Issues with the Fender Ultra Jazz 5

[DJ Bebop]

When you see stuff like that. It makes me wonder, are there any bass players working at Fender?

The first time I'd see something like that come down the line, I'd be pullin' the big lever and be bringing the production line to a standstill until that stuff was figured out.
But that's just me

 

[Joybass]

Imagine this: my 2015 Squier Dimension 5-string has the same 3" bridge and the same problem of the G string sitting too close to the edge, though I guess a little less close than the Fender Ultras. Plus I had to file the slot in the G string saddle because I couldn't get the G string low enough. But all this is about a €400 Squier, not a €2250 Fender....

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Imagine this: my 2015 Squier Dimension 5-string has the same 3" bridge and the same problem of the G string sitting too close to the edge, though I guess a little less close than the Fender Ultras. Plus I had to file the slot in the G string saddle because I couldn't get the G string low enough. But all this is about a €400 Squier, not a €2250 Fender....

View attachment 3631542

I have that bass, and hadn’t noticed it. Thanks for the post!

 

[Joybass]

I have that bass

I thought you sold it long time ago?

 

[SwitchGear]

One I've owned 5 Fender American Jazz V's (1 deluxe & 4 Standard/Series) and an Fender American P5 in the past 18 years. They have all left me wanting.

For the Fender Ultra money I bought an Sadowsky Metro Express 5 and am happy as can be. I can see Roger Sadowsky has not overlooked a thing. Nothing gets past his eye. Everything is perfect. No distractions. No issues. 8.4 lbs. He sets up each instrument and does the final inspection before the instrument ships. Truly a joy to play. My band mates dig this bass.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I thought you sold it long time ago?

Bought it back last month.

 

[rashrader]

Run away from that 5 String and don't look back.

 

[phillipkregg]

I owned a 5 string Ultra for a few days.

Loved the finish, hated the bridge. Ultimately, I ended up returning it because I like my Elite 5 more. To me, the Elite series are the best 5s Fender has ever made.

 

[phillipkregg]

I wonder if they're installing the wrong bridges at the factory?

Well, interestingly enough, they did install the wrong neck on mine.

I had the “Mocha Burst” finish with a maple fingerboard:

After I returned it, Some folks started asking questions about why it had a maple fingerboard.

Fender’s website only shows rosewood as the neck option for that finish:

The store got into contact with Fender and it turns out that it was a mistake. This was the only Mocha Burst that had a maple neck/fingerboard.

 

[WorktheWood]

Interestingly, in the photo of the one with the rosewood board it looks like they have the correct narrower bridge on it. I'm a Fender fan but this is ridiculous.

 

[selowitch]

After I returned it, Some folks started asking questions about why it had a maple fingerboard.
Fender’s website only shows rosewood as the neck option for that finish:
The store got into contact with Fender and it turns out that it was a mistake. This was the only Mocha Burst that had a maple neck/fingerboard.

Collector's item?

 

[phillipkregg]

Collector's item?

From a novelty standpoint, maybe. But I don't think there's gonna be any appreciation in value.

Fender's no longer in their heyday and there are way more bass manufacturers with better quality standards. IMHO the stuff that has a chance of appreciating in value these days are small builders who are putting out great quality stuff, like Sadowsky, Serek, Michael Tobias, FBass, etc.

There will be a day where you can't really get those basses anymore and the limited quantity might drive the price up. Just like the fact that Leo isn't making '60s Precisions anymore.

That's why I think that in 20 years a Pudulla might be worth a good bit more since Michael Pedulla retired earlier this year.

 

[wyleeboxer]

Well, interestingly enough, they did install the wrong neck on mine.

I had the “Mocha Burst” finish with a maple fingerboard:

View attachment 3631698

After I returned it, Some folks started asking questions about why it had a maple fingerboard.

Fender’s website only shows rosewood as the neck option for that finish:

The store got into contact with Fender and it turns out that it was a mistake. This was the only Mocha Burst that had a maple neck/fingerboard.

That’s one of nicest screwups I’ve ever seen

 

[vid1900]

Well, interestingly enough, they did install the wrong neck on mine.

I had the “Mocha Burst” finish with a maple fingerboard:

That looks amazing.

I would have kept it for sure.

When you typed the serial number into the fender site, did it come up with Maple?

 

[Leonid Nidis]

At some point I was gassing for the deluxe fender the one with the passive mod but couldnt afford it at the time.
When the elites were out I went for the elites used bought unseen,the j was a dog 13lbs of dead spots.
The p was great but too polite,too elegant no metter how I played it.
I should try the deluxe again.

Anyway checked the only fender dealer in the country and they are selling the elites for 1500$ now,ultras gonna be in soon for 3000$

 

[phillipkregg]

That’s one of nicest screwups I’ve ever seen

Oh yeah it was definitely beautiful! They should offer that finish with the maple fingerboard standard.

 

[phillipkregg]

That looks amazing.

I would have kept it for sure.

When you typed the serial number into the fender site, did it come up with Maple?

It was a beautiful instrument, but I just liked my Elite that I already had better.

I don’t have the serial number, and didn’t know about any of this until after I had returned it.

 

[FunkHead]

To be fair, it only takes a few seconds to get used to the G string being close to the edge Ala Stingray 5's. Once you "adjust" for it it becomes a non-issue.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Well, interestingly enough, they did install the wrong neck on mine.

I had the “Mocha Burst” finish with a maple fingerboard:

View attachment 3631698

After I returned it, Some folks started asking questions about why it had a maple fingerboard.

Fender’s website only shows rosewood as the neck option for that finish:

View attachment 3631701

The store got into contact with Fender and it turns out that it was a mistake. This was the only Mocha Burst that had a maple neck/fingerboard.

I like the look of that maple fingerboard, but that G string is barely on the fingerboard in both the maple and rosewood versions.

 

[phillipkregg]

To be fair, it only takes a few seconds to get used to the G string being close to the edge Ala Stingray 5's. Once you "adjust" for it it becomes a non-issue.

Eh, maybe for some folks, but that’s exactly why I don’t play MusicMan 5s anymore.

Some manufacturers, like Sadowsky, actually test for g-string fingerboard slippage in their QA process. To me it just feels more like a design fault than a feature. Playing live, sometimes that extra bit of adrenaline that you’re not used to when practicing at home will cause you to fret just a tiny bit too hard and, whoops! There goes the string.