Thomann will make it right. They sent me bass that got damaged in shipping. They sent me a partial refund as well as a new tuner since one of them got scratched up.
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Not a rare condition. Most single ply pick-guards are warped from birth. I don’t know if I would totally cull a bass for a wavy pick guard, especially if the bass played and sounded good otherwise.
The fact you have a pickup at an angle (common if PG is pushing it toward the bridge) and a hump in the PG kinda indicates the pick guard is in a bind. Could be the pickup cutout or the neck cutout isn’t proper and they had to force the PG in place, which resulted in the hump developing in the guard over time. Could be the pickup is in the wrong place (by a tiny amount) putting pressure on the PG.
A PG should easily slip down over the pickup and slip down around the neck with little to no pressure. If it takes much pressure, the PG is cut wrong or the pickup is not in the correct location. It could even be the neck pocket is cut too deep toward the bridge, but not likely. I’d probably opt for a new bass if simple to swap. If not easy to get another bass, or if the one you have is great otherwise, another PG might cure all unless it’s a mis-located pickup, which is easy to fix also.
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I’ve got a fender P with a warped guard, made the end of 2020.
Warped on the bottom side.
Wasn’t initially warped.
Does not affect playability and it’s not on display.
I play the hell out of it.
It happens. Could be the pick guard material changed or a new vendor / supplier issue IE low bidder.
Doesn’t bother me anymore. I’m over it.
I Wonder if you could contact fender and get a new guard out of it.
I DON’T BELIEVE THIS TO BE A FENDER ONLY PHENOMENON. countdown to fender bashing 3.2.1…
Warped on the bottom side.
Wasn’t initially warped.
Does not affect playability and it’s not on display.
I play the hell out of it.
It happens. Could be the pick guard material changed or a new vendor / supplier issue IE low bidder.
Doesn’t bother me anymore. I’m over it.
I Wonder if you could contact fender and get a new guard out of it.
I DON’T BELIEVE THIS TO BE A FENDER ONLY PHENOMENON. countdown to fender bashing 3.2.1…
Thanks again, all.
So Thomann told me replacement of the whole bass is also an option but they also stated that replacement will not be available till 25.10.2022
I am guessing there is a supply chain shortage. I checked their website and all the right-handed non-b-stock Player Series P-Basses are out of stock and only available in several months.
So I decided not to go for a replacement because I really want to learn playing bass during this lockdown in winter. And the bass sounds ok to me.
As I mentioned before, Thomann has requested from Fender a new pickguard.
In the meantime, I will take my bass to a luthier nonetheless. Since I am a noob, I want a professional to check out the instrument. If the luthier spots other problems, then I will return my bass and request a refund.
If the luthier thinks bass is all fine but when the new pickguard comes it doesn't fit properly due to improper neck and/or pickup cutout (as @Tim Skaggs explained), I will return and ask for a refund in this case as well.
So Thomann told me replacement of the whole bass is also an option but they also stated that replacement will not be available till 25.10.2022
I am guessing there is a supply chain shortage. I checked their website and all the right-handed non-b-stock Player Series P-Basses are out of stock and only available in several months.
So I decided not to go for a replacement because I really want to learn playing bass during this lockdown in winter. And the bass sounds ok to me.
As I mentioned before, Thomann has requested from Fender a new pickguard.
In the meantime, I will take my bass to a luthier nonetheless. Since I am a noob, I want a professional to check out the instrument. If the luthier spots other problems, then I will return my bass and request a refund.
If the luthier thinks bass is all fine but when the new pickguard comes it doesn't fit properly due to improper neck and/or pickup cutout (as @Tim Skaggs explained), I will return and ask for a refund in this case as well.
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If a Porsche shows up with flat tire on the shipping dock in Long Beach California is the car B stock ?
This bass is made in Mexico mainly by machines . Stuff happens . Particularly with products at this price point . If one doesn't know how to fix this themselves , bring it to a pro . I doubt very much this bass is unplayable .
Even a $4,000 bass Im going to set it up myself . I don't see a problem with this bass .
This type of thing is pretty common.
this example is a bit more than normal
this isn’t “B” stock at all. It’s Fender “A” stock
Well this is why retailers pull this type of crap on people. If you come to expect to get a brand new product with warped pickguard, stripped screw holes etc more power to you. For me personally that's not what I expect from a brand new instrument.
Also a fairer comparison would be the hood of the Porsche rather than a flat tire.
This isn’t a retailer issue.
They sell what Fender provides.
They take a box off the pile of boxes in their warehouse, put a label on it, then ship it.
Very few online retailers actually inspect the item before shipping.
this is what happens when companies can charge a premium for a famous brand name , realizing that most consumers are buying that Legendary Fender sticker on the headstock rather than a perfect instrument.
The consumer ends up being disappointed when they get a mass produced Fender with QC issues.
This begins and ends with the manufacturer .
Until their bottom line takes a hit, they’ll keep pumping out inconsistent quality.
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I don't think so. Don't get me wrong, the problem is Fender QA, but these types of instruments with issues are caught and set to the side by retailers - you'll hear plenty of stories from people ordering online - I've never seen a warped pickguard on a bass hanging on the wall of a music store.
I’ve had pick guards warp because the cut around the neck pocket was too tight. If anything needs to be squeezed in (neck, pickups) that tension will transfer into warping. Even the screw holes off center could be causing it. I’d get a new guard and carefully install it, making sure everything fits together cleanly.
I’ve seen stuff hanging on display at some big chain retailers (Guitar Center Cough…cough…) that boggles the mind.
Warped pickguards, bent tuners, cracked paint, missing knobs, loose jacks, broken nuts, you name it.
I can’t say that It hasn’t crossed my mind , but I’m not quite ready to buy the conspiracy theory yet.
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I may be biased from years of ordering stuff from Thomann when I lived in Europe... Not a big fan of them.
Here is what I'd do:
1) Remove the pickguard.
2) Look for any wires or objects caught between the pickguard and the body. Remove or move them.
3) Get two pieces of heavy glass, sandwich the pickguard between them, and sit them in the sun. Check every couple of hours to see when the "hump" has been pressed flat.
4) Remove the glass and pickguard from the sun and let it cool off.
5) Re-install the pickguard, and pay attention to whether the pickup or anything else is binding or pushing on it. If so, eliminate that problem with a file if needed.
Play it.
The pickguard on my 1963 Precision has developed such a small bump, probably from the pickguard shrinking over time. I don't care.
1) Remove the pickguard.
2) Look for any wires or objects caught between the pickguard and the body. Remove or move them.
3) Get two pieces of heavy glass, sandwich the pickguard between them, and sit them in the sun. Check every couple of hours to see when the "hump" has been pressed flat.
4) Remove the glass and pickguard from the sun and let it cool off.
5) Re-install the pickguard, and pay attention to whether the pickup or anything else is binding or pushing on it. If so, eliminate that problem with a file if needed.
Play it.
The pickguard on my 1963 Precision has developed such a small bump, probably from the pickguard shrinking over time. I don't care.
My brand new Adam Clayton jazz had a bad orange peel paint job . I ordered directly from Fender to my front door . Bass plays and sounds amazing . I kept it . Then thanked Fender for a great sounding instrument at a reasonable price point . Best late model Jazz I've found yet .
I was thinking along the same trajectory. I wish mine did that so I could stash my picks there.
My lowly Squier came without this feature
Really? This is helpful. Feel better at least?
First, remove pick guard and straighten it using a clothes iron. Put a piece of cloth over it then iron it Flat. I've done it many times.
Second it's quite possible that pick up is slanted because the pick guard is tightly fitted on that side. If that's the case, fix by lightly filing that side of the pick guard opening.
Third, Enjoy your new Bass.
Second it's quite possible that pick up is slanted because the pick guard is tightly fitted on that side. If that's the case, fix by lightly filing that side of the pick guard opening.
Third, Enjoy your new Bass.
