Finally received my fender American professional II fretless jazz bass. It almost took two weeks to get it because the first one was lost by FedEx. This bass was ordered from zzounds. It’s supposed to be brand new. The tuners still have the plastic on them. The fretboard has no wear on it, but as you can see, the pickguard has fingerprints and scratches. Actually the factory plastic that covers the pickguard probably is what has the scratches and fingerprints. What do you guys think? There are several indications it’s new and some that it may not be. The box it came in was only one box and most of the time it’s a box within a box.
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NBD
- Thread starter Cory rich40
- Start date
Finally received my fender American professional II fretless jazz bass. It almost took two weeks to get it because the first one was lost by FedEx. This bass was ordered from zzounds. It’s supposed to be brand new. The tuners still have the plastic on them. The fretboard has no wear on it, but as you can see, the pickguard has fingerprints and scratches. Actually the factory plastic that covers the pickguard probably is what has the scratches and fingerprints. What do you guys think? There are several indications it’s new and some that it may not be. The box it came in was only one box and most of the time it’s a box within a box.
Beautiful color. My vote: strip that plastic cover off and forget about it...
More likely from the case than the bass. That's upholstery-level gear.
yeah, i wouldn't worry about the idea that it may have been handled: because you got a great looking fretless ax! it's a beauty! congratulations on your new instrument! 
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That washer is definitely case hardware, and might even be an extra that fell into the case during production or packing.
Regarding marks on the pickguard wrap, it's probably been on display in a showroom, either that or the marks on the plastic are from the final setup stage of production.
Strip the plastic off and start adding your own wear marks to it.
Nice Jazz Bass!
Regarding marks on the pickguard wrap, it's probably been on display in a showroom, either that or the marks on the plastic are from the final setup stage of production.
Strip the plastic off and start adding your own wear marks to it.
Nice Jazz Bass!
Yeah, if the paint itself isn’t scratched, the plastic on the guard is doing its job. Run It.
I think it looks better with the rosewood fingerboard than the fretted American pro II’s that are the same color with the maple fingerboards
If you are THAT worried about the protective plastic wrap, I'll take it! I think it needs a home where it will be played and loved. Post Hoc Ergo Proctor Hoc
What you imagine is wrong will come to be because you imagine it.
JJ
What you imagine is wrong will come to be because you imagine it.
JJ
I almost ordered the spector ethos before I changed my mind and ordered this. There aren’t enough user reviews on those spector basses on the retail websites like sweetwater, etc for me to take a chance on an import bass paying a premium price. So I went with what I know will work.
The bass is a beautiful instrument. I love it. I know it will work great. It’s not going anywhere. If fedex ends up finding the first one I ordered and it ends up at the house in some crazy way, I would like to joke and say I will gladly sell that one to you but I will do the right thing and send it back to zzounds. They have been good to me and that was FedEx’s fault not theirs. An almost $2000.00 screw up puts me on edge and I guess that’s why I’m so anxious about the pickguard plastic. I know if you order online enough there are bound to be shipping issues eventually.
Beautiful fretless Jazz! That is my favorite non-CS finish! Take off the plastic and play the hell out of it!
Not to derail the thread, but I think you would have also been very happy with the Ethos. I'm not a fan of the Aguilar electronics myself, but they sound great in other people's hands. I wound up picking up a B-stock Spector MK5 as a project bass because it is essentially an Ethos 5 with passive electronics and I didn't have to pay for a preamp and pickups I was intending to swap out. Obviously it's all maple and has a matte black finish, but it is exactly the same as the Ethos otherwise. The fit and finish on it were top notch. It's got a very comfortable and fast neck, and other than some budget (but by no means bad) tuners and strap buttons, it compares favorably to my Euros. Next go around (hey, we're on TB...we all know there will be a next go around lol), if you're still thinking about pulling the trigger on it, I would say go ahead with no worries. The MIK Spectors are very good basses.
Actually On the Ethos they changed to EMG pickups. It’s the HP Ethos now with the darkglass preamp. I think they did the dimensions the same way. So maybe and probably one day. Im also interested in the Dingwall basses a little bit
Oh, the HP is a different animal entirely. I have played Dingwalls and they've always felt very comfortable but I can't get a tone I like out of the NGs. I played a Super P that was out of this world, but had a corresponding price tag. Maybe someday.
I really dig that Dark Knight finish. Beautiful bass. Congrats! And I'd say that as long as no scratches are on the body then you have nothing to worry about. I'm sure those scratches on the guard are just the plastic. And if not, you'll be putting your own scratches on there soon enough.
Man, I looove that finish! Beautiful. I vote that's a piece of case, looks like the little ring around one of the 4 "feet" on a case side/bottom.
MJ
MJ
