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There is a hole in Bass!

lol... Nice one FF. Guess everyone will now be drilling holes in their non-Fender instruments thanks to you.

Ahh, but can they find the sweet (or non-sweet) spot-to-be-removed without Fendar's proprietary electro-mechanical spectogram knuckle-headed tapping device?
;)

Sorry to tip this holey cow.


This just in...

The ff-holes were too expensive, so Fendur opted for smaller round ones as a DIY starter package...
:hiding:
 
That hole is on most MIM bodies, but not on MIA bodies. Any MIA bass that has that hole, which are only a few in the model line, probably had the bodies made in Mexico and shipped up here for painting and assembly.

It's unlikely that hole is associated with the CNC process. The subject has come up many times, and not one shred of proof has arisen. Almost all companies use CNC machines to manufacture guitar bodies. None but MIM Fenders seem to have that odd hole.

That's exactly what they want you to think. :ninja:
 
Also, I'd like to say that the Mark Hoppus body I mentioned with the stock neck had an awful deadspot in the usual place.

It didn't go away until I swapped the neck for a maple American neck. It's now far more resonant and is void of noticeable deadspots.
 
I wager Fender put it in there to denote MIM bodies. If you buy an American Special bass they will put an "American Special" decal under the finish on the back of the neck. I would imagine they loath the idea of their parts being upsold as something they aren't. Imagine if you couldn't discern between a MIM and MIA body... at least we all know the MIM bodies have the wee circular route under the pickguard! It is easier to identify a body this way; especially when Strat bodies, for example, all look much the same regardless of model.

Expensive Fender selects, also with the "cnc"-hole, and also another hole like it in the neck cavity!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/American-SELECT-Fender-Flame-Maple-Top-P-Bass-BODY-HARDWARE-USA-Precision-/190914203768?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item2c735f9078

Anyone with contacts at Fender who can call them?
 
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That's it, I'm selling my Fender because of that oh-so-annoying hole! :mad:

How many plants does Fender have? On how many different continents? In how many different countries? It's highly unlikely that every and each one of them use the same manufacturing techniques, the same machine models, etc. It's a good enough explanation to me!

By the way, wood pieces are not bolted onto CNC tables, they are located with precision machined pins and held in place by a vacuum pump.

Some theories about the "mystery holes" are so ridiculously off the map. My favorite ones are how it's supposed to affect the tone or the balance of the instrument.
 
I sent an email to Fender about this and this is what I just got back:

Dear FF,

Thank you for your enquiry. The holes in the bodies of Fender instruments address an issue that until now Fender could not confirm nor deny — that of so-called inconsistencies, or "dead spots", on the neck of certain Fender instruments. Most notably: the slightly muted or fast-decaying C# on the G string of Fender's bass instruments.

The exact resonant frequency of each body is now determined via a new proprietary method exclusive to Fender. This process involves an electro-mechanical spectogram, with a testing head that simulates the human knuckle. The body is tapped by the knuckle-like testing head and measured to determine where the inconsistency is, once found it is then cut out, this subsequently balances out the inconsistency in the neck.

In less technical terms, to come to the point, any inconsistency is eliminated and the notes ring true from every fret position.

Now that testing is complete on certain models from the Made-In-Mexico line, the Fender Tempering Divot® will be implemented throughout the rest of Fender's production lines in Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, Japan and of course right here in the USA.

Thank you for your enquiry, hope this helps.

Best regards,
Miss Innphoarmashun

Artist Relations Advisor
Product Support
Fendar Muscial Instrumints Carporation
19760 S. Perlnutter Dive, Suite 001

Scattsdale, AZ 85205
USA
Phony: 480.596.4110

Flux: 480.596.1234
Emale: [email protected]


:bassist:

Emale?

Scattsdale?

You almost had me.
 
It's a nostril, so the wood can "breathe"...
:smug:


Awful lot of wise guys on this forum...

Well, the topic has been covered in several threads with no clear consensus, still. So, after flogging a dead horse what else is there to do?

PLAY!
(in all its manifestations)
:bassist:

I heard through the dealer gravebind that Miss Innphoarmashun is HawT!