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Biggest Fender Gripe
- Thread starter marchone
- Start date
Makes sense: Mexico have a tropical climate with high humidity, if their humidity control devices are not working properly then frets sprout
Indonesia also has hot and humid weather but I've never had a Squier with fret sprout. They're doing something wrong in Mexico.
That's what I was saying exactly, my Bacchus Woodline is a Global line product built in the Philippines Islands, also very humid same as Indonesia, and I've never experienced any problem whatsoever. Fender maybe doing something wrong here, maybe to cut costs...
Also, the Indonesia factory is basically Cort factory for those Squiers, they know how to deal with humidity cos' theyve been making major brands low-end basses since decades: Yamaha, Ibanez, Sire (Yep the Marcus Miller basses), Lakland skyline, and I could go on and on... fret sprout would be on a much larger scale for dozen of thousands of instruments manufactured there, that would kill their business...
Also, the Indonesia factory is basically Cort factory for those Squiers, they know how to deal with humidity cos' theyve been making major brands low-end basses since decades: Yamaha, Ibanez, Sire (Yep the Marcus Miller basses), Lakland skyline, and I could go on and on... fret sprout would be on a much larger scale for dozen of thousands of instruments manufactured there, that would kill their business...
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The Mexico factory is in Baja California.... It's a coastal desert climate.
The Mexico Fender factory is in an arid climate... IDK what they are doing, but I have had 3 MIMs and all the necks were garbage.... The fret work was particularly rushed, unleveled, and porrly finished. Time is money, and not much time was spent there.
I have no Fender gripes, none. I'm proud to be a Fender Fanboy
My fanboy shirt
My fanboy shirt
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I love Fender P Basses but yeah, I do have some gripes.
#1 The D and G string tend to bind up under the string retainer when tuning. (Gotoh sells a retainer that is about 3 mm taller. Fixes the issue.)
#2 Although it would totally ruin the looks of the classic Fender headstock, a 3 + 1 or 2 x 2 headstock would help reduce the long stretch of the G and and/or G & D string and would lighten up the headstock for better body balance.
#3 I've never liked the input jack actually being anchored down by the one screw at the end of the pickguard. The pickguard bows upward when removing the instrument cable.
#4 The split coil pickup needs to be reversed so that the D & G coil are toward the neck and the E & A coil toward the bridge.
This would add more bass sound to the D & G and a little more high end to the E & A. IMHO
#5 The split coil pickup needs to be offered with lower ohm windings. The split coil pickup is on the hot side. Something in the 9 k ohm range would improve the sound and definition. IMHO
#6 Make basses that are at or below 8 lbs 12 oz.
#7 The truss rod adjustment screw mostly buried at the end of the neck is terrible! (A MusicMan type adjustment wheel would be great!)
That's about it for my gripes but these are actually minor irritations.
#1 The D and G string tend to bind up under the string retainer when tuning. (Gotoh sells a retainer that is about 3 mm taller. Fixes the issue.)
#2 Although it would totally ruin the looks of the classic Fender headstock, a 3 + 1 or 2 x 2 headstock would help reduce the long stretch of the G and and/or G & D string and would lighten up the headstock for better body balance.
#3 I've never liked the input jack actually being anchored down by the one screw at the end of the pickguard. The pickguard bows upward when removing the instrument cable.
#4 The split coil pickup needs to be reversed so that the D & G coil are toward the neck and the E & A coil toward the bridge.
This would add more bass sound to the D & G and a little more high end to the E & A. IMHO
#5 The split coil pickup needs to be offered with lower ohm windings. The split coil pickup is on the hot side. Something in the 9 k ohm range would improve the sound and definition. IMHO
#6 Make basses that are at or below 8 lbs 12 oz.
#7 The truss rod adjustment screw mostly buried at the end of the neck is terrible! (A MusicMan type adjustment wheel would be great!)
That's about it for my gripes but these are actually minor irritations.
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My MiM's neck is fine. It is not fair to generalize about them like this. Your problems are real, but not all MiMs are problematic.
I'd love to play your upgraded P-Bass, that sounds perfect.
EDIT: Come to think of it, that sounds pretty reminiscent of EBMM's Cutlass from a few years ago!
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Ewwww..... This is by far the #1 reason why I don't own a MM (Active pickups is #2). I can't get over that headstock.... Give me an inline or 2X2 any day.
I can get behind this.... I have a CIJ Jazz Bass Special with the split coil configured this way and I love it.
Same bass as above.... The neck relief adjustment is on the body side of the neck and buried in the pocket. The neck needs to be removed to adjust it..... My setup guy hates this bass.
Quality control from Fender these days leaves a lot to be desired, and I'm talking MIA, is it really that hard to give a bass the once-over before shipping it out to the customer thats paying over 2 grand for it?
I agree with #3. Same thing on the Jazzmaster but I have a metal PG there.
#4 I'd love to try a reverse split coil cause it makes a lot of sense.
#6 My P bass only weighs 3.5kg because the body is basswood. Not much neck dive with a suede-backed strap but it's close. The neck and headstock are huge. Honestly a bass closer to 4kg feels better, especially when sitting down but all P basses dive when sitting down.
#7 I hear you! So annoying - and I know some people can get away with a screwdriver without removing the neck but it's impossible with my bass, the truss rod nut doesn't peek out from the pickguard
How sad for you that you're so bothered by other peoples positive experiences with their instrument of choice.
So many threads to disparage what others love.
It seems fine to love all manner of other basses, but not Fender. Hmmm
Not really a gripe, but I'd like to see cooler finishes offered with the Players Series. I'd be all over a Seafoam Green Player Jazz bass.
The QC on my American Pro II Precision is second to none! So maybe you got a bad apple or two?
I bought an American Pro II also, unfortunately mine was riddled with issues and sent back. The one I tried in store prior to buying mine online had a neck pocket gap large enough to store a credit card also.
Handy if you want to use your bass guitar as a wallet I suppose…
