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NBD Fender Kingman

#21
BassFaceExtremo said:
What's the difference between the V2 and V1 besides the obvious mahog neck?
Click to expand...
Don't know what the differences are.

Here are the specs I got via email from Fender on mine based on the serial number.
  • Model #0970743106

  • Series: California Series

  • Model Name: Kingman Bass V2 JTB

  • Model#: 0970743106

  • Manufactured: 05-01-2019.

  • Color: Black

  • Body: Solid Spruce Top with Laminated Mahogany Back and Sides

  • Body Finish: Gloss Poly

  • Body Shape: Concert Bass

  • Neck Material: Mahogany with Walnut Fingerboard

  • Neck Finish: Satin Urethane

  • Neck Shape: Jazz Bass

  • Scale Length: 30.3" (770 mm)

  • Number of Frets: 20

  • String Nut: Graph Tech® NuBone

  • Nut Width: 1.5" (38.1 mm)

  • Position Inlays: White Pearloid Blocks

  • Bridge: Modern Viking

  • Hardware Finish: Nickel

  • Tuning Machines: Open-Back Geared

  • Pickguard 3-Ply: Gold

  • Electronics: Fishman Presys+ Preamp System

  • Strings Fender® Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Bass (.045-.100 Gauges) - I swapped to same gauge D'Addario Chrome Flats (short scale)
 
#23
Clark W said:
Don't know what the differences are.

Here are the specs I got via email from Fender on mine based on the serial number.
  • Model #0970743106

  • Series: California Series

  • Model Name: Kingman Bass V2 JTB

  • Model#: 0970743106

  • Manufactured: 05-01-2019.

  • Color: Black

  • Body: Solid Spruce Top with Laminated Mahogany Back and Sides

  • Body Finish: Gloss Poly

  • Body Shape: Concert Bass

  • Neck Material: Mahogany with Walnut Fingerboard

  • Neck Finish: Satin Urethane

  • Neck Shape: Jazz Bass

  • Scale Length: 30.3" (770 mm)

  • Number of Frets: 20

  • String Nut: Graph Tech® NuBone

  • Nut Width: 1.5" (38.1 mm)

  • Position Inlays: White Pearloid Blocks

  • Bridge: Modern Viking

  • Hardware Finish: Nickel

  • Tuning Machines: Open-Back Geared

  • Pickguard 3-Ply: Gold

  • Electronics: Fishman Presys+ Preamp System

  • Strings Fender® Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Bass (.045-.100 Gauges) - I swapped to same gauge D'Addario Chrome Flats (short scale)
Click to expand...

The only obvious differences that I can tell between them is mine doesn't have the satin mahogany neck and also I think the V2 might have more pre controls as I think mine only has the presys not the presys +

I played the V2 in the store and really enjoyed the satin neck on it but didn't feel compelled to lay down the 499$ they were asking so I hit up the used market for an "old" one :D
 
#26
John Bess said:
Good looking bass! Sorry to hear your piezo is busted. Did you buy it new? Can you return it?
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No I bought used, but I can solder so I'm looking at replacements on Amazon :cool: but I had an epiphany earlier when I got off work that maybe taking some wire and stripping all the enamel off of it and wrapping it carefully around in a single layer around the whole pickup would make it make contact again the pickup isn't busted per say just the wire mesh around it is tore on the g string side and isn't fully making contact with it's self....

I think imma try that and if it doesn't work then just order a cheap one off Amazon hopefully the pre in the bass its self will cancel any undue lameness in a cheap piezo off Amazon :laugh:
 
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#29
Clark W said:
I bought a 2019 Fender California Series Kingman V2 this year. It came with Fender's Phosphor Bronze strings, or "cheese graters" as I call them. And the strings are the only complaint I have about that bass. But easy enough fix. It is now strung with D'Addario Short Scale Chrome Flats. Plenty of tension, and smooth like butter. When gigging it's plugged in anyway, so its not like I need the extra volume of the original strings. And at home there are a lot of times that I play along to music without it being plugged in and the Chromes are loud enough to do that.
Click to expand...

LOL! They did feel like cheese graters! I don't know why but I liked the sound though. It was a very Alice in chains kinda sound.
 
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#30
BlacknWhite said:
LOL! They did feel like cheese graters! I don't know why but I liked the sound though. It was a very Alice in chains kinda sound.
Click to expand...

Funny you should mention AIC. I had just saw them in concert the night before I bought my Kingman. I do some AIC in an "Unplugged" type of setting, but had been using an electric bass while everyone else was "plugged in" with acoustic guitars.

The key to AIC's unplugged sound on bass,
1) an acoustic bass, obviously
2) boost your mids
3) some form of modulation.

I have found a MXR Phase 90 works well for this. Also a little known pedal that I learned about here on TB called "Luxe" from Digitech. It's an "anti chorus, polyphonic detune" pedal. They retail for around 150 which is too much for such a simple pedal. But last year everyone was selling them new in the 25 to 40 range. I got mine for 32 after shipping, I should have bought two while I had the chance. That pedal is absolutely phenomenal for a AIC or Nirvana "Unplugged" kind of sound.
 
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#31
BlacknWhite said:
LOL! They did feel like cheese graters! I don't know why but I liked the sound though. It was a very Alice in chains kinda sound.
Click to expand...
Clark W said:
Funny you should mention AIC. I had just saw them in concert the night before I bought my Kingman. I do some AIC in an "Unplugged" type of setting, but had been using an electric bass while everyone else was "plugged in" with acoustic guitars.

The key to AIC's unplugged sound on bass,
1) an acoustic bass, obviously
2) boost your mids
3) some form of modulation.

I have found a MXR Phase 90 works well for this. Also a little known pedal that I learned about here on TB called "Luxe" from Digitech. It's an "anti chorus, polyphonic detune" pedal. They retail for around 150 which is too much for such a simple pedal. But last year everyone was selling them new in the 25 to 40 range. I got mine for 32 after shipping, I should have bought two while I had the chance. That pedal is absolutely phenomenal for a AIC or Nirvana "Unplugged" kind of sound.
Click to expand...

Always loved Inez's tone on the unplugged videos Ive seen, Down in a Hole was the first to come to mind.

Very good info and thank you for it, imma go check out the luxe now lol
 
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#33
BigBluez said:
Question on the Fender Kingman - what is the unplugged volume like? Do you think you could be heard over one or two acoustic guitars, or over one acoustic guitarist who was singing without a mic?
Click to expand...
On my Kingman V2 purchase I took a guitarist with me just so I could test that out. Definitely will keep up with 1 guitarist. + Vocals, I dont see why not. But not two guitars I dont think .
 
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#36
Queue said:
Can somebody tell me the scale length on the V1?
Click to expand...
The V2 is 30.3", I use D'Addario Short Scale Chrome Flats on it. Don't know what the scale on the V1 is, The Kingman SCE (discontinued) was 34" according to a review I just found while trying to find info on the V1.
 
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#37
Clark W said:
The V2 is 30.3", I use D'Addario Short Scale Chrome Flats on it. Don't know what the scale on the V1 is, The Kingman SCE (discontinued) was 34" according to a review I just found while trying to find info on the V1.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I knew the V2 is 30.3, that's what got me gassing for one of these. My electric is a Squier Jaguar SS 30", and my current ABG is an old Oscar Schmidt/Washburn 32". So, I read the spec on the V2 and got interested, but I see V1s second-hand for much less, so I thought I'd check. Hopefully one of the V1 owners will chime in.
 
#38
I'm still gassing for one of these black ones (V2). It seems that there's something afoot, most retailers (including Fender) are out of stock. Today, I go to the Fender page, and the V2 has been renamed as the Invalid Link Removed, and has a little "NEW" flag. The specs are the same (today).
 
#39
Queue said:
I'm still gassing for one of these black ones (V2). It seems that there's something afoot, most retailers (including Fender) are out of stock. Today, I go to the Fender page, and the V2 has been renamed as the Invalid Link Removed, and has a little "NEW" flag. The specs are the same (today).
Click to expand...
Fender is probably trying to make it seem like a new release to try to sell some.
Officially the name and model is the "California Series Kingman V2 JTB". But yeah, nothing about it has changed on the specs, still the same bass, and definitely not a "new" model. Matter of fact they're still using the same promo video for it that they have always used for the V2.

Shame it's not more successful for them than it is because it really is a nice bass. Over a year later and I'm as happy with mine as I was the day I bought it, happier actually. It just seems to get better the more I play it, or maybe I get better at playing it. Either way it's a fun bass to play.
 
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#40
I did the "contact us" on the Fender page, and got an answer back quickly. Bradley told me they were on back order, and due to arrive in mid-November. :( Most of the used ones I'm seeing are so close to full price, I may wait it out until November and get a new one. I'll likely get it through my local brick and mortar, the fabulous Chuck Levin's Washington Music Center. Those guys are awesome. Gives me a chance to sell off some stuff to pay for it. I'm pretty sure I'll love it. Glad you're still loving yours.

Any idea what "JTB" stands for?
 
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