What is your opinion of these basses? Not sure if I even heard one. They look so vintage yet not sure if they replicate the tone nor the feel. Went to a few stores yet never seen one available to try. The P bass caught my interest, but would like to hear a few opinions.
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Roadworn Basses Opinions
- Thread starter Bassist30
- Start date
Though I've never owned one, I've read a lot about them on here and they seem to be held in general high regard. My experience is only from picking one up here and there in a music store - some of the best feeling necks on a four string that I've ever put my hands on. I don't care for the relics aesthetically though but if I played four string basses I could get past that for the great feeling necks. Here's one of the bigger threads that's still active and has been around for a couple of years that might be worth a read...
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/thoughts-on-roadworn-fenders.855006/
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/thoughts-on-roadworn-fenders.855006/
They replicate the tone and feel very well! They are as close to vintage vibe in a new instrument as you're going to find.
/rick
/rick
I have a 50's roadworn P, and I think it's a really excellent bass. My tech was surprised how nice it was too, although we did switch out the wiring and caps for better components. Neck feels great. If I didn't love my Nash so much, the road worn would be my main.
I've compared the Nash with a true 55-P, and they felt/sounded very similar. Compared to the two, the road worn feels/sounds more modern to me. That said, different pickup configuration and neck profile already make them different animals.
I've compared the Nash with a true 55-P, and they felt/sounded very similar. Compared to the two, the road worn feels/sounds more modern to me. That said, different pickup configuration and neck profile already make them different animals.
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My Opinion is, it seems kinda foolish to buy a brand new instrument that looks like its seen 30 yrs of gigs & use. If I'm laying out serious cash for an instrument (and for me , anything over $300.00 is serious cash - I'm broke!!) I want that SOB to look BFN!!
Having owned vintage instruments and roadworns I can say the necks on the roadworns are great and the relic wear done well , but the bodies wear is very, very cheesy and fake looking and I dont like it. If I were to get another roadworn I would stripe it natural or refinish it as I just cant dig the faux body wear.
I've found the finish to be cheesy and kindof obviously fake, no offense to them, but the one road-worn P-bass I played at a local music store was amazing in every other regard - tone and feel were just the way a P-bass should feel IMO.
- Oct 18, 2012
- 6,683
- 5,538
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Fender, Spector, Ampeg, Curt Mangan, Nordstrand Pickups, Korg , Conquest Sound
To me, it just seems like an excuse for Fender to charge more money for something that looks old.
To me the relic-ing all looks to be very similar and similarly cheesy. It's kind of strange seeing more than one on a wall next to each other with pretty much identical "wear" but the ones I've tried play very well and sound very good.
I agree with others that, if I bought one, I'd most likely strip the body finish or at least relic it more.
I agree with others that, if I bought one, I'd most likely strip the body finish or at least relic it more.
The reason I asked maybe fender was using any grade wood (alder, Rosewood) and scuff it up and charge a price not relative to its parts. Someone brought that to my attention, yet I am not sure he was right or just giving an opinion. A friend of mine has a jazz and likes it. But I have not heard it.
I've wanted one for a while. They really seem to hold their value. Impressive for a MIM bass.
I played a jazz at GC once and it was light as a feather and resonated like nothing else. I kick myself for not grabbing it.
I played a jazz at GC once and it was light as a feather and resonated like nothing else. I kick myself for not grabbing it.
From what I understand (and as always, I could be completely or partially wrong), the alder wood used in the bodies has been kiln dried as part of the "aging" process. A side effect is this reduces weight in the wood used in these bodies. If you can get beyond the aesthetics of the road worn look, playability and tone are rated close to / as good as / or better than similar AVRIs and CS basses costing much more. I now have a RW P, and love the low weight, playability and tone!
The only mod I have done is to replace the pots with CTS, and the tone pot is now a no-load. I have also tried a Lollar P pup, but put the original back in.
The only mod I have done is to replace the pots with CTS, and the tone pot is now a no-load. I have also tried a Lollar P pup, but put the original back in.
I like old, used Fender basses, and back in the day, in my town, you could walk into a half dozen stores that had at least a dozen to choose from; starting at about $300 for a mid-70's. You can't do that anymore, those days have passed. It makes perfect sense to me why Fender would offer the Road Worn series. They are for those of us that like old, used Fenders, but don't want, or don't have the means, to spend thousands to acquire one. I have a Road Worn Precision in Fiesta that I bought used for $750, and I dig everything about it; the weight, the nitro, the relicing, the tone, neck shape, etc.
I got my RW Jazz in SB for $500. It plays great, looks great, and sounds great. If I can find a second for $500, I will have two, and if that is silly to anyone, I really don't care. I have Chromes on it, put on about 45 years ago and I love it. I think I have 9 basses right now, another would not hurt my feelings, especially if it was another Roadworn Jazz!
Edit - Additional comment.....
I hadn't realized it......the pic in my avatar is one someone put some kind of artistic effect on when I played with Bob Margolin at a show I was doing sound for......and THAT is my pretentious Roadworn.
Edit - Additional comment.....
I hadn't realized it......the pic in my avatar is one someone put some kind of artistic effect on when I played with Bob Margolin at a show I was doing sound for......and THAT is my pretentious Roadworn.
I have 2 Jazz RW and they are great playing and sounding instruments. Compares very well to my 62 reissue.
