Hardly.
Expecting a properly routed neck pocket in times of CNC and a competently installed pickguard is not unreasonable at any price.
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MIM Precision Bass - diasappointed!
- Thread starter Eternal Day
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- mim precision bass
Hardly.
Expecting a properly routed neck pocket in times of CNC and a competently installed pickguard is not unreasonable at any price.
99% of Fender owners (which comprehends me too) say Fenders, expecially MIMs and Squiers, are hit or miss and must be tried.
You said you have few shops around, but if you took a chance to go out and try 2-3 P basses in person you would have probably found something way better than that clearly unlucky example.
As for your points, the neck pocket routing and knobs alignment rants are just silly, sorry. You're not supposed to see the neck pocket and the screws on the knobs are just not pointers.
Other things make that bass just returnable for another one.
I'm sorry but you just took a blind chance on maybe the most variable model possibile. I happily (and luckly) got 3 MIMs without a test and didn't go half as badly as you. Knowing in your area most people flip instruments I wouldn't be that surprised.
You said you have few shops around, but if you took a chance to go out and try 2-3 P basses in person you would have probably found something way better than that clearly unlucky example.
As for your points, the neck pocket routing and knobs alignment rants are just silly, sorry. You're not supposed to see the neck pocket and the screws on the knobs are just not pointers.
Other things make that bass just returnable for another one.
I'm sorry but you just took a blind chance on maybe the most variable model possibile. I happily (and luckly) got 3 MIMs without a test and didn't go half as badly as you. Knowing in your area most people flip instruments I wouldn't be that surprised.
MIM P basses cost between 680 and 800 euros over here at the moment. Thats 780 to 930 $$. The difference with US prices are caused by additional transportation cost, import duties, taxes (21% vat in the Netherlands) and what not.
I bet Confession must be a real snooze fest for the priest
It doesn't seem like a super lemon to me. A broken Allen key is nothing, and the trapped cable is a two minute fix. The lack of rolled fretboard is common, and it needs a set up, which is not unusual. The bridge looks normal to me. Tuners are in the range of normal.
I ordered an MIM Cowpoke 20 years ago, and the fret ends were coated in wood filler and it had the deadest dead spot I've ever encountered. The OP's bass is a thing of beauty in comparison. The second Cowpoke was better, and I wish I'd kept it. In today's money that was probably €1000
I bought a Harley Benton jazz for bar jams and the pickups aren't the best sounding ever, but the only functional issue was a cross-threaded hex screw on the bridge. Luckily it was the right height anyway, so I haven't needed to swap it.
Luck of the draw.
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Whilst I liked the post, it depends on what the design parameters are. It's probably perfectly routed according to how the CNC was set up. As to why it was set up that was, who knows.
My 0.2$
In a situation like this I will consider three things....
Is the weight to my liking.
Does it sound/feel good
Is the finish generally ok.
If all those things tick the box then everything else can be fixed, tweaked, adjusted IMHO.
Don't throw a good bass just cause its got a few QC issues.
In a situation like this I will consider three things....
Is the weight to my liking.
Does it sound/feel good
Is the finish generally ok.
If all those things tick the box then everything else can be fixed, tweaked, adjusted IMHO.
Don't throw a good bass just cause its got a few QC issues.
You guys in the USA don't know how lucky you are on gear prices. Over here we pay in Euros or GBP what you pay in dollars plus at least an additional 25% in import duties and taxes.
I am looking to buy a G&L Kiloton, I have seen them for about $1200 in the USA. In Europe they are 1500 GBP or 1600 Euros, if you can find one! (The only one I can find is at Thomman.)
I'm not getting into the debate on returning gear other than to say that is how Thomman operate. I knew a guy who wanted a preamp, he ordered 2, tried them and returned the one he didn't want.
Speak for yourself, I certainly don't and I don't approve this mentality and this way of doing business.
+1000 The USA are the land of milk and honey when it comes to gear prices.
Well,maybe Germany should stop this.
It's likely that the shops are tired of that nonsense and sent you a "stinker"to send a message.
Music Store Guy #1: We have an order from that guy that always returns the bass.
Music Store Guy #2: Send him that MIM over there. We could use a good setup on that one.
Music Store Guy #2: Send him that MIM over there. We could use a good setup on that one.
.. just a couple comments on what you shared, nothing that will make you feel better though ...
For starters, I have never been a fan of Pau Ferro fretboards, just don't care for them ...
...with regards to the rounded corners in the neck pocket, I have seen that on American Fenders, and probably 8-10 years ago I had a Hwy ONE FSR that came that way, wouldn't have been a big deal, but the beauty of the Hwy ONE, was no channel routing, and the radius'd corners of the neck pocket kind of prohibited pickguard off use ... I imagine it is easier routing for the factory, and allows for easier fitament of neck to pocket with variances in either ...
That beautiful wood joint on the back of your body that makes it look like one piece ... it is one piece ... one piece laminate front and back on all 3TSB MIM Standards ... that is why the belly contour is colored all black the way it is ...
"one piece laminate front and back on all 3TSB MIM Standards"
wrong.
I have a 3TSB MIM Standard Jazz. it is NOT one piece laminate. can clearly see a joint. I will add pics when I get home. its a 2016.
