Nate Mendel P Bass or an alternative?

[wvbass]

Here is a Mendel P question for you. I am used to seeing the side dots in the side of the fingernails, or sitting on the line between the neck and the fingernails. On the Mendel P, the dots are behind the fingernails on the neck. Is this something that was done on P basses is the early 70's? I have seen guitars like this but never a bass.

 

[Tbone76]

Here is a Mendel P question for you. I am used to seeing the side dots in the side of the fingernails, or sitting on the line between the neck and the fingernails. On the Mendel P, the dots are behind the fingernails on the neck. Is this something that was done on P basses is the early 70's? I have seen guitars like this but never a bass.

I'm unsure about 70's Fender side dots, but my NM bass has them in the same position as yours.

 

[wvbass]

I'm unsure about 70's Fender side dots, but my NM bass has them in the same position as yours.

Johnk_10 and others confirm that Fender moved the dots onto the neck in the early 70's.

http://www.talkbass.com/threads/1971-fender-p-bass-help.743118/

 

[Guinness20]

Classic 70's or am. special. Personally not a fan of the nm - like the pickup, bridge and neck shape, but that stupid 'worn' finish ruins it for me.

 

[Stranger Danger]

Classic 70's or am. special. Personally not a fan of the nm - like the pickup, bridge and neck shape, but that stupid 'worn' finish ruins it for me.

Please don't. That horse is ground meat and glue at this point.

 

[Linnin]

Just as an aside, Leo Quan has been dead a few years, and his son has run the company into the ground. The Fender designed Hi-Mass bridge is actually better than the Badass II. I am quite certain that the Nate Mendel Precisions have always had the Fender Hi-Mass bridge right from the start.

"The Leo Quan website is gone and the domain is for sale. The business has not vaporized entirely though and Glen Quan is in charge of what is left of Leo Quan now. What is left is the designs and the brand. There is no longer a Leo Quan manufacturing facility and everything is outsourced. The current corporate address of 561 Darien Way in San Francisco is actually Glen Quan's residence and that is where the Leo Quan Inc phone number rings. If you want to call Glen Quan in San Francisco the business phone number at his house is 415-681-6650." posted by brotherdave here-> Invalid Link Removed

 

[Stranger Danger]

Just as an aside, Leo Quan has been dead a few years, and his son has run the company into the ground. The Fender designed Hi-Mass bridge is actually better than the Badass II. I am quite certain that the Nate Mendel Precisions have always had the Fender Hi-Mass bridge right from the start.

"The Leo Quan website is gone and the domain is for sale. The business has not vaporized entirely though and Glen Quan is in charge of what is left of Leo Quan now. What is left is the designs and the brand. There is no longer a Leo Quan manufacturing facility and everything is outsourced. The current corporate address of 561 Darien Way in San Francisco is actually Glen Quan's residence and that is where the Leo Quan Inc phone number rings. If you want to call Glen Quan in San Francisco the business phone number at his house is 415-681-6650." posted by brotherdave here-> Invalid Link Removed

You would be quite wrong then. The NM was released with a Badass bridge. The only ones I've seen until recently all had Badass bridges. The rest of it is a shame if it's true.

 

[Salamenster]

Mine is a '12 and has a BAII

 

[Stranger Danger]

Seems like as much Foo stuff is in Drop D that this bass would have come with a D Tuner.

I ordered one today btw

 

[Jables]

I ordered one yesterday—scheduled to arrive on Saturday. Super excited. My first P Bass!

Those massive vintage tuners have me worrying about some balance problems, though. Anyone have any experience with this? Are Hipshots a good idea?

Still!

 

[fourstringdrums]

The Nate Mendel is fairly heavy. Sweetwater has one right now at 9lbs 14oz, so chances are neck dive won't be an issue because most of the weight tends to be in the body. P's are fairly well balanced.

 

[Tbone76]

Mine doesn't have issues with neck dive, but mine is on the heavier side overall. I don't have an exact weight, but it's the heaviest of the three basses that I currently own.

 

[Stranger Danger]

I'm getting one through the GC distribution center. All the ones they had in the stores were 10lbs plus. I'm hoping for a light one. If it's too damn heavy, it's going back.

 

[wvbass]

The Nate Mendel is fairly heavy. Sweetwater has one right now at 9lbs 14oz, so chances are neck dive won't be an issue because most of the weight tends to be in the body. P's are fairly well balanced.

That is the second time in this thread that the generalization has been made that the Mendel P is heavy because Sweetwater has one in stock that is heavy. Like most Fenders the weight of these is all over the map. I'll repost what I said earlier:

That is pretty heavy for a Mendel P. When I bought mine, Sweetwater didn't have any that were nearly that heavy. Mine is 8lbs 6 oz, and I think they had one 3oz lighter.

 

[Stranger Danger]

That is the second time in this thread that the generalization has been made that the Mendel P is heavy because Sweetwater has one in stock that is heavy. Like most Fenders the weight of these is all over the map. I'll repost what I said earlier:

I had the guy at GC call all the stores that had one in stock in the US and they were all boat anchors. I'm hoping it was just that batch.

 

[wvbass]

I had the guy at GC call all the stores that had one in stock in the US and they were all boat anchors. I'm hoping it was just that batch.

I wonder if Fender pays more attention to weight in the first couple years while they are establishing a new model. Now that the Mendel P is past two years old, maybe the lighter woods are going to newer models. That would be too bad. FWIW, I've seen Sweetwater's listings for Geddy bass weights be all over the place too.

I guess it is time for somebody to pipe up and say "that is why I always try a bass out before I buy it."

 

[Jables]

I grabbed the "Demo" model from Sweetwater's Deal Zone—saved a little money and figured any floor model wear would just blend in with the distressed finish.

It weighed in at 8lbs 13oz.

Which is why I have Hipshots on the brain—a set of Ultralights should get it down under 8.5 lbs.

If it even needs it. We'll get there when we get there.

 

[Stranger Danger]

I usually deal with Sweetwater but in this case, I had $350 in GC gift cards and 15% off so I couldnt pass that up. The manager at GC also told me that he would keep sending them back until I got one at a weight that I liked so I am not too concerned. Who knows, maybe I will get lucky?

 

[ROOTSnFIFTHS]

That is the second time in this thread that the generalization has been made that the Mendel P is heavy because Sweetwater has one in stock that is heavy. Like most Fenders the weight of these is all over the map. I'll repost what I said earlier:

The NM I played in GC was fairly light. I would say less than 9 for sure.

 

[ROOTSnFIFTHS]

I usually deal with Sweetwater but in this case, I had $350 in GC gift cards and 15% off so I couldnt pass that up. The manager at GC also told me that he would keep sending them back until I got one at a weight that I liked so I am not too concerned. Who knows, maybe I will get lucky?

I think you will be happy with this bass. As far as the 'relic'....practically non-existant. If I owned one it would ease the stress of bumping it into something on the first week. I am a clutz, especially at live gigs, and like new sneakers, hate the first week of ownership due to fear of marking it up. Another reason I love the Road Worns.