point.:thumbup:

**svtb15** · #29 02-13-2013, 08:43 PM

I bought one too.. I was on a search and saw it online at Sam Ash. they wanted $500.. I took it...
The bass sounds great stock but i put a set of Alleva Coppolo J pickups in it and wow.. Just finished a record with mine.. Its my go to jazz bass now... Mine is a little on the heavy side for me. at a little under 9 pounds.. But still OK.. I have seen a few feather weight ones around town.. I may get another fi i can find the same low price. You cant beat it...

soxhats · #30 02-14-2013, 05:09 AM

$500. Wow!

rodl2005 · #31 02-14-2013, 09:27 AM

AC pups in? Make a big difference? I love my AC EUT5 & might try some AC P pups in either my RW-P or Geddy Jazz

**svtb15** · #32 02-15-2013, 09:53 AM

The AC pups are a little smoother through the upper mids.. and a little more low mid bump...I could say more silky... with a slightly ever so slightly tamed super top end... barely noticeable.. but the overall tone is a thicker J tone with all the clarity and punch you would expect from a real 60s jazz bass. The original pups in the RW are very good .. and really surprised me... I only put these in because they were in my tool box and had no home and i wanted to try them out.. And im leaving them in there. Just did a who album for a band using this bass with the Alleva pups. engineer was very happy. They had an Evil Twin Tube Di, and my REDDI tube DI.. and one or two different vintage SVTs into my Genz 115 or a 60s and a 70s B15 miced up...

soxhats · #33 02-15-2013, 09:57 AM

That sounds pretty cool... I agree with your comment "The original pups in the RW are very good .. and really surprised me." I thought the pickups might be a weak point and that I'd be putting in Lindy Fralins, but I'm pleased with the originals and am leaving 'em in.

**svtb15** · #34 02-15-2013, 09:58 AM

It was in the Philadelphia Sam Ash online store.. They said it was 8 pounds.. ughh I got it home and it was closer to 9.. I like them in teh 8 to 8.25 range.. I LOVE lightweights.. They seem to pop more... But for $500.. Id have to been nuts to not take it..
I was just in NY last week and they had a lightweight one in the Huntington store. Lightweight , i mean high 7 pounds are to 8 pounds. Featherweight.. but not for 500.. I think it was 750.. I may grab it.. these basses are a real sleeper...

Quote:

Originally Posted by soxhats

$500. Wow!

AMJBASS · #35 02-19-2013, 06:40 AM

I agree the pickups in these are good. The last RW Jazz that passed through my hands I installed Duncan Antiquity 60's Jazz pickups, and to be honest I almost liked the stock pickups better(granted the Antiquity pickups can be a bit bass heavy). The Fralins are killer pickups but they don't sound like vintage pickups. More of a modern take on a classic sound.

soxhats · #36 02-20-2013, 07:42 AM

Hey Adrian, hope you're doing well.

kirkm24 · #37 03-01-2013, 04:12 PM

My bridge pickup on mine is super weak in output moreso than usual. Is anyone else experiencing this?

ThingsAbove · #38 03-07-2013, 10:09 AM

I love my RW. It's been my primary go-to bass for 2 years now. I put some graphite in the tuners and now it has the most stable tuning of any of my instruments. It has a wee-bit of head dive but it's quite manageable. I played it side-by-side of American Jazz Basses and Japanese Geddy Lee Jazz basses and far preferred the feel and tone to the others for my tastes.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thingsabove/6963141337/

Mojo-Man · #39 03-07-2013, 12:16 PM

I have a first year Roadworn Jazz.
Truly amazing bass for the money. I swapped out the original pickup. (which sounded good) For a set of 60's Lollar's.
Bass weighs in at 8.2 pounds, feels great, plays like butter.
I've owned original vintage Fenders that don't play as well as this bass.
A steal for the money.

DannyNFLD · #40 03-07-2013, 12:18 PM

Seems great except for the faux "road worn" look. That's a real turn off for me.