Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Fender Quality..
- Thread starter AlBass
- Start date
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,943
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
I think Fender was always hit or miss. Some will tell you that got top quality instruments, other's the opposite.
I know this. I got a '98 SUPER LEMON MIA P bass deluxe, and not much help from Fender in getting anything taken care of. I ranted about that bass and Fender for many years after that. I think their quality control and customer service has improved since the internet and social media have gotten into full swing.
I wouldn't buy anything used based on people's experience with QC. I'd have to check it out, or really trust the seller.
That's all I got
.
Oh yeah... and I'm over my hatred with Fender. Only took me about 15 years.
I know this. I got a '98 SUPER LEMON MIA P bass deluxe, and not much help from Fender in getting anything taken care of. I ranted about that bass and Fender for many years after that. I think their quality control and customer service has improved since the internet and social media have gotten into full swing.
I wouldn't buy anything used based on people's experience with QC. I'd have to check it out, or really trust the seller.
That's all I got
.Oh yeah... and I'm over my hatred with Fender. Only took me about 15 years.
Great reply Joe thank you And commiserations about the bass. That woulda burned me up tooI think Fender was always hit or miss. Some will tell you that got top quality instruments, other's the opposite.
I know this. I got a '98 SUPER LEMON MIA P bass deluxe, and not much help from Fender in getting anything taken care of. I ranted about that bass and Fender for many years after that. I think their quality control and customer service has improved since the internet and social media have gotten into full swing.
I wouldn't buy anything used based on people's experience with QC. I'd have to check it out, or really trust the seller.
That's all I got
Oh yeah... and I'm over my hatred with Fender. Only took me about 15 years.
I have an early 2000's MIA Jazz and a 2012 MIA Precision. Both play great. Finish and polish the 2012 wins hands-down.
The general feedback I see (and also from my experience) is that starting around 2010 Fender really upped their quality. Not to say there weren't some less than perfect ones but overall their quality has been very high.
Bob
Bob
I believe it was 2008 if I'm recalling correctly when they rolled out their new American Standards that everyone was raving about.
That might be right...not sure. The new American Standards and the new American Deluxes came out around that time.
With the NC machinery that produces the Fender Bass. It doesn't have to be built in the states anymore. Sad..
but like Sire, you get the same quality or better from a 3rd world manufacturer. They still cut some corners , but produce a product that is very consumable. The finishes have improved a lot. My Chi -com Bass is a piece of crap, but plays and sounds great.
but like Sire, you get the same quality or better from a 3rd world manufacturer. They still cut some corners , but produce a product that is very consumable. The finishes have improved a lot. My Chi -com Bass is a piece of crap, but plays and sounds great.
You know what? I'll tell you. These 2000s jazz basses look just fine but I don't know, a friend of mine got one and i don't know what should I say. actually I don't know
I rave about my 09 AmStd P except for that hideous pickup it came with.
My recollection is that the early 2000s basses weren't bad, although I think they had crazy thick finishes. The ones I really disliked were the ones with the S1 switch (2006-9?). I never played one of those I liked the sound of, although they seemed to be made ok
2008 was when Fender upped their game. I still have my 2008 MIA Fender P bass. Great bass would never sell it. Over the years I have bought many Fender basses from the years 2008 to 2012 and all were of great quality. I think Fender is still putting out top quality instruments. I have two 2015 MIA Telecasters that are great and a 2018 MIM Stratocaster that is dare I say very close to the American stuff in quality.
I still have my 2008 american standard jazz too and I like it. I had two '95 Am. Std. jazz basses and they were also good but the '08 sounds better to my ears. Never owned an early/mid 2000s fender bass but I'm sure they sound nothing like my '78 fender jazz bass which is my favorite jazz bass since 1978 (bought it brand new in '78 from manny's shop).
This thread deserves some pics!
'08 and '78 jazz basses:
And of course, free beer for everyone! :
I've owned several - like 7 MIA Pbasses from '96-2014, one CIJ, 4-5 Squiers, and 5 or so MIM P's and J's, not counting my kid's guitars - two bought new and the rest bought used, and I have never had any quality issues at all. Any quality issues I've heard about have 100% been on Talkbass and by far the majority of those were instruments bought at Guitar Centre.
Fret sprout and poor action setup don't count as quality issues - I mean things like bad neck pocket gaps, or poor finish jobs. But every manufacturer has factory seconds, and some get by QA.
Real world, it's a non-issue. I'm sure we will hear a lot of anecdotes in this thread. Bear in mind Fender sells hundreds of thousands to millions of instruments every year, so a handful of anecdotes does not represent a real problem, no matter how outraged a person is about it.
The 2008 year was lauded as the year Fender upped their game with the re-release of the new American Standard. Squiers and MIMs prior to that were hit or miss, but I think their quality improvements actually hit the market around 2007, with the Classic series and the Vintage Modified Series.
Fret sprout and poor action setup don't count as quality issues - I mean things like bad neck pocket gaps, or poor finish jobs. But every manufacturer has factory seconds, and some get by QA.
Real world, it's a non-issue. I'm sure we will hear a lot of anecdotes in this thread. Bear in mind Fender sells hundreds of thousands to millions of instruments every year, so a handful of anecdotes does not represent a real problem, no matter how outraged a person is about it.
The 2008 year was lauded as the year Fender upped their game with the re-release of the new American Standard. Squiers and MIMs prior to that were hit or miss, but I think their quality improvements actually hit the market around 2007, with the Classic series and the Vintage Modified Series.
I hope you are ready, the hate filled rhetoric is on its way! BTW, I agree with you. But, people here will fabricate stories beyond your wildest imagination to try and prove you wrong. Bring on the popcorn, it's going to be a fun day!!
I had excellent experiences with three 1997 JD5's. They later switched to double pole piece pickups and I don't recall issues with later ones.
Bear in mind that some people thought that dead strings and setups they didn't like in stores were defects. I wouldn't rule any years out based on what's said here. Try them for yourself.
If you're looking to buy without trying, you're pretty much stuck to Sadowsky, Alleva, Lull, etc.
You shouldn't rule out any '01-03 or '91-93 Fender any more or less than an '11-13 or '71-73 Fender.
You gotta try before you buy.
You shouldn't rule out any '01-03 or '91-93 Fender any more or less than an '11-13 or '71-73 Fender.
You gotta try before you buy.
