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Roadworn Basses Opinions

#221
wvbass said:
I think this may be the best post of this thread. Vanity is silly, but it also makes the bass world thrive. If we didn't have color preferences, body shape preferences, wood preferences, etc. that are largely related to the visual aspects of the instrument, there wouldn't be a market for all the different brands, models and price points that we currently enjoy.

To me the "a tort pickguard is always the best choice" is far more of an issue than a road worn finish. To my eye, tort only works of a very small range of finishes. (sunburst, natural, white) All basses can get dents and dings over time, and when and how they happened isn't really relevant to the instrument's current appearance.
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I don't want to get sucked back into this, since I know I'm bordering on invoking the wrath of the TB hive here, but there's "silly" and then there's "SILLY". A roadworn bass, to me, doesn't look silly - it's a bass that has been used / abused and looks it. A hello Kitty bass -THAT looks silly. But a person buying anything that is built to look not-new... That's a different kind silly to me. And yes, this includes expensive basses like Fender Custom shop or, what I recently saw at Bass San Diego - Nash basses:

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I have no doubt some folks would love these - folks on this thread, I suspect. It is there right to do so, just as it is my (and a few other folks on this thread) have the right to roll my eyes. :rolleyes:. In the end, it's really is about what you like to play.
 
#222
hhenry said:
Bit of a thread hijack here, but...... Does anyone know where to get or how to make a distressed finished bridge cover that would not look out of place on a Fender RoadWorn?

Thanks in advance.
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MJTagedcustom also sells bits and pieces...They can also be found on ebay.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

You can find how-tos on youtube and Googling gives lots of articles.
 
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#226
elBandito said:
I don't see why fender can't sell "unrelic'ed" roadworn models. It would actually be cheaper for them to skip the relicing process altogether.
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I agree. Gibson sells an "aged" finish on some of their custom shop models and I think it looks good. A guitarist in a previous band had an R9 with this finish. The only difference I could see between it and a NOS R9 was that the metals were aged and didn't look so shiny. He went to the CS factory and chose that one out of 4 racks of R9's because it had killer tone. Body looked new. He's a great guitarist and I don't think anyone really notices the differences between it and NOS. He is playing at the "Julian Blues Bash" this summer. You can hear him play (with me) on their website. Boscoe France. I am no longer with the band but am on the videos. you can see his guitar there.
I'm not crazy about the RW relicing-wish mine had the old looking paint job without the dings, but Fender doesn't offer it.
 
#227
I forgot to mention in my last post, but one thing that I didn't like on my rw Jazz was the pg. it didn't look aged properly compared to the rest of the body, and the tort didn't look good.
 
#228
SanDiegoHarry said:
I don't want to get sucked back into this, since I know I'm bordering on invoking the wrath of the TB hive here, but there's "silly" and then there's "SILLY". A roadworn bass, to me, doesn't look silly - it's a bass that has been used / abused and looks it. A hello Kitty bass -THAT looks silly. But a person buying anything that is built to look not-new... That's a different kind silly to me. And yes, this includes expensive basses like Fender Custom shop or, what I recently saw at Bass San Diego - Nash basses:

Link Removed

I have no doubt some folks would love these - folks on this thread, I suspect. It is there right to do so, just as it is my (and a few other folks on this thread) have the right to roll my eyes. :rolleyes:. In the end, it's really is about what you like to play.
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It's totally about what someone likes to play!

Just curious re: the Nash basses you mentioned. (the PB-55 I used to own was a great sounding instrument...)
If you saw/played those basses, and they were, in fact real beat-up vintage Fenders, would they look silly then?
Or is the premise that they're silly because they were newly- built to look aged?
I'm not questioning your dislike of the relic process; that's fine- I just got a new J-Bass and I'd be very unhappy if it became dinged or relic'ed in any way-
Just not sure of why an "aged-new" bass seems silly; personally I think that's the intent, and those Nash'es FCS, Sandbergs, G&L etc relics look anything but silly! Just my .02~
 
#229
SanDiegoHarry said:
...I have no doubt some folks would love these - folks on this thread, I suspect. It is there right to do so, just as it is my (and a few other folks on this thread) have the right to roll my eyes. :rolleyes:. In the end, it's really is about what you like to play.
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A strange contradictory post. You say people have the right to play what they want - to ignore bass snobs looking down their noses at their choice.... then maintain your right to roll your eyes at them. You're recommending that people ignore you. ;)

The few roadworns I've played I've loved the feel and tone of - really smooth silky action and has the vintage spec neck that feels great in my hands. I've often considered buying one - not because of its looks. "what people think" has never come into the equation.
 
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#230
SanDiegoHarry said:
I don't want to get sucked back into this, since I know I'm bordering on invoking the wrath of the TB hive here, but there's "silly" and then there's "SILLY". A roadworn bass, to me, doesn't look silly - it's a bass that has been used / abused and looks it. A hello Kitty bass -THAT looks silly. But a person buying anything that is built to look not-new... That's a different kind silly to me. And yes, this includes expensive basses like Fender Custom shop or, what I recently saw at Bass San Diego - Nash basses:

Link Removed

I have no doubt some folks would love these - folks on this thread, I suspect. It is there right to do so, just as it is my (and a few other folks on this thread) have the right to roll my eyes. :rolleyes:. In the end, it's really is about what you like to play.
Click to expand...

Actually I bought the two tone Nash at the bottom of the Bass San Diego page. Nothing silly about it unless folks are rolling eyes w/o actually playing them . Most fun bass I've owned in 45 years of having quality equipment, everyone who sees/hears/plays it loves it. But other folks opinion neither here nor there, I think it kills sound and playability wise

And if it gets banged against the cymbals when I get amped up could care less. Nitro finish works too.....Never thought I'd go for it until my guitar player, who had played them, pushed me to go check it out cause he knows I get tweaked when I ding the expensive perfect stuff

Total convert, Nash PB63 is only bass seeing daylight these days
 
#231
vin*tone said:
A strange contradictory post. You say people have the right to play what they want - to ignore bass snobs looking down their noses at their choice.... then maintain your right to roll your eyes at them. You're recommending that people ignore you. ;)

The few roadworns I've played I've loved the feel and tone of - really smooth silky action and has the vintage spec neck that feels great in my hands. I've often considered buying one - not because of its looks. "what people think" has never come into the equation.
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It is my right to be a "bass snob" just as it is your right to ignore me. Freedom, man!
 
#232
Not yet said:
Actually I bought the two tone Nash at the bottom of the Bass San Diego page. Nothing silly about it unless folks are rolling eyes w/o actually playing them . Most fun bass I've owned in 45 years of having quality equipment, everyone who sees/hears/plays it loves it. But other folks opinion neither here nor there, I think it kills sound and playability wise

And if it gets banged against the cymbals when I get amped up could care less. Nitro finish works too.....Never thought I'd go for it until my guitar player, who had played them, pushed me to go check it out cause he knows I get tweaked when I ding the expensive perfect stuff

Total convert, Nash PB63 is only bass seeing daylight these days
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Glad you like it - and glad you did business with Bass SD - they're great guys. Me, I try not to whack into things, so I like my basses purty!
 
#233
Classic69 said:
It's totally about what someone likes to play!

Just curious re: the Nash basses you mentioned. (the PB-55 I used to own was a great sounding instrument...)
If you saw/played those basses, and they were, in fact real beat-up vintage Fenders, would they look silly then?
Or is the premise that they're silly because they were newly- built to look aged?
I'm not questioning your dislike of the relic process; that's fine- I just got a new J-Bass and I'd be very unhappy if it became dinged or relic'ed in any way-
Just not sure of why an "aged-new" bass seems silly; personally I think that's the intent, and those Nash'es FCS, Sandbergs, G&L etc relics look anything but silly! Just my .02~
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If they were actual old fender, they'd look like old abused Fenders - not silly, just old and beat up. New basses made to look old just seem silly to me (and many others) - but like I said, I don't want to get sucked into this. To each his own - including my right to my opinion.
 
#236
1) There is an established TB policy that specifically states that members are not to engage in relic bashing. Yet you continue to do so. Hmmmmm.....

2) If you don't care for any sort of relic or Roadworn sort of instrument, and have zero experience playing them, how is it that you're so capable of offering an informed opinion on those instruments? Hmmmm.....

3) What exactly IS your axe to grind with an instrument that another musician finds able to suit their purposes? WHO do you really think you are going to persuade with your bashing of relic finished instruments? Because if the thread shows us anything, it's that you really haven't convinced anybody to see your POV. Hmmmm....
 
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#237
SanDiegoHarry said:
It is my right to be a "bass snob" just as it is your right to ignore me. Freedom, man!
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Sure.

Of course it doesn't matter what bass you have there are always snobs. I had comments when I had a 5 string (What are you going to use that B string for?) I've had snobby comments directed to me using boutique basses (you need that to sound good?), snobby comments against a 71 Fender J (What a waste of money! My 2009 is just as good) Snobby comments against 4 string basses (My 5 will do all that and more!) A guy sniggered at my Jaguar (such a show-pony bass!) .... etc. It doesn't matter what you play - there is a bass snob who knows better than you.
 
#238
SanDiegoHarry said:
If they were actual old fender, they'd look like old abused Fenders - not silly, just old and beat up. New basses made to look old just seem silly to me (and many others) - but like I said, I don't want to get sucked into this. To each his own - including my right to my opinion.
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No worries, Harry, total respect for your opinion on relic's and I will defend your right to express!

FWIW-IME, most of our "bandmates", drummers, gitardists, keys, Vocals, etc. are all OBLIVIOUS to our instruments.
The audience as well of course.

Wouldn't know or care of the difference between a Fodera or Squire!

I have/had (2) basses that always drew compliments on the gig or at rehearsal:
A MM Bongo!! (Yep, they all dug it it's unique style and big tones;

... and my former Nash Medium Relic PB-55.
The players thought it was a real Vintage and were impressed with the vibe and ultimately the great tone-(I wasn't "posing" with it; like I mentioned, I loved the way the bass felt, played, and the Lollars-Yeh!) and the others (roadies, audience, on-lookers) all simply thought that an old MK Blonde s/c bass looked so frikkin' KEWL!.

And it did, even tho it was Brand spankin' new!!
 
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#239
Fender does sell unrelic'ed "Road Worn" basses. Its called the Classic Series Laquer. And, I'm fine with the road worn bashers if only because I now have more basses to choose from. ;) If you haven't played one then I'm not sure you can voice a valid opinion..
 

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