Issues with the Fender Ultra Jazz 5

[alwbass]

this was probably good for me anyway, I ended up with the bass I really needed after all. I'll probably get a Jazz Bass down the line, just not this one.

 

[vid1900]

I don't think that's an issue with the saw operator. It's probably more due to people coming back and complaining about the "precision cuts" that were made to "customer spec"... using the wrong spec...
I mean, if you're measuring for wood to fit that precisely, why don't you have your own saw?

You might be right.

But the saw with that sign is a Panel Saw (that's a saw used to cut sheet goods down to size).

I assume that most average people can't safely push a 90 pound sheet of 3/4" MDF through their tablesaw without binding the blade, so that's why HD has them in the stores.

I think the operator can't do fractions, because I've locked the saw on some number (making the cut slightly larger than I needed) and told the guy to rip it through.

Oddly enough, the saw's scale was dead on! So somebody is maintaining that machine.

 

[vid1900]

Hi Anthony,

Thanks for reaching out. We were made aware of the bridge issue not long after the first models went out and corrected the issue immediately. Those who did get basses with the incorrect bridge could have them swapped out under warranty.

thanks again for taking the time to write.

Regards,
Brett Arney






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That's a much more professional response that I ever get from a corporate entity, lol.

I'm glad Fender took care of it quickly (and that explains why I could not find an incorrect bridge when I went out searching for one).

Let's keep a look out if any are still on the shelves, or if you see an owner unknowingly with one.

 

[eastcoasteddie]

That's a much more professional response that I ever get from a corporate entity, lol.

...

I actually emailed Fender Customer Support on a whim, asking about specs of a certain set of pickups that were offered in a Signature bass, and surprisingly I got a response within 2-3 hours on a Saturday...!!!

 

[bucephylus]

I hope this isn't a repeat or a late reply.

Please read my email to Fender after purchasing this bass. By the way, I went with an Ernie Ball Music Man Sting Ray Special V HH.

Anthonyw1958


Jan 1, 12:14 MST


This by no means a bashing of Fender, just to let you know a consumers opinion of your products design and quality control.


I purchased the above mentioned bass guitar from Guitar Center recently. As stated in a previous message there is an inherent problem with the design, possibly the bridge is too wide for the neck or some other problem that causes the G string in particular to be too close to the edge of the neck and at least two strings do not line up properly with the pickups. After having the bass in my possession and playing it , doing my own research including, chatting with others who have played and observed the guitar, reading forums, observing you own pictures I've decided to go with another make.


I'm certain this message will not have any effect on your business model, but would hope it will at least bring to your attention what I and others believe are design flaws that should prompt changes to the instrument .


I and my son have several other Fender products that we use and they perform exceptionally well. I will continue to consider your products in the future.


Thank you,


Anthony Wilson​

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Brett Arney (Fender)

Jan 6, 15:47 MST

Hi Anthony,

Thanks for reaching out. We were made aware of the bridge issue not long after the first models went out and corrected the issue immediately. Those who did get basses with the incorrect bridge could have them swapped out under warranty.

thanks again for taking the time to write.

Regards,
Brett Arney

Consumer Relations Manager|Fender Musical Instruments
Corporation

17600 N. Perimeter Drive, Suite 100|Scottsdale, AZ 85255

Ph: 480-845-5745





View attachment 3658854

Thank you for posting that response. Good for Fender. I withdraw my related criticism stated in earlier posts.

 

[rigorous bass]

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.

Man how many mistakes can Fender make? These mistakes seem pretty amateur. You would think they would know that players would know the difference when the string is practically falling of the fingerboard compared to other brands. This is tragic!! The last thing you want to do is make markwting mistakes as well. Wow!!

 

[rigorous bass]

I judge every instrument on its own merit. I've owned several Fenders over the years and currently own three (as well as several other fine instruments). At least in my experiences, there have been many Fenders truly worthy over the years I've loved playing and owning. Most recently, the American Elite Jazz V. Excellent bass IMHO. I'm sure Fender will figure this issue out and fix it. No reason to turn this thread into a Fender or especially a generic american made hating campaign.

This isn't politics. It's opinion. We can hate American products if they don't t live up to their standard. Not just going to love it cause it's made in the U.S.A. This isn't a rally of some sort. It's a bass forum!

 

[Vic]

This isn't politics. It's opinion. We can hate American products if they don't t live up to their standard. Not just going to love it cause it's made in the U.S.A. This isn't a rally of some sort. It's a bass forum!

Agreed/already understood. I've been a member here for a LONG time. I was reacting to some more blanket generalizations being made, that's all. No worries.

 

[DJ Bebop]

This isn't politics. It's opinion. We can hate American products if they don't t live up to their standard. Not just going to love it cause it's made in the U.S.A. This isn't a rally of some sort. It's a bass forum!

For me, I like what I like because it's good and dislike stuff because it's bad. It has nothing to do with location.
Because I realize it's all built by humans that reside on this planet, and that human factor is always in da mix

 

[Doug Parent]

Welcome to my world. And, this is not a new problem for Fender.

A couple years ago I picked up a Fender Dimension V HH in a trade. Same problem, that Badass look-alike bridge was out of alignment, AND, the string height adjustment on the G string was on the deck (all the way down, no more further downward adjustment possible)

Since I build, modify and work on basses, I had a couple of Hipshot bridges in my inventory, and used a 18 mm Hipshot A style bridge and some wood veneer (used as a shim to raise the neck height)

Installed the bridge, installed the shim and everything was well within acceptable tolerance. Fast forward to a week ago, I picked up another Fender Dimension V-H on the super cheap (could not resist) and it had the EXACT SAME ISSUE. I repeated the same solution and the bass is well within tolerance now. (This is a 2013 bass)

The Hipshot A style 18mm has a three screw mounting pattern. The stock Fender BadAss knock-off bridge is a 4 screw mounting pattern, in different locations, so new holes needed to be drilled for this modification.

I would advise against any Fender bass that uses that Badass bridge knockoff. The base plate is thicker and the strings are higher off the body compared to either a Hipshot, or Fender high mass bridge (which I am a fan of) . The BadAss bridge knock off lacks any lateral adjustment as well, so you are stuck with whatever the factory does in the way of installation.

It's unfortunate that quite a few bass players are not more knowledgable or even aware of these design flaws, and buy these instruments anyway. How and why Fender released this version the "Ultra" with the same design flaws is a mystery. I contacted Fender quite some time ago about this issue. Perhaps these decisions are made in a board room, far from the R&D department.

Bridge replacement cost $100-$159 range. Labor charge would be $75.00-$125.00

 

[krimo]

Please forgive my ignorance but I'm a newbie bass player. How do you check for bridge alignment and what location or component on the bass is used as the alignment reference point?
Do you use a laser level to check? Thanks.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Please forgive my ignorance but I'm a newbie bass player. How do you check for bridge alignment and what location or component on the bass is used as the alignment reference point?
Do you use a laser level to check? Thanks.

Just look at the pole pieces on the bridge pickup and see if the strings are centered.

 

[Doug Parent]

Please forgive my ignorance but I'm a newbie bass player. How do you check for bridge alignment and what location or component on the bass is used as the alignment reference point?
Do you use a laser level to check? Thanks.

Look at the distance from the strings that are on the far outside (E and G = 4 string, B and G = 5 string) and note if the distance from the outside string to the edge of the fretboard is consistent and relatively even. The distance from the G string to the edge of the fretboard/neck should not be any shorter down by the 12th fret as it is at the nut (the other end of the neck where the string passes over through the slot on onto the headstock).

 

[krimo]

Look at the distance from the strings that are on the far outside (E and G = 4 string, B and G = 5 string) and note if the distance from the outside string to the edge of the fretboard is consistent and relatively even. The distance from the G string to the edge of the fretboard/neck should not be any shorter down by the 12th fret as it is at the nut (the other end of the neck where the string passes over through the slot on onto the headstock).

Awesome, thanks for the information, I'll check mine out.

 

[rictrose]

is the bridge from the elite basses able to be swapped onto an Ultra? Obviously not string through option - but will the bridge mounting holes line up?

 

[jjbb123]

Late to this thread but found it while researching the same thing! It's the first thing I look for on fender 5's now. Literally. I have a 2014 American deluxe, with the old slotted bridge pieces. Even at the innermost slot the G string is still on the very edge. I often pull it over the edge! I play light strings too so that doesn't help. I even started a thread about it before.
And these ultras look even worse! They were playing with fire before and then they made it even worse!
Has the issue actually been remedied or did they just "say" they fixed it?
My deluxe has the tiniest bit of room and I STILL pull it off the fretboard!
Hence the reason why it's the first thing I look for on any fender 5.

 

[jjbb123]

Late to this thread but found it while researching the same thing! It's the first thing I look for on fender 5's now. Literally. I have a 2014 American deluxe, with the old slotted bridge pieces. Even at the innermost slot the G string is still on the very edge. I often pull it over the edge! I play light strings too so that doesn't help. I even started a thread about it before.
And these ultras look even worse! They were playing with fire before and then they made it even worse!
Has the issue actually been remedied or did they just "say" they fixed it?
My deluxe has the tiniest bit of room and I STILL pull it off the fretboard!
Hence the reason why it's the first thing I look for on any fender 5.

adding to my previous post, it looks like fender STILL has the bad g string on their website for their pics! Not even close to aligned with the pole pieces. I would never buy that bass with that representation from their site. Why wouldn't they fix that?!

 

[hands5]

Thanks for reporting in on the bridge.

I was reading an article on Fender in misc forum and the writer said that Fender is making their new Iinstruments more ergonomic. The writer claimed the bodies are being carved differently to better fit the player. True?

The bodies are being carved differently because of the value engineering going on at Fender..I'm starting to think that the majority of these basses that are being constructed has less input from bass players and more input of shareholders thinking they know what a player wants..IMO

 

[hands5]

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.

I don't know if it's fair or not but as you said I adjust to it and for me it's not an issue at all

 

[MultiScaleMale]

The bodies are being carved differently because of the value engineering going on at Fender..I'm starting to think that the majority of these basses that are being constructed has less input from bass players and more input of shareholders thinking they know what a player wants..IMO

I'll bet they're selling every one that they make.