There is the Classic 50's lacquer P from Fender that could be an option for you also. It offers a black finish but rosewood neck I believe. It is nitro finished also but doesn't have the relicing that the RW has. I also don't know if they are kiln dried bodies (or if the new RW even are anymore) with american hardware on them (again not sure if RW has this anymore).
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Nate Mendel P or Road Worn P
- Thread starter crucislancer
- Start date
Is a pre-relic a dealbreaker for you? I +1 the Classic 50s P. Those are super nice.
I own a NM and play in an Alkaline Trio style rock/punk band -- and I effing love everything about that bass.
I was in the same boat as the OP, and narrowed my search down to the Mendel or a RW, and I'm glad I went with the NM -- between the ash body, the slightly slimmer neck, and the growling Quarter Pounder pickups, it's exactly what I was hoping for. It really punches faces.
I swapped out the vintage boat anchor tuners for a set of ultralites. Even the light relic job grew on me pretty quickly -- no worries about banging it up.
Anyway, as someone with experience with the Mendel in a hard rock setting, I say you made the right call. And I hope you dig yours as much as I like mine.
I was in the same boat as the OP, and narrowed my search down to the Mendel or a RW, and I'm glad I went with the NM -- between the ash body, the slightly slimmer neck, and the growling Quarter Pounder pickups, it's exactly what I was hoping for. It really punches faces.
I swapped out the vintage boat anchor tuners for a set of ultralites. Even the light relic job grew on me pretty quickly -- no worries about banging it up.
Anyway, as someone with experience with the Mendel in a hard rock setting, I say you made the right call. And I hope you dig yours as much as I like mine.
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I see that you already ordered the NM sig. Good choice. Make sure that you take a bit of time and dial in your amps eq before forming any opinions on the QP pup. It's a really bass-centric pup, and it definitely doesn't sound like a stock pup. When I had my NM sig i strung it up with a set of Roto Swing 66's, and it was a totally aggressive growly beast. One spec that Fender doesn't tell you on that bass is that it comes with Schaller strap lock strap pins installed. It doesn't come with the other 1/2 of the lock, though. Fender also replaced the original Badass II bridge with their own similar high mass bridge, but your bass may have the BAII, depending on when it was built.
When I had mine, I swapped some parts to make it look more like a late 60's-style P (bent plate bridge, mint pg, tugbar and ashtrays). It's a great platform with a totality of features not available on any of their other basses. You chose well, congrats! If you end up not digging the pups, a great upgrade is the EMG Geezer Butler pups. Phenomenal sounding passive pups with simple solderless installation.
When I had mine, I swapped some parts to make it look more like a late 60's-style P (bent plate bridge, mint pg, tugbar and ashtrays). It's a great platform with a totality of features not available on any of their other basses. You chose well, congrats! If you end up not digging the pups, a great upgrade is the EMG Geezer Butler pups. Phenomenal sounding passive pups with simple solderless installation.
I should add that it wasn't love at first sight out of the box. I'd only ever owned glossy instruments so the nitro finish felt funky to me, the neck wasn't quite as skinny as I expected, and the action was uncomfortably high. But after getting it properly set up and taking it to practice ONE TIME, I knew we were made for each other.
What I'm saying is—you might need to let it grow on you a bit at first.
What I'm saying is—you might need to let it grow on you a bit at first.
I should add that it wasn't love at first sight out of the box. I'd only ever owned glossy instruments so the nitro finish felt funky to me, the neck wasn't quite as skinny as I expected, and the action was uncomfortably high. But after getting it properly set up and taking it to practice ONE TIME, I knew we were made for each other.
What I'm saying is—you might need to let it grow on you a bit at first.
Oh I understand that. Any new bass is going to get set up before I play it, and it will get a fair shot. 45 days return policy, so I have plenty of time to dial it in. Hope it shows up on Tuesday so I can bring it to rehearsal
The Classic 50's lacquer is black with a maple board, the only option, sadly. I was thinking about that one, but I wanted a different color. I like to have different finishes on my basses, if possible, and already have a black bass. If they had some other color options then I would have considered it.
Yup, see above.
That reminds me, I might need to pick up Dunlop straploks. Maybe Zzounds will pick one out of the warehouse that has a BAII but I'm not really worried about it. As long as the new Fender bridge does the job then it won't matter to me. And of course an easy fix if I don't like it.
I'll keep the Geezer pickups in mind for sure.
I don't have a feeing either way about the BAII bridge compared to the Fender version. Fender swapped to their version because the BAII isn't in production any more, and Fender's supply has been used up. I actually like the simple bent-plate bridge with the slotted saddles (like the 50's-60's models have), but that's just me!
As far as the neck, I did run a scotchbrite pad over it a few times to get a satin feel (personal preference). Also, the relic treatment on these is very subtle compared to the standard RW line. It's more understated than their other RW series instruments. You also get the best (imo) headstock logo that Fender produced, the TV-style. I absolutley love how the big letters curve around the headstock shape. Very classy. The current American Special series logo is similar, but the lettering is thicker.
As far as the neck, I did run a scotchbrite pad over it a few times to get a satin feel (personal preference). Also, the relic treatment on these is very subtle compared to the standard RW line. It's more understated than their other RW series instruments. You also get the best (imo) headstock logo that Fender produced, the TV-style. I absolutley love how the big letters curve around the headstock shape. Very classy. The current American Special series logo is similar, but the lettering is thicker.
Here's what mine looked like after I did my parts-swap:
It sold within a day of me trading it in at my local shop. Dammit!!
Also, it comes with a second neck plate that has the Foo Fighters logo. Takes 5 minutes to swap out, and looks cool, too.
It sold within a day of me trading it in at my local shop. Dammit!!
Also, it comes with a second neck plate that has the Foo Fighters logo. Takes 5 minutes to swap out, and looks cool, too.
I can see why that bass sold so quickly, it was awesome!
I recently sold off the last of my excess BAII bridges, I only have the one on my Geddy Lee now. And I also like the bend-plate bridge with the slotted saddles. I have on installed now on my black Jazz. So, I may go that route at some point.
