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A Fender Lemon

Salicete

Salicete

Gold Supporting Member
Aug 20, 2006
1,409
4,077
Godforsaken-Maryland
#1
I've played Fender bass guitars since the 70s, and usually buy them used, though occasionally I'll spring for a new one.

This week I took a chance on an "Open Box" American Standard Jazz bass reported to be in "Mint" condition by the retailer. I knew somebody else had already returned it at least once or it would not be an open box item, but I decided to take the risk because it was a hard to find color and over $200 off the regular price.

I hoped that maybe the first owner hated the color or maybe didn't like the sound. (Yup, I know, keep dreaming moron.....).

Well, it came yesterday, and though it feels, sounds and plays great, it surely isn't mint. The edges of the fingerboard looked like they had been worked over with a narrow file, leaving gouges and indentations up and down the edge, and there was even a marked divot below the nut.

I'm not angry, just disappointed. These things happen and every manufacturer kicks out a lemon once in a while. Fortunately the retailer cheerfully accepted return of the bass, and is shipping me a replacement, but it was kind of a pain in the butt.

How this got off the loading dock at Fender I will never know.....

Look below the nut next to the E string, about a quarter inch down where the color changes. That is an actual indentation in the edge.
image.jpg1_3.jpg


Quality work, huh? Having trouble seeing it? From left to right, uneven bevel on the edge between the first two frets, and no bevel at all on the right.
image.jpg2.jpg


Mystery dents and divots on edge to the right. To the left, those white dots are holes and dents, like somebody took the point of a nail and woodpeckered the area.
image.jpg1_7.jpg
 
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#3
It actually runs the entire length of both edges, leading me to believe it was done by machinery or unskilled workers during production. I only included a few pics and should have noted that fact.

If it were just the areas I showed, I might be in agreement with you.
 
#8
mdogs said:
Well, i don't see how you can just automatically blame Fender for a bass that has now been in at least two customers hands. Plus, now that you have returned it, it will go to at least one more customer.
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Maybe, but it is a fair assumption that if somebody else returned it, there was an issue, and the bass has what appears to be damage on both sides of the fingerboard from machining or improper finishing/sanding. What are the chances that the the first person who bought it did that, and what are the chances it happened at Fender? I'm a Fender fan-boy, but I still think it happened there.

As far as a third person now possible getting it, it sounds like you think I'm cheating the next buyer; what, do you think I should have burned it or something??? LOL. I pointed out to the retailer that it was not MINT but blemished. If they subsequently advertise it as such, then no harm done; the next buyer will be informed.

For those who see nothing, perhaps you would expect that type of rough work on a Squire or Mexican bass, but I own several American Standard Fenders with smooth and dead even fingerboard edges, and this bass was not up to standards.
 
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#9
If it's all the way up and down the fretboard that would bug me.. maybe. Is it just limited to the one area in the pic? Can you really feel it when you play? You said you got $200 off normal price, does it sound good? I'm not trying to say receiving a "damaged" instrument is acceptable by any means, I'm just curious how much that really affects the actual instrument and your playing.
 
#10
It was an open box for a reason. Either the first buyer decided to add some flair to the rolled edges or it was built on a Friday. It came with a return policy, which it sounds like you used. No harm, no foul. I would have asked for a new one at the discounted price for you hassle though. Most of the online retailers I deal with are very good about taking care of their customers.
 
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#12
Salicete said:
Maybe, but it is a fair assumption that if somebody else returned it, there was an issue, and the bass has what appears to be damage on both sides of the fingerboard from machining or improper finishing/sanding. What are the chances that the the first person who bought it did that, and what are the chances it happened at Fender? I'm a Fender fan-boy, but I still think it happened there.

As far as a third person now possible getting it, it sounds like you think I'm cheating the next buyer; what, do you think I should have burned it or something??? LOL. I pointed out to the retailer that it was not MINT but blemished. If they subsequently advertise it as such, then no harm done; the next buyer will be informed.

For those who see nothing, perhaps you would expect that type of rough work on a Squire or Mexican bass, but I own several American Standard Fenders with smooth and dead even fingerboard edges, and this bass was not up to standards.
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Ya, didn't mean to insinuate that you were being less than honest about anything. I was just making the point that we really have no idea how many hands this thing has been in before you got it. I think your real beef should be with the retailer you bought it from, they misrepresented what they had and my guess is that they are going to do it again even though you made them aware of the specific issues.
 
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#16
Open box with big online retailers is a pig in a poke. Return it and ask something for your trouble, or ask for more of a discount. ;) PS Cool they are sending you another! I'll accept some cosmetic discrepancies if I love how a bass plays and sounds................but I'll still angle for a few bucks off. ;) It's the Scot in me I can't help it.
 
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#17
My theory is that the first buyer attempted to roll the fingerboard edges himself, realized he was in over his head and decided to abuse the retailer's return policy...of course the store is to weak to call the buyer out on this sort of thing because the buyer will just deny, deny, deny and cry foul - and then march off to the internet and pitch a huge bitch.
 
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#20
Double E said:
My theory is that the first buyer attempted to roll the fingerboard edges himself, realized he was in over his head and decided to abuse the retailer's return policy...of course the store is to weak to call the buyer out on this sort of thing because the buyer will just deny, deny, deny and cry foul - and then march off to the internet and pitch a huge bitch.
Click to expand...

It could have even been the dealer didn't inspect it as it was returned. And for that matter, how many returned it? "Open Box", is pretty vague at best.
 

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