it's a QC thing , we could go all day and name almost every manufacture that has let out QC issues . Built on a Friday perhaps ? lol .At the very least the dealer should have caught it . Best of Luck OP , let us know how it goes .
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1st things first - does the instrument play and sound great? If the answer is no or, it's not great, consider returning the bass for a different instrument. If the answer is that the bass is great and you have a few minor issues, by all means, keep this bass.
The pickup tilt is easy to fix; remove the pickup screw and pull out the pickup, adjust the foam so is it sits in the middle of the pickup, not to one side causing it to tilt. That will address the address off-axis (side to side) tilt. I had this same issue, this fixed it.
Pick Guard: Fender sends a new pickguard, which should address that.
The pickup tilt is easy to fix; remove the pickup screw and pull out the pickup, adjust the foam so is it sits in the middle of the pickup, not to one side causing it to tilt. That will address the address off-axis (side to side) tilt. I had this same issue, this fixed it.
Pick Guard: Fender sends a new pickguard, which should address that.
The angle on your pickup is not unusual. Pickups are adjusted to get even volume across the strings. You can Google how to adjust pickup height and adjust them yourself easily.
The warped pickguard is not right and would bother me. I think you have a few choices:
(1) Exchange the bass from wherever you bought it.
(2) Call them and see if they will (or can) send you a replacement pickguard.
(3) Buy a new pickguard from Amazon for about $12. You can get nearly any color or design you want and your new bass will look even better. The link below is one that I've bought before and it fit perfectly.
https://www.amazon.com/Musiclily-Pr...jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
The warped pickguard is not right and would bother me. I think you have a few choices:
(1) Exchange the bass from wherever you bought it.
(2) Call them and see if they will (or can) send you a replacement pickguard.
(3) Buy a new pickguard from Amazon for about $12. You can get nearly any color or design you want and your new bass will look even better. The link below is one that I've bought before and it fit perfectly.
https://www.amazon.com/Musiclily-Pr...jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
As an Amazon Associate, TalkBass may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via links on this site.
That’s all Fender family instruments at the moment. The Burgundy Mist Squier Jazz I got back in July was a QC catastrophe. I get it; you lose some skilled guys to COVID and it takes a while to get everything and everyone back up to speed. Nothing I couldn’t fix, but also nothing I’d want a beginner to TRY to fix, because they wouldn’t have been able to. Everything from finish issues to wires sticking out from under the control plate. A real mess. Matters more for beginners instruments than pros, because pro instruments usually get some sort of attention before they go out but starter instruments don’t (with the happy exception of the Praxis-built Sterling basses, which are just 100% out of the box; truly impressive).
Looks like a good place to store a pick. 
On a new non-relic instrument this is not normal... if you just bought it under warranty, I would return, exchange, or have repaired.
This can happen with a warped pickguard, and it can also happen if the holes in the body and/or the pickguard are drilled off-spec. To fix it myself, I would first try a different pickguard. If that doesn't fix, you could try redrilling the holes in the body to match the pickguard you want to use. However, if the new holes would have to be super close to the existing holes, that might require a little more work (toothpicks & glue) to get things squared away.
On a new non-relic instrument this is not normal... if you just bought it under warranty, I would return, exchange, or have repaired.
This can happen with a warped pickguard, and it can also happen if the holes in the body and/or the pickguard are drilled off-spec. To fix it myself, I would first try a different pickguard. If that doesn't fix, you could try redrilling the holes in the body to match the pickguard you want to use. However, if the new holes would have to be super close to the existing holes, that might require a little more work (toothpicks & glue) to get things squared away.
I’ve had warped pickguards on many basses, I wouldn’t worry about it.
if it really bothers you, There’s a couple of ways to try and fix the guard, although you risk making things worse: google “how to fix a warped pickguard”, there’s plenty of videos.
if it really bothers you, There’s a couple of ways to try and fix the guard, although you risk making things worse: google “how to fix a warped pickguard”, there’s plenty of videos.
Fender pickups will tilt like that on their own. Most of the time you can just loosen the screws a little and adjust them back; I lower the pups on all of my P's and seat them correctly then
It won't make your bass sound different. I recommend keeping it and using it as a gig bass
It won't make your bass sound different. I recommend keeping it and using it as a gig bass
That happens a lot with any pickup that only has 2 screws. We leared in school that it takes 3 points to define a plane, hence 3 screws to properly align a pickup. But you can usually straighten it out by moving the foam that's behind the pickup a bit. I use a couple strips of foam, so there's a lot of width of foam across the shorter dimension of the pickup; that tends to get it on the straight and level.
Actually, holes in guard and holes in the body not lining up can cause a hump up, as can over tightening the screws. When you install the guard run all your screws down to where the taper on the head is in the countersink but not bearing on the guard. Once there start at the neck and seat each screw on both sides of the neck, press down the guard and seat the next screw on either side. Do this until all your screws are seated, working around both sides of the guard in sequence, then look for any screw head not centered in it’s countersink. If it’s just a little off and your guard is flat, let it go. If your head is too far off or you have a hump, your only real cure is fill the offending body hole, carefully center drill the new screw location and run your screw down.
If you're thinking about returning, don't work on it. Let Thomann get back to you on what they want you to do.
There are 2 roads here. One is easy, but frustrating and your odds of success is only 50%. The other is an adventure and learning experience where your odds of success is 90%. You can either 1) Return the bass or... 2) remove pickguard and pickup. (maybe add shielding tape before you close). Ditch the PG you're holding and get a new PG of your color choice (amazon). Properly install PG and pickups. Whats to think about.... its #2.....
A new pickguard is a great solution for Thomann, but I would decline and return it. Your pickguard might be completely fine and perfect, but the holes/pickup placement, neck joint may be slightly out of spec. In which case a new pickguard wont change anything.
I’m not sure why this isn’t the overwhelming response. I read a thread the other day, where a TB member received a ,I believe, Squier bass as a gift. Upon close inspection he found a defect on the finger board that he stated was probably cosmetic only. The majority of responses in that thread were of the return it and get a perfect one opinion. This is a Fender bass, close to double the MSRP, purchased new from a major retailer. Box it up. Send it back. Period.
