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Should I Just Return It?

Return or keep?

  • Total voters
    206
P Cheen

P Cheen

Alembics and parametric mid knobs scare me.
Apr 4, 2015
1,344
2,409
32
Southern Oregon
#1
Hey all,
Recently had a NBD two days ago and have spent a considerable amount of time with my new Player Jazz, however the strings are not entirely aligned with respect to the neck and pickup pole pieces.
I’ve already done the Fender neck alignment trick a bunch of times and even completely removing the neck and putting it back at one point. It is looking better than when it arrived, but still not 100%. I did order a Hipshot KickAss bridge and I will take advantage of the adjustable saddle feature.

The Pros: I have setup this bass to my exact liking, and plays as good if not better than my MIM Deluxe (costs $300 more) which I highly regard. In fact the fretwork on the Player Jazz is better.

The Con: I have OCD. Like, I was diagnosed when I was a kid. Had to take medication for a bit. So this is eating me up. I’ve improved, i’m 26 now and I can handle it MUCH better... but this string alignment thing is still lingering in my head.

Here are some angled shots:

CD61B05E-C4A6-41FF-8BC4-015A79661AB4.jpeg


C00A0BCE-FEA0-4906-B405-02231FC35405.jpeg


4A696E0D-02B1-446A-BBA3-14F356C2B785.jpeg


0C638AA4-A440-4D30-8F38-36B2D817BE0B.jpeg


87EE5379-4710-435C-B945-3AE4E35D8677.jpeg


What do you guys think? My wife thinks it’s a non-issue since I love the playability and sound of the instrument. And who knows maybe the KickAss bridge will finally solve the issue.
 
#2
As a builder, I'd want to slap a couple of long rulers on it and see how far off centre this is. You're right that this is way off alignment, and if you've tried to bump the neck over and it's not been successful, that sucks. You can also see how the bridge saddles are pulled over to the bass side? If they weren't, the misalignment would be even worse.

That's why I'm mentioning putting a straightedge down each side of the neck over the body. It looks like the bridge has been mounted about 2-3mm over to the treble side of the body, but hard to tell from photos. Also extremely unusual for this to be the case though, considering this is a CNC made body and should be identical to thousands of others.

I also notice the fretboard seems a little wonky up by the nut, bumping out on the treble side, and curving in slightly on the bass side - that's weird. Could also just be parallax from the photo itself though.

In the end, this would annoy me too if I could not get it to line up correctly - there's no reason it should not. :meh:
 
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#4
Thanks for your input @Beej, I did compensate the saddles myself because it makes it at least tolerable. I also think that because the pau ferro fingerboard is so vertically striped that it also causes somewhat of a visual distortion.
I was thinking a nut change + Hipshot KickAss would do the trick but it’s too much hassle.
 
#5
On a new bass, yeah that would bug me. The bridge looks mislocated to the right a little bit. As for would I send it back, well, yeah I probably would try to return it.

On a used bass, I would probably leave it as is, as long as the G string doesn't get too close to the edge. On some basses, a slight displacement downward like this is actually built-in and intentional, but I don't remember the reason given for it or the bass I'm thinking of. So, if it plays good and gives no problems I'd leave it.

Else if it is causing problem, it could be fixed. Drill and dowel/epoxy the old holes, move the bridge over a few mm and redrill/tap the holes, is probably what I'd do if it kept me up at night.

L
 
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#7
Yahboy said:
I see more detail and clear from your photo share now.
The bridge are just off assembly.
Take it out, plug the screws holes, refine the bridge position, redrill new holes, install and wow ！！
Click to expand...
Yeah you spotted it right from the Sweetwater photoshoot. I just don’t want to go through all that trouble. I bought new because I wanted a worry-free experience but here we are.
Thank you.
 
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#8
luciens said:
On a new bass, yeah that would bug me. The bridge looks mislocated to the right a little bit. As for would I send it back, well, yeah I probably would try to return it.

On a used bass, I would probably leave it as is, as long as the G string doesn't get too close to the edge. On some basses, a slight displacement downward like this is actually built-in and intentional, but I don't remember the reason given for it or the bass I'm thinking of. So, if it plays good and gives no problems I'd leave it.

Else if it is causing problem, it could be fixed. Drill and dowel/epoxy the old holes, move the bridge over a few mm and redrill/tap the holes, is probably what I'd do if it kept me up at night.

L
Click to expand...
You are exactly right. Have kept me up 2 nights now!
 
#9
P Cheen said:
Yeah you spotted it right from the Sweetwater photoshoot. I just don’t want to go through all that trouble. I bought new because I wanted a worry-free experience but here we are.
Thank you.
Click to expand...

Actually the product image shown on sweet water are very easy to let buyer check the bass assembly jobs. Just expand the photo and check carefully. Pretty easy. Plus, they show you the bass weight too.
In past, I found lot FMIC bass has crooked bridge assembly issue include the Custom Shop stuff.

But , lot of TB member here always say “ it is shooting angle problem” . I am a 31 years experience photographer and 35 years dark room and colour lab printer, I only trust my eyes.
 
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#11
P Cheen said:
I was thinking a nut change + Hipshot KickAss would do the trick but it’s too much hassle.
Click to expand...
Not only is it too much hassle, but such surgery will also void Fender's limited lifetime warranty.

P Cheen said:
Yeah you spotted it right from the Sweetwater photoshoot. I just don’t want to go through all that trouble. I bought new because I wanted a worry-free experience but here we are.
Click to expand...
Before you go too far with tweaking, take advantage of Sweetwater's sales philosophy: If you're not thrilled with your purchase, then neither is Sweetwater. The "worry-free" component is not necessarily an endorsement that FMIC's products are absolutely flawless, or that their pre-sale inspection process absolutely avoids disappointment, but that they will do what it takes to make things right, whatever it takes. Send your images to your Sales Engineer, and allow him/her to make it right.

(Oh...and please be sure to add a carrots-themed option to your poll choices...because I'm OCD like that. ;) )
 
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#14
P Cheen said:
Hey all,
Recently had a NBD two days ago and have spent a considerable amount of time with my new Player Jazz, however the strings are not entirely aligned with respect to the neck and pickup pole pieces.
I’ve already done the Fender neck alignment trick a bunch of times and even completely removing the neck and putting it back at one point. It is looking better than when it arrived, but still not 100%. I did order a Hipshot KickAss bridge and I will take advantage of the adjustable saddle feature.

The Pros: I have setup this bass to my exact liking, and plays as good if not better than my MIM Deluxe (costs $300 more) which I highly regard. In fact the fretwork on the Player Jazz is better.

The Con: I have OCD. Like, I was diagnosed when I was a kid. Had to take medication for a bit. So this is eating me up. I’ve improved, i’m 26 now and I can handle it MUCH better... but this string alignment thing is still lingering in my head.

Here are some angled shots:

View attachment 3874768

View attachment 3874769

View attachment 3874770

View attachment 3874771

View attachment 3874772

What do you guys think? My wife thinks it’s a non-issue since I love the playability and sound of the instrument. And who knows maybe the KickAss bridge will finally solve the issue.
Click to expand...

I own 2 2019 Player P bass previously , but the 2011 Squier CV60P just smoke them in tone and playing feel.
Suggest you return it and give a look on G&L tribute JB.
 
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#15
P Cheen said:
Hey all,
Recently had a NBD two days ago and have spent a considerable amount of time with my new Player Jazz, however the strings are not entirely aligned with respect to the neck and pickup pole pieces.
I’ve already done the Fender neck alignment trick a bunch of times and even completely removing the neck and putting it back at one point. It is looking better than when it arrived, but still not 100%. I did order a Hipshot KickAss bridge and I will take advantage of the adjustable saddle feature.

The Pros: I have setup this bass to my exact liking, and plays as good if not better than my MIM Deluxe (costs $300 more) which I highly regard. In fact the fretwork on the Player Jazz is better.

The Con: I have OCD. Like, I was diagnosed when I was a kid. Had to take medication for a bit. So this is eating me up. I’ve improved, i’m 26 now and I can handle it MUCH better... but this string alignment thing is still lingering in my head.

Here are some angled shots:

View attachment 3874768

View attachment 3874769

View attachment 3874770

View attachment 3874771

View attachment 3874772

What do you guys think? My wife thinks it’s a non-issue since I love the playability and sound of the instrument. And who knows maybe the KickAss bridge will finally solve the issue.
Click to expand...
Brand new Fender? Like this?
Why are you even asking?
You already know the answer.
This is completely unacceptable.
 
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