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How Is Fender USA Quality Control Soooo Horrible?

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#23
I'm no Fender Fanboi, also not a full-time Fender hater...

But what I've seen come out in the past few years has DEFINITELY kept me from wanting to buy a Fender made in this time period. MIA, MIM... both have suffered quite a bit.

Also, with all of these "quality checks" promised on all of the levels, it has kept me from purchasing from some retailers as well. I'm 100% calling BS on that jive.
 
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#24
IPA said:
not sure what we're looking at here. looks ok to me.
Click to expand...

IPA said:
guess so?
Click to expand...

20211117_144244-1-jpg.672834
 
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#25
MARVIN MECKLER said:
Over the last 40+ years I've owned dozens upon dozens of USA, Mexican, Chinese, Korean, and Indonesian Fenders and Squiers. Some amazing, some perfect, some ok, some kinda bad. Some of the Chinese Squiers, alarmingly, have been absolutely perfect. Every now and then, a USA Fender is as well.

However.

I have never seen such non-existent quality control and pisspoor attention to detail in 40+ years as this latest purchase, a new $1900 (before tax) American Professional II Jazz Bass in Miami Blue that no less than FIVE people signed off on.
Click to expand...

I agree, Fender really should consider updating their pickguard template. But don't feel too bad, here is a Spitfire Guard that might be worse - missed on both sides.

IMG_5639.jpeg
 
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#26
I've been looking to get an AM Pro II Jazz 5 and visited the few stores in my area that have them in stock. I've seen three, all were bad! First off, the rosewood they use is an orangey ugly type. On the 4 strings they still do have nice and dark rosewood but the 5s so far were garbage. ALL OF THEM have been set up super high and when I lowered the strings they all had really horrible high frets. At one store, when I pointed this out to the sales guy he said, and I quote: "Does it come through the amp? Some people like to let the amp do the work" I didn't want to get into it by telling him that I've been playing professionally longer than he's been alive and I will not be coming back to the store.........both true!
One of the 3 basses had the bridge installed at least one millimeter off. How do I know? These saddles have 3 notches and the string is meant to go into the middle one. On this bass all the strings were off to the bass side and looking at the neck they were still off.
As a result, I have stopped looking for a Fender Am Pro II. At this price this is completely unacceptable. I hope their business gets hurt, not because I'm revengeful of out of malice but that's the only way I can see them make some serious and badly needed changes with their quality control. Bloody shame, because I just love the neck profile of these basses. They really nailed that!
 
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#28
dmk said:
I agree, Fender really should consider updating their pickguard template. But don't feel too bad, here is a Spitfire Guard that might be worse - missed on both sides.
Click to expand...

img_5639-jpeg.5472230


Yeah, but it least it doesn't have that weird wrong bevel between the guard and the chrome plate. And, it's symmetrical!

On the other hand, I had a green tort Spitfire guard made that has one of the worst lumpy/bumpy bevels I've ever seen. $350 down the drain.
 
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#34
juniorh said:
The pickguard might be cut in house via CNC, but I doubt the chromed steel control plate was. Both parts very likely came from different overseas factories. And if Fender doesn’t care about QC on those parts, the factories sure won’t!
Click to expand...

It is normal for Fender Jazz Bass control plates to be wider than the part of the pickguard they align with, check their product images on their website.

The issue here seems to be the placement of the control plate, it should have the same margin on both sides, not be aligned with one edge of the pickguard.
 
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#35
MARVIN MECKLER said:
Over the last 40+ years I've owned dozens upon dozens of USA, Mexican, Chinese, Korean, and Indonesian Fenders and Squiers. Some amazing, some perfect, some ok, some kinda bad. Some of the Chinese Squiers, alarmingly, have been absolutely perfect. Every now and then, a USA Fender is as well.

However.

I have never seen such non-existent quality control and pisspoor attention to detail in 40+ years as this latest purchase, a new $1900 (before tax) American Professional II Jazz Bass in Miami Blue that no less than FIVE people signed off on.

View attachment 5472182

View attachment 5472173

View attachment 5472170

$2097.60 with tax.

$2100!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

how does it play? TIA
 
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#36
antfarm said:
It is normal for Fender Jazz Bass control plates to be wider than the part of the pickguard they align with.
E
The issue here seems to be the placement of the control plate, it should have the same margin on both sides, not be aligned with one edge of the pickguard.
Click to expand...

Nor should there be that strange uneven bevel that is partly covered up haphazardly by the control plate.
 
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