Thoughts on Roadworn Fenders

[TheGreatSealof]

I've read the posts. I own a RW pbass. I played several pbasses in store and found the RW pbass felt great and sounded awsome. Forget the relic. Play one and feal the sound. I love it. Fat neck and real bottom thump. I can feel the string vibration through the body and my body. When I play it, I feel like I am one with the instrument. Just my two cents.

 

[Bassmunnky]

Still loving mine to death. Best bass I've ever owned (out of 50+). We played a stadium for the first time this weekend; we'll be at Met Life Stadium in two weeks!

Dude,

I LOVE this setup...where did you get the Guard and them cool
aged white covers..did they fit first try, I thought it was hard to get stuff to fit the Mexi basses..do tell..

Love the musicman too!...the cord is the finishing touch

 

[Kmonk]

I do not like "Road Worn" basses. In my opinion, they are nothing more than imitations. I would rather buy a new bass and break it in the way I want to than buy a what I consider a fake, older bass. I know there are many players who feel differently but the majority of players I know that buy "Road Worn" basses do so solely so they can appear to play an older bass. Personally, I wouldn't pay the extra money.

 

[Jungy]

Dude,

I LOVE this setup...where did you get the Guard and them cool
aged white covers..did they fit first try, I thought it was hard to get stuff to fit the Mexi basses..do tell..

Love the musicman too!...the cord is the finishing touch

If it's the Dimarzio Model P like it says in his profile, you can order them in cream.

 

[One Drop]

I do not like "Road Worn" basses. In my opinion, they are nothing more than imitations. I would rather buy a new bass and break it in the way I want to than buy a what I consider a fake, older bass. I know there are many players who feel differently but the majority of players I know that buy "Road Worn" basses do so solely so they can appear to play an older bass. Personally, I wouldn't pay the extra money.

Suit yourself, but don't be so quick to judge others- they just might have gone with the RWs because they feel, sound and play amongst Fender's very best basses.

 

[atomicdog]

I love that RW look, feel, vibe. Rock on, bro'.

 

[jbiscuti]

Dude,

I LOVE this setup...where did you get the Guard and them cool
aged white covers..did they fit first try, I thought it was hard to get stuff to fit the Mexi basses..do tell..

Love the musicman too!...the cord is the finishing touch

Thanks!!

As jungy said, they are indeed DiMarzio Model P pickups from the late 70's, with real aged cream covers.

The pickguard is an AVRI tort guard and is basically a perfect fit on this bass. Only 2 or 3 holes don't line up.

 

[jfh2424]

I do not like "Road Worn" basses. In my opinion, they are nothing more than imitations. I would rather buy a new bass and break it in the way I want to than buy a what I consider a fake, older bass. I know there are many players who feel differently but the majority of players I know that buy "Road Worn" basses do so solely so they can appear to play an older bass. Personally, I wouldn't pay the extra money.

Well, not everyone buys RW basses because of the RW look. I bought it because it sounds great, feels great and weighs very little. No use getting the panties in a wad over the RW look. I did away with it in 5 minutes, cost .99$. Really, this whole thing about the look...who cares? If you don't like it, change it. If you like it, just rock it. I can assure you that most people who see and hear you play couldn't care less. I thought music was an aural thing, but the more I hang out here, the less I believe that. Unfortunately, it seems many people listen with their eyes.

John

 

[DaveKirkpatrick]

They are all indivuals.
Tried one when they they appeared, actually thought it was an underpriced original. Not impressive.
PUP was muddy and indistinct. There was also a new MIA Std there which I compared it with and the MIA was the keeper of the two.

+1. I played an MIA standard P in the shop last week and it was a great bass. Haven't laid hands on a RW yet, but I like what I'm hearing.

 

[AMJBASS]

Neck is different than the MIA standard. Less chunky feeling front to back. The tone is also a bit thinner in the low end with the Roadworn(don't mistake me, its definitely got that vintage vibe which to me is clearer and more organic in the mids). I personally like the way the Roadworns sound and play by quite a bit over the MIA Standards

 

[Jim Carr]

I do not like "Road Worn" basses...

That is fine. I don't blame you. They look beat up.

In my opinion, they are nothing more than imitations. I would rather buy a new bass and break it in the way I want to than buy a what I consider a fake, older bass...

And so I guess that is what you will do. Buy a new bass and break it in the way you want to. Good for you, and yes, the aging IS fake—and it doesn't look all the realistic to some observers.

I know there are many players who feel differently but the majority of players I know that buy "Road Worn" basses do so solely so they can appear to play an older bass...

I have a '55 P-bass, a '71 P-bass, and a ~1850 Tyrolean upright. If I want to play an old or old looking bass, I can. Not only that I AM old (almost 63), so I can do the "Not Retro/classic, but ACTUAL vintage Rock" thing for real, LOL!

"The majority of players" you know that buy Road Worn basses want to be seen playing old instruments? Wow. I have played gigs for two years solid on my RW Jazzes. I would guess over 100 gigs. I have been asked exactly two times how old my bass was—and no one ever asked about my '55, my '68, my '69, my '71, or my '00. Dang.

Some people wear sunglasses indoors at night and have long hair in order to look like some cool rock star. Vanity, thy name is Pop.

Personally, I wouldn't pay the extra money.

No, you shouldn't. You COULD, however, do what some here do. Try a few. Look for a deal, or even buy used. I got my Fiesta Red RW for $675. Cheap, IMHO. N.B., road worn me, fake bass wear, pointless sunglasses, actual grey hair!

 

[Jwood]

I had a road worn jazz and loved it! Kinda wish I'd never sold it but too late now. I really wish Fender would do a special run and offer a few different colors. I would love a black one

 

[Rip Topaz]

The only Roadworns I've actually played were when I worked at GC, when they first came out. They were nice and light (definite plus!!), but had some really nasty fret sprout. Easy enough to fix.

This thread has me really GASing for a RW P.

 

[theevilplankton]

I've just picked up a RW Jazz in Sunburst - plays and sounds like a dream.

Other bass is currently a MIA Standard Jazz - wanted something to go along with it that was the same, just a little different. The RW does that with it's tone and feel.

Lovely bass!

 

[phender6]

So has anyone put seymour duncan quarter pound pickups in there rw precision? I just bought mine used (for $450! With a hsc) and the guy put the quarter pound pickups in. He also gave me the original pickups too. It sounds good but im wondering what the stock ones sound like. Can anyone compare the two? Would it even be a big difference?

 

[chef wong]

What I'm wondering is..are the Roadworn series basses really just Custom Shop 2nds? All the information I've seen says the Custom Shop gets first rights to everything received in the shipments to Fender. So everything is 2nd to CS. Interestly, Fender Custom Shop has also started making Vintage Reissues of their own.

They could also be American Vintage 2nds, shipped out to Mexico to be reliced.

 

[One Drop]

What I'm wondering is..are the Roadworn series basses really just Custom Shop 2nds? All the information I've seen says the Custom Shop gets first rights to everything received in the shipments to Fender. So everything is 2nd to CS. Interestly, Fender Custom Shop has also started making Vintage Reissues of their own.

They could also be American Vintage 2nds, shipped out to Mexico to be reliced.

Nope, wouldn't make any sense. AFAIK they select or spec the best woods, otherwise they use mostly the same hardware as the AV or other series, and some other materials not usually found on fenders, like abalone blocks on some Custom Classics they made, etc, or on one-offs.

The Custom Shop has been making reissues of various types since its inception.

 

[RickC]

If you've played a number of these, you'll notice a consistency between them and a consistent difference from anything else in the Fender line. They don't feel like CS's, or AV's, or MIMs, or anything else for that matter.

/rick

 

[jim777]

Looks good Jim!

 

[DJ Bebop]

If you've played a number of these, you'll notice a consistency between them and a consistent difference from anything else in the Fender line. They don't feel like CS's, or AV's, or MIMs, or anything else for that matter.

/rick

But they still feel good in their own right.