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NBD: Fender Rascal

OldPlucker

OldPlucker

Apr 5, 2014
807
964
Maryland
#1
Here I was with no signs of GAS when I got drawn into the User $20 Bass Fiasco/Scam. I was envisioning how cool it would be to play with making something out of a cheap base. That fell apart and I was not overly disappointed; but, in the back of my mind this voice said look at the Talk Bass Classified. I did and I saw "Fender Rascal". I made the mistake and looked, then I made the next stipend PM'd the seller because we both live in Maryland albeit 1 1/2 to 2 hours apart. Long story short, met in the middle this morning finished the deal. He had Piccolo strings on it; which, after playing it today, got changed out for a set of D'Addario EXL160s strings (only because that was one of only two sets of short scale strings I could get today). After a thorough cleaning and polishing, I sat down and found I love the variety of tones that this can produce. Here ya go, because rules are no photos, no gear. The pickguard is missing one screw near the jack input. Sort of fitting since my wife thought I was missing a few screws when I told her I bought another bass.
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#4
OldPlucker said:
Here I was with no signs of GAS when I got drawn into the User $20 Bass Fiasco/Scam. I was envisioning how cool it would be to play with making something out of a cheap base. That fell apart and I was not overly disappointed; but, in the back of my mind this voice said look at the Talk Bass Classified. I did and I saw "Fender Rascal". I made the mistake and looked, then I made the next stipend PM'd the seller because we both live in Maryland albeit 1 1/2 to 2 hours apart. Long story short, met in the middle this morning finished the deal. He had Piccolo strings on it; which, after playing it today, got changed out for a set of D'Addario EXL160s strings (only because that was one of only two sets of short scale strings I could get today). After a thorough cleaning and polishing, I sat down and found I love the variety of tones that this can produce. Here ya go, because rules are no photos, no gear. The pickguard is missing one screw near the jack input. Sort of fitting since my wife thought I was missing a few screws when I told her I bought another bass.
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Cool! Don't think I've ever heard of a Fender Rascal.
 
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#5
It was a 2014 Classic Player bass deigned by the Fender Custom Shop that ended up as a Limited Production.

“Designed by Custom Shop Master Builder Jason Smith, the Classic Player Rascal Bass sports a '60s offset Bass VI body and a set of Seymour Duncan lipstick Strat pickups, in addition to a host of other unconventional features.

Wood Composition: Alder body, Maple neck with Rosewood fretboard

Design Elements: Three lipstick pickups, 5-way selector switch, push-pull volume knob for extra switching positions, Guild Starfire bridge, 9.5" fretboard radius, matching headstock

Scale Length: 30"”
 
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#10
OldPlucker said:
Here I was with no signs of GAS when I got drawn into the User $20 Bass Fiasco/Scam. I was envisioning how cool it would be to play with making something out of a cheap base. That fell apart and I was not overly disappointed; but, in the back of my mind this voice said look at the Talk Bass Classified. I did and I saw "Fender Rascal". I made the mistake and looked, then I made the next stipend PM'd the seller because we both live in Maryland albeit 1 1/2 to 2 hours apart. Long story short, met in the middle this morning finished the deal. He had Piccolo strings on it; which, after playing it today, got changed out for a set of D'Addario EXL160s strings (only because that was one of only two sets of short scale strings I could get today). After a thorough cleaning and polishing, I sat down and found I love the variety of tones that this can produce. Here ya go, because rules are no photos, no gear. The pickguard is missing one screw near the jack input. Sort of fitting since my wife thought I was missing a few screws when I told her I bought another bass.
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Congratulations. I’ve had one for five years and love it. I’ve found because of the length of the intonation screws you can use just about any string. In fact I’ve seen short scale strings where the full winding didn’t quite reach the nut. Enjoy.
 
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#11
bassist4dalord said:
I remember when these came out. I never realized these essentially have SEVEN pickup configurations available between the 5-position switch and the push-pull knob. That is incredible!

Congratulations on the new bass! What strings do you plan to use on it after the D’Addarios?

Edit: Video review

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The seller had posted multiple video reviews and the 7 different pickup configurations seemed to be a big plus in every review. As for what strings I am going to use next, I haven’t thought that far. I typically lean towards flat wounds; but, for now I’m liking the bright sounds of these rounds.
 
#12
Low Crow said:
Congratulations. I’ve had one for five years and love it. I’ve found because of the length of the intonation screws you can use just about any string. In fact I’ve seen short scale strings where the full winding didn’t quite reach the nut. Enjoy.
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Those intonation screws came in handy after putting on the new strings as the previous owner had piccolo strings on it. I am really loving this bass.
 
#14
JRA said:
don't recall seeing those, but it sure looks good in those great pics, OP! congratulations on your new instrument! :thumbsup:
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I didn't recall ever seeing one until I saw this for sale. I was intrigued when I first saw the listing; so, I watched the 4 videos of reviews. Several days later it was still there and my GAS had been awakened. I thought "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, The seller lives in the same state, make him an offer". To my delight he accepted and the rest is history. I just finished an afternoon of Social Separation playing this Rascal.
 
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#17
OldPlucker said:
Here I was with no signs of GAS when I got drawn into the User $20 Bass Fiasco/Scam. I was envisioning how cool it would be to play with making something out of a cheap base. That fell apart and I was not overly disappointed; but, in the back of my mind this voice said look at the Talk Bass Classified. I did and I saw "Fender Rascal". I made the mistake and looked, then I made the next stipend PM'd the seller because we both live in Maryland albeit 1 1/2 to 2 hours apart. Long story short, met in the middle this morning finished the deal. He had Piccolo strings on it; which, after playing it today, got changed out for a set of D'Addario EXL160s strings (only because that was one of only two sets of short scale strings I could get today). After a thorough cleaning and polishing, I sat down and found I love the variety of tones that this can produce. Here ya go, because rules are no photos, no gear. The pickguard is missing one screw near the jack input. Sort of fitting since my wife thought I was missing a few screws when I told her I bought another bass.
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Heh! For a hot second I was terribly confused: I had just seen this bass in the (eBay Germany) want ads - and GASsing for it - not 10 minutes before seeing it here!
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#20
OldPlucker said:
Here I was with no signs of GAS when I got drawn into the User $20 Bass Fiasco/Scam. I was envisioning how cool it would be to play with making something out of a cheap base. That fell apart and I was not overly disappointed; but, in the back of my mind this voice said look at the Talk Bass Classified. I did and I saw "Fender Rascal". I made the mistake and looked, then I made the next stipend PM'd the seller because we both live in Maryland albeit 1 1/2 to 2 hours apart. Long story short, met in the middle this morning finished the deal. He had Piccolo strings on it; which, after playing it today, got changed out for a set of D'Addario EXL160s strings (only because that was one of only two sets of short scale strings I could get today). After a thorough cleaning and polishing, I sat down and found I love the variety of tones that this can produce. Here ya go, because rules are no photos, no gear. The pickguard is missing one screw near the jack input. Sort of fitting since my wife thought I was missing a few screws when I told her I bought another bass.
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I've been G.A.S.-ing for one of these but have kept it under control for the most part. Before the COVID shut-in I was at the local Legion and the bass player in the band that was planning that night had one and the G.A.S. come 'rumbling' back!
They're a cool unique little bass. I never played a bass with lipstick type pups, but gosh darnit some day I will!
 

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