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NBD and hate it.. Am I missing something?

Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by stephenq, Jul 27, 2017.

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  1. Jul 27, 2017 #1
    stephenq

    stephenq

    Jul 23, 2009
    Kansas City
    20170727_160034.jpg

    Looks pretty doesn't it?

    I currently have 9 MIM/CIJ Fender and squiers, also a new 4003, and have owned 10 or 15 more in the past.

    Some issues I have never had with a brand new bass.

    + stripped pickup screw ( was loose in case)
    + Nut slot on E string low enough to buzz with just the thought of playing an open E
    + A bridge lifted on the back/bass corner big enough to slip a .20 feeler gauge in (which could be causing the horrible sitar sound on the E and A string)
    + The pickups.. Am I crazy or is it all mid and treble <--- might just be preference I suppose

    I have however experienced all of these issues in the first 6 hours on my brand new $1500 Fender American Professional

    Clearly its going back but what gives?

    Fenders are really that big of a gamble even at that price point?
     
    Last edited: Jul 27, 2017
  2. Jul 27, 2017 #2
    beaglesandbass

    beaglesandbass Think first, then post? Staff Member Supporting Member

    Aug 14, 2001
    Philly Suburbs
    Every once in a while a dud makes it through QC. Shouldn't happen, but it does.
     
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  3. Jul 27, 2017 #3
    redhotblues

    redhotblues

    May 7, 2017
    Near Cincinnati
    wow.... where did you buy it?
     
  4. Jul 27, 2017 #4
    Nephilymbass

    Nephilymbass

    Feb 7, 2011
    Fayetteville/ Ft Bragg, NC
    Surprising to me, I've been happily surprised with the quality control on the Mexican fenders I've owned. You'd think for a bass of that price they'd catch stuff like that.
     
    joebar likes this.
  5. Jul 27, 2017 #5
    Arizona Jones

    Arizona Jones

    Mar 29, 2006
    Tucson, Arizona
    If this is a new, six hour old FAP Precision why is it sporting a tort guard?
     
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  6. Jul 28, 2017 #6
    nostatic

    nostatic Supporting Member

    Jun 18, 2004
    central coast
    Endorsing Artist: FEA Labs
    I just got a MIM Mustang PJ. The thing is pretty much perfect out of the box. I'd tweaked the setup to my liking and I'm frankly shocked at how good it is. Zero issues.

    Luck of the draw with production instruments...
     
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  7. Jul 28, 2017 #7
    Doctor J

    Doctor J

    Dec 23, 2005
    Perhaps use it as the starting point to check out other brands and bass types. You can get a hell of a lot of bass for $1500
     
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  8. Jul 28, 2017 #8
    beaglesandbass

    beaglesandbass Think first, then post? Staff Member Supporting Member

    Aug 14, 2001
    Philly Suburbs
    Every bass is unique. I've had several basses in the 800-1200 range and while they all played fine and sounded fine, they just weren't me. I just got a Squier VM P5 in the mail today and the bass is in immaculate condition and sounds fantastic (granted pups, pots, and bridge aren't stock squier), but still it's a hell of a bass for the $350 I paid, to the point of I'm thinking it may split stage time with my SR5 and not just be a backup. Is it a Fodera or NYC Sadowsky? No of course not, but I'd take over the MIM Fenders, the Warwick RockBass, the Spector Legend, and Ibanez SRFF805 that I've owned.

    My point was just that while yes, most $1500+ basses are going to be quality, a good bass can be found for much less
     
    dabbler, Son of Wobble, mikeyjm2 and 3 others like this.
  9. Jul 28, 2017 #9
    joel406

    joel406 Inactive

    Dec 27, 2013
    Florida
    I had to go to 4 different music stores to find my American standard Jazz bass. They are not all alike. And while the one I ended up with is a true freak of nature(amazing tone/plays like butter) they all don't feel the same.

    Fender hit a homer with the AS series bass's but in the end it's still Fender.
     
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  10. Jul 28, 2017 #10
    Bassic Playing

    Bassic Playing

    Sep 2, 2011
    Canberra, Australia
    Sure looks nice though
     
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  11. Jul 28, 2017 #11
    Doctor J

    Doctor J

    Dec 23, 2005
    Absolutely, wouldn't dispute that at all. My point was more that $1500 should get you an amazing bass, not just a good one and definitely not one with the issues described in the OP.
     
    bdplaid, gregmon79, MTN.bass72 and 2 others like this.
  12. Jul 28, 2017 #12
    andruca

    andruca

    Mar 31, 2004
    Madrid (Spain)
    Defintely this and those QC issues (as well as not being that good at making 5ers) is why I stay away from Fender, even having formerly owned 2 MIJ Jazzes which were not bad at all. A friend recently got his MIA Geddy Jazz with a warped bridge plate that would not be in contact with the body thru' roughtly 30% its surface. We're talking a 2300€ bass. You can get a new Sadowsky Metro (or even a used NYC) for that kind of money here, c'mon!
     
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  13. Jul 28, 2017 #13
    bench

    bench

    Dec 28, 2007
    Germany
    with fender you always pay a huge part for advertising and endorsement costs of the company... so dollar for dollar you should get a nicer instrument from pretty much every other bass builder...
     
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  14. Jul 28, 2017 #14
    beaglesandbass

    beaglesandbass Think first, then post? Staff Member Supporting Member

    Aug 14, 2001
    Philly Suburbs
    Oh no doubt. I'm expecting a high quality instrument if I'm dropping $1500
     
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  15. Jul 28, 2017 #15
    okcrum

    okcrum in your chest

    Oct 5, 2009
    Verde Valley, AZ
    RIP Dark Horse strings
    Did the bass come from Fender or from a dealer/seller?

    If the latter, Fender QC may have little to do with the issues.
     
  16. Jul 28, 2017 #16
    gebass6

    gebass6 We're not all trying to play the same music. Supporting Member

    May 3, 2009
    Hiding in the comet's tail
    You didn't get the memo?
    Everything must have Plastic Pepperoni!
     
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  17. Jul 28, 2017 #17
    charlie monroe

    charlie monroe Gold Supporting Member

    Feb 14, 2011
    Buffalo, NY
    I think he is suggesting that someone has fiddled with it.
     
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  18. Jul 28, 2017 #18
    two fingers

    two fingers Opinionated blowhard. But not mad about it. Inactive

    Feb 7, 2005
    Eastern NC USA
    AxtoOx, gebass6, organworthyplayer337 and 1 other person like this.
  19. Jul 28, 2017 #19
    leonard

    leonard

    Jul 31, 2001
    Yurop
    I doubt they would ship a bass with a loose stripped screw from the factory no matter how drunk the QC people have been that day. My guess is it's a fishy customer return.
     
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  20. Jul 28, 2017 #20
    bobba66

    bobba66

    May 18, 2006
    Arlington, Texas
    FAP!:woot: Beautiful bass, by the way......
     
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