Fender quality control 2025

[birminghambass]

I've owned at least 50 Fenders over the past 20 years. The 5 I have now are great, but only 1 is from the factory, the other 4 are parts basses (made of Fender stuff). Their QC does not match their price IMO. Ibanez, Yamaha, Schecter all have higher standards. And obviously EBMM, G&L, Warwick,etc are all superior in fit/finish. IMO of course.

 

[BassicJazzy]

Distressing to hear of all the problems with Fenders now. I will never part with my '90 USA Jazz Plus, at least they got that one right. I like my Sire P5R, but would not say it compares in quality to my Fender, even though it plays exceptionally well. My 2 Ibanezes are very nice but also not the equal of the Fender, even though one is premium level. Could someone please make a truly high quality bass for less than $2,000? Fretless would be preferable.

I'm waiting.

 

[darev]

'90 USA Jazz Plus

Did that come with the Kubicki pre?

 

[BassicJazzy]

Did that come with the Kubicki pre?

Yes. I play it in passive mode, since I'm a bedroom player. It sounds great in passive. The pre gives it wider tonal range and if it needs more punch the boost works for that, but I don't use it.

It sat in the shop in L.A. for 6 months before I bought it in '91, because at that time everyone wanted 5 strings. That worked out fine for me!

 

[T McClure]

Honestly it baffles me that anyone buys any Fender at this point. In an age of precision manufacturing they choose to be sloppy and inconsistent. Yes, it's a choice.

Because the great majority of them are great. And if there's one with a problem, it's very easy to return for an identical one without issues.

 

[DuluthDank]

MIJ Fenders are variable in quality, but at least there is a baseline of quality they won't let their stuff go below. Not sure you can say that about any of the other factories. My 1984 MIJ Squier has nicer fret edges than my American Pro II, for instance.

 

[Slade N]

Ive never owned Fender/Fender but have two Squiers, a strat and a classic vibe P. Both are great with no major issues. Cheap hardware on both and crap pots on the strat. Necks are great on both. All in all the CV P is better than I expected for a $350 (on sale) new cheap bass…Maybe I got lucky with it?

If either had been a US/higher priced model I wouldnt have bought or kept considering the minor issues they have, they wouldnt have been acceptable for the price, even though I think theyre great for what they are

 

[roccobass]

It's so sad the QC is inconsistent at Fender. I wanted to take advantage of the sales, but I dunno.
All my Fenders Jazzes were bought used,. (not abused). Love the ergonomics of Jazzes. I always end of tweaking them either in a tune up or modification or both so why bother and pay the brand new prices? Still, I am seeing a American Pro II Dark Knight that keeps lurking in the back of my mind. I dunno though.

 

[Dr McBalders]

Maybe I'm not particularly picky, but out of the five Fenders I've bought in the last 10 years (2015 American Standard Jazz, Player I, Player Plus Precision, A player 2 Strat and Tele), all have been fine, with the Am. Std. being exceptional, followed by the (believe it or not) the Player Plus Precision. My G and L tribute, however, had a high fret, a dead pickup, and a poorly cut nut. But, given recent events, is fairly immaterial. In my limited experience though, Gibson Guitars are much more hit and miss than Fender.

 

[AngelCrusher]

Mexican fenders are great but they have lower qc. They also sometimes are made with wood that was missdrilled. You won’t ever see it unless you move the pick guard or pop the neck. It doesn’t really matter but the point is to always play fenders in person before buying. This also goes for US made.

I just bought a 2025 American fender pro classic and it’s extremely well made. But I picked it off the rack and played it. It’s really the only way to go or you will be playing the online order lottery.

 

[rayzak]

If it were as bad as it sounds here, you’d think resale would be half of what it is. Not THAT many people can possibly be so naive.

 

[FRoss6788]

Distressing to hear of all the problems with Fenders now. I will never part with my '90 USA Jazz Plus, at least they got that one right. I like my Sire P5R, but would not say it compares in quality to my Fender, even though it plays exceptionally well. My 2 Ibanezes are very nice but also not the equal of the Fender, even though one is premium level. Could someone please make a truly high quality bass for less than $2,000? Fretless would be preferable.

I'm waiting.

No more than when your ‘90 was built.

Anecdotal BS

 

[2thAche]

I've gone to MIJ with recent Fenders. Haven't been disappointed with any MIJ. The USA Fenders i pick up at stores now are all over the place in quality control no matter what pricepoint.

 

[JutMitch]

I completely believe what you guys are saying, but I own a bunch of Fenders (new and old) and I have never had any of the issues you guys are talking about. Most were bought online. But I agree, with a track record like the op, I wouldn't buy any more Fenders either.

Because the great majority of them are great. And if there's one with a problem, it's very easy to return for an identical one without issues.

it’s shouldn’t be the great majority, it should be all. That’s what final qc is for. In my case there is not an identical one to be had. American performer was just discontinued. I will say I had a 2017 American Standard that was perfect. That being said I can look past some of my issues as the bass does play very well and does have clean fretwork.

 

[JutMitch]

I completely believe what you guys are saying, but I own a bunch of Fenders (new and old) and I have never had any of the issues you guys are talking about. Most were bought online. But I agree, with a track record like the op, I wouldn't buy any more Fenders either.

Sometimes I wonder if some stores just immediately send these guitars/basses back and some that might be selling online just let them through. I shop locally at N’stuff music I can pretty guarantee that would have been loaded right back up to be returned to the factory.

 

[DrBnz]

I really don't think there is a "quality assurance" inspection like an aircraft might have. I think its more of a final checker, who is a person of average or better intelligence who looks it over and see's that everything is there. And in their defense a reject would mean there would have to be a repair / disposition section. Which equates out to a handful of skilled mechanical types who could evaluate and quickly make the repairs or scrap it out as a factory "used". That all sounds expensive..... What I believer really happens is they they don't "inspect" anything. They just send them all out. 90% of them will get sold and they never hear from them again. Cause people like me would rather fix their bass rather than send it back or have a stranger touch OUR bass. The other 8% will get local repairs by the local retailer. And 2% might come back to the factory. The business model says ditch the QA and roll the dice. Its been working for years. We shouldn't be surprised.

 

[Levitamin]

I always say the best bang for the buck Fenders are MIJ. I’ve owned several MIJ guitars and basses and they’ve all been great. I haven’t had a single dud, they’re just so well made. My Hybrid II Jazz (made for the Japanese market) is nicer than any MIA I’ve played in a store in the last several years, and is on par with my Mod Shop P. I think it would hold its own against anything coming out of the custom shop or from a boutique builder, and it was 1/3 of the price of a boutique bass.

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

When my shop opens new fenders, they are generally fine. In fact, the new player 2’s have been more or less perfect out of the box. HOWEVER, there are some things that irk me.


The rosewood is ROUGH. Like sanded with 200 grit and stopped there rough. This is really only on the Mexican fenders. The squiers dont use rosewood anymore and they do feel smoother.

Maple fingerboards have yellow poly all over the frets, and it chunks off in a not so cool way. It sucks when you get a chunk of poly under your fingernail. This is common even on American models.

Speaking of which… why is every new fender neck in some glow in the dark amber tint?

I also think theyre getting heavier.

I do enjoy a good squier classic vibe and the Geddy Lee bass is cool. Idk, I work on this stuff so of course I’m going to be seeing instruments with flaws, it’s my job to fix them. Fwiw, most fender purchases ARENT returned.

 

[JutMitch]

I really don't think there is a "quality assurance" inspection like an aircraft might have. I think its more of a final checker, who is a person of average or better intelligence who looks it over and see's that everything is there. And in their defense a reject would mean there would have to be a repair / disposition section. Which equates out to a handful of skilled mechanical types who could evaluate and quickly make the repairs or scrap it out as a factory "used". That all sounds expensive..... What I believer really happens is they they don't "inspect" anything. They just send them all out. 90% of them will get sold and they never hear from them again. Cause people like me would rather fix their bass rather than send it back or have a stranger touch OUR bass. The other 8% will get local repairs by the local retailer. And 2% might come back to the factory. The business model says ditch the QA and roll the dice. Its been working for years. We shouldn't be surprised.

I can reassure you Warwick, Musicman,PRS, G&L and other premium bass/guitar companies don't work that way, but i absolutely agree that Fender has to definitely work that way to some extent. I'm curious of all the basses that end of getting parted on Franklin Guitar works and Stratophere are actual returns and not final qc failures. Being surprised? Actually i am a bit, i'd expect your philosophy be true on lower tier basses like MIM and Squier line, i thought there would be some sort of higher standard on the American lines. I had one new Am.Standard and it was perfect so i chalked up my other issues to country of origin and price point. I was wrong

 

[JutMitch]

When my shop opens new fenders, they are generally fine. In fact, the new player 2’s have been more or less perfect out of the box. HOWEVER, there are some things that irk me.


The rosewood is ROUGH. Like sanded with 200 grit and stopped there rough. This is really only on the Mexican fenders. The squiers dont use rosewood anymore and they do feel smoother.

Maple fingerboards have yellow poly all over the frets, and it chunks off in a not so cool way. It sucks when you get a chunk of poly under your fingernail. This is common even on American models.

Speaking of which… why is every new fender neck in some glow in the dark amber tint?

I also think theyre getting heavier.

I do enjoy a good squier classic vibe and the Geddy Lee bass is cool. Idk, I work on this stuff so of course I’m going to be seeing instruments with flaws, it’s my job to fix them. Fwiw, most fender purchases ARENT returned.

I think the Nitro on the frets is quite common but poly on frets seems like a disaster. I was checking out a new AVRI '54 and while the neck was of massive it's attention to detail seemed quite good.