How Is Fender USA Quality Control Soooo Horrible?

[Fynn]

Well, we're at a point where I would say, a machine will do a better job, than any human.
I've been saying, why would you want to spend thousands of dollars when brands like Gibson just have guys employed that put the pieces of wood from one CNC machine into the next. What's the difference to the asian made ones then? Quality control could be a difference. And I doubt the Americans have some kind of magic incentive to have better quality control. The reason Asian built instruments used to be worse, is because the machinery was more prone to failure, and the cost was so low, that people didn't care enough to actually return a lot of the damaged goods. Now the machines are considerably better, the incentive to make great cheap guitars is way higher, and the only actual difference that I can see is in the quality of the hardware.
Might as well just buy an Asian made product, and if the hardware fails, swap it for better hardware. Will definitely still be a fraction of the price of the American and Mexico made Fender stuff

 

[g-dude]

If a company wants a Quality Management System and 99.5% absolutely do not, the following is non negotiable:
1. The Quality Manager must report to the highest single authority onsite. He cannot be overridden by a department manager, supervisor or tough guy employee.
2. The Site Manager must support the Quality Manager and the QMS and demonstrate auditable compliance and support to the Quality Standard being complied to.
3. QA staff must have absolute authority to stop the line and quarantine defective product.
4. Quarantined product has to be further inspected and a disposition assigned before release to begin rework in a secured area to avoid mixing with good production product.
5. The Corrective Action program must be managed without fear or favor to hold department managers accountable for the quality produced on their shift/watch.
6. Formal procedures need to be reviewed for adequacy to identify and eliminate recurrence of any defect found.
7. All departments and processes need to be audited, continually as the primary function of QA staff. Spot checks and approvals are the responsibility of the worker not QA, which should qualify the audit by determining competence and awareness of all employees performing production process. This includes work instructions/traveler information/ specifications/incoming raw materials/consumables/outsourced components right through final finishing and check approvals.
8. All processes need to be challenged via daily audit. All findings need to be posted and made public.
9. Management Review must be monthly as all Quality Standards require them, but don't stipulate a frequency. Monthly data can drive improvement. Daily issues of CAPA's (Corrective Action and Preventative Action requests) to each Department head for defects found in their areas.
10. MANAGEMENT MUST SUPPORT, LIVE, DRIVE AND SUPPORT THIS METHODOLOGY.

Quality is simply living 4 words: "DON'T DELIVER YOUR TRASH".

But that costs money...

 

[FunkHead]

Agree, ageism is an unacceptable poster defect at any price.

That’s just Marvin being Marvin.

 

[MARVIN MECKLER]

That’s just Marvin being Marvin.

I'm a senior as well.

After a brain tumor, a fusion, and two new discs, I think I qualify.

But I can still gladly carry 40lb bottled water from the car to the house from Costco without issue or complaint. Hell, my old Peavey Mark III head didn't weigh that much. That Costco water is like carrying ten Class D heads haha.

Seniors rule.

 

[g-dude]

Alright I went and grabbed my Jazz bass... please, give it to me straight, how bad is it? Is it unplayable like the first example? Should I get my feeler gauge and loupe?

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[MARVIN MECKLER]

As if I could care even less if you resolve your issues with that bass.

Invalid Link Removed

 

[Dust2Dust]

My Squier Affinity

 

[Parzival]

Alright I went and grabbed my Jazz bass... please, give it to me straight, how bad is it? Is it unplayable like the first example? Should I get my feeler gauge and loupe?

View attachment 5472577

Man, I wouldn’t even want to play it.

 

[MARVIN MECKLER]

Sorry to break this to you. That’s not a defect, it’s simply something you didn’t like.

As long as it meets fender’s specification (no overlap), then it’s not a defect.

Yes, it's a defect.

It DOES overlap.

That's the issue.

The issue is not so much the overhang of the control plate to one side, but the fact that the chrome control plate sits on TOP of part of the beveled pickguard.

It is quite clear from the pictures; one just has to pay attention to the detail. That's the core issue; attention to detail.

The amount to which people will bend over backwards to excuse simple shoddy workmanship is truly astounding.

 

[Aussie Player]

But that costs money...

It makes money by eliminating defective product from production costs.

Doing nothing, the popular method allows it to grow and degenerate the company image. Worst still, it tells emlloyees that producing defective product is ok.

Most managers are the real trash in a company. Bigger companies just subdivide the trash. Quality Systems prove this to be true. Quality Auditors never don't speak of it.

When Quality Standards are revised, Management reponsibility is usually the most overhauled area for that reason.

 

[poochiecheeks]

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OP I know what you mean. Bought a Am Pro 2 Precision 5 recently- $2000. G string saddle wouldn't go low enough, truss nut was less than perfect from the factory, electronics were noisy enough to warrant a full shielding, and had to replace the pickup and add the $20 string retainer to get any usability out of the B string. Sold it for far less than that and after spending an absolutely outrageous $200 to ship it I ended up losing over $1000 just owning it for 2 months. Like fender or not there are far better values out there if you want a 5 string passive bass. Not knocking anyone who has one, they are very pretty and sound exactly how you would want a P bass to (minus the B) I just can't personally justify buying a new instrument, and especially a US fender for that kind of money again.
Hope everything works out for you

 

[Rabidhamster]

I know people like to complain about the plastic to metal section of jazz basses but I’ve never ever seen one made by anyone that you could call perfect. But because of the bevel it doesn’t matter, the fit you have will look perfect from the stage when your eye averages out the lines from bevel plastic to no bevel metal

If it’s a good bass this issue is not an issue. If it’s not a good bass you don’t need to worry about this non issue anyway just send it back.

 

[Spectre Gunner]

I’ll keep buying Warmoth parts and assemble them myself !

I do that too and in fact I currently have a Warmoth build in the works. Once the bass is complete but fails QC, I know exactly who to blame.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

I do that too and in fact I currently have a Warmoth build in the works. Once the bass is complete but fails QC, I know exactly who to blame.

Just make sure to post a rant about it here on TB.

 

[MARVIN MECKLER]

OP I know what you mean. Bought a Am Pro 2 Precision 5 recently- $2000. G string saddle wouldn't go low enough, truss nut was less than perfect from the factory, electronics were noisy enough to warrant a full shielding, and had to replace the pickup and add the $20 string retainer to get any usability out of the B string. Sold it for far less than that and after spending an absolutely outrageous $200 to ship it I ended up losing over $1000 just owning it for 2 months. Like fender or not there are far better values out there if you want a 5 string passive bass. Not knocking anyone who has one, they are very pretty and sound exactly how you would want a P bass to (minus the B) I just can't personally justify buying a new instrument, and especially a US fender for that kind of money again.
Hope everything works out for you

I LOVE Fenders. And Squiers. And Ricks. And others.

I do NOT expect perfection, and I am realistic in what I expect. For example, neck pocket gap doesn't bother me. You have to know what to expect, and in turn what you will accept from the companies listed above.

For instance, I know Ricks are going to have finish issues. I accept that, to a point. But when the paint turns gummy or just literally flakes off at the bridge, I draw the line. "How it sounds" isn't the point. It's crap.

Regarding Fender, I accept non-perfectly-centered control plates, but NOT to the point that it is mounted in part on TOP of a mis-cut pickguard bevel (most people seemed to have missed that from the pics). It isn't so much that it doesn't line up on the sides, it's freakin' mounted on top of part of the pickguard.

After owning over 160 basses, that blue Jazz has the worst fitting control plate I personally have ever seen on ANY bass in almost half a century. That was the point of the thread.

I don't know how it has gotten so bad.

For $2100.

 

[USAJO]

In spite of my disagreement with some of the posts I do agree that the pictures in original post show a bass that should not have been sent out unless it was advertised as a “second or blemished” bass and discounted.

The misalignment is excessive.

 

[bobalu]

Someone mentioned Ernie Ball as a better alternative for the money. Well, maybe. But...

I bought 3 (THREE) EB BFR basses and returned all of them because of bigger issues than a pickguard 2mm too narrow.

Spare me all of the "Get a ____ bass. You won't have this problem". That is rather shortsighted.

Get a Stingray bass. You won't have this problem.

 

[iammr2]

Yes, it's a defect.

It DOES overlap.

That's the issue.

The issue is not so much the overhang of the control plate to one side, but the fact that the chrome control plate sits on TOP of part of the beveled pickguard.

It is quite clear from the pictures; one just has to pay attention to the detail. That's the core issue; attention to detail.

The amount to which people will bend over backwards to excuse simple shoddy workmanship is truly astounding.

So, why did you buy it in the first place? Did you buy it sight-unseen?

Just send it back.

 

[MARVIN MECKLER]

Get a Stingray bass. You won't have this problem.

I have some. They have their own issues, but not to this glaring of an extent. Now Sterling, on the other hand...

 

[u84six]

It’s definitely not just Fender. All the fairly big names can have surprising quality issues. I bought a brand new Lakland and the bridge and string-through holes didn’t line up, and there was really no way to fix it because the holes were drilled in the wrong spot. It’s crazy how things get through QC like that. I’ve had similar issues with other brands like EB, Ibanez, and Rickenbacker. You were just lucky all those years haha