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Just when I thought I was out of the woods...

PBASSTONE

PBASSTONE

Feb 16, 2012
84
12
Petaluma, California
#1
...now I just noticed something strange on the last fret on my '64 American Vintage Jazz Bass (replacement for the first one I had that was flawed)...

What the HE˥˥ is this? It looks like friggin' epoxy. I can't seem to win, and I'm beginning to think Fender's quality control sucks a fat one. Is this normal?? :confused:

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#3
I'm not as concerned with what seems to be a cosmetic issue as I am with the 19th fret, which appears to not be set properly. But in either case, it's no secret that Fender's factory quality control (American and Mexican) is bad. I don't think I've ever played a Fender off the rack that was set up properly, not in Australia anyway (New Zealand, oddly enough, is quite superior in that category).

Epoxy is easy to fix, but get a professional to hammer that fret in properly. If you bought it from a shop, get on of their techs to do it for free. Regarding superior quality control, may I recommend Musicman?
 
#11
Freddels said:
One of the things that stands out in the Fender description is that the fingerboard is rosewood "laminate". Not sure what exactly that is.
Click to expand...
It's the opposite of a slab board. The fretboard is a thin laminate of rosewood over a radiused maple neck as opposed to a slab board which is thicker, flat at the bottom and is attached to a flat top on the maple neck. Standard enough.

A2557985.jpg


As for the OP, that's shocking quality for a new bass at that kind of price.
 
#12
Looks like a burn in to me. Hard or soft filler sticks softened with a burn in knife to fill a void. Pretty standard furniture repair stuff. Unacceptable on a high end purchase like this. I would raise heck with Fender till they make it right. Send them those pictures and a link to this forum.
 
#15
Wow, that's seriously disappointing. It looks like there's body paint on the fingerboard, too. Someone tried to save a fingerboard that needed to be thrown away. Sorry for your experience, I hope you're able to get a suitable replacement soon.
 
#16
Definitely looks like a used bass to me. I know it isn't but that is how rough the finishing job is on that one.

Makes me question the logic of buying from this series, which I really want to do.

My American Deluxe was gorgeous and the neck and frets were absolutely perfect out of the factory sealed carton. 180 degrees away from your photos.
 
#17
Does look like roundwound wear wih, what looks like marks on the frets on either side that are inline with the string wear marks.
Now that does not make sense. Unless they epoxied and then test-played that area heavily to make sure the repair they made was solid.

I own 7 Fenders and I am absolutely convinced that no matter what level Fender bass you purchase, their QC is absolutely horrid and half-assed. No excuse for that Fender, come on!

Will it hold up over years of playing? Maybe but if it does not will fender be there to replace it then?

Sorry to se this Pbass, I was so looking foward to a great review on that '64 AV.
 
#18
PBASSTONE said:
...now I just noticed something strange on the last fret on my '64 American Vintage Jazz Bass (replacement for the first one I had that was flawed)...

What the HE˥˥ is this? It looks like friggin' epoxy. I can't seem to win, and I'm beginning to think Fender's quality control sucks a fat one. Is this normal?? :confused:
Click to expand...

The grooves can't be from a string- the string can't be pressed down to the fretboard that close to the frets and the grooves would not pnly be closer together, they would be more evenly spaced. To me, it looks like chatter from a razor blade, used to smooth the wood between the frets. Badly.

Where did this bass come from? It's possible that the seller did this, not Fender. If it was done at Fender, they should fix it.
 
#19
1958Bassman said:
The grooves can't be from a string- the string can't be pressed down to the fretboard that close to the frets and the grooves would not pnly be closer together, they would be more evenly spaced. To me, it looks like chatter from a razor blade, used to smooth the wood between the frets. Badly.

Where did this bass come from? It's possible that the seller did this, not Fender. If it was done at Fender, they should fix it.
Click to expand...

Yes you are right I believe. I have a couple fretless basses and that is where I see that string wear. I love Fender...No I hate Fender...No I....
 
#20
I boxed that ****er back up today, and it's going back to ZZounds on Monday for a full refund. This I vow, I will not even consider the new Fender Vintage Series again. **** I could build a better parts bass than that piece of *****. Squier has better QC than Fender. It wouldn't be so bad if I hadn't already sent one back for the giant ding on the headstock...

Say one last goodbye... you can clearly see the reflection of the epoxy on the last fret near the D and G strings

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For those of you who didn't get to see the problem with the first return...
emot-bang.gif


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