I am curious as to why you are trying to provoke? Your comments seem calculated to attempt to stir up trouble.
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Roadworn Basses Opinions
- Thread starter Bassist30
- Start date
I am curious as to why you are trying to provoke? Your comments seem calculated to attempt to stir up trouble.
This is a concern. However, if road worn bodies are in fact 1/8" thinner and/or dried differently, as was suggested earlier I doubt that this is happening. It would be a pretty shrewd business move, though.
No.
maybe the audience..or fender sales feel that way. But it just isnt the case. (Usually)
The player who knows that there is no "real history" behind the bass that he just bought a week ago..isnt thinking theres some history there at all. Sorry to disappoint.
It seems more to me that the haters are mad cuz they really dont have any argument when it comes to playability of a RW. So they gotta rationalize it to themselves. :/
Look..I dont own one..played many..and as much as id love to hate them..just cant.
I dont like the reason fender sells them..ya k ow..the hipster coolness that they try to sell. Trouble is..they are a good instrument..and (most) musicians buy them cuz they are good.
the real problem seems to be people who question the look of what other people buy..and dont seem to give a rip about the playability. .sound...music..talent. .just those few in the crowd that judge with their eyes. So..who's pretentious here again?
jmo..live n let friggin live I say..cleary YMMV.
No offense meant to anyone..just trying to make a point.
To paraphrase: "I don't understand why folks read the words 'I don't like' or 'I wouldn't use" and take that as 'bashing'".
You want to play a fake old bass? Great. If you dont? Great. Either way, it's not skin of my nose - but make no mistake: You are playing that is fake-old. Nothing more.
+1!! I was lucky enough to be the proud owner of an original 62 Jazz bass (well almost original, it was born sunburst then someone sprayed it olympic white, I had it restored to sunburst ) anyway due to a good reason I had to sell it. My mate who owns 18 basses ranging from Warrior, Kubicki, Musicman, Modulus,
Warwick Thumb, Fender Jazz 71, MIM rubbish Jazz bass and a red Roadworn jazz bass, the list just goes on! The Roadworn feels like my old 62 irrefutable. He swapped the pickups out for antiquity II's. Not at all sure if that had improved the sound but hey it's not my bass! In any case I would recommend a Roadworn over any MIM bass even USA basses re-issues or any Fender after 75. My mate paid 800$ and most bass players visiting his jamming hub pick the Roadwarn over the 71 or the other baby's out of the pack! If I wasn't in love with my vintage fretless jazz, I'd be looking to get one asap.
I have no interest in a road worn style. I want my paint pristine, and if it gets scratched it will be because I scratched it.
I've gone (3) ways on the issue of relics/roadworn basses: ( I aim to please!)
When I decided to buy a FCS P-Bass I deliberately chose a NOS version, I wanted that bass to be pristine.
When I decided to buy a Sandberg VM4 I was delighted to get the Hardcore Aged Model; it's a great bass and Sandberg does a fantastic job of aging.
When I got my "Classic '69" P-Bass many years back, I did a "reverse relic" on it, and restored it to a players bass in both components and finish.
As far as Fender Roadworn basses. I've only heard very good things about how they play and sound.
So-
As far as relic instruments in general: Great; if that's what you want go for it! You'll not be a poser and either will the bass!
And if they are not to your taste, or for whatever reason the concept is offensive- Easy answer! Don't buy or play one!
When I decided to buy a FCS P-Bass I deliberately chose a NOS version, I wanted that bass to be pristine.
When I decided to buy a Sandberg VM4 I was delighted to get the Hardcore Aged Model; it's a great bass and Sandberg does a fantastic job of aging.
When I got my "Classic '69" P-Bass many years back, I did a "reverse relic" on it, and restored it to a players bass in both components and finish.
As far as Fender Roadworn basses. I've only heard very good things about how they play and sound.
So-
As far as relic instruments in general: Great; if that's what you want go for it! You'll not be a poser and either will the bass!
And if they are not to your taste, or for whatever reason the concept is offensive- Easy answer! Don't buy or play one!
So many judgmental people.
Play what you like, have fun, and make music. That's all that matters. Who cares what the tool is, as long as it gets the job done ?
Play what you like, have fun, and make music. That's all that matters. Who cares what the tool is, as long as it gets the job done ?
Uh...well you are calling an instrument I really love "fake". I would call that bashing. I don't comment on ANYONE around here who posts a pic of an instrument in a negative way because if they are happy with their instrument's finish, it would be sort of rude to tell them how much I can't stand it.
I bet if I showed a pic of my newly aquired '61 Precision, there would be nothing but compliments. Why? 9 out of 10 times the person showing their 'new' bass did not spend the last 50 years adding that 'mojo'. Would he/she be a poser or a fake?
It never ceases to amaze how angry some people get over the paint job on an instrument.
It is a form of snobery and prejudice if you ask me. Remember color (and paint) is only 'skin deep'.
If a Road Worn is a production bass where they are all "worn" alike, what is the point? I could maybe see it if each road worn bass was different. That is not a dig for those who like their Road Worn basses, it is just the way I see it.
I love my Roadworn because of how it sounds and plays. Period. At my last show, a patron came up and asked if mine was a pre-cbs and what year it was but I honestly don't know the year and don't care. He was puzzled by my lax attitude about it, too. Lol !
This thread is funny, A lot of people really have their Huggies in a wad over a bit of sanded off paint. Really? I am more concerned about playing over changes.
I have had several of the RW Jazz and they feel and sound great to me. If you cant afford to spend big thousands on a pre cbs Fender, I think these are a great super low cost alternative. Seems you would have to be really careful as there are lots of phony L Series fenders out there put together by scammers as well.
I have had several of the RW Jazz and they feel and sound great to me. If you cant afford to spend big thousands on a pre cbs Fender, I think these are a great super low cost alternative. Seems you would have to be really careful as there are lots of phony L Series fenders out there put together by scammers as well.
Hey guys, do you like my new post?
The insults and arrogance took me 3 minutes extra but I think it really adds to the condescension- thought everyone in the history of every fricking thread about reliced instruments that thinks anyone really cares about their opinion.
So here's the question: When someone is right, does that mean he's condescending or you're being touchy?
Who's angry? Not me. And I didn't say that that bass you so love is "Fake" - I said was "Fake old". You want to own an instrument that is designed to appear old but is not (that is rather the definition of fake-old, by the way) then fine - enjoy. You dig it, it's up to you. I would NEVER stand in the way of someone who wants something even if it's not to my tastes - but the simple fact is "distressing" is, in fact, dressing up something to appear to be old when in fact it is not. How is that not "fake"? I say EMBRACE IT. Own the Fake! That's what I'd do!
My main problem with the road-worn look on new instruments is that they try to look like something they're not. If I had an instrument I'd played the hell out for years and liked the look of it, that would be fine. Personally, though, I like my stuff to look mint for as long as possible. But hey, it takes all sorts.
Just going to throw this out there in the midst of this hailstorm.
I'm really surprised that in a group of guys that seem on average to be 2 to 3 times my age that this discussion has devolved into basically an argument about "how big of a poser" a finish job on a bass makes you.
From what I've been seeing nobody here is disputing that these instruments feel nice. They on average (and to avoid excessive YMMV, IMO, ETC. I concede this is all conjecture from lurking on tb and playing in GC) seem to be light. As a younger guy playing a 10.5lbs jazz I'd love to have a lighter jazz especially after reading about you older guys having spines made of glass and nitroglycerine.
When I bought my first bass worth mentioning (the only one that hasn't been sold/traded since I started playing bass if that says anything) I was almost too afraid to take it out to gigs. Here I was holding something that I had worked for nearly a year in a warehouse to afford. I ate peanut butter dolloped onto one slice of bread for lunch for months to afford my bass. Now, a few years later, I'm not as careful and my bass has a few chips and scars on it. Honest wear as some of you guys put it. This bass has earned its stripes, and to some folks it looks a bit ugly. Good for them. Unfortunately for me, it's retail value has also gone down (just in case I ever sell it, but hey that's the nature of the beast).
So here's where the want for a RW comes in. I play some real $h!7 holes. My current bass has a lot of sentimental value to me. I'd rather bring in a bass that feels good, is quality, and yet I don't care if some narb spills a beer on me while knocking a mic stand into it. If they're that into the music then I'm doing my job right
and I can take that in stride. I don't think it is a fair argument to make that someone on this board bought one of these issues just for the "cool" factor. Not because they shouldn't do that if they want, but because alot of people on here are players. Even if they bought it for that reason alone it seems a bit ridiculous to feel the need to virtually sit them down and let them know that what they like isn't "real". Of course there might be a fair share of the market buying for the cool factor, but does that even really matter or pertain to the discussion here on TB? Back on topic, a lot of folks (myself included) would rather a ding blend in with a worn looking finish than some ugly quarter sized chip sitting right smack dab in the center of a piano gloss finish. Either opinion is valid. I personally cannot stand piano black because it sucks fingerprints off from across the freaking galaxy.
Through playing them I've gathered that to me they'd make a good platform for guilt free modding, that they have a nice broken in feel generally speaking, that they are easy on the back, and that most folk think they sound good. Do we really need any better reason to play an instrument if it strikes your fancy?
Obviously I'm biased in that I don't mind the existence of these instruments (obviously), but I'm also not here to say you're wrong to not want one. I'm just trying to present a valid argument as to why they not only have there uses, but that there is absolutely no reason for the vitriolic, sarcastic, and passive aggressively hostile environment that is a direct contradiction to what drew many of us to talkbass in the first place.
As far as the "trying to be something its not" crowd is concerned, the instant someone tries to sell one as a real vintage instrument for a few thousand dollars I'll be right there crying foul that it's trying to be something it isn't. Until then, to me, it's just a different paint scheme. It's not this arduous strawman argument being thrown around here like someone is being paid to take a mallet to your bass. Although, if you'd like someone to do that I'd be more than happy to oblige you. Will that be cash or check?
Now that all that's been said, if any of you guys that hate this finish have one you'd like to offload on the cheap I'd be more than happy to take the hit for the team. Of course, in TB fashion, I'll be forced to negotiate you down if you've refinished it, even if it was done flawlessly, or if you've broken any solder joints.
I'm really surprised that in a group of guys that seem on average to be 2 to 3 times my age that this discussion has devolved into basically an argument about "how big of a poser" a finish job on a bass makes you.
From what I've been seeing nobody here is disputing that these instruments feel nice. They on average (and to avoid excessive YMMV, IMO, ETC. I concede this is all conjecture from lurking on tb and playing in GC) seem to be light. As a younger guy playing a 10.5lbs jazz I'd love to have a lighter jazz especially after reading about you older guys having spines made of glass and nitroglycerine.
When I bought my first bass worth mentioning (the only one that hasn't been sold/traded since I started playing bass if that says anything) I was almost too afraid to take it out to gigs. Here I was holding something that I had worked for nearly a year in a warehouse to afford. I ate peanut butter dolloped onto one slice of bread for lunch for months to afford my bass. Now, a few years later, I'm not as careful and my bass has a few chips and scars on it. Honest wear as some of you guys put it. This bass has earned its stripes, and to some folks it looks a bit ugly. Good for them. Unfortunately for me, it's retail value has also gone down (just in case I ever sell it, but hey that's the nature of the beast).
So here's where the want for a RW comes in. I play some real $h!7 holes. My current bass has a lot of sentimental value to me. I'd rather bring in a bass that feels good, is quality, and yet I don't care if some narb spills a beer on me while knocking a mic stand into it. If they're that into the music then I'm doing my job right
and I can take that in stride. I don't think it is a fair argument to make that someone on this board bought one of these issues just for the "cool" factor. Not because they shouldn't do that if they want, but because alot of people on here are players. Even if they bought it for that reason alone it seems a bit ridiculous to feel the need to virtually sit them down and let them know that what they like isn't "real". Of course there might be a fair share of the market buying for the cool factor, but does that even really matter or pertain to the discussion here on TB? Back on topic, a lot of folks (myself included) would rather a ding blend in with a worn looking finish than some ugly quarter sized chip sitting right smack dab in the center of a piano gloss finish. Either opinion is valid. I personally cannot stand piano black because it sucks fingerprints off from across the freaking galaxy.Through playing them I've gathered that to me they'd make a good platform for guilt free modding, that they have a nice broken in feel generally speaking, that they are easy on the back, and that most folk think they sound good. Do we really need any better reason to play an instrument if it strikes your fancy?
Obviously I'm biased in that I don't mind the existence of these instruments (obviously), but I'm also not here to say you're wrong to not want one. I'm just trying to present a valid argument as to why they not only have there uses, but that there is absolutely no reason for the vitriolic, sarcastic, and passive aggressively hostile environment that is a direct contradiction to what drew many of us to talkbass in the first place.
As far as the "trying to be something its not" crowd is concerned, the instant someone tries to sell one as a real vintage instrument for a few thousand dollars I'll be right there crying foul that it's trying to be something it isn't. Until then, to me, it's just a different paint scheme. It's not this arduous strawman argument being thrown around here like someone is being paid to take a mallet to your bass. Although, if you'd like someone to do that I'd be more than happy to oblige you. Will that be cash or check?
Now that all that's been said, if any of you guys that hate this finish have one you'd like to offload on the cheap I'd be more than happy to take the hit for the team. Of course, in TB fashion, I'll be forced to negotiate you down if you've refinished it, even if it was done flawlessly, or if you've broken any solder joints.
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Can't you understand that some RW bass owners that contribute in this thread clearly explain that the reason they chose the bass is not always about the visual design?
I don't understand why do you have to be so hard and loud and repeating in stating your dislike - although at the same time you always close with something like:
" I say EMBRACE IT. Own the Fake!".... ..."You want to play a fake old bass? Great"....
It's like, say, - I see you just start a new NBD thread about your new Sadowsky,..congrats - it's like if somebody comment about his dislike of your bass in that your thread.
Once maybe is no problem. but if he/she keep repeating and try hard to be loud in his/her statement that he/she doesn't like your bass...I don't understand that.
I'm sorry my english is not good enough, much less to be involved in long conversation, choice of words, etc, but that's what I think..
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Ok listen up bass peeps.
I owned a RW Jazz. which sadly I sold because it had a prob with the truss rod.....BUT! apart from that it was the sweetest sounding , lightest and nicest feeling Jazz bass I have ever played.
I did some checks on it cause I'm a tinkerer and love to find out about stuff.
Pros
The headstock is thin back to front just like a vintage jazz, unlike my 70's P headstock which is a lot thicker.
The body is thinner back to front and does appear to be very dry
The wear Fender imparts on the neck and the tint on the headstock is sublime....absolutely beautiful.
The pickups appear to be quite hot..
Cons
The wear on the body is not very good and the sunburst looks dull and not very realistic Come on Fender this is just not good enough!!
Anyway, I still think they are absolutely fantastic instruments and if I could find another light one without the truss rod probs I'd buy it in a heartbeat....
I owned a RW Jazz. which sadly I sold because it had a prob with the truss rod.....BUT! apart from that it was the sweetest sounding , lightest and nicest feeling Jazz bass I have ever played.
I did some checks on it cause I'm a tinkerer and love to find out about stuff.
Pros
The headstock is thin back to front just like a vintage jazz, unlike my 70's P headstock which is a lot thicker.
The body is thinner back to front and does appear to be very dry
The wear Fender imparts on the neck and the tint on the headstock is sublime....absolutely beautiful.
The pickups appear to be quite hot..
Cons
The wear on the body is not very good and the sunburst looks dull and not very realistic Come on Fender this is just not good enough!!
Anyway, I still think they are absolutely fantastic instruments and if I could find another light one without the truss rod probs I'd buy it in a heartbeat....
