About a month ago I placed an order for a new MIA Victor Bailey 4 string jazz bass. I was told from the dealer that is was being shipped to me from the Fender factory as they had none in stock. Upon opening the box when it arrived I immediately noticed a 4 inch gash on the side of the Tolex case. Interestingly the plastic bag that the case was wrapped in was not cut so it looks like it was packed that way. When I opened the case and inspected the bass I found 5 very obvious flaws on the body's clear finish. Two of them looked kind of like file marks. In addition one of the pots made a scratching noise when adjusted during playing. Needless to say I returned it to the dealer, got my money back and then sat down and wrote a long letter to Fender in Scottsdale, AZ complaining about their quality and also asked for a written or phone reply back from their Customer Service department. That was about 3 weeks ago and I never got a reply. I have read about other Fender quality problems in this forum. They need to get their act together. Anyone else ever communicate with Fender and not get a reponse?
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Fender MIA Quality Problem
- Thread starter Bassguy1
- Start date
I have never tried because their legendary non-existant customer service. I'm a Fender nut, but there is no doubt that Fender has such bad quality record and inconsistency.
I have been through at least 5 American Fenders in the last 4 months, and all of them had some kind of imperfection (or a combination of imperfections) worth returning to the dealer: rough fret ends, necks that won't straighten up, faulty wiring, glue residue all over the body, chips in the paint by the neck heel from "factory-sealed" instruments, etc.
There are good ones to be found, or you can always deal with the problems and fix them.
I think Mexico is getting their stuff together, and Japan always has been good, or at least much better.
I still love Fender, though. Can't help it.
I have been through at least 5 American Fenders in the last 4 months, and all of them had some kind of imperfection (or a combination of imperfections) worth returning to the dealer: rough fret ends, necks that won't straighten up, faulty wiring, glue residue all over the body, chips in the paint by the neck heel from "factory-sealed" instruments, etc.
There are good ones to be found, or you can always deal with the problems and fix them.
I think Mexico is getting their stuff together, and Japan always has been good, or at least much better.
I still love Fender, though. Can't help it.
A sad story indeed but by no means the yardstick by which to measure Fender quality control. Any company which puts out thousands of basses every day is bound to get it wrong now and then. For every bad Fender out there I am sure there are ten good ones, like any other mass produced product.
Hoever I do agree with what many others on TB have said....namely that buying a Fender sight unseen is taking a very big risk because of their sketchy quality control.
Hoever I do agree with what many others on TB have said....namely that buying a Fender sight unseen is taking a very big risk because of their sketchy quality control.
I once had a bad experience with a Jazz 24 (the Korean made ones) that I got from Musiciansfriend.com
In a nut shell the top of the bass (which was suppose to be quitled maple) looked like it was piece of scrap wood from the beach! It was returned to back to MF
Well I sent the CEO of Fender (not a easy email address to get) a nicely worded email about my disappointment with the bass, but it was not a whiny type of email. I told him I have used Fender products for years, and even with this bad experience I will still use and buy Fender products.
Well about a week later I get a phone call from the head of customer service. They wanted to hear the full story as well as get the serial number of the bass (or MF order number) so they could contact Musiciansfriend and get a hold of the bass to see for themselves. We had a nice talk and was left with a very good feeling.
But as purfektstranger said, they do produce allot of products and some lemons do slip through. It happens to any company that mass produces products. Aside from that Jazz 24, I have had very good luck with the Fender basses I have purchased.
In a nut shell the top of the bass (which was suppose to be quitled maple) looked like it was piece of scrap wood from the beach! It was returned to back to MF
Well I sent the CEO of Fender (not a easy email address to get) a nicely worded email about my disappointment with the bass, but it was not a whiny type of email. I told him I have used Fender products for years, and even with this bad experience I will still use and buy Fender products.
Well about a week later I get a phone call from the head of customer service. They wanted to hear the full story as well as get the serial number of the bass (or MF order number) so they could contact Musiciansfriend and get a hold of the bass to see for themselves. We had a nice talk and was left with a very good feeling.
But as purfektstranger said, they do produce allot of products and some lemons do slip through. It happens to any company that mass produces products. Aside from that Jazz 24, I have had very good luck with the Fender basses I have purchased.
- Feb 21, 2007
- 1,853
- 7
- Disclosures
- Endorser:Fender User:Rotosound, LaBella, Ashdown, Lindy Fralin
I sent them an email awhile ago. I bought a 57 RI and its had a ton of problems.
The tone pot crapped out in like 2 weeks, and I got it fixed at the local guitar shop, because I didn't feel like spending $10 each way to go to the authorized repair dealer. The same day I got it set up for Rotosound Jazz flats. I noticed the neck was starting to bow, so I took it in to get set up. I figured that maybe its the weather or what not. Unfortunately, the neck actually is bowing, and the shop was unable to fix it.
I sent Fender an email awhile ago asking for a replacement neck, if i took pics of both the bow, the neckplate serial, and the stamp on the bottom of the neck. Still haven't gotten a reply.
The tone pot crapped out in like 2 weeks, and I got it fixed at the local guitar shop, because I didn't feel like spending $10 each way to go to the authorized repair dealer. The same day I got it set up for Rotosound Jazz flats. I noticed the neck was starting to bow, so I took it in to get set up. I figured that maybe its the weather or what not. Unfortunately, the neck actually is bowing, and the shop was unable to fix it.
I sent Fender an email awhile ago asking for a replacement neck, if i took pics of both the bow, the neckplate serial, and the stamp on the bottom of the neck. Still haven't gotten a reply.
Is this what the warrantee stipulates you're supposed to do for warrantee service? Send them an email? Somehow I doubt it. If you expect to get warrantee service it's usually a good idea to follow the procedures specified in the warrantee itself.
Guess I'm lucky been playing Fender guiars and basses since the 60's and no problems. I do check out stuff pretty good before I buyor if from online as soon as it arrives. As I know from working in a music store for awhile you take it back to the dealer if a problem. The dealer deals with Fender. As far as I know all the major mass produced instrument companies work that way.
As for Fender quality I think they have improve over the last year in consistency and the MIM gear has really improved a lot. Contact your dealer if you have a problem, if the dealer doesn't help THEN you go to Fender about the dealer and your problem.
As for Fender quality I think they have improve over the last year in consistency and the MIM gear has really improved a lot. Contact your dealer if you have a problem, if the dealer doesn't help THEN you go to Fender about the dealer and your problem.
MI distributors seem to have a problem with email. I had a similar experience (albeit in no way quality related) when I emailed Dana B Goods about my Warwick a few weeks ago.
I've had much better luck making a phone call during business hours.
My advice, if anyone wants a J or P, DON'T buy a Fender! The Lakland Osborn and Glaub models are amazing and the customer service is unbelievable! Fender is just too busy making money to make quality instruments anymore. Correct me if I'm wrong guys but aren't the Mexican basses poplar bodys? Last I saw they were. If that's still the case, that's too bad. Poplar is a rather whispy wood for bass. Again Lakland Skyline series if you're on a budget. Unbeatable! I actually worked at a Fender dealer for while. The company is too big to pay attention to customer service. They BARLEY pay attention to dealers....unless it's "order time"!
Man you have bad information!! You should look it up before you post!! Gee.....every MIM Fender I've owned was Alder!
MIM's are Alder.
And the customer service isn't that bad if you get them on the phone. I spent about an hour on the tele with one guy inquiring about a neck I had. Very helpful indeed.
Actually never seen an alder one! I know up until 9 years ago they were poplar. I washed my hands of the whole Fender thing after I sold them for five years. Too frustrating after I found out a lot of the American Stnd basses were butcher blocked bodies. Yes alder, but averaging 5-7 pieces of wood. Had some friends strip a few of them. Glad to hear the MIM's alder now. That's one positive!
Don't turn a blind eye to the MIJ Fenders either - I got a Geddy on a trade that I was going to throw up on EBay and after my first half hour of play time, I couldn't put it down. Outstanding quality, great tone and practically plays itself.
(And yes, alder body.
)
(And yes, alder body.
)Now, a 7-piece body? Wouldn't you call that exotic?
I think Alembic would charge like $2000 extra for a 7-piece body. . . My new MIM Jazz looks like a one-piece body from the front, but it is a pretty well matched 3-piece of what it looks to be premium ash. Very resonant and light.
I have not seen widespread quality issues with Fender Basses. In fact I have observed that quality control has steadily risen over the past few years. I'm sure that there are issues. I was in QC the other day and played 5 jazz basses, they were all pretty darn good. There are a few guys here that have had a problem, but by and large, I think they do a good job. Think of how many instruments this company produces. Even Toyota has lemon from time to time. There is too much competition for them to ignore quality.
Now, a 7-piece body? Wouldn't you call that exotic?
My new MIM Jazz looks like a one-piece body from the front, but it is a pretty well matched 3-piece of what it looks to be premium ash. Very resonant and light.
I've been very interested in the FSR Ash J-basses; are they coming w/tort pickguards now? Looks great; do you like it? I have an MIM modded J-fretless that needs a brother. Thanks!
I have owned 5 Fender MIA and they have all been top quality. No issues whatsoever. On one occasion, I lost a set screw for the tone knob, so I called Fender to see if they would sell me a replacement. Not only did a live person answer the phone, but he sent me an entire new knob, free of charge. The bass wasn't even under warranty.
So, I guess I've never experienced the now-legendary poor QC and CS from Fender!
So, I guess I've never experienced the now-legendary poor QC and CS from Fender!
Now, a 7-piece body? Wouldn't you call that exotic?
My new MIM Jazz looks like a one-piece body from the front, but it is a pretty well matched 3-piece of what it looks to be premium ash. Very resonant and light.
Nice!!! I was at GC looking at a Marcus Miller and I personally liked the Fender MIM better - ash/rw. Nice grain match and came with a tort guard. Went in two days later to get it and she was gone. I don't want to order one b/c some of the grain matches are bad (as they are on a number of manufacturers basses). I plan on getting one though.
I had a Fender V MIM that was really sweet. I would have kept it but I didn't like the closer string spacing. I really wanted to keep it, but I'm using the money to get the MIM 4 string.
