Carbon rods in Fender AmStd line

[tleeitsme]

what year did they start putting stabilizing rods in the necks of usa made basses? do they still do it?

thanks

 

[godofthunder59]

2008 is when they started. I couldn't stand them.

 

[FunkHead]

lol, yeah those dang carbon rods are a real pain in the arse.

 

[kesslari]

lol, yeah those dang carbon rods are a real pain in the arse.

Having not dealt with them I need to ask - why are they a pain?

 

[dedpool1052]

I believe they've been doing it since the mid-to-late '90s.
I know my '99/'00 hot-rod American precision was marketed as having them.
Also, in an issue of BP, the September '02 issue with John Entwistle on the cover, there was a Fender factory tour.
IIRC, they mention the "posiflex" graphite rods, and how they're only a bit of CF fabric, wrapped around a maple dowel.

 

[metron]

I thought they added the carbon rods in the 90s to the standard line? Maybe it was the 2000 revamp? Not sure since they are invisible.

 

[metron]

I believe they've been doing it since the mid-to-late '90s.
I know my '99/'00 hot-rod American precision was marketed as having them.
Also, in an issue of BP, the September '02 issue with John Entwistle on the cover, there was a Fender factory tour.
IIRC, they mention the "posiflex" graphite rods, and how they're only a bit of CF fabric, wrapped around a maple dowel.

Ded how you doing mang? Those posiflex rods amiright?

 

[dedpool1052]

Ded how you doing mang? Those posiflex rods amiright?

Doin' well, metron!
Hope yer doing good.

 

[FunkHead]

Having not dealt with them I need to ask - why are they a pain?

Sorry, I was joking. I can see absolutely no downside.

 

[FenderOli]

what year did they start putting stabilizing rods in the necks of usa made basses? do they still do it?

1995, yes.

 

[Kro]

1995, yes.

I believe this is the correct answer. And a solid upgrade IMO. Not sure what (serious) naysayers could be going on about.

Sure there are many ways to improve neck stability, and the best would probably be to only use top quality cured wood, but aside from that I'd take a "typical" Fender neck with stabilization over a "typical" Fender neck without it any day.

 

[Clark Westfield]

I see other manufactures like Sadowsky and Lull up using them, so they must do something.

 

[bobyoung53]

I like them, the necks feel a lot more stable to me.

 

[godofthunder59]

To install carbon fiber rods you have to remove a fair amount of wood from the neck. I found them lifeless and to stiff.

 

[FirewalZ]

I can attest that My Fender necks that have these do seem to "move" less and need fewer climate adjustments. I always take my Am Pro P on hot/humid campground gigs and it never needs tweaking.

 

[Kro]

To install carbon fiber rods you have to remove a fair amount of wood from the neck. I found them lifeless and to stiff.

Too stiff? You'd prefer them less stiff?

 

[Tim Skaggs]

1996 is the year for Am Standard Jazz basses. I bought a new 95 Am Standard Jazz (N5xxxxx..) that had terrible dead spots. Fender swapped with me for another 1995 Jazz N5xxxxx..). It was no better. The Fender rep said if I could wait a few weeks, the 1996 models would be available and it would have a thicker headstock, thicker neck, carbon fiber reinforcement bars in the neck, & threaded bridge saddles. I waited & swapped the second 1995 for the new 1996 (N6xxxxx..). The ‘96 was indeed much better. I traded that Jazz for a US made Fender Power Jazz 5 string. I so wish I would have kept the ‘96 Am Standard Jazz.

 

[JakobT]

I don’t mind them, but to me they haven’t made the slightest difference. The necks of my MIM Fenders are just as stable as that of my American Standard Precision.

 

[godofthunder59]

Too stiff? You'd prefer them less stiff?

Removing all that material makes the necks less lively imho and yes there is such a thing as a neck that is to stiff, I have a Warmouth neck that is soulless as a corpse.

 

[Planespotter]

My 2000 MIA P has them along with the thicker headstock and it’s only needed a couple of neck adjustments in the 20+ years I’ve owned it.