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Are veneers a turnoff?

#41
Root 5 said:
What I don’t like about veneers is it gives manufacturers a justification to charge a lot more money for a wafer thin piece of veneer.
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It's a fair point. I'm sure many manufacturers apply an upcharge for including a veneer. But, while I'm sure FMIC have their more expensive, fancy-topped models, even they put out a series of reasonably priced, well built Jazzes...and in some surprisingly non-standard colors, to boot. Relatively inexpensive with a visual "kick" and not in their usual rank-and-file finishes? Well, good on them! :thumbsup: (Of course, if one doesn't like Jazzes, or has an issue with "for-reen made stuff", well...that's a whole 'nother issue, and a personal one, at that!)
 
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#43
BHughes81 said:
Heya! Long time lurker here. I’ve owned a ton of high quality basses over the years. USA and Euro Spectors, Zon, MTD , Lull etc. I find the price “sweet spot” to be between )$1000-$1500. I’ve owned many basses with incredible tops and I’m not sure I really buy in to the whole tonewood thing. Sure, I think general wood density plays a role in how the strings vibrate in the magnetic field of a pickup but won’t put much money on that horse.

Recently some of the basses I’ve tried/bought have had veneers of some variety. Some better than others. One was an Ibanez EHB1505MS with a poplar burl top…. Looked great but at the same time I can’t help think that it’s just a funky piece of common wood. Do you think veneers cheapen your experience? A decent veneer still isn’t a match for the 3D appearance of a well selected piece of wood. I also don’t think a veneer can sub for a great solid paint job or a good piece of ash. Is this because quality woods are becoming harder to source? Are they a turnoff to you implying a “budget” experience?

I recently got a Kingston Super 5 with brown burst and flame maple veneer. It’s super subtle and it made me question the build quality of the bass. It’s an exceptional instrument but I’d rather just see the ash if it was actually a decent piece.

Thoughts?
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You say the Kingston-super five is an exceptional instrument in your opinion, but the subtle maple veneer made you question the build quality?
 
#44
pepj said:
AAA and above...qtr inch..?
What are we calling veneers...a stick on?

I can go for the look but whether I'm totally convinced soundwise is another thing.
All my basses with proper tops aren't among my best sounding basses so I'll go for a nice piece of solid wood. If its Ash...then you can have a translucent finish and still benefit from the solid one piece.
You need very nice Alder for that too...
My best sounding bass is Alder with Rosewood.
So as much as I want to go with a top, my experience is that I'll go otherwise.

My feeling is that you can get lucky with combos...but more often that not, you don't, or you need to pay for better wood stock which is my preferred way to go now.
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Agree. My favorite bass is my G&L L-2500 which
Thegreatzambini said:
You say the Kingston-super five is an exceptional instrument in your opinion, but the subtle maple veneer made you question the build quality?
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I made the determination that it is a quality instrument when I got my hands on it, yes. In terms of “made in China” basses they’re generally built in the same factory as Cort, Ibanez, Jackson, Schecter so what faith do I have that the quality of this bass even with an esteemed namesake would be different than the wash of assembly line basses we see at Guitar Center? In my opinion , a veneer could be the equivalent of polishing a turd. The MTD Kingston is not a turd, the maple cap is subtle and , honestly, I don’t care that it exists. MTD is a revered name in the bass community, this could be an opportunity to capitalize. Sadowsky, similarly, branched out in a similar manner with very mixed reviews.
 
#45
Thegreatzambini said:
Oh, thank you for saying this …I was thinking it, I just couldn’t put it into words.
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I generally agree with the preceding statement. Take a cheap body made of 5 pieces of alder slapped together and sweet ass veneer on it and make it a “premium” model. This is what I’m suspect of. Look at LowEnd Lobsters review of the sandblasted Spector model. It’s exactly that… varying pieces of ash glued together with a cool treatment and a stock neck… $900. No veneer but a “metal” finish process nonetheless .
 
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#46
Snert said:
No. They look much better to me than a cheap front rout with a control plate and/or PG to cover it up and the same old, same old ancient car duco colours.
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giphy-2617536709.gif
 
#49
BHughes81 said:
I generally agree with the preceding statement. Take a cheap body made of 5 pieces of alder slapped together and sweet ass veneer on it and make it a “premium” model. This is what I’m suspect of. Look at LowEnd Lobsters review of the sandblasted Spector model. It’s exactly that… varying pieces of ash glued together with a cool treatment and a stock neck… $900. No veneer but a “metal” finish process nonetheless .
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Yes this is true. Flashy veneer on the top and an opaque finish on the sides and back to hide the 18-piece body…
 
#51
Clark W said:
Well I got both of these Fender Player Series on sale for 649 each. And I've been pretty happy with them. Other than changing the guards to smoked mirrors, knurled speed knobs on the controls, and Schaller strap locks, I have no intentions or desire to upgrade anything about them.

And out of my 5 Fender electrics, these are the only two with veneer tops.
View attachment 6988982

View attachment 6988983
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They put the other Player series basses to shame.
Seriously, I think they should've simply called them Fender LTDs.
 
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#53
Malak the Mad said:
I, for one, don't mind veneers at all, even if they're a bit roughed up. :whistle:

JebCtE8.jpg


I'm no luthier, but from what I can tell, veneers are more about "visual flair" than anything else, ja? Some go for 'em, some don't. It's just a matter of taste.

Oh, and for the record, I recently bought a used Fender Player Plus Top Jazz. It would probably sound just as good without the transparent-green-over-flamed-maple, but the veneer gives it that extra bit of "OOMPH!" that makes it even sweeter. :cool:

img_6439-jpeg.6953510
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Great looking basses! The red one looks like it has a pretty thick maple top. Or do my eyes deceive me? :thumbsup:
 
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#54
Root 5 said:
What I don’t like about veneers is it gives manufacturers a justification to charge a lot more money for a wafer thin piece of veneer.
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Yet I got 2 flame top veneer Player Series Jazz basses for $649 each, new. Bought both from GC, Christmas sale Dec 2021, and President's Day Sale Feb 2022. They were regularly priced at 849, but currently are priced at $729 for the blue one at GC & MF, the green one is no longer available. Now that the Player II series is out I suspect the blue one will be gone as soon as their inventory runs out.

As much as I can despise Fender's pricing sometimes, I have to admit both of those basses are lot of bang for the buck on sale or at regular price. And Fender nor GC/MF took advantage of them having a veneer on them to up the price. While I'm glad I managed to get both on sale for 200 less than normal retail, after owning them I can honestly say I would have paid 849 for them and never thought twice about it. Just glad I didn't have to.
 
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#55
tangentmusic said:
Ibanez SR400EQM
Quilted maple over nyatoh
Dragon Eye Burst.
They did a nice job on this model.
View attachment 6989810
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They did do a great job in the looks dept. When I first got back into gigging, the first bass I bought was an Ibanez SR400EQM in the Purple space burst. It was a gorgeous bass. While it was a great playing bass for the money, I was never happy with the sound. I bought a 1988 Epiphone Accu Bass for 60 bucks and spent another 100 or so on an EMG GZR P pup and had a way better sounding bass when I was done cleaning it up and working on it. And after 40+ years of never owning a Fender or a passive bass, now all I own is passive Fenders except for my Fender acoustic and of course the Epiphone Accu Bass.

This was the exact one I got from Sweetwater. Loved the figuring in the top. Neck was great too. If only it was a little better in the sound dept. But for 450 bucks at the time, it was a great deal.
angle.jpg
 
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#56
Iridescentone said:
Great looking basses! The red one looks like it has a pretty thick maple top. Or do my eyes deceive me? :thumbsup:
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With all friendliness, I hate to say it, but you are quite deceived. The body is an MIJ "Foto-Flame" Jazz. If you look carefully, the gaps on the back reveal the wood underneath the photo-veneer...probably basswood or something similar.

hgobpsO.jpg


I got it from a fellow TB'er who was clearing out their parts, added the 2010's Fender American Standard bridge, a black/white/black pickguard (thus the hole missing a screw...I couldn't bring myself to punch yet another hole through it) and a first-generation Squier Classic Vibe '60s Jazz neck. Later, I threw on some D'Addario Chromes...and, inadvertently, learned what so many people meant by the qualities of a "Jazz with flats". Damn, but that thing got a serious boost to it's punchiness and output! :wideyed:
 
#58
jd56hawk said:
They put the other Player series basses to shame.
Seriously, I think they should've simply called them Fender LTDs.
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Their official names, according to my Fender Account / My gear section, are:

Dealer Exclusive Player Jazz Bass Plus Top, Maple Fingerboard, Green Burst
and
Dealer Exclusive Player Jazz Bass Plus Top, Maple Fingerboard, Blue Burst

They have been excellent basses for sure. The other MIM Player that I own is a 2019 Precision I took in on a trade from a fellow TB'er. It's been an excellent bass as well, but it came with upgrades. Hipshot Drop Tuner and a FCS '62 P pup already installed. So I don't have a clue as to what it was like stock.
 
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#59
Clark W said:
Their official names, according to my Fender Account / My gear section, are:

Dealer Exclusive Player Jazz Bass Plus Top, Maple Fingerboard, Green Burst
and
Dealer Exclusive Player Jazz Bass Plus Top, Maple Fingerboard, Blue Burst

They have been excellent basses for sure. The other MIM Player that I own is a 2019 Precision I took in on a trade from a fellow TB'er. It's been an excellent bass as well, but it came with upgrades. Hipshot Drop Tuner and a FCS '62 P pup already installed. So I don't have a clue as to what it was like stock.
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I wonder why they didn't do a red burst one.
 
#60
Malak the Mad said:
With all friendliness, I hate to say it, but you are quite deceived. The body is an MIJ "Foto-Flame" Jazz. If you look carefully, the gaps on the back reveal the wood underneath the photo-veneer...probably basswood or something similar.

hgobpsO.jpg


I got it from a fellow TB'er who was clearing out their parts, added the 2010's Fender American Standard bridge, a black/white/black pickguard (thus the hole missing a screw...I couldn't bring myself to punch yet another hole through it) and a first-generation Squier Classic Vibe '60s Jazz neck. Later, I threw on some D'Addario Chromes...and, inadvertently, learned what so many people meant by the qualities of a "Jazz with flats". Damn, but that thing got a serious boost to it's punchiness and output! :wideyed:
Click to expand...

Huh. They did a good job with the foto flamage, extending it over the edge to look like it's a thick maple slab. Looking at the wood grain on the back of that body, I would have guessed 3-pc alder. They would tricked me on both sides! lol :woot: Regardless, it still looks great!
 
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