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Thoughts on Roadworn Fenders

#182
BigDaddyRob said:
What's the best Road Worn for metal?
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The Bass of Doom!
Pastorius-BOD2.jpg
 
#185
Chris Breese said:
Uh, that's not the actual Bass of Doom, is it? Please tell me RT didn't buy it to play on stage with Metallica. Please tell me that's a look alike, or a photoshop. Because that's what the BOD looks like now, right?
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That is the BOD. He bought it, and has it under lock and key. That is what the BOD look like now after Kevin Kaufman rebuilt it.
 
#186
bassgod76 said:
That is the BOD. He bought it, and has it under lock and key. That is what the BOD look like now after Kevin Kaufman rebuilt it.
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I have seen videos and pics of it online since its been rebuilt, so I recognized it as, at least, a look alike. Wow. It IS the real deal, huh? Oh well. At least it's getting played! RT's a great player, too. Not a very 'road worn,' bass though, at least not anymore.
 
#189
Chris Breese said:
I have seen videos and pics of it online since its been rebuilt, so I recognized it as, at least, a look alike. Wow. It IS the real deal, huh? Oh well. At least it's getting played! RT's a great player, too. Not a very 'road worn,' bass though, at least not anymore.
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As BG said, it's the real deal.

Here's some back story:Invalid Link Removed
 
#190
Jim Carr said:
Before or After, you decide....

177217605_493b1d7246.jpg
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THand said:
Road worn ;)
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+1

But on a more serious note, it was the man who was road worn, wasn’t it? Jaco's shattered bass is the devastation of his illness made visible—quite heart-breaking, IMHO. It makes me reflect on Stewardship.

To me, Stewardship means caring for what is given us, be it family, health, talent, country, opportunity, even possessions. Certainly, to that which gives us the will and strength to work and earn we owe respect—for our labors, and for that gained from them. We take care of self, family, friends, home, students, and community, and even enjoy safeguarding and maintaining our belongings. To me, part of that Stewardship is responsible care of musical instruments. That's part of loving of music, isn't it?

It seems to me that we worry too much about appearance and mere things, like basses, their look, brand, or color, and not enough about ourselves, our music, and each other.
 
#192
Took some pics of my Fender Road Worn Jazz last night while I had the camera out. It has become my favorite bass due to it's feel and sound.

When the light hits it just right it certainly looks like it has more mileage than it actually does.

RW%2520Bass%2520body%25202.png


RW%2520Bass%2520body%25203.png


RW%2520Headstock.png


RW%2520Headstock%2520back.png


IMO the level of detail in the relic job is fairly impressive.
 
#194
Davo-London said:
Yes but the real thing looks so different : )

And why did the BoD get a different coat of paint?

Davo
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Jaco didn't keep his bass in its case while traveling in a tour bus. It was with him at all hours on the road, from what I have read—and banged around the floor, under the seats or in the metal over head rack as the bus turned, stopped, etc.

After it was smashed, the BoD was so splintered that it needed a layer of wood to cover the missing bits and chunks—or so I read in a BP mag article a few years ago.
 
#195
Great pics! Wow! Thanks for these. How did you do it? I really am amazed by the checking on the headstock. These are the best RW images I have seen. Got any more? :hyper:


ThingsAbove said:
Took some pics of my Fender Road Worn Jazz last night while I had the camera out. It has become my favorite bass due to it's feel and sound.

When the light hits it just right it certainly looks like it has more mileage than it actually does.

RW%2520Bass%2520body%25202.png


RW%2520Bass%2520body%25203.png


RW%2520Headstock.png


RW%2520Headstock%2520back.png


IMO the level of detail in the relic job is fairly impressive.
Click to expand...
 
#196
Jim Carr said:
Great pics! Wow! Thanks for these. How did you do it? I really am amazed by the checking on the headstock. These are the best RW images I have seen. Got any more? :hyper:
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Thanks. Honestly they were just snapshots where the single overhead light happened to enhance the imperfections. I had the camera with me downloading some other photos so I just laid the bass on the floor and snapped a couple pics of the body then leaned it against a chair to get the headstock separated from the background.

If you want to duplicate the effect just take your shot with a point light (i.e. overhead light) source about 30 degrees off camera axis so that there's some surface reflection (not directly like the flash on the camera). The off-axis reflection will call out finish imperfections. Then in photo editing software do a USM function with a fine setting like 0.8 pixels at 20%. That will enhance the imperfections.

Equipment wise I'm using an Olympus E-PL2 compact, mirrorless camera with an old manual focus 1970's OM macro lens. I use the free GIMP image editing software.

I'd like to do a formal shoot of that bass because I think it has some interesting relic work. There is finish checking in a number of places and it's fairly grunged up. Partly from the factory and partly I guess from my sweat. I usually just wipe down the neck and don't clean it up much beyond that.

I'll do a proper shoot at some point with a real backdrop and back-lighting and post the pics.
 
#197
Question for all who have owned/own Fender road worn P & J basses:

Has anyone seen a difference in the QC of theses instruments from, when they were first released to present? I guess what I'm asking is are the first ones better or worse than say, a new one?
I know they are still making them but it seems that the ones I have seen, sit in the stores for a long time. So second question:
Do they make very many of these -vs- say the classic series or any other non-STD series?

These are more than likely silly/dumb questions, I know! The only ones I have has any experience with are two basses( both came in right after the series came out in '09), one a P bass I recently broke down and bought because I got a real good deal on it. It's really a great bass and taken me totally to the dark side and I dont want to go back! However the J-bass that's still available is absolutely killer. I've never seen a neck like it on anything, but a custom shop bass. It has a flamed maple neck ( almost a AAA flame).

I was and am blown away by these instruments , but how do the new ones compare to the early ones? I know that out of 7 road worn guitars and basses at my local shop, I'm the first to buy one since they arrived in '09.( what's up with that? Well I know the answer but still..)

So to clarify :

Are the new ones on par with the first run?( better, same,worse?)

Does anyone know if the production numbers are low on these instruments?

Is the finish more or less relic'd now as opposed to the first run of instruments?

Mine ( P-bass) is pretty heavily relic'd with cigarette burns, buckle rash, finish checking,back of neck heavily worn up to around the 7th fret, wear on the board, and the fore arm wear is average.

Thanks for reading through my long winded post! I can get off track to get to the point.

I'm really curious now and want to start looking into all my questions every time I see one now.
 

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