Wow I read all that as sour patch not soul patch.
Seeing as how I have more grump than soul, it's a forgivable error. But try not to be a nattering nabob of negativism.
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Have you seen a perfectly aligned Fender?
- Thread starter Chrisk-K
- Start date
Seeing as how I have more grump than soul, it's a forgivable error. But try not to be a nattering nabob of negativism.
I'm reading this thread and I have several reactions. The first is that these instruments are made of wood, a temperamental organic material that swells and shrinks with humidity. Therefore, even a supposedly "perfectly aligned" bass will be off in certain areas from time-to-time. As as much as I would love to have my particular instrument be relatively better aligned than the next one that cost the same, I really don't care to devote all that much thought to it.
If it plays well, sounds good, stays relatively in tune, and looks the way I like, it can display all the hallmarks of poor build quality it wants to as far as I'm concerned. It's not that I'm incurious about the relative quality of my particular instrument; rather, I'd prefer that these kind of niggling details not get in the way of playing and enjoying my instrument. I love my MIM Fender but I'm aware that its build quality probably doesn't match up to an MIA Fender. But at the time I bought it, I couldn't afford the MIA and also couldn't find one in the color/fingerboard combination I wanted.
A bass is a bit like a disfavored ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend that way. Spend enough time with it, and you will discover flaws that weren't apparent when you first met.
If it plays well, sounds good, stays relatively in tune, and looks the way I like, it can display all the hallmarks of poor build quality it wants to as far as I'm concerned. It's not that I'm incurious about the relative quality of my particular instrument; rather, I'd prefer that these kind of niggling details not get in the way of playing and enjoying my instrument. I love my MIM Fender but I'm aware that its build quality probably doesn't match up to an MIA Fender. But at the time I bought it, I couldn't afford the MIA and also couldn't find one in the color/fingerboard combination I wanted.
A bass is a bit like a disfavored ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend that way. Spend enough time with it, and you will discover flaws that weren't apparent when you first met.
So I got out my dial calipers and measured some of the points of reference that are mentioned in the OP.
DISCLAIMER: What follows is based on opinion although some of the written material is also based on acute scientific measurements and intelligent observation: you have to decide which is which.
From my ultra cheap Affinity P to my Deluxe Jazz - ALL THE DOTS ARE ON CENTER. They may not LOOK like they are - but they are within ±0.001" of perfect, and that's because measuring is imperfect with just calipers, as are my eyes.
Ultimately - it should be understood that weather or humidity will not cause the dots to move about on the fretboard. Don't mess with the dots - they are sacrosanct!
I bet that anybody who has something to complain about in the fit/finish of their basses, bought theirs over the internet and never touched it until it arrived in a cardboard box.
I sense anger 'issues' that run in deeper waters than optical illusions about dots appearing off center.
Anyone who buys an intimate thing like a bass guitar from an online source, gets what they deserve and should stop bellyaching about it in bad-mouthing the manufacturer. Of course, that's just my opinion.
To get satisfaction in life, it's prolly not a good idea to buy false teeth, find a marriage mate or trade horses over the internet either.
The VM-Jag was in a box when I bought it - but that was at my GC, and you better believe that I looked it over extremely well. I found no issues at all, and that was a relief to me as I had already posted the full price to insure that it would only be mine when it arrived. Ultimately I knew I could refuse this first one and wait for the next to arrive though.
However, I took a shot on sight-unseen and it worked out well for me as it can for everyone else who actually gets to KNOW a piece of gear in the Biblical sense first.
DISCLAIMER: What follows is based on opinion although some of the written material is also based on acute scientific measurements and intelligent observation: you have to decide which is which.
From my ultra cheap Affinity P to my Deluxe Jazz - ALL THE DOTS ARE ON CENTER. They may not LOOK like they are - but they are within ±0.001" of perfect, and that's because measuring is imperfect with just calipers, as are my eyes.
Ultimately - it should be understood that weather or humidity will not cause the dots to move about on the fretboard. Don't mess with the dots - they are sacrosanct!
I bet that anybody who has something to complain about in the fit/finish of their basses, bought theirs over the internet and never touched it until it arrived in a cardboard box.
I sense anger 'issues' that run in deeper waters than optical illusions about dots appearing off center.
Anyone who buys an intimate thing like a bass guitar from an online source, gets what they deserve and should stop bellyaching about it in bad-mouthing the manufacturer. Of course, that's just my opinion.
To get satisfaction in life, it's prolly not a good idea to buy false teeth, find a marriage mate or trade horses over the internet either.
The VM-Jag was in a box when I bought it - but that was at my GC, and you better believe that I looked it over extremely well. I found no issues at all, and that was a relief to me as I had already posted the full price to insure that it would only be mine when it arrived. Ultimately I knew I could refuse this first one and wait for the next to arrive though.
However, I took a shot on sight-unseen and it worked out well for me as it can for everyone else who actually gets to KNOW a piece of gear in the Biblical sense first.
I've had good luck buying on line from Sweetwater and The Perfect Bass. Both take details photos of the basses, weigh them, and inspect them for you before shipping. The last bass I bought from Sweetwater the sales guy even played the bass for me and took more pictures for me before I decided to purchase. (He's done that for me too with others I chose not to purchase because he discovered flaws.)
This was an old complaint for years - Then they started using "lace sensor" pickups and the problem went aways... I wonder what ever happened to those pickups...
Anyway, the last fender I had was a '97 suhr J deluxe that had perfect alignment - but I'm increasingly thinking that particular run of J basses were way nice - Those p'ups were very cool...
Anyway, the last fender I had was a '97 suhr J deluxe that had perfect alignment - but I'm increasingly thinking that particular run of J basses were way nice - Those p'ups were very cool...
In my experience the saddles and pickups can be adjusted for most misalignment, unless someone just dropped the bass and it's all jacked up.
I normally don't fine-tooth comb the bass, looking for defects; as long as playability/sound, etc. is NOT hampered in ANY way.
As for a soul patch, I don't think that ANY of my basses have one installed. Then again, I don't own a Sadowsky.
As for a soul patch, I don't think that ANY of my basses have one installed. Then again, I don't own a Sadowsky.
Again, I must be really lucky, because all four basses (MIA Jazz, Squier VM J + P, SX P) I've bought new in the last year and a half, have all been bought online sight unseen (no choice in the matter) and all have been excellent. And that's not including the MIM Strat, with which I am also quite pleased. No complaints here.
I can't say that I've ever noticed whether my dots were aligned dead center or not on any Fenders I have owned, as I really don't care. It's possible that I have been too busy - playing the crap out of them, enjoying the feel of a nice rolled edge fretboard, and feeling the thunder roll like nobody's business - to notice though.
My Geddy Lee Jazz Bass is spot on as far as pickup pole pieces aligned.
The blocks on the neck are centered and the white side markers are all straight and level too.
I guess I got a good one.
I played it just last night and the tone was like butter with a bit of knife.
The grind and punch of the F on the E string was awesome.
The blocks on the neck are centered and the white side markers are all straight and level too.
I guess I got a good one.
I played it just last night and the tone was like butter with a bit of knife.
The grind and punch of the F on the E string was awesome.
What really bugs me on 5 strings is when the A string do not line up with he dots. It stands out like a sore thumb or a crooked picture. I see this a lot even on high end US basses. If you start looking at the way a lot of nuts are cut you will be amazed also. Take a look at the nut on this American '75 Reissue.
This didn't bother me on Fenders until I had a 75 AVRI. Pickups were so far off the furthest pole piece was barely under the E string. Fretwork was awful too. Pretty much cured my GAS for most fenders.
