• 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 Road Worn Series Basses

#64
mid to late 70's Fenders were so bad (heavy, 5-8 piece bodies, lose neck joints, weird mixes of poly and nitro, sometimes even plastic tuning pegs!) that they actually created the demand for 60's Fenders and eventually the whole vintage trend... so buyer be ware!
 
#65
bigntasty said:
I can appreciate your point of view. I don't think I was very clear in my comments and certainly didn't try to make this a "he doesn't deserve that bass" thing - it's not a matter of pride or snobbiness with me. The OP asked so I responded - probably without taking the time to put my thoughts down accurately. For that, I apologize.
Click to expand...
No apology necessary, its nice to hear other peoples opinions and logic. I just wanted some insight and elaboration on the "mojo mentality" :) Personally I would love a vintage P or J with some natural relic but don't think I will ever pay what the market is asking for one. I wouldn't want it just for the aesthetic qualities, but more importantly for that played in feel and vintage tone everyone raves about. If a RW bass can give a similar feel in my hands and a nice tone to boot, I can overlook a not so convincing relic job in favor of a nice playing bass.

I just bought a nice japanese fernandes P-bass that is from the early 90's (approx. 15 years old) and it does have some dings and light scratches, but still relatively glossy and in good condition for its age. Maybe in another 15 years It will look road worn. :p

I'm not particularly into relics nor am interested in buying a RW, just giving my 2 cents for the sake of discussion. I would like to try one out though after hearing the positive feedback from people who have actually played these instruments.
 
#66
My '73 and '74 are both great basses and well under 10lbs.

I think you are making some broad generalizations but IN GENERAL, '70's Fenders should be played before spending your $$$ sight unseen.

droskobass said:
mid to late 70's Fenders were so bad (heavy, 5-8 piece bodies, lose neck joints, weird mixes of poly and nitro, sometimes even plastic tuning pegs!) that they actually created the demand for 60's Fenders and eventually the whole vintage trend... so buyer be ware!
Click to expand...
 
#67
steveinohio said:
I think the RW are great. I finally got to play one a couple days ago and thought it was super nice. Just as good as any US Fender. This seems to be the case with the entire RW series. If there was a place around me selling one for $875 I would be all over it.
Click to expand...

Do you live near Mansfield Ohio or want to travel there to get one? If so PM me for details.
 
#68
Brad Johnson said:
Well said. There's no dues paying required to buy a used bass from someone else, what's the difference?
Click to expand...

Surly said:
There is no difference. People on the forum just like to argue. :)
Click to expand...

bass-flyer said:
I'm still on the fence with the RW concept, however, at least with a 45 year old bass, it has some history behind each scuff.

The "newer" owner didn't pay any dues, but as I joked earlier, the bass sure has.

:)
Click to expand...

Dare I point out that basses don't know whether they have paid dues or not?

Now really, folks. This thread demonstrates how holy some of us hold these true relics. Understandable. Think about that word, "relic." Do you know what a reliquary is?

For those about to look it up, a reliquary is a case for a relic. In this instance, a "relic" is a bone or other physical object genuinely associated with a Saint or other important religious figure. It is venerated. The word relic refers to holy material that is often worshipped. Relics have been part of Western culture since pre-Christian times. I won't debate the veracity of claims made for and about them.

So knowing that, I wonder: Why are people so afraid someone would pose as an experienced bass player with an ancient Fender (relic) bass that is not really old? Ah ha, because such a "poser" is borrowing the holy authority of a relic with out permission. Forbidden faux mojo! How does one get permission? Pay Dues.

Who counts/collects the dues? Sorry, but IMHO, playing and playing only determines dues, not dings, worn nitro, or wear on necks. You HEAR the dues that were paid, you don't SEE them. Anyone can buy a "true relic," if they have the wealth to do so. No one can buy "paid dues."

Let's not be fools or fooled. Play the bass you love, reliced or new or neither. If you act as if the person who loves something slightly different from you is a liar or a fool, I think it harms you. It's just a bass, often in the hands of a kid who wants to learn.

Most or many of us would love to own relics. I myself not only AM a relic (LOL), I also have a couple. I have played one of them since 1973. So it may surprise you that I had it restored to almost new condition. Why? Because it had been mistreated by previous owners, and somewhat beat to crap by yours truely.

My point is that old or young, noob or grumpy geezer, we need to respect each others tastes, even when we think that there is something sacred being tampered with. What is sacred is the music.

It is the nature of time to render constant change and eventual destruction to all material things. Rejoice that we have our basses, that we enjoy them, and hold sacred the music which they can make in our hands, not the paint job. :cool:
 
#69
After playing about 8 of the road worn basses my personal opinion is they aren't that great. I think the guys at Guitar center summed it up pretty well when they said why would anybody pay $1250 for a raod worn w/gigbag when for an extra $150 you can get the USA w/hardshell case.
Anyone remember the new USA Standards with the improved High Mass bridge and thin skin finish. The best Basses Fender has made in 30 years?

As for the Nitro vs Poly thing I like the look and feel of a Nitro finish but there are about 100 other things effecting the tone of a bass and how everything works together to get that tone. Even though I spry Nitro all day long I don't believe it effects tone enough for me to strip all my poly basses and refinish them in Nitro thinking they'll all sound so much better. I own a few Nitro finished basses that can't touch most of my poly finished basses.

I really like the 70s classic Jazz bass and bought 2 of them. Sold one to another bass player friend of mine who loves it too. But now with the price increase on those basses I don't think I would pay $899 for one. I really don't think there is anything wrong with the MIM basses be they relic or classic outside of the price point that Fender has gone to. The price hike just makes me not want a New bass and keeps me looking in the used bass classifieds.
 
#74
bluewine said:
Is it like un-cool to like Road Worn Basses?

I love the look and I am never going to be able to aford anything real that would have that look.
Click to expand...


I think Fender has done a great job with these. Why bother spending another $1500-2000.00 for a US Custom Shop Relic when all you need to do is stick a set of Custom Shop Pups, or any other top grade pick up and you are set. I've seen about 10 of these so far and played about 7 of them and they all felt and sounded great. If you dig them, go grab one!!;)
 
#75
What turned me off with the RW Basses is that the wear is only cosmetic. If you rub your hand over the chips and the dents it has a regular finish like an ordinary bass. They actually applied finish over the scratches and dents.

Also, the jazz RW Basses of the same color were identical, scratch for scratch. :(

That was a big turn off.
 
#76
de la mocha said:
What turned me off with the RW Basses is that the wear is only cosmetic. If you rub your hand over the chips and the dents it has a regular finish like an ordinary bass. They actually applied finish over the scratches and dents.

Also, the jazz RW Basses of the same color were identical, scratch for scratch. :(

That was a big turn off.
Click to expand...


Ok, but I found a lot of the bare wood was grey, like real worn wood. I wonder about this finish over the scratches and dents. I didn't notice it on the neck and the upper-body arm-worn contour.

BTW, besides providing some protection, aren't essentially ALL finishes cosmetic? How is cosmetic bad in this case? Just wondering.
 
#77
de la mocha said:
What turned me off with the RW Basses is that the wear is only cosmetic. If you rub your hand over the chips and the dents it has a regular finish like an ordinary bass. They actually applied finish over the scratches and dents.

Also, the jazz RW Basses of the same color were identical, scratch for scratch. :(

That was a big turn off.
Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly.

I played the red jazz bass and it played really nice. So I gave them the thumbs up. But I would prefer to wear down my bass myself though.
 
#78
I have played a couple of RW basses and found them both to be very nice insturments. The set up on the J bass I played was horrible but everything else was very nice. As far as the finish goes it is like sparkle finishes. Some people like it some don't. As far as some posters claiming that RW are "posers basses" I have to say BS to that. What, we are all required to buy brand new basses and be responsible for each and every ding? You are not allowed to play a used bass because you didn't put the wear into the bass? What about a player who has played for 35 years who owns a RW. Does that 35 years of playing experience make him a poser? Does a quilt or flame top make the player a poser because he/she likes that fancy finish? It is a bass and you should play whatever finish you like be it brand new or beat up.
 
#79
IbanezATK said:
I loved the look, feel, and sound of the Roadworn I played.
Click to expand...

Yesterday I went to my local music shop to play the Road Worn Pbass again for the umpteenth time and I really do like the feel and sound of it. But I can't get over that it has a $1200 price tag and looks faux-beat-up. I dig the vintage style reverse tuners, the bolt section string saddles and the small frets, but not enough to pay anywhere near the asking price for the bass.

As for the bass feeling like a well worn pair of loafers I can understand the sentiment, but I'd much prefer to slip on a pair of loafers that I've worn instead of someone else's. ;)
 
#80
Jim Carr said:
Ok, but I found a lot of the bare wood was grey, like real worn wood. I wonder about this finish over the scratches and dents. I didn't notice it on the neck and the upper-body arm-worn contour.

BTW, besides providing some protection, aren't essentially ALL finishes cosmetic? How is cosmetic bad in this case? Just wondering.
Click to expand...

Sorry my reply took so long. Basically you know how a regular jazz bass body feels, right. Well, whatever they do to the jazz bass to get it to feel like that, they applied it right over the dents and scratches so instead of the dents and scratches feeling like raw wood like you would have worn out a regular bass, they just glossed over the scratches and dents to make it feel smooth. I hope that makes sense, I'm about to go to bed, good night...:hmm:
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back