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Fender Quality Control???
- Thread starter TNID
- Start date
Well, the difference between Jazz and Precision nut width is only 1/8", so it's going to be close no matter which way it goes. If it really matters to anyone, I can take a digital caliper to his place and measure it soon. Either way, it clearly is a QC issue. Even if it were, in fact, a proper Jazz neck, it still has the wrong decal on the front. Measurements aside, it can only be either a Precision neck improperly assembled and serialized with a Jazz bass, or it's a correct Jazz neck with a Precision decal applied by mistake.
The fact that Fender confirms an inconsistency between the Jazz serial number on the back of the headstock and the Precision Bass name on the front of the headstock pretty much guarantees a manufacturing error.
I'd presume the person who bought the bass, all things considered?
It kinda is, and I kinda wanna know too, and SOMEONE sticky this for the next time some noob asks "hey, can you fit a P neck on a Jazz body"? If this is legit, you certainly can't apologize for Fender here, but beyond a decal, you'd be none the wiser, methinks.
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I was actually looking at the American Design Experience with the vague idea of a Jazz with a P neck (the Am Std P's are a perfect profile for me), but no option to do it. At least this shows it can be done!
Smooth_bass88
vaxx!
- Oct 31, 2006
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I'd slap that neck on a P bass body and roll like that. But I'd also keep the j body in case I wanted to return it to it's original "screwed up" state.
Ok guys. Here is the deal.
I am the person that received this Special bass from Fender and I just want to clear up some of the "conspiracy theories".
1. I purchased the bass last Saturday from a major online retailer. (correct milkman-27)
2. It was brand new and current stock.
3. The fender box had no signs of it ever being opened.
4. Called Fender and the serial number on the back is from an American Special Jazz.
5. I took the bass to GC to compare the necks and it felt/looked a bit thicker than the J bass but the difference is so minimal that I could be wrong.
IMO, it is a P neck that had the serial number from the J applied last. As someone stated, if I can get something in writing from Fender showing their mistake, I will keep it. I really do like the way it plays and honestly don't want to go through the hassle of returning it.
If you guys have any other questions, let me know and I will answer them. I will also let you know what Fender says about getting me something in writing.
I am the person that received this Special bass from Fender and I just want to clear up some of the "conspiracy theories".
1. I purchased the bass last Saturday from a major online retailer. (correct milkman-27)
2. It was brand new and current stock.
3. The fender box had no signs of it ever being opened.
4. Called Fender and the serial number on the back is from an American Special Jazz.
5. I took the bass to GC to compare the necks and it felt/looked a bit thicker than the J bass but the difference is so minimal that I could be wrong.
IMO, it is a P neck that had the serial number from the J applied last. As someone stated, if I can get something in writing from Fender showing their mistake, I will keep it. I really do like the way it plays and honestly don't want to go through the hassle of returning it.
If you guys have any other questions, let me know and I will answer them. I will also let you know what Fender says about getting me something in writing.
Hearsay? You make it sound like I have something to gain from fabricating the whole account. I'm not sure what else to tell you though. The serial number is on the back of the headstock, and Fender has confirmed it as a Jazz Bass identifying number. However, the nut measures out to Precision Bass width, and has been compared against other examples of the instrument, confirming by measurement and by feel that it is a Precision neck. Maybe that's a missed opportunity for an additional in-process QC check by Fender.
I didn't post this to run down Fender, I just thought other bassists would find it interesting. Mistakes happen in manufacturing. This is a fairly significant one, but still it's just a somewhat ironic mistake. If I hadn't recently bought a new bass of my own, I'd probably take this one off his hands. Such skepticism...
Wow. You totally misunderstood what I meant. I apologize if my wording offended you. What I meant by "hearsay" is this: The owner of the bass had not posted hear until after I made my comment. You, a third party to the situation and not the owner of the bass, say it compared more closely in widths to a P special neck than a J special neck. Another poster said he saw on reddit that the owner had called Fender to verify the serial number.
These are pretty much textbook examples of hearsay. There was no direct input from any of the involved parties (owner, seller, manufacturer), only input from somewhat indirect observers to the situation. I did not mean my words to offend; I was merely stating that it wasn't clear whether this oddity happened before it left the factory or not.
All the same, it is clear that you are becoming agitated and that I played some role in that. I will refrain from posting any further in this thread so as not to offend you any further.
Yeah, it's all touchy subject all of a sudden, so odd to react as such, especially when the owner of the bass has just entered the convo, after having registered on Friday. Why didn't HE create this thread? People are so quick to anger these days.
I know, right? Crazysauce. Welcome to the fold.
For the record, I wasn't calling foul. Was just curious. No harm in this, yes?
They goof sometimes. My Cabronita came with a guitar pickup in it. I swapped it because the guitar pickup was too bright for me, even though it was "rare" in its original state.
This is the third or fourth time I've seen the word "hearsay" used up in a TB thread. Just stop it already! Not only does it make you sound "self righteous" but you guys do realize these are casual conversations and not legally binding in any way shape or form right? I really think the reason people get upset is because of the word its self. "Hearsay" has too many negative connotations behind it, it's use immediately draws a certain kind of picture in people's heads. The people who get offended when called out in this manor should remember - it's a casual conversation, therefore the definitions of the words used are the "casual definitions" and not the legal or religious ones. It is simply more economical to say "hearsay" instead of "we don't know that for sure because you are not the source", it's a shame people have to dumb down their speech so as not be offensive but perhaps we'd all be better off if we did because not everyone knows it has several "degrees" of meaning, this is a word usually reserved for use in non-casual conversation. You have to remember "hearsay" was once punishable by death! So you shouldn't be surprised when someone is offended by its use.
Once again it's a casual conversation, I see nothing wrong with "hearsay" in a casual conversation (as long as you're talking about the 'casual' definition of hearsay), but I also think it is important to be able to recognize when someone is using it. I am often guilty of "hearsay" myself, it's just something that happens when your casually talking about something. "I saw it on reddit and there it said -" yes that hearsay....big freaking deal!!! I'm not offended that you'd point it out, I'm offended that you think the audience here at TB is too stupid to recognize it on their own! Now if I had said something that could damage or hurt someone in someway...that's a whole 'nuther ball o wax, when this happen it needs to be called out, but the use of the word hearsay is just....over bearing in a casual situation.
Once again it's a casual conversation, I see nothing wrong with "hearsay" in a casual conversation (as long as you're talking about the 'casual' definition of hearsay), but I also think it is important to be able to recognize when someone is using it. I am often guilty of "hearsay" myself, it's just something that happens when your casually talking about something. "I saw it on reddit and there it said -" yes that hearsay....big freaking deal!!! I'm not offended that you'd point it out, I'm offended that you think the audience here at TB is too stupid to recognize it on their own! Now if I had said something that could damage or hurt someone in someway...that's a whole 'nuther ball o wax, when this happen it needs to be called out, but the use of the word hearsay is just....over bearing in a casual situation.
Wow, Fender makes a small (very cool one, too) mistake and all of a sudden the sky is falling and WW IV has started................
Brandon, enjoy your unique and interesting anomaly of a bass.
/thread
Brandon, enjoy your unique and interesting anomaly of a bass.
/thread
Thanks for posting. I hope you stay. I'm curious to know what kind of neck that is. The width appears to be closer to a J bass. The headstock shape looks to me like a P bass. Any chance you might re-measure, just the nut? According to Fender the American Special Jazz nut should be 1.5" / 38.1 mm. The American Special P should be 1.625" / 41.3 mm.
We will be very interested to learn what Fender has to say. I'm with you; if I liked the bass as is and could get a letter from Fender documenting error, I'd keep it.
So I spoke to a rep at Fender today. They obviously wouldn't take responsibility for this, which I understand. What they are going to do is send me a letter on their letterhead stating that this particular bass and the serial number attached is a Jazz. Since I like the way it plays and will have this letter (in case I ever want to sell it), I will probably end up keeping it.
