Fender - Classic Player Rascal Bass

[Simon Langley]

As promised a couple of comparative size pics. Sorry for poor lighting and crappy iphone quality but gives you idea of overall size. Last pic is from Saturday's first gig with it. As you can see I like pretty basses mostly because they draw attention away from my ugly mug. Geez, I outta try smiling sometime. Maybe that's why I get compared to Entwistle sometimes? And I thought it was my playing. Oh well.

 

[OutToPlayJazz]

The Rascal looks good in action, Simon. Can't wait to order mine. Just need to get paid!


Basses by Status-Graphite, MusicMan & Enfield
Amplification by Genz-Benz & TC Electronic

 

[petrus61]

I'mu

 

[Joe Nerve]

I'mu

I think those pix gave someone a heart attack while they were posting.

 

[Thick McRunfast]

I'mu

Reported!

You can't say stuff like that here.

 

[petrus61]

Reported!

You can't say stuff like that here.

Awesome! Not even sure what I said...or that I even posted here. Nice!

Edit: "I'mu" is my countries way of describing...how you say...I'mu!

 

[Splods]

Stewmac do these pickups, and they also have an option for a humbucker version. It would be interesting to see what happens if you did a short scale J bass with a swimming pool route and these pickups in a custom guard.

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[GIBrat51]

What I'm hearing is pretty much what I thought might be "wrong" with the Rascal; longscale bass with a shortscale neck; neckdive; and the heel-adjustable trussrod. I still like it, though, and fortunately (??), since I'm a lefty, I'll have to have one made by the Custom Shop if I want one. Hopefully, I will be able to minimize/eliminate the "problems". I already have a Big Body, Short Neck bass (Gretsch Broadkaster); and nothing can neck-dive worse than my Kramer 450B lumie. Both my Danelectros have the "take the neck off" TR arrangement. And, I'm used to having to use longer strings on 4 of my 5 short scales (3 use mediums, and the Gretsch uses 34" scale strings). So, I think there's a trip to the Fender CS dealer in Riverside, Ca. in my near future..

 

[verycoolname]

Thanks for posting pictures of the Rascal next to the SG and Jazz for size comparisons...super nice SG by the way, was that a limited run or something? It's interesting seeing how the SS Rascal is essentially the same size as the Jazz...I guess the big body is something I could get used to. I mean, I have a SS Gretsch and that thing is massive. Looking forward to sound clips and the like (if you're making them).

 

[hdracer]

Stewmac do these pickups, and they also have an option for a humbucker version. It would be interesting to see what happens if you did a short scale J bass with a swimming pool route and these pickups in a custom guard.

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I was thinking the same. I bet that double would sound nice at the bridge.

 

[RedHotFuzz]

Sweetwater finally got one of these in. 9.25+ pounds for an alder-bodied short scale bass???

Nope. Pass.

 

[petrus61]

Just enough oddball features to annoy pretty much everybody. I like it! Here's the sexy Sweetwater shots:

 

[Simon Langley]

Sweetwater finally got one of these in. 9.25+ pounds for an alder-bodied short scale bass???

Nope. Pass.

Yep it's a hefty chunk. Overall it's as big as any of my full scale basses. Only thing short about it is the string length. Also discovered standard short scale strings are too short due to the bridge. Had to put medium scale Chromes on it but they fit and sound great.

 

[Splods]

9.25 pounds is heavy? My jazz is 10.8, and it's fine with a good strap.
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I actually really like the idea of a jazz bass size body, as short scales look a little weird on me.

 

[Daveypoo]

I still want one.

 

[selowitch]

Tried one today at Victor Litz Music in Gaithersburg, MD. Absolutely loved it. Really comfortable neck, cool looking, unbelievable sound. The only knocks are it's pretty heavy (I'd say close to 8.75 lbs.) and the fact that it adjusts at the heel (and apparently requires removing the pickguard).

Those two issues are pretty bad for me.

 

[selowitch]

I'd be tempted to snag a body like the one on Invalid Link Removed and modify it with a bass neck and bridge:

 

[redstrand]

8 3/4lbs is pretty light and removing the pickguard is quick...still want to hear one I person.

Tried one today at Victor Litz Music in Gaithersburg, MD. Absolutely loved it. Really comfortable neck, cool looking, unbelievable sound. The only knocks are it's pretty heavy (I'd say close to 8.75 lbs.) and the fact that it adjusts at the heel (and apparently requires removing the pickguard).

Those two issues are pretty bad for me.

 

[selowitch]

i wish they made a higher quality MIA.

I think the presumption that MIA is automatically better than MIM may not always hold true.

 

[selowitch]

I am told that Fender has a new policy aimed at eliminating the difference between MSRP and street price, so when it prices this bass at $799, that's what you are going to pay at retail, online, and on Fender's website.