Should I return this?

[Indiana Mike]

.

 

[Glennbassmann]

30 years ago, I never thought to examine a new to me, lower-end instrument in any way except maybe to adjust the string height before taking it to the gig, and was never anything but perfectly satisfied.

Today, I'll receive a like-new premium instrument and out come the fret-crowning files, nut files, straightedge, hex wrenches, masking tape, ultra-fine sandpapers, potentiometer spray, WD40 and Q-tips, and will livestream my handwringing about relief settings or tuning-peg weight on TB to an audience standing by with their pitchforks at the ready.

Seriously, I would play that bass without a second thought, but it's not my money -- and not my $300 in round-trip shipping fees.

I agree with the comment about the holes in the body for the neck screws possibly being too tight, the screws should slide into the body holes.

Take the strings off, unscrew the neck then place the neck in the pocket, If you can get the neck to sit flat (no gap) without the screws, there is nothing wrong with the pocket. If it does not sit flat then the pocket is the culprit.

Looking at the picture again I do agree that it appears that the paint in the bass side of the pocket could use being filed down but I would try seeing if the neck sits flat in the pocket without the screws first.

I still would hit up the store you purchased it from (first before doing anything), they might give you a partial refund/discount.

....Yes and yes...sound advice....

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I thinking I’m going to reach out to the seller and see if they have another one in stock in this color. If they don’t, I might try to fix it myself with a file or find a local luthier to do it so I know it’s being done right.

Take it to a reputable repair tech and get their professional opinion. They might say there's nothing to worry about.

 

[chandman1004]

Keep it and rock it - that color is way too much fun. So many cool choices for pickguards as well.

If I already didn't have four basses,I would love to get one of these. I love that color. I checked the stratosphere for weeks straight hoping they would have one of those bodies

 

[Tim Skaggs]

If you decide to send it back, don’t be surprised if the replacement has a more serious defect....

 

[chandman1004]

It's really obvious that this is a personal decision for most on talkbass. One return isn't going to change a whole industry.Or If he keeps it, Fender isn't going to laugh and say"we pulled one over on him!" Personally I would keep it just to make sure shipping damage didn't happen on the original bass or the replacement.

 

[SgtHulka]

What's the eight page fuss? Take a light file to the corner and tighten the screw a tad. Done.

 

[Chrisk-K]

The tiny gap adds “air” to the tone. Don’t even think about fixing the gap.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

So I got a bass the other day from a music store on reverb. The bass came and everything is great with it except there seems to be a slight gap on one side where the neck meets the body. Here is a pic:

View attachment 4158204

Is this an issue? Should I return this? It doesn’t seem to have any play in the neck, it stays in tune. I tried removing the neck and reattaching it and the gap is still there. The bass plays awesome though. This is a limited edition color and I am not sure I could get another in this color since the store only seemed to have one. Thoughts?

Not a big deal. Play and enjoy!

 

[thewildest]

Excellent place to hide your last dental radiography - that shows that false tooth - that if your friends found it they would post the truth in social media and then everybody would know.

 

[Mike Vee]

Even if the bass was $50, id return it. Unacceptable. Why live with it when a simple return and replace could occur within 10 days or less? People are saying "just play it" - huh? As if it was free and you have no right to get the product you paid for.

 

[2BitHack]

firewood

 

[Peter Hess]

I wouldn’t buy a stuffed teddy bear on reverb.

 

[nick verbic]

I hope this helps...

 

[skycruiser]

What did you decide OP? I hope you fixed it and are now enjoying your awesome green bass!

 

[Eric Kjelstrom]

I never buy a bass unless I play it for at least a half hour first. I'm afraid of internet purchasing I guess.

 

[Tdawgeh]

So I got a bass the other day from a music store on reverb. The bass came and everything is great with it except there seems to be a slight gap on one side where the neck meets the body. Here is a pic:

View attachment 4158204

Is this an issue? Should I return this? It doesn’t seem to have any play in the neck, it stays in tune. I tried removing the neck and reattaching it and the gap is still there. The bass plays awesome though. This is a limited edition color and I am not sure I could get another in this color since the store only seemed to have one. Thoughts?

Do not return it!
If you love the way the bass sounds, feels, and plays -- that's all that matters!
The gap shown is extremely minor and is all about aesthetics -- not tone or playability.
The biggest mistake I ever made buying a new bass was returning a five-string Marcus Miller Jazz that had the biggest, ugliest cylinder gap where the neck met the body that I'd seen on any bass, something like an 1/8" of an inch or more. However, the bass had the most amazing tone I'd heard on a new off the rack jazz bass! At the time I paid around $1,700 through Musician's Friend.
However, that gap was like an ugly mole. I couldn't get over it.
The problem was I used to read Bass Player Magazine religiously for years. Whenever they reviewed a bass the reviewer would measure the cylinder gap between neck and body as an indication of quality and what was good/bad. That really messed up my thinking. I foolishly returned the bass and ordered another, all the same specs, and then another, and another!
In all I ordered three others that all were perfect cosmetically and had tight-fitting neck-to-bodies with no gaps. NONE of them sounded anything like the flawed bass I returned. I never did find another Marcus Miller or new production Fender Jazz like it, and that was more than 15 years ago.
Lol, I had an epiphany at the time.
Every production bass is a unique combination of woods for neck and body that are randomly selected and slapped together. Like people, no two pieces of wood are the same. Each is unique with it's own special properties "God meant for it to have." On these lower to mid-level models the wood is not being handpicked and aged by a master luthier to ensure the best tone and aesthetics.
No, on a production bass, once in a lifetime the heavens align and the right neck and right body come together "by sheer luck" to form an incredible, magically sounding instrument. If you're lucky enough to have it pass into your hands -- like a beautiful woman -- never let it go.
You may never see her like again.

 

[Eekum]

What did you decide OP? I hope you fixed it and are now enjoying your awesome green bass!

After reading all of the comments here, I decided to take the bass to a local luthier. He told me that the gap was not major, but he suggested it be fixed to avoid any issues down the road. He explained to me how to fixed the issue with a file (like many of you had mentioned), but he told me to be very careful when doing this. He also said that he was unsure of what the actual pocket looked like since he did not take off the neck (he was being nice and not charging me to look it over). Then he said, if he was in my position, he would just exchange it to avoid the potential headache because more could be wrong with the pocket as well.

I then reached out to the store that I bought the bass from, explained the issue to them, and asked for advice. I then sent the manager some pictures and he told me that I should definitely return it. He said that he found another new one in their stock and said he would ship it out to me immediately. The manager also said he will be covering the shipping on both basses (such an awesome thing to do). I said my goodbyes to the bass, wished it a safe journey and then packed it up for shipping. Luckily I kept all of the packing materials and the box.

I did ask the manager what he was going to do with the one I was sending back and he said that he would be sending it back to Fender.

 

[skycruiser]

After reading all of the comments here, I decided to take the bass to a local luthier. He told me that the gap was not major, but he suggested it be fixed to avoid any issues down the road. He explained to me how to fixed the issue with a file (like many of you had mentioned), but he told me to be very careful when doing this. He also said that he was unsure of what the actual pocket looked like since he did not take off the neck (he was being nice and not charging me to look it over). Then he said, if he was in my position, he would just exchange it to avoid the potential headache because more could be wrong with the pocket as well.

I then reached out to the store that I bought the bass from, explained the issue to them, and asked for advice. I then sent the manager some pictures and he told me that I should definitely return it. He said that he found another new one in their stock and said he would ship it out to me immediately. The manager also said he will be covering the shipping on both basses (such an awesome thing to do). I said my goodbyes to the bass, wished it a safe journey and then packed it up for shipping. Luckily I kept all of the packing materials and the box.

I did ask the manager what he was going to do with the one I was sending back and he said that he would be sending it back to Fender.

Thanks for letting us know. Sounds like a great way to resolve the problem!

 

[Bassiclees]

. He said that he found another new one in their stock and said he would ship it out to me immediately.

Can you share the name of the store? This is the kind of place worth supporting, that's great customer service.