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OK, I've gone from disappointed to a bit angry.

#21
I doubt it left Fender like this. It was probably a return to MF that accidentally made it to the "new" stock.

I've had my issues with MF and Fender, including my recent Fender ADE P-bass.

Never had an issue with my Lakland USA basses. That's one way avoid this if you're spending big bucks.
 
#22
Sorry to hear about your trouble. Ironically enough, I was seriously considering putting my money down for the exact same bass/color through Musician's Friend. Makes me wonder if I would've gotten the same bass if I'd done so.

With that being said, I've ordered at least a couple basses every year since 2011 from Musician's Friend. Luckily I've never had any problems with any bass purchase. I have a new Road Worn Jazz coming tomorrow from MF, keeping my fingers crossed it plays great.
 
#26
filmtex said:
I bought an American Special Precision from zzounds.com in February and it arrived in absolutely perfect condition. I agree with all the comments about Sweetwater, I use them all the time, but I also highly suggest zzounds as well. YMMV.
Click to expand...


+1! I've had very good luck with zZounds too. And they carry some things my goto favorite Sweetwater doesn't stock. Excellent alternative IMO.
 
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#29
Tanner5382 said:
I have to disagree with that. The are one of the biggest USA production companies. The "one" and "dozen" you are talking about I assume are popular models, right? If so, the Stingray remark was just in response to when you said they are mainly known for Signature models. Stingrays are one of the most popular basses out there, period. MusicMan does have other popular, original models though such as the Sterling, Sabre and Bongo. Obviously Fender and Gibson are the two biggest American mass produced companies, but company can still be a production company even if it doesn't produce as much product as another one. Rickenbacker doesn't produce nearly the amount of instruments many other companies do, for example, but they are still a production company. I would consider MusicMan and G&L to be in the top 5 biggest American production companies, along with Gibson, Fender and Rickenbacker. The "Small Potatoes" (which I mean in no way derogatory, as I'm sure you didn't either. I like to support these kind of people.) are small, independent makers who build to order, the ones that truly are not mass produced/production companies. Companies like Birdsong Guitars, Delaney Guitars, Muckelroy Basses, Stambaugh Designs, Tom Clement basses, Nelson Instruments, Pedulla, etc.
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I hear ya man. I didn't mean it as a slight to Music Man at all. I just really do feel like its Gibson and Fender vs the rest. Their market share together in the US has to be huge! Music Man guitars are indeed high quality guitars. My thinking was that when you don't produce the amount comparable to the other guys you probably have an advantage being able to spend more time on each instrument in QC. For the sheer volume that Fender produces I'm impressed with their consistent quality is all I'm saying.

FWIW I would rather have a lot of these companies stay the size of MusicMan. A lot of times when I see companies like these expand their quality suffers.
 
#30
MrAtomic said:
I reluctantly agree. The build quality of the Japanese built Gretsch guitar and bass I owned (both were bought used) was spectacular. I am a cranky one when it comes to fit and finish, and these instruments were just beautiful. More impressive was that each had binding, multiple paint colors, and semi-hollow bodies.
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This is not meant as any kind of anti-American manufacturing statement, but I have owned and played many MIJ instruments since the early 80s and I've owned some that were made in the 70s. They've all been great guitars and basses--at least on par with the MIA stuff I've played and owned, aside from a couple that were obviously made specifically to be budget/beginner instruments such as some models of Hondo, etc.
 
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#33
Ya gotta return it. Not until the manufacturers have to start dealing with replacing stuff at their expense will they bother to change. As far as Fender is concerned - every bass delivered to a store, MF, dealer - those instruments are now "Sold" regardless if it has actually gotten to a musician yet. Only hitting their bottom line will make them change.
 
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#34
DiabolusInMusic said:
I hate to be "that guy" and downplay what appears to be a very serious issue for the OP but are you serious about #2? I have a really hard time seeing that as an issue...
Click to expand...

No, it wasn't an issue, but it was an indication that I was not the first person to have been shipped the supposedly brand new/never owned bass. That was my point; perhaps I should have been more clear what I was trying to say.
 
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#35
ZiggyDude said:
Ya gotta return it. Not until the manufacturers have to start dealing with replacing stuff at their expense will they bother to change. As far as Fender is concerned - every bass delivered to a store, MF, dealer - those instruments are now "Sold" regardless if it has actually gotten to a musician yet. Only hitting their bottom line will make them change.
Click to expand...

Return label sent to me by MF, and the bass is already with UPS on its way back. ;)
 
#39
Salicete said:
1. Inner box was obviously opened previously. Perhaps MF inspected it, who knows...

2. Hang tags removed from tuning keys and crammed into case compartment.

3. Plastic protective covering removed from tuning keys and from pickguard, maybe the reissues don't come that way, but I'm betting they are supposed to.


... I'm not one of those hyper-picky people.
Click to expand...

Of course you aren't.
 
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#40
I have an American Vintage Series '64 Jazz Bass, too. One from the limited production run in Daphne Blue.
The AV Series comes with plastic covering of the tuning keys and pickguard. So your bass wasn't brand new. In order to remove the covering you have to unscrew the thumbrest and the pickup-cover. I'm too lazy to do this, so on mine there is still a bit of the covering after six month of owning it. If I would buy a bass and wouldn't be absolutely sure that I want to keep it, I certainly wouldn't remove the covering. Here in Germany, Thomann for example would sell such a bass as B-stock and make it 100,--200,- cheaper. As a customer I couldn't care less if I like an instrument but Salicete is correct in criticizing MF. As a shop they simply can't sell a used product as factory-new. They would have to simply tell the potential client that it was tried out or inspected. I very well understand the perspective of the shops too: everybody wants to try everything out or wants to have the right to send it back but everyone wants to buy "untouched" gods (guitars might be a bit of an exception) or otherwise want to pay less. That doesn't fit together.


The finish on this series is extremely thin. Many customers seem to like this. Some users complain. They come with pre-mounted ashtrays and pickup covers. If you remove the ashtray and inspect the finish on many instruments - like on mine for example - you see traces of the removed ashtray on the finish. One could argue that they installed them to early before the finish was dry. Maybe it would always be that way on such a thin finish. I don't know. Have to admit I don't care much. But it might be hard for Fender. Some complain if the finish is to thick, some complain if it is too sensitive...

That's not to say your dissatisfaction with Fender or MF isn't justified.
And as you mentioned: we talk about a 2.000,-+ instrument.

It's a fantastic instrument. But for example on mine the pickguard doesn't fit to the shielding plate on the electronics. Not a big issue either but I don't find any cosmetic "mistakes" on any of my 6 (!) japanese Fenders.
 
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