Fender Rascal Bass - Truss rod

[BassmentPlayer]

>>I like the bridge placement for a shortie.

I agree, the placement is a good feature.

On the Mustang I have the bridge is right up against the end of the bass and it makes the bass seem small and cramped.

I much prefer the bridge placement on the Rascal.

BP.

 

[buldog5151bass]

You don't have to remove the neck, just the pick guard. Still a pain, and possibly the worst Fender design flaw, but not fatal to your choice.

 

[40Hz]

They are unique for a Fender, that's for sure. I like how Fender didn't feel the need to put a model name on the headstock like they usually do.

But I guess they figured if you have to ask what it is, it's not for you.

 

[khutch]

I really like the look of the Rascal, but I hate the name.

I take it you've never owned a Squier then, eh? I mean with a little sandpaper and a custom decal and and some clear coat you've got yourself the one and only Fender Wave! I don't dislike the name Rascal but I can't deny that Wave would be an appropriate name too. Now I do not endorse "rebadging" Squiers into Fenders under any circumstances and my current and any future Squiers will always wear their Squier brand names proudly, but as we know people here on TB do this and changing the model name to suit you while keeping the brand name correct strikes me as more eccentric than felonious. You'd still have to explain that when you sold it of course.

 

[jd56hawk]

I own a Squier CV Jazz in Inca Silver. Of course, I wouldn't dream of doing away with the logo.
I do own a nice Fender Jazz...headstock painted to match body with another Fender logo applied.
Putting a Fender logo on anything other than a Fender isn't something I'd recommend, but I'm only king over my own small domain.

 

[Linnin]

Here's how the pros adjust a vintage truss rod. I've been doing it this way for the 40 years that I've owned my 1976 Precision. It's a little tricky at first, but with experience you get a feel for it. Bass starts at about the 4 minute mark, but it's good to watch the whole thing.

 

[Temcat]

You don't have to remove the neck, just the pick guard. Still a pain, and possibly the worst Fender design flaw, but not fatal to your choice.

Really? So there is a stock recess in the body, just hidden underneath the pickguard?

 

[buldog5151bass]

Really? So there is a stock recess in the body, just hidden underneath the pickguard?

No, but there is room to get a screw driver in there carefully. I have a '75 Jazz, and never have had to take off the neck (of course, it goes years without needing a tweak).

 

[Treadstone71]

It is also a solid bass. My only nit-picks are it is heavy and the setup was atrocious.

These were my complaints with my Pawn Shop Bass VI as well. Another "outside the box" short scale bass that's unnecessarily heavy.

 

[Shortie]

The SG Faded is a close second on the opposite (think mud bucker) end of the scale.

Yeah well I have an SG and that's exactly why I'm looking at the Rascal - opposite end of the scale.

BTW, what kind of strings are you using on the SG? I was using the stocks for quite a while but it just got too muddy to deal with - you can play a whole song in the wrong key and hardly notice! Now I put GHS brite flats on it, but that has deadened it too much. I think it does need rounds to get that nasty edge that it has, but something cleaner than the stocks. I have some LaBella Beatle DeepTalker rounds that I'm going to try on the SG. My Japanese J sounds great but it's too small - feels toy like.

 

[Shortie]

You might also consider the bridge placement being a problem

Since I started playing a lot of shorties I've learned to adjust - every one is different and they are way different than long scales. At first it was a problem but now I'm used to different positions and I adjust the playing angle and the strap to help. It is definitely an issue if you're not used to short scale basses.

 

[BassmentPlayer]

Yeah well I have an SG and that's exactly why I'm looking at the Rascal - opposite end of the scale.

BTW, what kind of strings are you using on the SG? I was using the stocks for quite a while but it just got too muddy to deal with - you can play a whole song in the wrong key and hardly notice! Now I put GHS brite flats on it, but that has deadened it too much. I think it does need rounds to get that nasty edge that it has, but something cleaner than the stocks. I have some LaBella Beatle DeepTalker rounds that I'm going to try on the SG. My Japanese J sounds great but it's too small - feels toy like.

I am no string expert, I just went to the local shop and said I liked the sound of the stock strings but wanted better strings. They didn't have much choice so I ended up with some kind of bright Fender rounds. I did try flats on it, but I am the same as you, I believe the SG needs rounds to get the full range it is capable of.

Between the SG and Rascal you cover a lot of sonic ground.

I get a JB62SS this week, I am very excited!

BP.

 

[Shortie]

I get a JB62SS this week, I am very excited!

I got mine direct from Japan, factory fresh. The set up was typical Fender - way too high and I didn't like the stock strings (never do on Fenders.) So I wasn't that thrilled with it. I got some GHS pressure wounds for short scale and brought it to a good shop and told the guy to make it sound and play like a real JBass as much as possible. He did a great job - raised the bridge pup, strung it up, adjusted the truss rod and string height, etc. Now it's probably the best overall sounding bass I have. Quality is excellent - feels great.

 

[selowitch]

Those short-scale MIJ Jazz Basses must be sweet! I haven't had a chance to try one yet. A little heavy, I hear?

 

[BassmentPlayer]

OK, it just arrived.

The JB62SS CAR is gently (I hope) warming in it's Styrofoam bag. I reached in and it was COLD so I will just let it sit for an hour to warm up.

I have wanted one for a few years, another hour won't matter.

BP.

 

[Shortie]

A little heavy, I hear?

Doesn't bother me - not sure how much it weighs exactly - maybe 7.5 lbs. All relative. I used to play a Lakland 55-02. What I don't like about the JJ/SS is that it's too small - feels like a toy. But after I had it worked on, it sounds and plays great - but not like a real J - the short scale punch is still there and it will boom and fart on you if you don't watch it (pressure wounds helped take that down a lot) and it doesn't have the grind and growl of a big J, but it definitely has some nice texture. I like the sound a lot and it's definitely Fender.

 

[Shortie]

OK, it just arrived.

Cool - enjoy. Where did you get it? Last I heard they stopped making them. They're going for big bucks now.

 

[Linnin]

Last I heard they stopped making them. They're going for big bucks now.

No, they are still very much in production. Sam Ash has some. $799
Invalid Link Removed

Invalid Link Removed

 

[selowitch]

No, they are still very much in production. Sam Ash has some. $799
Invalid Link Removed

Invalid Link Removed

I think it was the MIJ short-scale Jazz Basses he/she was referring to as no longer in production, not the MIM Rascal.

 

[Linnin]

Just got through chatting with Fender Customer Service. The Fender Classic Player Rascal Bass is made at Fender's factory in Ensenada, Mexico and always has been since day one. They have never been made anywhere else at any time.