What has everyone's experience been with these basses?
Mine was less than good. I'll get to that, but I'll throw in first that my local fender dealership traded me up to a Highway One J for my troubles. I like it, but I miss the thump (Hard time dialing in - playing an ampeg svt350 into an ampeg 1x15 and ashdown 2x10). I went to the J because of the neck (smaller hands), but it certainly has it's very particular voice. I'm a first time J basser, and I think it'll take some getting used to. In any event I plan on buying the Highway One P to go along p(eanut butter) & j(elly) style if this one works out (i.e. they are the workhorses that fender makes them out to be).
So back to the Fender deluxe. bought it new ~5 months ago. I was a tried and true ibanez sr prestige player, so I liked the deluxe for it's active electronics and slim jazz neck (Plus it looked rad too!).
Fast forward one month: nut slotted improperly, insistent rattle coming from open a, nut replaced. ok!
later that month: strap pegs have completely stripped themselves. use the toothpicks and wood glue, ok!
Next month: "Noiseless" pickup not so noiseless...quite loud actually (even now that I have a J this was considerably loud...ungiggable for sure). I don't really bother with it, as the only band I use this bass for is a celtic band and I am always swept full into the p pickup.
Put the bass away after a particularly sweaty gig. Now, I know I have acid hands (boil strings every two weeks and replace once a month...can't bring myself to flatwounds though, please don't be upset with me, I guess I like dirty callouses?). however, even though i am what you call a "player" gigging every weekend, I was absolutely shocked at the amount of rust that had formed on my bass. It was ridiculous (no pictures, sorry). I went to my local hospital (seriously) and picked up some of the chemical they use to clean rust off of medical instruments, stripped my bass, and began the cleaning process. In the end, it looked kind of cool and vintaged (no way all the rust would come off). So not totally displeased, but what a pain in the ass. Bottom line was I had never, ever seen anything rust that quickly, and I always wipe my guitars down. I have electrics that were my dad's that were passed down for me that I've slammed on for the last decade, and not a speck...
About 2 months ago, the input jack went. no big deal, it happens! Replaced on warranty.
Now here's where I get frustrated. Take the bass in because it seems I have lost a TON of volume, and my mid boost/cut knob is loose. I figure that this is the culprit and bring it in to my local. I am called back a few weeks later where I am told that they figure I have rewired the jazz pickup, which I absolutely have not. They agree that it does not looked tampered with, but state that it is wired terribly (perhaps the reason for my buzz aforementioned). Now here I do not know all of the specififcs, but I was told that the entirety of the eq section would need replacing. I asked no questions, as they stated that I could go pick out another.
In total, out of the 4-5 months I had this bass, I was probably without it for over a month.
I have heard NOTHING else bad about this instrument! Was the quality control fellow hung over as my bass went past him? Either way, just wondering what everyone else's experience was...I am quite certain I am not at fault for most of this, as I have never had a single repair done on an instrument before (amplifiers yes, geets no). I take care of my stuff, but this seemed to come apart at the seams!
P.s. finally joined tb after viewing the forums for years. Great community!
Mine was less than good. I'll get to that, but I'll throw in first that my local fender dealership traded me up to a Highway One J for my troubles. I like it, but I miss the thump (Hard time dialing in - playing an ampeg svt350 into an ampeg 1x15 and ashdown 2x10). I went to the J because of the neck (smaller hands), but it certainly has it's very particular voice. I'm a first time J basser, and I think it'll take some getting used to. In any event I plan on buying the Highway One P to go along p(eanut butter) & j(elly) style if this one works out (i.e. they are the workhorses that fender makes them out to be).
So back to the Fender deluxe. bought it new ~5 months ago. I was a tried and true ibanez sr prestige player, so I liked the deluxe for it's active electronics and slim jazz neck (Plus it looked rad too!).
Fast forward one month: nut slotted improperly, insistent rattle coming from open a, nut replaced. ok!
later that month: strap pegs have completely stripped themselves. use the toothpicks and wood glue, ok!
Next month: "Noiseless" pickup not so noiseless...quite loud actually (even now that I have a J this was considerably loud...ungiggable for sure). I don't really bother with it, as the only band I use this bass for is a celtic band and I am always swept full into the p pickup.
Put the bass away after a particularly sweaty gig. Now, I know I have acid hands (boil strings every two weeks and replace once a month...can't bring myself to flatwounds though, please don't be upset with me, I guess I like dirty callouses?). however, even though i am what you call a "player" gigging every weekend, I was absolutely shocked at the amount of rust that had formed on my bass. It was ridiculous (no pictures, sorry). I went to my local hospital (seriously) and picked up some of the chemical they use to clean rust off of medical instruments, stripped my bass, and began the cleaning process. In the end, it looked kind of cool and vintaged (no way all the rust would come off). So not totally displeased, but what a pain in the ass. Bottom line was I had never, ever seen anything rust that quickly, and I always wipe my guitars down. I have electrics that were my dad's that were passed down for me that I've slammed on for the last decade, and not a speck...
About 2 months ago, the input jack went. no big deal, it happens! Replaced on warranty.
Now here's where I get frustrated. Take the bass in because it seems I have lost a TON of volume, and my mid boost/cut knob is loose. I figure that this is the culprit and bring it in to my local. I am called back a few weeks later where I am told that they figure I have rewired the jazz pickup, which I absolutely have not. They agree that it does not looked tampered with, but state that it is wired terribly (perhaps the reason for my buzz aforementioned). Now here I do not know all of the specififcs, but I was told that the entirety of the eq section would need replacing. I asked no questions, as they stated that I could go pick out another.
In total, out of the 4-5 months I had this bass, I was probably without it for over a month.
I have heard NOTHING else bad about this instrument! Was the quality control fellow hung over as my bass went past him? Either way, just wondering what everyone else's experience was...I am quite certain I am not at fault for most of this, as I have never had a single repair done on an instrument before (amplifiers yes, geets no). I take care of my stuff, but this seemed to come apart at the seams!
P.s. finally joined tb after viewing the forums for years. Great community!
