Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Show us your Road Worn Fender Basses...!!!
- Thread starter Theo-cantor-
- Start date
Hmmm... don't know if I like the Road W on the body, but I DO like the routing... looks nice. I've GAS for one of these!
That impressed "ROAD W" stamp is interesting. It certainly leaves no doubt as to what it means compared to other enigmatic Fender impressed stamps such as the "ES" on some older bodies and "D" on some older necks and bodies.
We got a road worn p and a j yesterday at Long & McQuade, where I work. I was able to try out both unplugged, and I was blown away! Firstly, because of the weight. They were extremely light, at least 2 or 3 pounds lighter than current American Fenders. Secondly, they were extremely comfortable to play, even the Precision, with its rather wide neck at the nut. (Also, the J is spot-on in terms of playability). They felt very broken-in.
I'll plug them in tomorrow and post my findings here. For $1200 CAN or so, they just might be worth the money.
I'll plug them in tomorrow and post my findings here. For $1200 CAN or so, they just might be worth the money.
That's exactly how I feel on the matter. Personally I don't think they look like road worn guitars. To me they look like something nobody cared about and didn't take care of. I've got a 23 yr old bass that looks better than these road worn basses. No offense to anyone. If you like them you like them. But to me from the looks of them they should be half the price.
This would be consistent with the wear patterns on most Fender CS Reliced basses, such as the Jaco bass, the Pino and even many of the wear spots on the PG's of the "59 RI. I think it's how they roll.
When I said 'generally', I meant, Left hand on the neck, right hand on the near the pickups.
Worn spots on the RW are in the vicinity of where your hands would normally touch, and where your tummy would rub. Argue all you want. Fender did it that way for a reason. Do you want a big worn bare spot where your hands wouldn't even go near? Fender played it safe for a reason. It's a mass produced model. They can't satisfy everybody, but they're reasonably done well. You don't like it? Relic it yourself.
Worn spots on the RW are in the vicinity of where your hands would normally touch, and where your tummy would rub. Argue all you want. Fender did it that way for a reason. Do you want a big worn bare spot where your hands wouldn't even go near? Fender played it safe for a reason. It's a mass produced model. They can't satisfy everybody, but they're reasonably done well. You don't like it? Relic it yourself. No, we don't.
I'm not sure I understand this line of thinking. When you refer to a Road Worn bass as being the easy way out, are you implying that someone should put all of the wear on their instrument themselves? What about those who purchase real vintage basses? Do you think there's anything wrong with someone purchasing a vintage bass because of the wear which they themselves would not have put on the bass? So what does it matter if someone just likes a worn bass and they want to buy it that way? IMO there nothing wrong with it.
I've never purchased a reliced bass and wondered if anyone would think I had put all the wear on it myself. I really don't care what someone else thinks. All I care about is how it looks to me.
No $ no bass..............
Show your RW series basses.................
It's just like sex: Don't talk about it unless you've had it!!!
Otherwise we have to start a thread: Lets hear it RW wannabees/haters !!!
In the last 3 weeks I see a lot of TBrs which are "blown away"
by the new RW basses.
Not only on this form but also at the Fender community...
At least a lot more then 3 weeks ago!!!
You all know by now it's a US vs Mexico problem.
Just like we have overhere with the Germans............
So don't worry it will all be over when the price drops a little
and everyone is going for the RW series because it's a cheapo
MIM bass but he ...........what a sound, what a quality....
I bet you all :these basses are going like the speed of sound overhere and the first batch are nearly completely sold out!!
Remember: we have the same prices than you guys only a bit higher.
A New American standard P bass overhere is 1175€, a RW series P-Bass 1100€.
How is it the RW series are hot overhere and not in the USA??
Fender Europe also says: "Its a MIM-MIA thing"
Cheers and Happy Easter to all my TB friends!!!!
Theo
Show your RW series basses.................
It's just like sex: Don't talk about it unless you've had it!!!
Otherwise we have to start a thread: Lets hear it RW wannabees/haters !!!
In the last 3 weeks I see a lot of TBrs which are "blown away"
by the new RW basses.
Not only on this form but also at the Fender community...
At least a lot more then 3 weeks ago!!!
You all know by now it's a US vs Mexico problem.
Just like we have overhere with the Germans............
So don't worry it will all be over when the price drops a little
and everyone is going for the RW series because it's a cheapo
MIM bass but he ...........what a sound, what a quality....
I bet you all :these basses are going like the speed of sound overhere and the first batch are nearly completely sold out!!
Remember: we have the same prices than you guys only a bit higher.
A New American standard P bass overhere is 1175€, a RW series P-Bass 1100€.
How is it the RW series are hot overhere and not in the USA??
Fender Europe also says: "Its a MIM-MIA thing"
Cheers and Happy Easter to all my TB friends!!!!
Theo
That's quite possible. I think we've gotten used to the MIMs being the budget line for so long that seeing a couple of them break the $1000 mark (nevermind the $500 mark) is a bit of "sticker shock" especially with the economy the way it is right now.
I think you've hit it. Fender itself is partially to blame for never really pushing the quality of the MIM line here as much as they did the price. The bottom line is that people need to let go of the location as an indicator of quality and go pick up a bass before posting on here about Fender ripping them off.
Mike
I agree. This is like the first time seeing a $40,000 Hyundai. (they actualy make a $40k car now) So many of us remember them being the $4,995 bargain basment brand, but they've moved decidedly upscale recently, with a sticker price to match.
It seems pretty clear that there just aren't that many people that have these basses here on TB or I'm sure there'd be more pics.
I'm I the only one who sees the irony of "RW wannabees"?
... keep in mind, I actualy DO think these are nice basses, but come on... that's funny stuff right there.
No, I don't think for one second that this is a U.S. vs. Mexico problem IMO.
What I do think this is... is people rejecting an American product price tag on a MIM product. Simple sticker shock. We've come to expect a certain price structure on MIM basses, and these RW's break above what we are accustomed to seeing. Again, revisit the $40K Hyundai. Same deal. I would expect the same reaction to a $800 SX. Same deal.
Is it that they're selling at "the speed of sound" or there is just a very limitied supply? I'm guessing it's the later, as only a few people have posted here who own them.
These hit the market in Jan/Feb. same as the American Standards did the year before. By this time last year, there were a pretty good amount of American Standards showing up on the TB pages. THOSE were selling quite well. I honestly think that "sold out" has more to do with there weren't a lot of them available in the first place.
There's plenty of European TB'ers on here, and I'm not seeing any of them (other than Theo and a couple others) posting pics. Are these REALLY as popular as you're saying?
Fender isn't exactly flooding U.S. stores with them, so I'm sure that has something to do with it.
It's not hard to put your hands on a regular MIA P bass, or MIM Standard P bass, but finding RW's is not as easy.
Again, pepole aren't posting them, because they just don't seem to have them. Now, is this because of a short supply or a luke warm response given the high (for a MIM product) price tag?
Theo
[/QUOTE]... and to you and all other TB'ers as well.
I think this is a pretty good analogy. Reviews on the Hyundai have been excellent and the only thing stopping it from being a good seller is ignorance.
Mike
