Fender '08 American Standard - Playability Issues

[EagleMoon]

Is this a MIA Jazz or P bass? I don't see that you said. Could be if it's a P bass the neck has become a bit fat for your with the RSI. I have tendinitis and I find that a thinner neck and round core strings (DR Hi-Beams) has helped me a LOT. The other thing is that Fenders have a rounder radius neck, which is to is a little harder to fret than a flatter radius.

 

[Nedmundo]

I have tendinitis and I find that a thinner neck and round core strings (DR Hi-Beams) has helped me a LOT. The other thing is that Fenders have a rounder radius neck, which is to is a little harder to fret than a flatter radius.

I've had a few finger issues, which have made easy playability even more important, and I've also moved to round core strings and flatter radius fretboards. My 2003 MIA Jazz has a fantastic neck, but my G&L basses with flatter 12" radius fretboards, J nut width, and Plek-leveled frets are definitely better.

 

[P. Aaron]

I find that DR Low Rider Nickels are much easier on my hands than the Roto-Sound stainless type strings I used to use...and I went through a ton of different strings before trying these.

My Precision V has DR Nickel Sunbeams. Or, I use the Low Rider Nickels. The Sunbeams are more mid-rangey but, I just tweak the EQ a bit.

Arthritis runs in my family and the P-V's neck is W-I-D-E-R than most. Yet it has turned this bass into my favorite player.

Believe me, I play through a lot of pain.

 

[vxjoe]

Another option, before you make a comment, have another skilled person play the bass. Ask their opinion of the setup. Then discuss the specifics.

 

[joeyl]

Neck angle can make a big difference to playability.

Are you saying that the neck angle would be noticeable to the player's arms and hands? We are talking a very small angle here, it would make the headstock move back a few millimeters at the most, I fail to see it if you are correct.

 

[Slpbass81]

I have tendonitis and I have sold every other bass but my American Standard Jazz bass and P-Bass. I only play the jazz bass live and the action is so low I love it. I had to adjust my playing style to very soft right hand technique and let the amp do all the work. My upper frets buzz a lot but I need to get them cleaned up after 5+ years of abuse. My Marcus Miller DR 105 strings do great by me.

 

[baconbits89]

shimming the neck is only useful if the saddle bridges are bottomed out but the string height is still too high from the fretboard.

let me ask you this: what's the measurement between the bottom of the E string and the top of the 12th fret?

Just measured. This distance seems to be about 3mm. Would going down to 2mm or even 1mm make an appreciable difference?

Don't know who your tech is but a good tech would probably suggest neck angle adjustment as part of the remedy.
The "old school" way to do this to take the neck off the bass, then put a shim in the neck pocket the size of maybe two business cards. Only do this on about a third of the neck pocket, behind the screws in the back of the neck pocket.
You'll need to adjust your bridge after you do this.

If this works, you can bring it to a qualified tech who can do the same thing the right way. This is a fixable issue.

I didn't even realize this was a part of setting up! I'll definitely ask my (most recent) tech about that option too.

Thanks a ton for the advice. If I can go even lower with the action (if that would help) and adjust the neck a bit - that may make a big difference. Ideally I do wish the MIA Fenders had a slimmer profile neck, but everything about the way this bass sounds is gold. Just playing's been tough...

 

[dedpool1052]

Just measured. This distance seems to be about 3mm. Would going down to 2mm or even 1mm make an appreciable difference?

3mm?
that's pretty high. definately drop it down to 2mm first and see how that feels for a while. if it's still difficult to fret notes and play comfortably, then probably start dropping it in smaller increments to find the "sweet spot" for you.

 

[baconbits89]

Wow. 3mm is significantly lower than what I used to play too (had to be around 5mm or so before, if not more). I had no idea this would still be considered high by most players' standards. Looks like that's the first thing to address, then!

 

[Batmensch]

I haven't noticed any such problem with my '08 MIA jazz with DM Blue Steels, and the only adjustment ever made was a slight truss rod tweak when I got it in '09.

 

[dedpool1052]

Wow. 3mm is significantly lower than what I used to play too (had to be around 5mm or so before, if not more). I had no idea this would still be considered high by most players' standards. Looks like that's the first thing to address, then!

IIRC, the factory setup on fenders is around 2.4mm on the E and 2mm G. I believe most would consider this "medium" action.

 

[joeyl]

It's 2mm on the E string on my Precision. So yeah lower by 1mm if you can and it should make a difference in the feel. Some people are more sensitive to string height than others...

 

[B String]

Just measured. This distance seems to be about 3mm. Would going down to 2mm or even 1mm make an appreciable difference?



I didn't even realize this was a part of setting up! I'll definitely ask my (most recent) tech about that option too.

Thanks a ton for the advice. If I can go even lower with the action (if that would help) and adjust the neck a bit - that may make a big difference. Ideally I do wish the MIA Fenders had a slimmer profile neck, but everything about the way this bass sounds is gold. Just playing's been tough...

What I did on my bass was to send it to Carey Nordstrand and had him reshape the neck a little. OMG!!! For a few hundred bucks I have one of the best playing Fender necks I've ever played.

 

[B String]

Are you saying that the neck angle would be noticeable to the player's arms and hands? We are talking a very small angle here, it would make the headstock move back a few millimeters at the most, I fail to see it if you are correct.

I can't explain it techically but the concept has been around for ever on the upright bass. It works equally well for electric bass too. Perhaps you might bring this up in the Set up and Repair, or luthier's forums. I'm sure you'd get a better explanation than from me.

 

[elBandito]

Apples to oranges. Tiny angle added to electric bass neck is negligible.

I can't explain it techically but the concept has been around for ever on the upright bass. It works equally well for electric bass too. Perhaps you might bring this up in the Set up and Repair, or luthier's forums. I'm sure you'd get a better explanation than from me.

 

[bassbully]

No issues with the 08' I had. One of the best Fenders I ever played.

 

[joeyl]

Apples to oranges. Tiny angle added to electric bass neck is negligible.

That's what I was thinking.

 

[Slpbass81]

I love my 08 american jazz bass. It has been my #1 ever since and I sold everything else I had. It just works and sounds great.

 

[Moosehead1966]

Got my 2008 Fender American Standard Precision in 2013. Paid $600. A friggin' steal! Love it. That said, I will be replacing the pickups. Who knows? Maybe custom shops, maybe Fralins' or maybe SD SPB-1 like my other P. Either way, this bass rules and I feel closer to it than I did to my US Spector NS-2J.

Marc