Fender MIA QC - NBD - What do you think?

[exidor]

Man they tossed in some mojo for free!! how cool is that? your on your way to having the coolest & grooviest bass, if you send it back and get one your happy with. or keep & it with that extra cash you can buy some flats. but seriously If I bought a new bass I'd expect it to be clean I'd send it back! but with cash knocked off pending how much could change my mind,you said none of it effects playability it's all if you can deal with it or not.

 

[uOpt]

Major complaint: Well, there's a yellow spot on the Olympic White finish on the front of the bass on the lower bout. I've placed a nickel next to it to show the size. How does Fender QC not notice this?

QC doesn't stop all basses with flaws going out.

QC ensures that the rate of customer returns stays at the level specified by management. That rate is nowhere close to 0% for most vendors. 5% is a realistic value that Fender might be aiming for with the American Standards, and it's probably higher. And that is only those who go all the way through first noticing the flaw and then bothering to return.

To put it into other words, they think they can get away with the flaws you see. And if not and you send it back that's cool with them, too. They have decades of data on what kind of flaw goes unnoticed or gets accepted by customers and then the math kicks in to minimize financial losses. They won't refinish or toss this body if they find somebody to keep it.

 

[hemmerlinj]

QC doesn't stop all basses with flaws going out.

QC ensures that the rate of customer returns stays at the level specified by management. That rate is nowhere close to 0% for most vendors. 5% is a realistic value that Fender might be aiming for with the American Standards, and it's probably higher. And that is only those who go all the way through first noticing the flaw and then bothering to return.

To put it into other words, they think they can get away with the flaws you see. And if not and you send it back that's cool with them, too. They have decades of data on what kind of flaw goes unnoticed or gets accepted by customers and then the math kicks in to minimize financial losses. They won't refinish or toss this body if they find somebody to keep it.

This is always something to keep in mind when buying from a major manufacturer. I'm sure they don't inspect every instrument to the nth degree. Probably just plug it in to make sure it works and maybe a quick setup (quetionable).

But just the same if you're buying brand new you want it up to your specs. Which is why I've never purchased an instrument site unseen. I have to play it first and really look it over. That mught be why it took me so long to purchase my Elrick. I wasn't ok with ordering it online. Of course I understand that many prople may not have a good shop near them and ordering online is the only option. Then you have to deal with the problems that occur.

And if I were you I'd send it back so it meets my specs. You're spending a healthy amount of scratch on it. You shouldn't settle. And if the seller gives you a hard time take your business somewhere else.

Good luck.

 

[narud]

10 years ago i custom ordered a fodera. paid 5500 bucks and got a bass with blobs of glue seeping out of joints and the wrong pickups. just read in the coppolo thread that a guy is getting a new neck for his bass made because the truss rod is popping through the block inlay. a yellow spot on a 1k bass? you got off easy!

 

[boristhespider9]

10 years ago i custom ordered a fodera. paid 5500 bucks and got a bass with blobs of glue seeping out of joints and the wrong pickups. just read in the coppolo thread that a guy is getting a new neck for his bass made because the truss rod is popping through the block inlay. a yellow spot on a 1k bass? you got off easy!

Yea, and a lot easier to exchange too.

When I went to pick up my custom ordered Lakland USA Bob Glaub (with JO neck) from the Lakland factory this summer it was nice to find that it was...absolutely flawless.

I know that it's fun to say "no big deal, you're nit-picky, etc." and some people may truly believe that. I'm actually pretty laid back about all this. I just believe that companies like Fender should take pride in the fit & finish of its products, including the "small things," especially when paying more for "MIA quality." I scrutinize products I receive to see if there's been attention to detail. I appreciate it when there is and recognize when there's not. It's not to play "gotcha" or bass roulette. I think when you pay $1299 (street) for a bass (even though I got it for less) or even more (my Laklands), you shouldn't settle for sloppy work - even in the small details. Good QC is possible to have for mass produced basses. Music Man has built a tremendous reputation for it and my MM basses have been perfect out of the box. I could live with this Jazz Bass too. But I prefer the fit & finish to be better.

 

[boristhespider9]

So, the exchange came today. As further proof why you don't settle if you're not happy, this one does not have a yellow paint blemish, does not have a gap between the pickguard and control plate and does not have dark knots in the headstock. The only thing I noticed was that one end of case was scratched/scuffed when received, but I don't care about that. Now, I'm ready to rock it!

 

[Munjibunga]

My former CFO would always order three of the same guitar from AMS. He'd pick the best one and send the other two back. Of course someone else would end up with the other two, but his was good.

 

[sj_bass]

Congrats on your NBD - again! Now, rock it like you stole it!!!

 

[boristhespider9]

Ready to rock it.

 

[electracoyote]

I dunno...the pickguard doesn't line up with the control plate perfectly, it's a little short on one side. And those scufffs on the case are pretty bad, unacceptable for a brand new bass. You sure you don't want to send it back and try again?

If you're happy, we're happy. Phew.

 

[boristhespider9]

No gap so I'm happy. I've accepted that Fender's control plates are usually a tad wider than the pickguard.

 

[wvbass]

No gap so I'm happy. I've accepted that Fender's control plates are usually a tad wider than the pickguard.

The new bass looks nice. Looks like you came out a winner. Fwiw, I was finally able to see the gap you describe. It looks like the corner of the pickguard is miscut just a bit. Not bad, but enough that you could tell. I'm sure it was more obvious in person. In the pics, it kind of blends with the black layer of the pickguard.

 

[Bongolation]

QC doesn't stop all basses with flaws going out.

QC ensures that the rate of customer returns stays at the level specified by management. That rate is nowhere close to 0% for most vendors. 5% is a realistic value that Fender might be aiming for with the American Standards, and it's probably higher. And that is only those who go all the way through first noticing the flaw and then bothering to return.

To put it into other words, they think they can get away with the flaws you see. And if not and you send it back that's cool with them, too. They have decades of data on what kind of flaw goes unnoticed or gets accepted by customers and then the math kicks in to minimize financial losses. They won't refinish or toss this body if they find somebody to keep it.

Finally someone who gets it.

QC (especially at FMIC) is turned up and down like a thermostat.

Remember what I have always said about the corporate view of QC:

"QUALITY IN EXCESS OF BUYER EXPECTATION IS WASTE."

FMIC and everyone else ships as bad a product as they think can get away with. End of story.

I remember a conversation I had with an old-timer who worked at Fender before and after the CBS takeover. The Fender policy was to fix or recycle final QC rejects. The CBS policy was simply to ship everything. He said when he first became aware of the problem was when the final QC set-asides from the morning shift would be gone to shipping when they came back from lunch. Management just rolled them out when everyone was gone so they didn't have to discuss it or justify it. They knew that brand equity trumps quality.

FMIC knows this, Gibson, Inc. knows this.

I've seen a LOT worse MIA Fenders than in the OP, though it's certainly bad enough.

You think that neck's firewood-grade, feast your eyes on Invalid Link Removed American Standard Jazz. No, that's not a shadow.

Plus the gross finish screwup and the mysterious lapse in CNT screwhole alignment.

Send it back. It'll get recycled as a blemished "used" item.

Always send it back. Always gripe and give us the details here and raise as big a stink and generate as much ill-will as you possibly can.

Then go do it on the Fender Lounge forums at FMIC.

It's the only way QC will improve. It's the only way they'll turn up the thermostat.

It's the only way gristlehead fanboys here will get the memo.

 

[WoodyG3]

I'm glad you got what you wanted. Enjoy it.

 

[Doner Designs]

I'm a perfectionist too, though on imports under $500 you have to let the little stuff go. American Fender, no.

My dad once asked me years ago (in the context of my hot rod cars) "do they have special mechanics for guys like you?" He was referring to my fussiness about cars.

 

[guy n. cognito]

Finally someone who gets it.

QC (especially at FMIC) is turned up and down like a thermostat.

Remember what I have always said about the corporate view of QC:

"QUALITY IN EXCESS OF BUYER EXPECTATION IS WASTE."

FMIC and everyone else ships as bad a product as they think can get away with. End of story.

I remember a conversation I had with an old-timer who worked at Fender before and after the CBS takeover. The Fender policy was to fix or recycle final QC rejects. The CBS policy was simply to ship everything. He said when he first became aware of the problem was when the final QC set-asides from the morning shift would be gone to shipping when they came back from lunch. Management just rolled them out when everyone was gone so they didn't have to discuss it or justify it. They knew that brand equity trumps quality.

FMIC knows this, Gibson, Inc. knows this.

I've seen a LOT worse MIA Fenders than in the OP, though it's certainly bad enough.

You think that neck's firewood-grade, feast your eyes on Invalid Link Removed American Standard Jazz. No, that's not a shadow.

Plus the gross finish screwup and the mysterious lapse in CNT screwhole alignment.

Send it back. It'll get recycled as a blemished "used" item.

Always send it back. Always gripe and give us the details here and raise as big a stink and generate as much ill-will as you possibly can.

Then go do it on the Fender Lounge forums at FMIC.

It's the only way QC will improve. It's the only way they'll turn up the thermostat.

It's the only way gristlehead fanboys here will get the memo.

I don't think everyone aspires to be quite the curmudgeon that you have become, bongo.

 

[2cooltoolz]

edit: Oops. Skipped ahead too far. Congrats on the great new bass. We just went through this with a $3000+ Buffet R13 clarinet, from MF (Woodwind Brasswind charges tax to TX, MF doesn't...also same family..they even ship from same warehouse). First one was crap! Second one was a beautiful, professional grade instrument.

Makes me wonder if there's not a method to the madness.....

 

[boristhespider9]

Yea, you guys think I'm bad...Bongolation chomps at the bit for this stuff!

 

[Bongolation]

Yea, you guys think I'm bad...Bongolation chomps at the bit for this stuff!

Explain to me where I'm wrong in wanting you to get what you pay for the first time.

 

[boristhespider9]

You're not. Just a bit fiercer.