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A Fender Lemon

#21
Turnaround said:
Now there's an opportunity to do a rolled fingerboard edge! So much better feel than stock.
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The stock American Standards already have rolled fingerboard edges and feel great. Looks like these edges got rolled a little too hard! FWIW, nearly every American Standard RW board I've seen has had some of these same quirks, though the fret ends on yours do look screwed up and it is a bit sloppier than most. Still better than some of the Skyline RW boards I've seen.
 
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#24
That's too bad, that fretboard looks a bit rough. I wouldn't like it either. It could easily have been Fender, or a previous owner, or even a hack in-house "tech" at the retailer's facility. No way to know. If you think about big outfits like MF with their uber liberal return policy, it's not hard to imagine where all the returned items might end up. Same principle for small retailers.

Also, there seems to be an abundance of factory "blems" finding their way to retailers these days, who then sell them as new w/warranty. Which is okay if those retailers advertise them as blems....but many don't (I could name names). Some blem items have serious issues that the retailer may not even be aware of. Or worse, the retailer knows about the problem, but sells it anyway, hoping a hapless buyer won't notice the issue or will accept it anyway. Some brick 'n mortar music stores see ebay, reverb, etc., as dumping grounds for stuff they can't otherwise sell.

As a hopeless gear whore I've learned some of these lessons the hard way. But as long as my money stays safe I just consider it as part of the "sport".
 
#27
My only issue was the fact that it was advertised as"Mint." Had they said blemished, I would have no room to complain. They (Musicians Friend) took it back cheerfully and worked hard to be sure I was satisfied at the end of the day.

Nobody will ever know how it got botched up, and if somebody buys it knowing it is a blem, they will likely be happy with it.

It all worked out, and I'm waiting on a sunburst American Jazz now.....But seriously considering calling and switching to the '64 Vintage Jazz in Lake Placid Blue with the matching headstock, but just having a hard time justifying the large extra expense for the added options.

At any rate, problem solved; all is well.
 
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#28
Stealth Fighter said:
Well, color me blind, but I don't see what all the fuss is about, other than just another bash Fender thread. It's Thursday, so I guess it was time, since any day that ends in "y" seems to be the best day to bash Fender. :confused:
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Not a bashing thread, just observations about the odd lemon that landed with me.

If folks are ok with paying well over a thousand dollars for an item with issues, that is fine. I'm not, I want it right.

Slpbass81, Yup, they all get dinged, but I just don't want it pre-dinged, I'll do the damage myself. ;)
 
#31
Salicete said:
Not a bashing thread, just observations about the odd lemon that landed with me.
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If the bass were damaged from the factory, you would have a legitimate complaint that it is a lemon. Personally, I don't see the damage you are referring to in your pictures, but let's assume it is there. You have no knowledge of where the damage originated, and without that knowledge, you have no legitimate complaint against Fender. As someone else already said, your beef is with the retailer. So, yeah, blaming Fender for something without facts to back you up amounts to bashing in my book. YMMV. I truly hope you get satisfaction. :thumbsup:
 
#33
Stealth Fighter said:
If the bass were damaged from the factory, you would have a legitimate complaint that it is a lemon. Personally, I don't see the damage you are referring to in your pictures, but let's assume it is there. You have no knowledge of where the damage originated, and without that knowledge, you have no legitimate complaint against Fender. As someone else already said, your beef is with the retailer. So, yeah, blaming Fender for something without facts to back you up amounts to bashing in my book. YMMV. I truly hope you get satisfaction. :thumbsup:
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We will have to disagree on this.

No I can't prove it, but I have no doubt this happened at Fender, and was undoubtedly mechanical damage. Unless the first buyer had machinery to work the neck, he didn't do it. The marks are too regular in most places to be be a home job.

I never said Fender sucks, I just talked about a blem I received, and pointed out several times that I am a Fender fan and have been since the 70s. Pointing out one mistake is by no means an indictment or bash at an entire company. Note the thread title "A" Fender Lemon, not "Another" or some similar wording.

Do you really think that as a company they fever let an "oops" get out the door?
 
#34
MultiScaleMale said:
You have an issue with the retailer, not Fender. And you really don't have an issue with the retailer since you returned the bass and got your money back.
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So if your Ford has a blemish or defect, and Bob's Ford sells you the car, you don't hold Ford responsible at all; they have nothing to do with it?

The retailer held up their end and stood behind a Fender product that they sold, but that I believe a Fender let out the door when perhaps they should not have.

You are correct in that the bass was replaced, so everyone did the right thing. The thread was not a whine, it was an observation.
 
#36
Salicete said:
We will have to disagree on this.

No I can't prove it, but I have no doubt this happened at Fender, and was undoubtedly mechanical damage. Unless the first buyer had machinery to work the neck, he didn't do it. The marks are too regular in most places to be be a home job.

I never said Fender sucks, I just talked about a blem I received, and pointed out several times that I am a Fender fan and have been since the 70s. Pointing out one mistake is by no means an indictment or bash at an entire company. Note the thread title "A" Fender Lemon, not "Another" or some similar wording.

Do you really think that as a company they fever let an "oops" get out the door?
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Then, we are in agreement on at least one point. Again, I hope you find satisfaction.
 
#39
image.jpg


How could you ever assume it left the factory that way when it's pre owned? First owner coulda had it 30 days.
 
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#40
AnalogKid4003 said:
View attachment 641244

How could you ever assume it left the factory that way when it's pre owned? First owner coulda had it 30 days.
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That pic is more like the Fender fan boys reaction to anyone saying anything bad about their preciouses. Don't get me wrong. I like Fenders. Just, some of you would defend them to the point of ridiculousness.
 
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