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Fender Road worn J and P Bass Player Review.

D

Demonator

Guest
Jun 14, 2009
834
9
#1
I read September's BP and read the review for Fender's new line of 09 road worns, and they said they were lightweight and uber comfortable, super sweet sound, etc. But they said they werent any cons. Not even the $1250/$1200 price tag brought it done. Anybody know of any problems with these basses. It just seems to good to be true.
Thank you.
Demonator.
 
#3
Thats what I was thinking. Theres not even weight issues sound problems, truss rod adjustment, etc. I just was wondering because it just doesnt sound right. I may be buying one later down the road and i dont want lies.
 
#4
They are pretty darn nice basses. IMO they "feel" better than the new MIA stuff, but am sure they are not perfect.

You can get them for less used..I sold one of the P's on TB for $750 and am selling a jazz for the same. I think they are well worth that. I don't think anything is worth new list price FWIW, I always buy used stuff.
 
#6
I don't know why people have such issues with the price....just because it is made in Mexico. What, everything that comes out of Mexico has to be cheap? Heck, Lakland Skyline 44-02 which are made in Asia (Korea or Indonesia, I forget) are selling for $1400. And they paper thin laminate tops. Yet don't here allot complaints about those. And I am sure it takes more time to make a Road Worn that a 44-02.

If you really look at a Road Worn, there is allot of hands on labor in making them. Labor costs money.

I feel they are worth the $1200 price tag. People need to get over, "well they are made in Mexico" thing. If you think what a USA made relic is going for, I think it is a hell of a deal!
 
#7
I played both the jazz and the precision and wasn't very impressed. IMO, they look pretty fake close up. Like a picture of a well worn bass, not the real thing. The precision had a really wide neck too. The jazz felt okay but to me wasn't anything really special. I've played quite a few older basses and they didn't quite have the vibe to me. Just my opinion of course. I know there are quite a few people on here who do like them.
 
#8
I think go used, but honestly I was surprised more than I was with any bass (I would gladly trade one of mine) with the RW J bass. Everything about it felt right, the neck was amazingly fast, pickups sounded just right, and the body felt nice for some reason when playing. I only wish they made it without the ridiculous worn paint job
 
#9
IMO the one thing that I cant stand about these guitars(both bass and guitar alike) are that they wear the paint out on every body the same, plus the real deal breaker for me, I bought my original "76 for less than one of these bases goes for new. Just my own $.02

Right now on ebay this one is going for the new price of the RW series:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-1973-Fender-Precision-Bass-w-case_W0QQitemZ260467517017QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3ca512e659&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
 
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#10
EagleMoon said:
I played both the jazz and the precision and wasn't very impressed. IMO, they look pretty fake close up. Like a picture of a well worn bass, not the real thing. The precision had a really wide neck too. The jazz felt okay but to me wasn't anything really special. I've played quite a few older basses and they didn't quite have the vibe to me. Just my opinion of course. I know there are quite a few people on here who do like them.
Click to expand...

I agree with EM. I really wanted to dig them too, but it didn't happen for me. :(
 
#11
P.S. The reason BP didn't address the price in their review is that Fender does so much advertising with them , Bp is kind of obliged to say nice things about their products and if they do have a niggle they choose their words very carefully.
 
#12
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#14
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#15
This is what I want to hear :). Thanks guys for your own experiences and input on this. Reason as to why Im trying to get a Fender and not another Dean is because Im trying to break away from the whole metal look, first thing people think when they see my bass is Metallica or metal, though in reality I play Blink-182, RHCP, Tool, Metallica and many others. Thanks again for the input.
 
#16
If I were a passive 4 string player, I would have the Jazz for sure and maybe the P as well. I think they are great basses. Get over the Mexico thing and the Road Worn thing and just listen to them.
 
#17
ClassicJazz said:
I don't know why people have such issues with the price....just because it is made in Mexico. What, everything that comes out of Mexico has to be cheap? Heck, Lakland Skyline 44-02 which are made in Asia (Korea or Indonesia, I forget) are selling for $1400. And they paper thin laminate tops. Yet don't here allot complaints about those. And I am sure it takes more time to make a Road Worn that a 44-02.

If you really look at a Road Worn, there is allot of hands on labor in making them. Labor costs money.

I feel they are worth the $1200 price tag. People need to get over, "well they are made in Mexico" thing. If you think what a USA made relic is going for, I think it is a hell of a deal!
Click to expand...

+1 It's actually kind of racist to think nothing good can come out of Mexico, IMO. Ever wonder how many Hispanics are making MIA's or CS's for that matter?
 
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#19
sneha1965 said:
+1 It's actually kind of racist to think nothing good can come out of Mexico, IMO. Ever wonder how many Hispanics are making MIA's or CS's for that matter?
Click to expand...

I think Fender sort of helped fuel this stereotype by making their inexpensive brand in Asia, their mid line brand in Mexico and their top of the line brand in USA for many years now. (No fault to them really, in financial cost to good product quality ratio, it's a win win for them.) Perhaps this is why so many people are now scratching their head when they play a Squier CV or a MIM road worn and are amazed by them. I happen to be one of them. :)
 

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