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FENDER MODERN PLAYER TELE

#241
Just received my sunburst Tele last Wednesday. It seems that all of the issues I've experienced have already been mentioned. One knob had the metal cap separated from the internal plastic mount. Nothing a little super glue couldn't handle. My main complaint is the standard A string rattle at the nut. Replaced the strings and even with the string wound to the bottom of the tuning peg, it was still pretty obnoxious. Decided to try a Hipshot 3 string tree in lieu of replacing the nut. Third issue is the jack. Very loose, and does not keep the plug in place very well. I will address this next.

I've gotta say, I had very high expectations for this bass. My friend has the Marauder and Jag guitars, and they were great right out of the box. Nice setup, and no initial issues at all. Was hoping for the same quality when I ordered the Tele. I am slightly disappointed, but not to the point of returning it. It really does feel great it my hands, and so far Ive been very pleased with the tone. And that is the main priority.
 
#243
Sanchez83 said:
Just received my sunburst Tele last Wednesday. It seems that all of the issues I've experienced have already been mentioned. One knob had the metal cap separated from the internal plastic mount. Nothing a little super glue couldn't handle. My main complaint is the standard A string rattle at the nut. Replaced the strings and even with the string wound to the bottom of the tuning peg, it was still pretty obnoxious. Decided to try a Hipshot 3 string tree in lieu of replacing the nut. Third issue is the jack. Very loose, and does not keep the plug in place very well. I will address this next.

I've gotta say, I had very high expectations for this bass. My friend has the Marauder and Jag guitars, and they were great right out of the box. Nice setup, and no initial issues at all. Was hoping for the same quality when I ordered the Tele. I am slightly disappointed, but not to the point of returning it. It really does feel great it my hands, and so far Ive been very pleased with the tone. And that is the main priority.
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I'm really displeased with Fender quality control. Obviously. It's such stupid crap, and crap makes their basses almost unusable without some kind of work. The knobs aren't a huge deal, but why should the majority of people have to be gluing these things together when they first get the bass. Not cool for a kid who saved for months for this thing, and doesn't want to go messing with anything.

As for your rattle, check the tuners. That's what was making mine rattle. I replaced it when I put in a D tuner, and problem is gone.

Bass seems fine now, and I like the sound, feel, and looks - so I'm keeping it. But I have to admit I'm kinda just waiting for the next issue. That's the jack that's going to fall out, right?

that's not Jeff B is it?? The guy that fixes old tube amps and supercharges them???
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Don't know about supercharging amps, but I'm pretty sure he's the guy. He's been around long enough to be the guy doing that, if anyone's going to do it. I dealt with him only when I absolutely had to, and every time walked out wondering why I was giving him my business.

I brought an American P deluxe to him that Fender told me to. The tuners had play in them, took me 10 minutes to tune the bass any time I used it. He said, "I ain't touchin it. Those tuners suck, I've got a drawer full of busted ones. If you want, buy different tuners, otherwise there's nothing I can do." There was no talking with him, reasoning... and he was the only guy Fender was going to honor their warranty with. Him or send the bass back, which was my main bass at the time. Had other issues with that bass and he refused to touch it. Said he didn't want the responsibility.

Had other such incidents but it's not worth the typing time. Not my favorite dude.
 
#244
I may try to swap the tuners around, but it's exactly what my Jazz basses do. Even the slightest pressure on the string above the nut, and it is gone. Ive always been able to alleviate it with a few extra string wraps, but none such luck with the Tele. Standard Fender design flaw. And yea, the input jack barely holds the 1/4" plug in place. Again, an easy fix, but its a fix that shouldnt have to be done in order to make the instrument playable. Maybe I am expecting too much from a Chinese Fender. But for the price, I just expected a little more. Like I said, I will keep it and play the crap out of it. Just disheartening to have these problems right off the bat.
 
#245
My jack was also loose, but it prompted me to buy a jack tightening tool which was also needed for my Ps (thanks to swapping around pickguards). I've also found over the years that the Monster bass cables fit tighter, so that's what I use for the Tele (even bought one for my Xwire (an original, the transmitters are hard to find).

Those chrome knobs are heavy, so I'll probably use some Lakland knobs I have sitting around.

My Jack Casady also had similar issues, both it and the Tele's are worth dealing with these nits IMHO.
 
#247
I put on a new set of D'Addario chromes which allowed me to lower the action a bit on the E-string. Also raised the E side of the bridge pickup a bit. The strings now seem to be in balance and I'm really liking this bass. The deep solid tone works great in my 50's-60's rock'n'roll band.
 
#249
I've practiced with my Tele twice more, and it continues to please. Since I've only practiced with it 3 times, I'm still only scratching the surface of what it can do, but the thing that continues to surprise me is how balanced it feels. Mine is 10 lbs 7 oz as modded, but it doesn't feel near that heavy on a Comfort Strapp.

I put skirted Telecaster knobs on it to easier manage tones/volumes but almost didn't need to bother. The neck PUP solo'd (9 of 10 on volume) and full tone is monstrous, and sounds like my Roadworn P, but with more girth to the tone (and NO mud). The bridge PUP solo'd (again full tone) yields a better J tone than anything the P can do. These were the only tones I needed for the set I used it on. I haven't even scratched the surface of any blended PUP sounds, but even if there is nothing else in there, these are all the tones I need. I may not even need the J/P/J I have inbound.

I'll post photos later.
 
#250
There is something so beautiful yet slightly ugly about these basses that is drawing me to want one badly. I think I'm at the point in life where I really dig "vintage" looking basses. I will probably be adding one to my collection when the time comes.
 
#251
Finally got my mitts around one of these at GC Hollywood.
I liked it, but am happy to say my GAS has been relieved. When A-B'ed with a Precision, my totally P-centric proclivities have been reconfirmed - I really try people, but can't get my ears to expand. Maybe if that pickup was mounted a little further from the bridge... Too bad, because the blond version of this bass is so pretty I'd marry it.
 
#252
Lowbrow said:
Finally got my mitts around one of these at GC Hollywood.
I liked it, but am happy to say my GAS has been relieved. When A-B'ed with a Precision, my totally P-centric proclivities have been reconfirmed - I really try people, but can't get my ears to expand. Maybe if that pickup was mounted a little further from the bridge... Too bad, because the blond version of this bass is so pretty I'd marry it.
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So basically then you came here just to start trouble for the rest of us all. Next time deal with your gas silently, ok. :)

Hey, I'm loving mine, issues and all.
 
#255
Hey, I got one of these!

I have it for a couple of months now. It was perfect for two weeks then the jack came loose, simple tighten, and no problems since.


It has a... powerful tone, to put it mildly. when I solo the bridge Pup it bites like a monster... and the neck bucker is fatal at 50 m.


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#258
Finally saw one of these last week.

Answered my question about the color at last -- way off, maybe as far as the notorious "schoolbus yellow" on the MIJ '51RIs.

Fender is doing this on purpose, but it seems silly to me.
 
#259
mongo2 said:
Hmmm, I recently picked up the Squier version ($250 at a local shop). I wired the pickup in parallel, replaced the tuners with Gotoh Res-O-Lite 350s, and substituted a 90's ASD 4 saddle bridge, both of which I had laying around doing nothing.

I'm not much of a fan of the location of the bridge pickup on the Modern Player. If it was more toward the middle position I might be interested...but maybe I'll just add one there to my Squier.
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Well I finally got to try one of these a few days ago at GC. On the neck pickup it's pretty much the same as my Squier and the bridge pickup did nothing for me either alone or in combination with the neck pickup so it didn't follow me home.

Bongolation said:
Finally saw one of these last week.

Answered my question about the color at last -- way off, maybe as far as the notorious "schoolbus yellow" on the MIJ '51RIs.

Fender is doing this on purpose, but it seems silly to me.
Click to expand...

The pale yellow/butterscotch color on the one I tried wasn't very "schoolbus-ish" at all
 

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