Here's a link to the rule regarding the bashing of relic finishes in the Basses forum. I'll let that speak for itself.
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Roadworn Basses Opinions
- Thread starter Bassist30
- Start date
To me it is like going to a car dealer and asking if he has a new car that has rust, banged up fenders, and some broken glass.
Or maybe like going to car dealer and saying - I needs to be comfortable, have a decent motor, and run pretty well. I am not really concerned with how pretty. oh, you have an old rambler? Ok lets look at it.....I kind of like the way it feels......runs well enough and well.....kind of grows on me. COOL - I'll take it! Then a few other people say......I like your rambler....thats cool.....while a few say - eh.....I would rather have a big truck, new tricked out vrroooom vrrroooom car or clean old caddy or muscle car completely restored, or better yet intact.
its all about what moves you man.
its all about what moves you man.
Roadworn instruments are an attempt to buy authenticity.
“Postmodernity is said to be a culture of fragmentary sensations, eclectic nostalgia, disposable simulacra, and promiscuous superficiality, in which the traditionally valued qualities of depth, coherence, meaning, originality, and authenticity are evacuated or dissolved amid the random swirl of empty signals.”
― Jean Baudrillard
“Postmodernity is said to be a culture of fragmentary sensations, eclectic nostalgia, disposable simulacra, and promiscuous superficiality, in which the traditionally valued qualities of depth, coherence, meaning, originality, and authenticity are evacuated or dissolved amid the random swirl of empty signals.”
― Jean Baudrillard
Yes I can disagree. If it was about looking cool because it is an aged instrument I would play my original 60's basses (one of which I have played regularly since 1969). I like the road worn because it is light, and feels/sounds good. And I wanted a Fiesta Red Jazz and that color is not often an option in other models.
One from other (possibly) reasons:
I can accept what other people like, even if it's different than me.
I know that for some people, the distressed/roadworn look of an instrument is like a visual art that they enjoy and appreciate.
There are some shiny mint looking basses I love to see. But I also love to see some (good) distressed/roadworn basses. Naturally or fabricated.
If it's good, it is beautiful art for me.
I can accept what other people like, even if it's different than me.
I know that for some people, the distressed/roadworn look of an instrument is like a visual art that they enjoy and appreciate.
There are some shiny mint looking basses I love to see. But I also love to see some (good) distressed/roadworn basses. Naturally or fabricated.
If it's good, it is beautiful art for me.
I bought a Road Worn P several months ago, and I have been very pleased so far. It's a great bass all around. I have a couple of other basses I might give a slight edge to overall if I had to rank them, but I paid much more for those. If this was my only bass, I am sure that I would be quite content.
Regarding the finish, I actually think it's pretty cool, not so much because of the dings, nicks, and worn spots, but because of the dulled overall look to the paint. I think it goes well with the 2TSB look, which I was a little worried about prior to purchasing, but it looks much better in person. I don't think pictures can capture this very well. I find shiny finishes a little boring.
I got rear ended on the way to work several weeks ago, and I have a pretty deep scrape on my back bumper now. I am thinking about just leaving it there and not getting it fixed because I won't have to worry so much about the next one. If this sounds like you, the Road Worn is your bass. If not, you should still give it a shot; it's a great bass.
Regarding the finish, I actually think it's pretty cool, not so much because of the dings, nicks, and worn spots, but because of the dulled overall look to the paint. I think it goes well with the 2TSB look, which I was a little worried about prior to purchasing, but it looks much better in person. I don't think pictures can capture this very well. I find shiny finishes a little boring.
I got rear ended on the way to work several weeks ago, and I have a pretty deep scrape on my back bumper now. I am thinking about just leaving it there and not getting it fixed because I won't have to worry so much about the next one. If this sounds like you, the Road Worn is your bass. If not, you should still give it a shot; it's a great bass.
or a suitable alternative to bringing an expensive vintage instrument on the road. Priorities vary from player to player.
Wanting to present the image of playing an expensive vintage instrument on tour is consistent an attempt to falsify authenticity.
People keep arguing about play-feel of the roadworn instruments - how does a weathered slightly rusted bridge or random chunks of paint being worn off the body affect play-feel? I don't see necks mentioned on any of their marketing material - here's how Fender describes the product:
FENDER.COM" said:
That "authentic vibe" they're talking about? That's the ephemeral "coolness" they're trying to cop from a vintage instrument. A vintage instrument tells a story - a person who is appreciating a vintage bass or guitar is unavoidably imagining the gigs it has seen, the experiences of the previous players. It carries with it the luggage of history, of being a new and exciting tool for new styles of music, an appreciation of a pure and authentic past. Roadworn instruments - or jeans that come with preworn holes, or any number of similar products - by their mere existence mine a past that it is immediately more genuine, if solely because there was no such product in that past. At the same time they devalue the past that they emulate, while simultaneously limiting themselves from creating new meaning by being little more than a simulcra of the past.
"This is not the greatest song in the world, this is just a - tribute".
Wow. This is obviously very important to you. To go so far as to quote the (much respected) Fender marketing department.
You win. I'll do what you say. What would you like for me to to wear to work tomorrow, mom?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulacra_and_Simulation
"Simulacra and Simulation is most known for its discussion of symbols, signs, and how they relate to contemporaneity (simultaneous existences). Baudrillard claims that our current society has replaced all reality and meaning with symbols and signs, and that human experience is of a simulation of reality. Moreover, these simulacra are not merely mediations of reality, nor even deceptive mediations of reality; they are not based in a reality nor do they hide a reality, they simply hide that anything like reality is relevant to our current understanding of our lives. The simulacra that Baudrillard refers to are the significations and symbolism of culture and media that construct perceived reality, the acquired understanding by which our lives and shared existence is and are rendered legible; Baudrillard believed that society has become so saturated with these simulacra and our lives so saturated with the constructs of society that all meaning was being rendered meaningless by being infinitely mutable. Baudrillard called this phenomenon the "precession of simulacra"."
This is perhaps overthinking it just a bit. Do today's American Standards devalue the past they emulate?
I think most people would fess up about their basses being a lowly MIM Fender knockoff if questioned. Hopefully, that makes you feel better.
I don't think you understand what it's saying. An American Standard is every bit as authentic as one from the past - it is not presented as something other than itself. It is when they are artificially weathered to reflect what an instrument from the past likely looks like now that they become an artifice.
As always, it's amusing to see people try to force their subjective opinion down other peoples throats as if their opinion is the only one that matters, and the only one that is correct.
No, I completely understand what you were saying, but I just posed a new question. Today's Fenders are all emulating the past. That's why we buy them, right? So what if they come out of the factory with a few scrapes and bruises? I see where you are coming from. I just don't think it's that big of a deal.
Your assumption is that the player's choice of instrument is based entirely upon image, and not personal preference.
What is the foundation of that personal preference?
I'm certainly not arguing that it is "right" or "wrong" to play a Roadworn, but I do believe many people are purchasing them for an image. There's nothing wrong with presenting an image, although it is often self-defeating.
