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Fender Road Worn '50s Precision Bass
- Thread starter Ruknrole
- Start date
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,058
- 38,405
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
I don't know what Fender sprinkles on the Roadworn series but there is definitely something about them. I went through about 8 Jazz basses (some upwards of 2k) looking for the one that didn't fight me, the lowly MIM Roadworn Jazz Bass had the tone and feel I was looking for. Full, throaty, strong D and G string. it just sings on the upper register .
The House of Guitars has a Roadworn Precision in stock that is calling me but I already have six P basses the stable.
The House of Guitars has a Roadworn Precision in stock that is calling me but I already have six P basses the stable.
They aren't on the same level, but most will get the job done. It's all preference really and some people are pickier than others. If you want to look at it objectively though being made in the USA doesn't exclude it from being a dud.
Adam Neely walks into Guitar Center and recommends the Vintera 50’s Precision Bass.
Add some Roadworn fairy dust on top of that and it’s gotta really be over the top.
Can’t wait to get mine next week.
Add some Roadworn fairy dust on top of that and it’s gotta really be over the top.
Can’t wait to get mine next week.
I personally think the
As to the OP’s question (also knowing that they did order the 50’s Roadworn), I had one for a little while (2-tone sunburst) and it is really a great bass. It was nice and light (same with the 60’s Roadworn Jazz Bass I had). I liked the wide neck, and the tone was really sweet as well. I tend to gravitate towards a wide nut/flatter neck contour or a narrow nut/deep c or u shaped neck contour, and the 50’s P Roadworn fit the former nicely. I did end up trading it on for something newer and shinier (no fault of the bass, I’m just a perpetual bass trader), but it really is a great bass. I hope you have a good experience with yours!
Not to hijack the thread, but I had a Nate Mendel sig a couple years back. I swapped in a bent-plate bridge, pup/bridge covers, a set of EMG Geezer Butler pups, and put a mint pg on it, and it did a hell of an impersonation of a late 60’s P-Bass! I also liked the relatively minor relic finish, as well as the extra deep belly cut (for my extra-deep belly....).
As to the OP’s question (also knowing that they did order the 50’s Roadworn), I had one for a little while (2-tone sunburst) and it is really a great bass. It was nice and light (same with the 60’s Roadworn Jazz Bass I had). I liked the wide neck, and the tone was really sweet as well. I tend to gravitate towards a wide nut/flatter neck contour or a narrow nut/deep c or u shaped neck contour, and the 50’s P Roadworn fit the former nicely. I did end up trading it on for something newer and shinier (no fault of the bass, I’m just a perpetual bass trader), but it really is a great bass. I hope you have a good experience with yours!
I got the bass today.
I was a bit concerned about the width of the neck but it feels great in my hand so no more concerns there. It's lite weighing in at exactly 8 lbs. It came with Dunlop Straplock buttons, and it looks like the gold anodized pickguard was changed since this one has a truss adjustment notch. I was able to adjust the truss rod without loosening or removing the neck so this is a plus in my book.
The serial starts with MX19 so it was made in 2019. The serial is legit since it pulls up the correct product on Fender.com.
It needs a setup and new strings. I think I'm going to set it up with La Bella LTFs.
So far I'm liking it and I think this one is going to be a keeper.
I was a bit concerned about the width of the neck but it feels great in my hand so no more concerns there. It's lite weighing in at exactly 8 lbs. It came with Dunlop Straplock buttons, and it looks like the gold anodized pickguard was changed since this one has a truss adjustment notch. I was able to adjust the truss rod without loosening or removing the neck so this is a plus in my book.
The serial starts with MX19 so it was made in 2019. The serial is legit since it pulls up the correct product on Fender.com.
It needs a setup and new strings. I think I'm going to set it up with La Bella LTFs.
So far I'm liking it and I think this one is going to be a keeper.
Looks great. I have heard nothing but good things about this one so I think you got a good one there. Glad you are happy with it.
I have had all sorts of basses, vintage precisions, rickenbackers, American Jazzes.
the Road Worn is the only one I have left, it just feels and sounds so good! I actually traded a Gibson ES335 bass for it (the guy added a bunch of cash) and you’d think I regret it but man I honestly don’t, it has to be one of the best basses that Fender has made that wasn’t custom shop, it beats any of the American standards I’ve ever played and definitely my 70s precision’s.
If you got the chance to get one you won’t regret it!
edit: seeing as you got it now this is more a post for anyone that comes across one of these basses in the future, they are hidden gems!
the Road Worn is the only one I have left, it just feels and sounds so good! I actually traded a Gibson ES335 bass for it (the guy added a bunch of cash) and you’d think I regret it but man I honestly don’t, it has to be one of the best basses that Fender has made that wasn’t custom shop, it beats any of the American standards I’ve ever played and definitely my 70s precision’s.
If you got the chance to get one you won’t regret it!
edit: seeing as you got it now this is more a post for anyone that comes across one of these basses in the future, they are hidden gems!
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Yes it’s a great sounding bass. I’m still not completely used to the wide neck yet, but I love the weight, sound, and feel of the bass. For me, if it had a 1.62” nut it would be perfect.
My 2008 RW P, bought about 3 years ago for $700, has become my #1 axe. It plays great and just plain sounds good in pretty much any setting I use it in.
I replaced the pickup with a Fralin, though the original wasn't bad. I really don't like the feel of anodized aluminum pickguards, which is why the white one is on there. I know it doesn't look "right" or period correct, but I had it lying around in my parts stash. I also replaced the tone capacitor with an orange drop .047, but I noticed only a marginal difference with that.
I have a '62 P which is pretty magical, but the Road Worn P actually records better in most situations and is not plagued with as many hot spots and dead spots. I'm surprised by all the complaints in this thread about the RW P necks being too wide - I feel like mine is very easy to handle and far less bulky than the '62 neck.
Anyway, good luck and I hope you get as much good use out of yours as I do with mine!
I replaced the pickup with a Fralin, though the original wasn't bad. I really don't like the feel of anodized aluminum pickguards, which is why the white one is on there. I know it doesn't look "right" or period correct, but I had it lying around in my parts stash. I also replaced the tone capacitor with an orange drop .047, but I noticed only a marginal difference with that.
I have a '62 P which is pretty magical, but the Road Worn P actually records better in most situations and is not plagued with as many hot spots and dead spots. I'm surprised by all the complaints in this thread about the RW P necks being too wide - I feel like mine is very easy to handle and far less bulky than the '62 neck.
Anyway, good luck and I hope you get as much good use out of yours as I do with mine!
I have a MIM 50's neck on a parts Bass. It seems to work fine despite the skinny frets and reverse tuners. I finally got the set up done recently and have the nut and action set lower than anything else I own. LaBella Original 1954's on and I am liking it more and more.
I'm not surprised. everyone has different hands and technique.
I’ve just bought a used fiesta red Fender road worn 50s precision. I tend to go for 1.5 necks so was a bit worried about the 1.75 neck. However, it was very easy to play. I got used to the size difference very quickly. It has 19mm string spacing which is the same as my 1.5 basses so maybe that helps. I used to own a Stingray which had a neck almost as wide as the road worn but with a flatter radius (11 inch). The road worn had a 7.25 inch radius.
Loving the road worn. I was going to replace the pickups with EMG Geezers because I was getting some hum from a light dimmer switch that always causes me problems at home but I shielded all the cavities with copper sheet instead. I also earthed the pickups pole pieces. Zero hum now and I like the sound of the pickups. They are
56003/56004. The cavity routing was better done than on the MIA P I had which I also had to shield. The wood seems dryer. Not sure if they kiln dry it or something.
56003/56004. The cavity routing was better done than on the MIA P I had which I also had to shield. The wood seems dryer. Not sure if they kiln dry it or something.
true to vintage specs @ 7.25 radius, 1.75 wide at nut, 19mm string spacing, 6230 vintage frets, proper neck depth, nitro lacquer finish...unlike many other fender series, killer necks, great sound, easily as good as a fender custom shop IMO for 20% of the cost , and I've had custom shop I sold but I'll NEVER sell my RW basses...jazz/precision/mustang.
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Since my last post above (Aug 16 2021) I’ve sold my Road Worn Jazz and Road Worn Precision basses. I liked the Precision more than the Jazz. I replaced it with a MIM Player Precision bass with Lindy Fralin pickups. The Road Worn Precision was a great bass. Really looked the part and it had a great tone but I just preferred the slimmer neck on the Player which is also a great bass once the pickups are upgraded.
I had a Fiesta Red one. Swapped the pickguard out for a tort guard and the pups for a Fender '63 p-bass set. Was absolutely killer. Then COVID came along, and I was fairly certain that my playing days were behind me after all of that. Sold my gear off and picked up an acoustic to write some music for. I would not hesitate to grab another one if it came up. The Road Worn series is just fantastic all around.
