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My Fender ticked me off so...

Have you been disappointed with your "dream bass"?

  • Yes

    Votes: 46 33.1%

  • No

    Votes: 62 44.6%

  • I put carrots in strange places.

    Votes: 41 29.5%
  • Total voters
    139
Cap'n Redbeard

Cap'n Redbeard

Guest
Jan 23, 2016
148
175
44
Marinette, WI USA
#1
...I order a cheap Sterling SUB. The neck on my damn Fender AV P Bass back-bowed for the umteenth time this month. It's no quick fix since I have to loosen the neck to get at the truss rod. I was annoyed so I started thinking about this little, cheap 'ray I played and loved at Guitard Center a while back and ordered one (not from GC). It seems that the cheaper instruments I've owned over the years have been a lot less finicky about changes in temp/humidity. Also, I instantly found a sound I loved with the 'ray where as the Fender has been so-so, unlike the Mexican Fenders I've owned... Hmmm. I wonder if mediocre basses are more in tune with my mediocre playing. I might be on to something here
 
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#2
You could always buy the proper tool for adjusting the Fender, you wouldn't have to loosen the neck or remove the guard.

For what it's worth, I have found the opposite to be true. Cheaper basses tend to require more frequent adjustments for me. Mind you, if that Sterling has an oiled neck expect it to need adjustment is you fart in it's direction. EBMM necks are touchy in my experience, I adjust my Ray regularly when it is in the rotation.

That all being said, you may just prefer the Ray and there is nothing wrong with that. They are very different animals.
 
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#3
DiabolusInMusic said:
You could always buy the proper tool for adjusting the Fender, you wouldn't have to loosen the neck or remove the guard.

For what it's worth, I have found the opposite to be true. Cheaper basses tend to require more frequent adjustments for me. Mind you, if that Sterling has an oiled neck expect it to need adjustment is you fart in it's direction. EBMM necks are touchy in my experience, I adjust my Ray regularly when it is in the rotation.

That all being said, you may just prefer the Ray and there is nothing wrong with that. They are very different animals.
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On my particular Fender there is no relief at the heel for neck adjustment. The neck must be loosened and slid upward to adjust the truss rod. I do dig Stingrays. I also dig Fender P's and J's, some Ibanez basses and Warwick's, all for different reasons. I'm not one who has picked his pony and sticks with it. I can appreciate all kinds of basses. If the MM need occasional neck adjustment, so be it. It's a lot easier to do on the Ray than my current Fender. I once fell in love with a Mexican girl (jazz) and like an idiot, I let her go. She had the right amount of wear and tear and felt perfect. But, alas I thought I could do better and trade her in on a Lakland. Bad move. The laky was great but didn't have that magic something. I've played many a Jazz bass since and it just wasn't the same so it's not a Jazz Bass preference. I've had a few libations so I'm getting philosophical. I better shut up
 
#5
Have you been disappointed with your "dream bass"?
Click to expand...

Yes, it was overcooked and not delicious at all. The carrots were just fine!
Here it is,
Before:
largemouth-bass-fish-underwater-animal-in-natural-habitat-micropterus-salmoides_w725_h424.jpg

After:

Invalid Link Removed
 
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#7
FourBanger said:
If you keep showrooming GC you're going to drive them under.

The fun part is in twenty years that AV Fender will still be rocking along with occasional neck adjustments and the cheap bass will have gone to pot. Cheap basses are really nice these days but they don't seem to have what it takes to last decades.
Click to expand...

No worries. I've personally spent enough money at this particular GC to keep them afloat for a while. The bass I played had since sold and had yet to be replaced.

You are probably right, this Fender will probably be rockin' for years and years. However, it will be in someone else's hands. Occasional neck adjustments I can deal with. Having to strip this thing down once a week is ridiculous. I have no patience for constant maintenance or waiting for the lacquer finish on the neck to stop being tacky and unpleasant. I'm sorry, but this bass is a turd. It wasn't meant to be. I can't get the sound/feel I want from it so Craigslist here I come!
 
#11
theduke1 said:
Thanks
I have a fretted blonde 2500 as well.
Both passive with full coil tapping and LaBella Black Nylon tapes on.
They sound as good as they look.
Thanks again
Duke
Click to expand...

I had a chance at a SB-2 but blew it. I thought about it too long. I've liked every G&L I've played but never came home with one. Even went as far as getting a quote on one but then life happened and yada yada yada... It might be about that time though. She really is a beautiful instrument though
 
#13
FourBanger said:
The fun part is in twenty years that AV Fender will still be rocking along with occasional neck adjustments and the cheap bass will have gone to pot. Cheap basses are really nice these days but they don't seem to have what it takes to last decades.
Click to expand...

You have some sort of empirical evidence to back up this statement or is that just a personal opinion? I've seen/played Squires i.e. that are as well built if not better than the couple of early 70's Fender P's I owned and gigged with back in the day. Not saying you're necessarily wrong, would just like a little more than an opinion before I'm willing to accept that statement as irrefutable fact.
 
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#14
Cap'n Redbeard said:
...I order a cheap Sterling SUB. The neck on my damn Fender AV P Bass back-bowed for the umteenth time this month. It's no quick fix since I have to loosen the neck to get at the truss rod. I was annoyed so I started thinking about this little, cheap 'ray I played and loved at gui**** Center a while back and ordered one (not from GC). It seems that the cheaper instruments I've owned over the years have been a lot less finicky about changes in temp/humidity. Also, I instantly found a sound I loved with the 'ray where as the Fender has been so-so, unlike the Mexican Fenders I've owned... Hmmm. I wonder if mediocre basses are more in tune with my mediocre playing. I might be on to something here
Click to expand...

Almost the same situation with my Rick 4003S. Probably my #2 dream bass. #1, a Wal, is simply out of my price range.

The Rick neck pissed me off one too many times (bought it used, so no $ loss). Took it to my local shop, swapped it for an '83 Precision. Love it.

For the record -- my Squier P fretless has been super stable since I got it nearly 6 months ago. So I feel ya on the Sterling SUB move.
 
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#15
FourBanger said:
If you keep showrooming GC you're going to drive them under.

The fun part is in twenty years that AV Fender will still be rocking along with occasional neck adjustments and the cheap bass will have gone to pot. Cheap basses are really nice these days but they don't seem to have what it takes to last decades.
Click to expand...

Don't know what you 'qualify' as 'cheap' basses, but of a dozen or so mostly Korean Cort basses and Japanese basses, they're all 20 yrs old, and the only adjustments they need are with different type or gauge string changes. They are just as sound and solid as when they were built. They'll go for at least another 20 yrs more, and that seems short term.
You're right- "twenty years that AV Fender will still be rocking along with frequent (fixed it for ya) neck adjustments"-
OP Quote:
Cap'n Redbeard said:
The neck on my damn Fender AV P Bass back-bowed for the umteenth time this month.
Click to expand...
.
 
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#16
Cap'n Redbeard said:
...I order a cheap Sterling SUB. The neck on my damn Fender AV P Bass back-bowed for the umteenth time this month. It's no quick fix since I have to loosen the neck to get at the truss rod. I was annoyed so I started thinking about this little, cheap 'ray I played and loved at gui**** Center a while back and ordered one (not from GC). It seems that the cheaper instruments I've owned over the years have been a lot less finicky about changes in temp/humidity. Also, I instantly found a sound I loved with the 'ray where as the Fender has been so-so, unlike the Mexican Fenders I've owned... Hmmm. I wonder if mediocre basses are more in tune with my mediocre playing. I might be on to something here
Click to expand...
So when you loosen to the left your truss rod it should star dropping away from the strings at the 7th to 9th frets, right? Is that what it's doing, ? It should be, dose it move?
 
#18
Sounds like you got a dud. My '00 Precision hasn't needed a neck adjustment in years. In fact it's only needed a couple in the 16 years I've had it. I wonder if the graphite rods in the neck help out in that regard. I also like my action kind of high so maybe the small neck shifts aren't as noticeable to me. I hope you get it sorted though, those avri fenders are nice basses.
 
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#19
I bought a 5 string fretless maruscyck paddock some time ago and i was a bit disapointed because of the smaller string spacing wich i wasnt really able to play fluidly. So i didn't really use it for the first weeks although i knew it was my Problem and not the bass. Then after a couple months i got my sh** together and tried to ONLY use that bass to get used to it...
My Band members almost lost their minds cause i couldnt play the easiest things anymore:D
And then - After a few weeks it was no Problem anymore.
Now its truely my Favorite bass!
(Sorry for my english:))
 

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