Fender Select P. Can someone tell me what is going on here?

string retainer.

 

An A-string retainer.
Not just any A-string retainer, but a Stealth A-string retainer!

 

Supposedly, it stops the notorious rattle with the A string.
(Not sure how big that problem is, but...)

 

It's there to do what a 2x2 head-stock does naturally.

 

I think the american deluxe Fenders had them

 

This part is standard on American Deluxe or Elites. I put one on my American Standard... they are only marginally effective at improving the A string angle over the nut.

 

Tapered posts are a better solution. Music Man, G&L and some Hipshot tuners have this feature... it ensures that the string wraps tightly to the headstock.

The vibrating A string issue is sometimes more indicative of a poorly cut nut or using a string gauge that is lighter than what the nut was cut for in the first place.

 

Is it better buying something from Japan for bassists in Australia, or do you really get hit with import fees?

 

Do you remember the 2011 60th Anniversary P-Basses? They were a hybrid of the early P's and nicer features of later P's (such as contoured body). They originally came mainly in Blackguard Blonde with a big black pickguard. But there were about 125 made in Sunburst as a special run for Guitar Center.

Anyway, they were the first ones I was aware of that came with that particular A-string retainer. It's a great feature, and I don't know why they don't come standard on all U.S. made Fender basses. I had a Blonde one, but sold it. Later picked up one of the Sunbursts, and had a vintage tint put on the neck. You can buy the retainer, but it's about $25.00.

 

I recently passed on buying a bass from Japan because of a rosewood fretboard.
Meanwhile, Fender recently came out with a P and a J with rosewood necks!

 

My understanding is that the stealth string retainer only works when secured down with machine heads that have a screw-down bushing... string tension would just force the 'vintage' push-in-type bushings to push up, no?

I actually bought one of these AND the proper new-style machines with the screw-in bushings, but the set of them have been sitting here for months as I now have no neck to install it into (oops...)

 

I have one on my American vintage hot rod Precision bass, came stock with it, the bass is about 4 years old, nice to have although I've never needed it on any Fender I've ever owned before.

 

Correct, I bought one and put it on a Geddy Lee J, but I did some modifying and it still wasn’t great nor designed to go there.

 

Another over-engineered / not gonna work anyway solution FMIC came up with to address the uneven downforce at the nut from the parallel peghead. Why they just don't install trapeze retainers like Sadowsky (and even some Squiers !) is just beyond me. For the life of me, it just isn't necessary to be this obtuse or ate up with the Not Invented Here-itis.