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After a few weeks with a Roadworn Jazz...

#21
Mike M. said:
What makes the RW's so special? I'm asking because I've yet to try one.

Better woods? Better pickups? Better built?
Click to expand...

Because it feels like its been played for 30 years. Feels broken in. No nasty clear coat on the back of the neck or where your forearm rests to gum up and create drag. They have mojo right out of the box. I dont mind relic'd guitars but i dont like heavy relics. The fender guys did a great job with not too much on this one.
Best feeling fender neck I have ever laid hands on. Pups sound great and very vintage.

And BTW....if anyone is selling a RW Jazz neck...PLEASE PM ME!!!!
 
#24
Mike M. said:
What makes the RW's so special?...
...Better woods? Better pickups? Better built?
Click to expand...

Rumors abound of select woods, baked woods, Custom Shop training of builders, and similar such things. One of the most experienced dealers I know felt certain the wood was of higher quality (lighter and more resonant) than the Classic MIM 60's and 50's series.

I think the fretwork is good, but not as good as the MIA Standards. The wood, sound, and feel are convincingly vintage. I had a '68 Jazz and a 2000 MIM 60's classic. They were good, but the Roadworn is much better, imho. :D
 
#25
When I was shopping for an old Fender Precision a few years ago I tried a couple of Road Worn Ps, but there were some things I didn't like. It was sum of a few small issues rather than one single factor. Keeping in mind that I have a '65 Jazz Bass as a reference point (I've had it for 30+ years), my issues were 1) It sounded a bit too modern for me, even though I took the roundwounds into account; 2) The wear/relicing was too cosmetic, meaning it looked cool from a distance but didn't feel like real wear when you touched it; 3) None of the basses that I tried had the "this is a high quality bass" feel to them; and 4) None felt like an old bass when I picked them up. So I got a Nash '57 Relic Precision Bass and it had the sound, the wear and the quality that I wanted, but it feels like a new bass.
 
#26
How do you guys feel about the retail price of these badboys? The RW p I tested out at bass emporium here in Austin is the best feeling and sounding P I've played in a long time... But I think $1k is a bit too much, especially with no case. It's definitely a very high quality instrument, but for some reason I can't get with the pricing. If it was $799, I'd definitely buy the P and probably a matching jazz down the line. I would, however pay $999 for a non relic'd version that came with a case. Sort if like a downmarket version of the 62 AVRI ha ha ha I do really want one of the P's but I'm afraid fender will discontinue them before I wise up and take the plunge. Anybody know how these RWs are selling?
 
#27
IMO these are a bargain for what you get. Every RW I have had has been a terrific bass. The one I have right now is one of the best Jazz basses I have owned. I did put Duncan Antiquity II's in it, but to be honest they didn't change the sound that much. The stock pickups do sound good. Great vintage sounding bass with a great feeling neck. Could care less where it was made!
 
#29
I just picked one of these up for $500 local. The guy who had it was a good friend - and I had played it a lot over the past year. I actually believe I played it more than he did during the year he had it.

I think the 7.25 rad neck is a pig part of the feel factor on this - It is a nice instrument. Feel, tone, etc......all there - right where I want it.

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