I did see that, pretty cool if true. Unfortunately my local GC didn't have any so I just sent it through Musician's Friend... My Player Jazz which I did get to try in person has been great so I have high hopes for this one as well but we will see
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British Racing Green Player Precision Bass
- Thread starter MasterBrianD
- Start date
I did see that, pretty cool if true. Unfortunately my local GC didn't have any so I just sent it through Musician's Friend... My Player Jazz which I did get to try in person has been great so I have high hopes for this one as well but we will see
I also believe in "try before you buy." However, it's not always possible. The one I picked up at the store played very well... but I didn't buy it right away and by the time I came back a week later it had been mistreated. So, I took my chances on a new boxed one. We'll see how it is when it arrives.
I’m hoping since it’s such a small run they will make sure they are finished well, I know mine was. Hopefully the ones you guys have ordered are done up right.
Hi, I just took delivery...
I do have intentions to mod it, but I want to make sure I start with a good platform.
The body looks great and so does the neck. However, there are a few things I do have a concern with:
1. I have a number of Fender guitars where I've have to adjust the angle of the neck to get the strings centered. This one seems like is one of those candidates. That said, it does look like the centering is way off on this one and it doesn't appear I have a whole lot of side to side leeway to adjust. I'll try tonight, but look at the photos and notice the big gap between the edge of the fretboard and the E string as compared to the treble side.
2. It also appears the nut may have been cut a little bit to far towards the treble side.
3. Because of the above, it looks like the strings are not well centered between each of the pickup pole pieces.
The nut would be easy to replace if I think the bass overall is a good one. I'm more concerned about the angle of the neck an the strings. The pocked does seem to have been cut pretty well.
I think it has good potential if I can get the spacing right. I originally bought this to replace the neck with a Player Plus neck... so there's that option as well in case I don't love this neck.
Of course, if I can't get it to set-up well, it'll go back... but so far I think the potential is there. Just need to work on it a bit.
I do have intentions to mod it, but I want to make sure I start with a good platform.
The body looks great and so does the neck. However, there are a few things I do have a concern with:
1. I have a number of Fender guitars where I've have to adjust the angle of the neck to get the strings centered. This one seems like is one of those candidates. That said, it does look like the centering is way off on this one and it doesn't appear I have a whole lot of side to side leeway to adjust. I'll try tonight, but look at the photos and notice the big gap between the edge of the fretboard and the E string as compared to the treble side.
2. It also appears the nut may have been cut a little bit to far towards the treble side.
3. Because of the above, it looks like the strings are not well centered between each of the pickup pole pieces.
The nut would be easy to replace if I think the bass overall is a good one. I'm more concerned about the angle of the neck an the strings. The pocked does seem to have been cut pretty well.
I think it has good potential if I can get the spacing right. I originally bought this to replace the neck with a Player Plus neck... so there's that option as well in case I don't love this neck.
Of course, if I can't get it to set-up well, it'll go back... but so far I think the potential is there. Just need to work on it a bit.
Yeah, needs a new nut... but that's not enough to have it be so off on the other end. I'm pretty sure it's either the pocket that's cut wrong... but more than likely the bridge is installed not centered correctly. I'll follow up with two photos that show that...
I didn't have better line handy as half my stuff is packed. But you get the point. Check out the gap on the treble side with a line going from the edge of the bridge to the edge of the nut on either side. I'm pretty sure the bridge is not centered properly... which also explains why the strings are so far off the pole pieces on the pickups.
Mine had some QC issues as well.
Notably the tone knob was completely loose, and could just be removed from the pot. Luckily, it wasn't bouncing around in the package and the finish is fine.
The pickups also were installed pretty poorly. Both of them had wires between the foam and the pickups which resulted in them being at an angle (lower at the fretboard side and higher at the bridge side) pretty dramatically. Also one of the foams was installed upside down.
Fixable issues for sure. But was a bit surprising to see on an instrument with a list price of over 1000 dollars.
I got the issues resolved alright and replaced the bridge with an aluminum Hipshot B and the tuners with Hipshot HB7s. Plays and sounds great and I love the color. Overall satisfied even with the QC issues. Getting the bass at "normal" player price of 850 helped.
Notably the tone knob was completely loose, and could just be removed from the pot. Luckily, it wasn't bouncing around in the package and the finish is fine.
The pickups also were installed pretty poorly. Both of them had wires between the foam and the pickups which resulted in them being at an angle (lower at the fretboard side and higher at the bridge side) pretty dramatically. Also one of the foams was installed upside down.
Fixable issues for sure. But was a bit surprising to see on an instrument with a list price of over 1000 dollars.
I got the issues resolved alright and replaced the bridge with an aluminum Hipshot B and the tuners with Hipshot HB7s. Plays and sounds great and I love the color. Overall satisfied even with the QC issues. Getting the bass at "normal" player price of 850 helped.
I'm still a bit puzzled because in relation to the pickups, and the strap button... the bridge does appear to be straight and centered... so it may very well be that the neck pocket is at a slight angle... enough to make the neck point down a bit too much.
But then... I just found it has a couple of high frets. I'm done. This thing is a bit basketcase. It's likely going to go back. I bought a Squier Jazzmaster just the other day and found just one high fret. Not a problem on a sub-$500 guitar. But this one... I've already had my fret level rock back and forth on at least 3 frets so far and I'm not even done.
But then... I just found it has a couple of high frets. I'm done. This thing is a bit basketcase. It's likely going to go back. I bought a Squier Jazzmaster just the other day and found just one high fret. Not a problem on a sub-$500 guitar. But this one... I've already had my fret level rock back and forth on at least 3 frets so far and I'm not even done.
How much does your bass weight sensei? Mine came in at 9.4lbs stock. Heavy compared to my jazz, but I think I have a light Jazz.
Bummer to hear yours has more/more serious issues than mine does. I would think for a supposedly limited run of less than 700 units they would have given them a closer look.
Bummer to hear yours has more/more serious issues than mine does. I would think for a supposedly limited run of less than 700 units they would have given them a closer look.
There has been some chatter recently about a decline in MIM QC.
It seems Fender is really leaning on the Ensenada factory. There are a LOT of models made there. Maybe too many, made too quickly? They only have to look back to the last gasps of CBS ownership to see what happens when production numbers take precedence over instrument integrity.
I hate to bring up Gibson on a Fender thread, but when they simplified/pared down their product line a few years ago, QC made a noticeable jump.
It seems Fender is really leaning on the Ensenada factory. There are a LOT of models made there. Maybe too many, made too quickly? They only have to look back to the last gasps of CBS ownership to see what happens when production numbers take precedence over instrument integrity.
I hate to bring up Gibson on a Fender thread, but when they simplified/pared down their product line a few years ago, QC made a noticeable jump.
My two Gibsons have been flawless... and I didn't try too hard. I picked two up at different times and both were absolutely perfect. I didn't have to go hunting for good ones like I have to do with Fender.
How much does your bass weight sensei? Mine came in at 9.4lbs stock. Heavy compared to my jazz, but I think I have a light Jazz.
Bummer to hear yours has more/more serious issues than mine does. I would think for a supposedly limited run of less than 700 units they would have given them a closer look.
I'll weigh it soon and find out. I set it aside. I'll tune it up again tomorrow morning and take a few more measurements... but I think this one is going back. My question is... Do I want to give it another shot and try again on a replacement of the same model? I'm considering going back to my original plan of buying a partscaster P-Bass. 9.4 is on the heavy side... But I do like heavier instruments sometimes.
Sorry to hear of all the issues, that’s not good nor should it have left the factory like that. It’s a shame as I was luck to grab one without any issues, it’s pretty light, well finished neck and frets, and plays great. Hopefully a replacement would come to you in better condition.
I have two Player Precisions already.
The British Racing Green colour on that model was very enticing. It has different pickups too so Fender got my money again
.
The neck and the pickguard were too pale for my liking though, so I swapped them with a Fender USA pickguard and an All Part maple neck.
Here is the result
I am very happy with it now. It plays like butter and I like the Seymour Duncan pickups (woollier than the Alnico V on the regular Players, which are also very nice btw).
The British Racing Green colour on that model was very enticing. It has different pickups too so Fender got my money again
. The neck and the pickguard were too pale for my liking though, so I swapped them with a Fender USA pickguard and an All Part maple neck.
Here is the result
I am very happy with it now. It plays like butter and I like the Seymour Duncan pickups (woollier than the Alnico V on the regular Players, which are also very nice btw).
That looks great. I also think the stock neck is too pale, but I do like the white pickguard. That said, my plan the entire time was to swap to a gold pickguard. But I might only do it temporarily.
By the way, when I got the new replacement I got to measuring. The real problem with the first one I got was that the bridge was screwed on 1.8" too far towards the treble site. It wasn't the neck angle. Yeah, the nut was off a little too, but the real problem was the bridge.
By the way, when I got the new replacement I got to measuring. The real problem with the first one I got was that the bridge was screwed on 1.8" too far towards the treble site. It wasn't the neck angle. Yeah, the nut was off a little too, but the real problem was the bridge.
I’m glad the replacement bass was spot on! I just played mine today and yup, still awesome, I’m sure you will greatly enjoy this bass!
