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Thoughts on Roadworn Fenders

#221
Landau: I was trying to find out some info the other day when I came across :
Buycheaper.com an just started looking through the P's and J's and that's when I spotted the 799.00 tag on at least 6 and from MF - music 123 and a few others. They as of now are no longer priced there and I found 2 P basses at 799.00 ( 2nd page) where the other day they were in the 900.+ range. Hmmm.....
They have the classic 60's jazz listed at 799. I did not mistake the two as I clicked on the bass and it took me right to the MF web site and it was listed as a road worn jazz bass.
Maybe its like an amazon deal where they have the stupid deal of the day???


Anyhow I really love my road worn P. ( wish I could have waited to score it at a better price but...)

If I had the $$ I would have snatched up a J bass at that price!
 
#224
After going through a lot of different basses I've come back to playing the simplest of them all a P bass....a RW P of course. I own a RW Jazz too which I love. The neck on the P is simply amazing; one of the most comfortable I've played (very similar to my vintage L1K)....and ooh those vintage frets!!!


As far as I am concerned Fender really nailed it with these basses....best bang for the buck in my opinion. I'll admit though I dismissed them at first due to the relic'ing but it's grown on me....I no longer have to worry about dinging a brand new bass myself.

My only criticisms would be the gold anondized pick-guard on the P....couldn't they have stuck to the classic tortoise...and the tuners...a little stiff and heavy for my liking YMMV. If there's some benefit to the gold guard please let me know....and the tuner comment may be a bit nitpicky.
 
#228
I remember the first time I touch the jazz.
I was in the local Guitard Center and they had one sittin' on a stand on the floor as you came in and,
as I walked by I just casually cupped my hand around the neck grabbing it at the first position expecting to walk by.
It stop me in my tracks, it was like, coming home :eek:
I have a 64 Jazz and it was like I was touching mine at home, scary, in a good way :D
That was my first contact with them, the feel, I didn't even notice the goofy relic thang for about the first fifteen minutes in :eyebrow:
All I could think of was THAT feel :D
 
#230
jbiscuti said:
No nitro finishes either. They will NEVER age gracefully the way those wonderful old 50's and 60's basses did, or at all for that matter.

I wish people would stop saying "just wear it out yourself". Unless you're starting with a thin nitro finish, it will never happen.
Click to expand...

Poly finishes do wear out.....just look at all those 70's Fenders (Fender switched to Poly in 68').....all finishes wear out, it's just a matter of time.
 
#231
ErikP.Bass said:
After going through a lot of different basses I've come back to playing the simplest of them all a P bass....a RW P of course. I own a RW Jazz too which I love. The neck on the P is simply amazing; one of the most comfortable I've played (very similar to my vintage L1K)....and ooh those vintage frets!!!


As far as I am concerned Fender really nailed it with these basses....best bang for the buck in my opinion. I'll admit though I dismissed them at first due to the relic'ing but it's grown on me....I no longer have to worry about dinging a brand new bass myself.

My only criticisms would be the gold anondized pick-guard on the P....couldn't they have stuck to the classic tortoise...and the tuners...a little stiff and heavy for my liking YMMV. If there's some benefit to the gold guard please let me know....and the tuner comment may be a bit nitpicky.
Click to expand...

Fender used the aluminum gold guard because that's the year the roadworn is modeled after (57' P-Bass).....I personally don't like the gold guard either but it's real easy to switch it to a tort. guard.
 
#232
shrimpflea said:
Fender used the aluminum gold guard because that's the year the roadworn is modeled after (57' P-Bass).....I personally don't like the gold guard either but it's real easy to switch it to a tort. guard.
Click to expand...

Yep, I just switched mine to an AVRI Tort guard, it was an absolutely perfect fit and looks awesome. I like the gold but wanted a change of pace.

221caae3.jpg
 
#234
ShoeManiac said:
True, but the wear is different. You tend to see more finish cracking and checking with a poly finish compared with nitro. Nitro tends to wear through.
Click to expand...
?
:hmm: I always thought it was the OTHER WAY around
that the Poly wears straight through no checking and the
Nitro finish tends to check. That's why the old finishes from
the past on old Gibson's and Fender's look checked 'cause of the Nitro finish.

I think you may have it backwards. :hmm:

Or me, somebody help me here please :bawl:
 
#235
shrimpflea said:
Fender used the aluminum gold guard because that's the year the roadworn is modeled after (57' P-Bass).....I personally don't like the gold guard either but it's real easy to switch it to a tort. guard.
Click to expand...

Thanks for letting me know...I guess "classic" is the gold. I swapped the guard and the tuners on mine. Can't say enough about these basses, they're great.
 
#239
DJ Bebop said:
Do they fit without much modding and do they still have the
Elephant ears?
Click to expand...

They didn't need any modding except one new hole drilled for each tuner (which will be covered by the old tuners if I ever want to go back).

The holes from the old tuners are visible - it's not the most attractive thing in the world but no one sees the back of the headstock but me and the drummer. :)

Yes they are still "cloverleaf" or "elephant ears" but smaller!
 
#240
DJ Bebop said:
Why do you swap the tuners?
Click to expand...

Weight, every little bit helps in my shoulder's opunion. As noted above it also improved the balance. With respect to modding, I opted for the Gotoh lights because they were still reverse and were direct replacements.
 

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