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Return Used Fender Custom Shop Bass?

Would you return this?

  • Yes

  • No

Results are only viewable after voting.
#41
A Fender with a functioning truss rod should be able to accommodate even La Bella old 1954's with a 110 E string, never mind putting light strings on it. If it doesn't have enough left to straighten out the neck, the truss rod is bad. Maxxed out truss rods are bad and will not get better, probably worse. He paid 3 grand for this thing and some of you guys are saying a maxed out truss rod is no big deal on a $3000.00 bass, put light strings on it and call it a day? Gimme a break. My question now is it really maxxed out? Something tells me the OP didn't try to tighten it.
 
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#42
goldendomer04 said:
Hey TB,

I am torn making a decision and thought I would see what the masses would do.

I love the classic Fender Jazz Bass sound, but have become seriously spoiled by lightweight basses and that usually makes Fender Custom Shop Jazz Basses a no-go for me.

This past week I wasn’t really looking for a new bass, but I came across a FCS Jazz bass that was advertised as under 8lbs (with covers) so I had to see it. The bass arrived weighing just over 8lbs on my scale and is the lightest FCS Jazz I’ve come across.

The neck shape feels great, pickups sound great, but there are some issues. A shim has been added, the truss rod is maxed out and the action still is not quite where I like it. It’s good but not great.

Would you all return the bass ($3k) or fix the issues and enjoy it?

The reasonable part of me wants to return the bass on principle, but I really am excited about adding some Gotoh Res-O-Lites and enjoying this for years to come.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

There’s no way I’d be happy paying $3k for any bass with a maxed out truss rod and “good but not great” action.

I’d return it without thinking twice.
 
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#43
fourstringburn said:
Aren't those issues part of being the reliced flavor where an instrument shows years of wear
and abuse?

The OP didn't specify if it was used or bought new from a dealer. Either way, it's a shame on a pricey instrument there is a truss rod problem which can cause action issues.

Maybe I'm in the minority but I can’t see spending thousands of dollars on a relic or trashed out looking "new" instrument.

When I was considering a C.S. Fender Jazz the only ones readily available were reliced. The only way to get a closet classic is special order which had a year or more lead time.

If the Bass was bought new, I would get it repaired while under warranty if this Bass is truly what you want. If not, getting the neck repaired could be pricey where I would just return it and look around for another but maybe buy new where you have a warranty.
Click to expand...

No: a maxed out truss rod, and good but not great action, is in no way “part of the reliced flavor”.
 
#46
For $3000+ you could put a very nice J-bass together, with a MJT body and maybe a real early 70's Jazz neck or 80's JV Jazz neck, if you do your shopping well. ... I've yet to come across the CS I'd drop that much money for.
 
#47
Acoop said:
For $3000+ you could put a very nice J-bass together, with a MJT body and maybe a real early 70's Jazz neck or 80's JV Jazz neck, if you do your shopping well. ... I've yet to come across the CS I'd drop that much money for.
Click to expand...

My Jazz is comprised of an MJT Fiesta Red body, Fender AO neck (for a reduced/sale price), Fralin pickups, weighs 7.6 pounds, handles 55-105 Fender 9050M flats with no problem, stable neck, no dead spot, etc. It certainly didn't cost me $3K.
 
Last edited:
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#50
I didn't read all the replies.....

If the bass has a heel adjusted truss rod, just add a truss rod washer. I wouldn't let this scare me one bit. As for the neck shim, not sure why that would be a turn off it's a bolt on instrument that's just part of the gig. If any of the above bothers you now, it will bother you later. For that last part, I'd return it.
 
#51
$3K for a bass with a maxed out truss rod? Yeah, nope. Return it. It will just be a bigger problem then it’s worth. Get your money back and find another FCS bass. There are a bunch out there that are all amazing!
 
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#52
Not much discussion about the dreadful shim... I have seen Fender systematically routing the neck pocket too deep into the bodies since well over a decade. The neck angle is right, it is just too low from the face of the body. Even with the string barrels flat on the bottom of the bridge, the strings are 3 times as far from the fretboard, as Fender's own specifications say. Then, supposedly, shimming is the solution.

As usual, Ibanez Talman basses for USD 200, Danelectro "toy" basses (not my opinion), lowly Squiers, Warwick Rockbasses, low end Yamahas and Epiphones, and so on can be perfectly setup, with reserves in any direction without any shims, but flagship Fender products need a shim. Or three..
 
#57
Shimming is nt necessarily a bad thing and Fender even did their built-in system for neck tilt.
However, a new bass with the truss-rod maxed out is a ref-flag for sure, unless their roadworn experience has upped the game to simulate years of use too! :-)
 
#59
goldendomer04 said:
Hey TB,

I am torn making a decision and thought I would see what the masses would do.

I love the classic Fender Jazz Bass sound, but have become seriously spoiled by lightweight basses and that usually makes Fender Custom Shop Jazz Basses a no-go for me.

This past week I wasn’t really looking for a new bass, but I came across a FCS Jazz bass that was advertised as under 8lbs (with covers) so I had to see it. The bass arrived weighing just over 8lbs on my scale and is the lightest FCS Jazz I’ve come across.

The neck shape feels great, pickups sound great, but there are some issues. A shim has been added, the truss rod is maxed out and the action still is not quite where I like it. It’s good but not great.

Would you all return the bass ($3k) or fix the issues and enjoy it?

The reasonable part of me wants to return the bass on principle, but I really am excited about adding some Gotoh Res-O-Lites and enjoying this for years to come.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I don't find any interest to add gotoh stuff on a Custom Shop bass. If you prefer doing this, buy the new models which have the kind of hardware you want ! And concerning the problems that you have with the neck, the really best is to return the bass to Fender. Definitely.
 
#60
goldendomer04 said:
Hey TB,

I am torn making a decision and thought I would see what the masses would do.

I love the classic Fender Jazz Bass sound, but have become seriously spoiled by lightweight basses and that usually makes Fender Custom Shop Jazz Basses a no-go for me.

This past week I wasn’t really looking for a new bass, but I came across a FCS Jazz bass that was advertised as under 8lbs (with covers) so I had to see it. The bass arrived weighing just over 8lbs on my scale and is the lightest FCS Jazz I’ve come across.

The neck shape feels great, pickups sound great, but there are some issues. A shim has been added, the truss rod is maxed out and the action still is not quite where I like it. It’s good but not great.

Would you all return the bass ($3k) or fix the issues and enjoy it?

The reasonable part of me wants to return the bass on principle, but I really am excited about adding some Gotoh Res-O-Lites and enjoying this for years to come.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I know it's probably a bit of a hassle to teturn the bass but with the shim, the maxed out truss rod and the price, I think you could well end up kicking yourself if you don't return it. That would be in the back of my head, getting on my nerves the whole time unless the price means nothing. Then maybe I'd keep it, so long as everything else, colour, headstock shape, the look, the sound of the bass is 100% perfect.
 
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