Issues with the Fender Ultra Jazz 5

[moley6knipe]

I’ve just picked up a USA Deluxe V Dimension, and it looks like the same bridge as the Ultra to me. Poor quality pic attached (and btw - Dimension Bass? ). Seems fine on the Dim
to me but of course that’s comparing apples and oranges. But for sure it’s not good if Fender aren’t choosing the best bridge for the bass that’s being made.

 

[moley6knipe]

Sigh. Here’s the pic

 

[Dr. Cheese]

View attachment 3632068 Sigh. Here’s the pic

I have no issues with my Dimension Squier either. It sure looks like Fender just slapped this bridge on the Deluxe and called it an Ultra with mods, and that is trifling.

 

[FunkHead]

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.

I probably shouldn't have said that. I did have a new nut cut for my Ray 5 which brought the strings closer together. That totally fixed the issue with the g string. It's one I regret selling. Stingray 5's are a top 5 for a commercially produced bass IMO. GAS is strong for me with Stingray 5's.

 

[DJ Bebop]

I have no issues with my Dimension Squier either. It sure looks like Fender just slapped this bridge on the Deluxe and called it an Ultra with mods, and that is trifling.

 

[phillipkregg]

I probably shouldn't have said that. I did have a new nut cut for my Ray 5 which brought the strings closer together. That totally fixed the issue with the g string. It's one I regret selling. Stingray 5's are a top 5 for a commercially produced bass IMO. GAS is strong for me with Stingray 5's.

That was the only issue I’ve ever had with Music Man basses. Everything else about them I loved.

If they either widened the necks, cut the nut differently, or trimmed the frets so that there wasn’t an immediate drop-off next to the string, I would own another one.

 

[joebar]

A bridge needs to be adjustable in three dimensions. I prefer a bent plate fender bridge to all of what’s come since.
There’s flaws in those dimension/ultra bridges. Not a fan of the high mass elite/standard ones either but they look cool.

 

[WorktheWood]

Here's a screen shot of an Ultra 5 currently available on Sweeteater. This one appears to be even worse than the one I played.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Here's a screen shot of an Ultra 5 currently available on Sweeteater. This one appears to be even worse than the one I played.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

I am very pleased with my Elite 5.
The new Ultra to me seems like a downgrade in quality .

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Here's a screen shot of an Ultra 5 currently available on Sweeteater. This one appears to be even worse than the one I played.

That G string position is a joke!

 

[DJ Bebop]

That G string position is a joke!

Again, I don 't understand how someone at the last stage of setup and QC would put that in a case and ship it out.
And folks would talk about SX basses. I've never got one that bad and never had to pay Ultra Jazz prices to take a chance to find out. Grrr!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Again, I don 't understand how someone at the last stage of setup and QC would put that in a case and ship it out.
And folks would talk about SX basses. I've never got one that bad and never had to pay Ultra Jazz prices to take a chance to find out. Grrr!

The SX Basses I have had had much better string alignment than that Ultra in the picture.

 

[DJ Bebop]

The SX Basses I have had had much better string alignment than that Ultra in the picture.

Yup, I mean human please, can't you see that's not right.

 

[jim nolte]

Here's a screen shot of an Ultra 5 currently available on Sweeteater. This one appears to be even worse than the one I played.

Yikes,the G string is basically right over the binding,not good.

 

[birminghambass]

I almost started a thread about this bass on eBay (but then I found this one). Disappointing that this is the norm instead of an aberration.

 

[Double E]

I almost started a thread about this bass on eBay (but then I found this one). Disappointing that this is the norm instead of an aberration.
View attachment 3633302

At least that Elite has a better chance of being adjusted. Looks like it can stand to have the neck loosened and aligned and perhaps move the string over in the saddle... The Ultras just have overly wide string spacing for the neck which is not easily remedied without replacing the bridge.

 

[dasaten]

Looks like you guys are slowly figuring out that Fender couldn't give a shart about actual working bass players. They want to sell you expensive American made crap, the more cosmetic bells and whistles the better, cause that's what they specialize in and what you're paying for.

My Japanese P played immensely better than any modern American or Mexican production model I've tried. As other manufacturers are upping their quality and lowering their prices over the past years, Fender is trying to get away with selling you the crappiest product they can for the highest price possible.
They know there's an endless line of fools willing to pay the prices, so why up the quality?

 

[DWBass]

And this is why I will never buy a Fender bass.

 

[dasaten]

Reminds me of the Frank Zappa lyric from Flakes

"All what we got here's American made. It's a little bit cheap, but it's nicely displayed."