Rolled the dice and ordered the 60's Jazz Vintera in Firemist Gold for $539.15. That price was with an $80 gift card to sign up for Amazon Prime Store card which has zero interest for 6 months, like Paypal. Prime Store Card is handy since Amazon doesn't allow Paypal for transactions.
3 things threw me for a loop: The reverse tuners... which is no big deal. Never owned a bass with reverse tuners. The saddle screws.... they feature tiny flathead instead of hex. My first bass with flathead saddle screws. Why does Fender include hex wrenches with Vintera? Hexes are useless with this bass. The hidden truss rod that has to be accessed by loosening screws on neck. I don't understand why Fender doesn't use modern top neck truss rod access on their vintage reissues. Who cares if the truss rod access ain't like the originals? I found a YouTube video that explained how to access truss rod.
The action was extremely high (for my taste) out of the box and was higher than my Indonesian-made Sire, G&L Tributes, Sterling Stingray and Ibanez Talman's action out of the box. Saddles were set really high. Lowered the saddles and discovered the relief was too extreme and the neck needed flattened out. Performed the quarter turn on truss rod which required a phillips screwdriver. Was able to get low action without buzzing to my preference. Checked frets... they were all level. Finish was perfect.
So far, I'm totally happy with it. Sounds damn good through my Rumble amp. Kinda irritated that saddle screws were tiny flathead and truss rod required a philips. I don't understand the logic in that, but I'm sure Fender had their reasons to do this in the 1960's. For a bass, that normally costs $900+.... this was a good deal I couldn't pass up.
3 things threw me for a loop: The reverse tuners... which is no big deal. Never owned a bass with reverse tuners. The saddle screws.... they feature tiny flathead instead of hex. My first bass with flathead saddle screws. Why does Fender include hex wrenches with Vintera? Hexes are useless with this bass. The hidden truss rod that has to be accessed by loosening screws on neck. I don't understand why Fender doesn't use modern top neck truss rod access on their vintage reissues. Who cares if the truss rod access ain't like the originals? I found a YouTube video that explained how to access truss rod.
The action was extremely high (for my taste) out of the box and was higher than my Indonesian-made Sire, G&L Tributes, Sterling Stingray and Ibanez Talman's action out of the box. Saddles were set really high. Lowered the saddles and discovered the relief was too extreme and the neck needed flattened out. Performed the quarter turn on truss rod which required a phillips screwdriver. Was able to get low action without buzzing to my preference. Checked frets... they were all level. Finish was perfect.
So far, I'm totally happy with it. Sounds damn good through my Rumble amp. Kinda irritated that saddle screws were tiny flathead and truss rod required a philips. I don't understand the logic in that, but I'm sure Fender had their reasons to do this in the 1960's. For a bass, that normally costs $900+.... this was a good deal I couldn't pass up.
and with matching gold LaBella flats on the way 
