Fender MIM road worn 60' J bass

[Bone]

Huge difference between the Fender Standards and the Classic or RW series. Just because they're all MIM doesn't mean they're all the same quality. I'd buy Classics or RWs all day if I could find them for $200.

Not to hijack this tread but Chain pawn shop employees don't hang out on Talkbass. They see a beat up old MIM fender and hang it on the wall for $300. I bought a Classic 60 jazz bass in sunburst that still had the plastic on the pickguard for $250 about a year or so ago(I think I started a thread about it). I used to hit 10 pawnshops every day on my lunch hour. They were all in about a 5 mile radius of my work. You'd be suprised what you can pick up if you go every day. If you go once or twice a year you'll be lucky to find anything but every day when the new stuff hits the floor there are deals to be had. My best deal so far was about 3 years ago I found an original 62 Jazzmaster for $49.00 and restored it. Here are the before and after.

 

[Rugaar]

Sweet deals, Bone! Wish there were more pawn shops around here. I love checking them out for the occasional hidden jewel.

 

[P. Aaron]

I like the looks of the "road-worn" but I like new stuff. I have a hard time buying used, unless I know the owner, or I can hold the item in my hands.

For the price, why not just break in a "new" instrument for ostensibly less money (especially for an MIM) and wear it as one does?

 

[Jim Carr]

I like the looks of the "road-worn" but I like new stuff. I have a hard time buying used, unless I know the owner, or I can hold the item in my hands.

For the price, why not just break in a "new" instrument for ostensibly less money (especially for an MIM) and wear it as one does?

Read the thread? You'd have learned that because most newer instruments are not finished in nitrocellulose lacquer, they will not "break in" in the way that vintage basses (and RW for that matter) have.

But please do try it. Report back in 40 years. It will show wear, but poly wears in chips, gouges, and it lifts. Ugly, mostly, IMHO. I know, I have a '71. Pic coming.

 

[Jim Carr]

Theo-

This bass is gorgeous. Thanks for the good pics. Can you give us a group photo? Any clips?
Is that the case that came with it?

The tuners look pretty great, though I think the tint on the neck is too light.
Very cool, though, all in all---IMHO IMHO IMHO.

I promissed you some nice pics... well here they are!! Enjoy!! BTW this bass is very, very lightweight!!
Tone, tone, tone...

...

...

 

[murphy]

I promissed you some nice pics.............well here they are!!
Enjoy!!
BTW this bass is very, very lightweight!!
Tone, tone, tone.........................

STUNNING

 

[Theo-cantor-]

Hi Guys, Holland on line...........

Overhere it's 9.50 PM as you say or 21.50 hour for us, so it must be 3.50 PM in Fender land.
The thing that puzzles me is that non of you guys asked the Duchie how the new RW Jazz did on stage..........!!!????

I also discovered each RW bass is different and is reliced by hand and NOT all the same!! (Sorry MIA&CS owners...I'm also one of them LOL)
That's why they are so expensive for MIM's !!

One thing to be happy about: they are a lot cheaper at your place then overhere.
I payed a 1188 Euro's which is 1537$$$$$$ can you believe this?? I must be F@#$%G crazy!!!
I made a deal with Fender Europe the first batch of RW's basses are for the European market so they can make a better profit.$v€.....
My friend at Fender Europe said they expected to sell more overhere because of the Mexico-v-USthing/dilemma.........LOL.

No man I'm just joking but in a sense there is something in it dont you think???

I will be visiting him on the Fender dealer booth at the Frankfurt Musik Messe (the European NAMM but then twice as big), on the 2nd of april to get some real answers.
I also have some friends in the dutch MI business which are looking forward to get some RW's in june....???!!????LOL.

So we have a mutual problem

Last tuesday I went to my local musicstore and they had never seen a RW bass at all.........
There were 10 people standing around me looking at my two RW's: How and were did you get those basses?????

I told them (dutch translations so I hope you understand):

Its not what you can do, but who you know..........

DIG?

Cheers,

Theo

Thumbs up Ensenada

Tip for all MIA users: take a good look at the back of the headstock: maybe you can peel of the made in Mexico sticker....................

 

[Theo-cantor-]

Say Jim,

What kinda group-photo do you mean/like?
I can make some tomorrow for you if you like!

Bye,

Theo

 

[Hawaii Islander]

The close up pics on that RW jazz are sweet!! What I like the most, lookwise, is the worn hardware. No smudges on those tuners!

 

[Jim Carr]

Something to counter the "they all look the same/done with templates" Jive.

 

[bh2]

Theo... how does the RW Jazz compare to your Pino?

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

while i'm on board with the "relicing isn't for me" camp, i think it should be known that many pro musicians roll with reliced axes. Sting, for example, takes a couple reliced '55 RI's on the road with him.
who wants to knock on his door and tell him he's a silly tosser?
not me!!

 

[Alistair R]

These basses are truly epic. They have some sort of mysterious mojo.

 

[Theo-cantor-]

OK:

Here it is:

Pino versus RW Jazz Fiesta red:

The Pino has a nitro laquered body, the RW has exactly the same.
Pickguard Pino is realy aged, the RW slightly aged. Sides of the pino PG are better "yellowed" !!!
Tuners of the basses are identical, so is the bridge exept from a little more rust on the Pino.
The neck is quarter sawn the neck of the Jazz looks quiet the same to me.
The laquer on the back of the neck has come of just at the right places on both basses.Thumbs up Mexico.
The electronics I did not compare cause i didn't had the time.
I will get into this asap because I want to know if there are any clothwiring and CTS pots around.....

Soundwise..........you just can't compare a Jazz with a P.
I can tell you the sound of my RW Jazz is just like the 62 RI.

Best thing of the new RW Jazz is the weight.
I never had such a light bass; fantastic!! You can play for hours and hours......

Cheers,

Theo


Ps The relic spots are not on the same places but then again I only have seen tree............

 

[mongo2]

Something to counter the "they all look the same/done with templates" Jive.

All that's necessary is to look at a few of them hanging together in a shop to see it's not jive.

 

[Spanky(Andy)]

Ed Friedland GuitarWorld print review of the Fender RoadWorn basses:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Cheers

Andy in Oz

 

[Jim Carr]

All that's necessary is to look at a few of them hanging together in a shop to see it's not jive.

Mongo, sorry, bad choice of words. I was asking Theo for more pics so we might all have a better sense of how his instruments look on-line/here. How many, in person or online, have any of us seen yet?

Templates are fine. I just wonder how "identical" the results actually are. Having seen photo's of a FEW, I am not troubled. Upon reading Ed's review, I am considering ordering a P-bass.

 

[Spanky(Andy)]

Re the "template relic look", I've had another look at the sunburst RoadWorn Jazz bass for sale locally.

The wear pattern doesn't look identical to any of the other photos I've seen and the headstock is nicely dinged all around the rounded tip, which I thought was a nice, accurate touch. I haven't seen that aspect on any of the other photos I've seen. The bass also has checking of the finish on the top cutaway, again something I haven't seen on other photos. I might go to the music store and see if they'll let me snap a couple of pics....

BTW, I subscribe to Ed Friedland's YouTube reviews, and while I am blown away by the RoadWorn Jazz for sale locally, Ed really has me gassing for an Eastwood Classic 4 at the moment. I just read he liked the review bass so much he couldn't bear to return it... damn!

 

[mongo2]

Mongo, sorry, bad choice of words. I was asking Theo for more pics so we might all have a better sense of how his instruments look on-line/here. How many, in person or online, have any of us seen yet?

Templates are fine. I just wonder how "identical" the results actually are. Having seen photo's of a FEW, I am not troubled. Upon reading Ed's review, I am considering ordering a P-bass.

Templates, patterns, whatever is used, they are, after all, production instruments and not intended to be unique one-offs. There will be slight variations in the wear due to the fact that humans are applying the wear using that template or pattern. But in the long run it doesn't matter since the wear on each one will advance according to how each player uses/abuses them.

Perhaps they'll eventually start using multiple patterns or templates to mimic light, medium or heavy wear. Then they can have 3 tiers of pricing Or maybe even multiple patterns of the same level of wear to mix it up a bit and the consumer can pick their favorite "faux mojo" pattern.

 

[Jim Carr]

Mongo! I think I just heard you name our new club: "Faux Mojo"