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Are new Fender Bodies Thinner?

Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by bobsacamano, Dec 15, 2014.

  1. Dec 15, 2014 #1
    bobsacamano

    bobsacamano

    Apr 9, 2010
    I owned a 1992 Fender precision for several years, then sold it and bought a G&L Tribute. Recently I saw a great deal online for a Modern Player Satin Jazz Bass so I pulled the trigger. One thing I've noticed... the body on my Jazz bass is about a quarter inch thinner than the body on my G&L. I'm also fairly certain that the body on my old P bass was the same thickness as the G&L.

    So my question is, are new Fender bass bodies thinner than they used to be? What is the body thickness for MIM basses? I realize I purchased a lower level Fender, however I'm a little disappointed to see this cost cutting measure on a bass that retails for $500+. Although, this bass has a much better neck than the old P bass!
     
  2. Dec 15, 2014 #2
    bobsacamano

    bobsacamano

    Apr 9, 2010
    I should have specified.... The G&L has a body thickness of 1.75" and the Jazz bass is 1.5" thick.
     
  3. Dec 15, 2014 #3
    dedpool1052

    dedpool1052

    Jan 10, 2011
    Seattle, WA
    my US G&L SB-2 has a body depth of 1-5/8" as does my '99 fender precision. got an '81 G&L as well that is 1-1/2". I don't think cutting the bodies thinner is a cost cutting measure at all. Alembics have a body thickness of 1-1/2" and their entry-level model retails for $6400. New Rics cost around $1700 and their bodies are even thinner at 1-1/4".
     
    pudgychef likes this.
  4. Dec 15, 2014 #4
    bobsacamano

    bobsacamano

    Apr 9, 2010
    Thanks for the reply.
    I'm sure I'll keep the bass, I like the tone and it feels comfortable. I'm still curious what the body thickness is for a MIM or MIA. Although from the sounds of things it could be that the body thickness changes from year to year, bass to bass and possibly even bass to bass.

    I had read that this bass was heavy, but that doesn't seem to bee the case.
     
  5. Dec 15, 2014 #5
    dedpool1052

    dedpool1052

    Jan 10, 2011
    Seattle, WA
    basses will vary in weight. just check out sweetwater's site. they'll post in-hand pics and weights of basses on some models.
     
  6. Dec 15, 2014 #6
    gustobassman

    gustobassman I'm only here for the after party.. Supporting Member

    Mar 31, 2011
    Sandy Eggo
    You get the 4 or the 5-string? I have 2 of the 5-string Modern Player Jazz Satin (the second one showed up today, woo hoo!) and they are both 1-5/8" thickness. As is my '97 Roscoe Beck V (American Made).
     
  7. Dec 16, 2014 #7
    NightCat

    NightCat

    Apr 4, 2013
    Oregon
    I always thought my SB-2 was thicker than stock Fender basses but the body is smaller so I figured the volume of wood was about the same. Never spent any time trying to find out if that is true 'cuz it doesn't matter to me that much. It just seemed to have a "truthyness" to it.
     
  8. Dec 16, 2014 #8
    Jughead6

    Jughead6

    Jun 19, 2014
    Melbourne, Australia
    I think all of my basses have become thinner over the years. Oh... wait... no, actually I've gotten fatter ;)
     
    fdorn, dug dog, pudgychef and 1 other person like this.
  9. Dec 16, 2014 #9
    radioface

    radioface Guest

    May 2, 2013
    If your bass is well balanced, not to heavy and plays well, is it that important how thick the body is? I have Fender basses with different body thicknesses and to me, it's no big deal.
     
    pudgychef likes this.
  10. Dec 16, 2014 #10
    pudgychef

    pudgychef In Memoriam

    Jan 22, 2005
    Chongqing, China
    amazing the depths the evil Fender-pire goes to...next they will be cheating us out of bass-stabilizing tuner weight and cab-steadying magnets..
    ;)
     
  11. Dec 16, 2014 #11
    bobsacamano

    bobsacamano

    Apr 9, 2010
    I bought the four string black with maple fingerboard. I really am liking it... the neck is great, the pickups sound awesome, and it balances on my shoulder well!


    I think after working in a manufacturing company for a while, and seeing the great efforts made to continuously cut costs, I've become paranoid. I'm always assuming every design decision made by companies is made to reduce material costs.

    Thanks again everybody for the replies!