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Fender Nate Mendel Precision review

#41
Weird how a thread starts to meander. For the record, I didn't buy the bass because of Nate Mendel. In fact, until I [recently] started researching this bass I had no idea who Nate Mendel was. And like wvbass, I wanted a narrow nut P bass. That pretty much narrows down your only option to the Mendel. The vintage radius and thin flat neck profile were huge selling points too. I dig the 70's vibe too. Could care less if Nate Mendel was on the headstock.
 
#42
Same here, I did not know who Nate Mendel was, I google his name and found he plays for a a band that I did not know neither, I looked for the band in youtube and played a video, 20 seconds were enough for me to decided that this band is not for me. The only reason I bought the NM was because I wanted a P in CAR and nitro finish, I still need to change the black pickguard and put a mint one instead.
 
#44
Curious about the experience with the NM P. Mine has been the exact opposite. I consider it one of the best basses I've ever played. And by that, I do indeed mean that it is the best for me, for my hands, my music, etc. I'm not a buyer of extravagant basses, so I certainly have not tried a long list of others, but I preferred the NM to every other P I played. I love the sound, the sustain, the ringing harmonics, and I'm using flats.

Like many others here, I did not know who Nate was when I bought it, but I did want a P with a narrower neck. I find the neck shape/ profile really ideal. I know of some other owners who liked the physics of the bass, but changed the PU and the bridge. Not things I want to do, but we all have particular preferences.

After buying the NM, I've not even been tempted to shop or browse, and that is a great bonus. But agreed: the bag is a dud.
 
#47
Pocket4 said:
The Mendel signature looks really attractive, but I can't hang with the aggro mods including the overkill bridge, QP pickups, and black pickguard. Aesthetically, mint or a good tort would be the way to go for a pickguard IMO.
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??? The BAII bridge is excellent, the QP pick ups are better than most Fender PU's and the black pick guard is sooo much better than tort. Mint is good for toothpaste, but not for guitars. Besides, most of us have more than one bass, and ideally, they have a different tonal signature. I love the NM Sig for live work and recording. It doesn't have the bite that my MM Sterling did, but the heft on the bottom end is superb.
 
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#48
I've got a bunch of P Basses and of the "contoured body" (non-tele style) ones I have with traditional split coils I have to say that my Am Spec is becoming a favorite. It's not much more than an NM and can be scored even less used. Has rods if that's a requirement, a great traditional P sound, greasebucket tone circuit and is really quiet. It is a 9.5 radius though and standard nut width but front to back a thin profile, not clubby like my Dirnt or Harris, it's a fast sleek neck. amspec.jpg Maybe check one of them out?
 
#49
Pocket4 said:
The Mendel signature looks really attractive, but I can't hang with the aggro mods including the overkill bridge, QP pickups, and black pickguard. Aesthetically, mint or a good tort would be the way to go for a pickguard IMO.
Click to expand...

Been thinking of buying one and mod exactly as above.
Badass bridge is the ugliest thing ever, and I'm not convinced by the QP either. Not bad in itself, especially if you have other Precisions around, but I wouldn't choose it for 'that' P-sound.
Still the nitro over ash and rosewood fingerboard definitely get me GASsing.
 
#51
Soonerbldr said:
Totally de-railing the thread...Man, I need to look at sigs more, I just moved from McKinney and was looking for other Bassists to hang with. Do you ever go to the Guitar Sanctuary there?
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Moved "to" or "away from" mckinney? And ya, I've been to the sanctuary before. Nice store. Paradise for 6 strings. Purgatory for bottom dwellers. They have a coule nice peices for bass though, albeit only a few.
 
#52
g4string said:
Moved "to" or "away from" mckinney? And ya, I've been to the sanctuary before. Nice store. Paradise for 6 strings. Purgatory for bottom dwellers. They have a coule nice peices for bass though, albeit only a few.
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I just moved to Seattle from McKinney. Brian is awesome at the Sanctuary, they can get pretty much anything you want but yeah there is a dearth of basses there.
 
#53
Pretty late on this thread but have to say the NM I recently picked up is fantastic. I've had many early 70's P Basses and this is one really NAILS that whole vibe. The neck profile is what really sold me...meaty and fast at the same time , perfect neck pocket with a light and resonant ash body (got lucky on that). Mexican or not this bass will hold it's own against any other US Fender in the line. Love it!
 
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#54
I am an unabashed, 62 year old, Foo fanboy. Dave & Co. got me back into music when my marriage was crumbling and her eventual suicide.
That indirectly brought me to the NM bass. Reading about all things Foo is where I learned about the "in between" neck size. Me with short (left middle finger 3 1/2in. long) but fat (I wear a size 14/15 ring) fingers, and loving my P-bass sound but not the fingerboard. Thought it might just be right for me.
Personally I love the hot quarter pounder pickups. I'm partial to a real low end boom and these deliver. I don't find the tuners on these any more/less stable than on my MIA P or MIM Jazz. They all seem to require a very slight tweek after sitting for a few days. As a matter of fact of all the basses I own (currently 14) the only absolute rock solid, set it and forget it basses are my MIK Sire Marcus Miller V9 Jazz and my MIK Spector Neck Thru. Even so I still check tuning with my Pederson Strobostomp.
I did replace the E tuner with a Hipshot D-tuner. That's the only mod I've felt it needed.
The bad: when it first came into GC it was setup like ass! so being brand new I asked them to do a set up. The truss rod was seized and snapped! Now I have since heard that there was an issue with the truss rods on these, circa 2013 or 14, whatever it was when I got mine. Fender offered to make it good but said there was a six month wait before a neck would be available. Boo hiss Fender! GC made it right by just ordering me another complete bass and I had it within days. I've been happy with it ever since.
I don't play it as often now. My repertoire has really expanded, but anytime I'm playing a Foos, Greenday heavy set I'm happy as hell to strap it on.
 
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#55
The issue with this bass is the pickup and found out the hi mass bridge on these use zinc saddles instead of brass. These are no where near worth the 1299 price tag Fender are now asking for this bass.
 
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#56
Rnr..........4 said:
The issue with this bass is the pickup and found out the hi mass bridge on these use zinc saddles instead of brass. These are no where near worth the 1299 price tag Fender are now asking for this bass.
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I'm not much of one to defend exorbitant pricing by big names but I will take you to task if just a wee bit. These Nate Mendal basses have been going for a grand since their inception. Fender like EVERYBODY else. whether they make guitars, cars, TV dinners or widgets has been affected by the pandemic. From supply chain shortages to inflation for materials and probably higher wages to retain workers. So just like every other producer and manufacturer they are passing along the cost to we, the consumers.
If inflation across the board weren't happening and they jumped the price I'd be with you but that just isn't the case.
 

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