Thoughts on Roadworn Fenders

[svtb15]

Try some #0000 Steel wool.... Just dont let the steel wool fibers near your pickups.. Cover them (pickups) with masking tape first. steel wool your neck.. vacuum and clean it up well.. remove tape on pups..
Ive done it a 100 times on my basses with nitro

 

[Session1969]

Thank you , sir. You're a gentleman and a scholar !

 

[Jeff Bonny]

Well thats a good thing then.. Yeah.. my friend bought it new from GC.. Had the raised "A".. I played it on one of my local gigs that he came to.. Bass sounded great in FOH and stage.. I just didnt like the raise A Never did, even on my original P bass... I dont know. he bought it brand spanking new maybe he put it in himself.. I guess thats possible......

Well its one more reason for me to just get one now.. I wont have to spend money putting a lollar in there

I tapped that high A pole piece flush with a pin punch and hammer on my '57 re-issue. Worked fine and is totally reversible.

 

[svtb15]

People say the RWs are cool and don't have it.. maybe his was a weird one.
But your idea is a good one.

I always wondered why fender did that in the first place .. Why did they raise the "A" pole.. Is this OT?

I tapped that high A pole piece flush with a pin punch and hammer on my '57 re-issue. Worked fine and is totally reversible.

 

[One Drop]

I tapped that high A pole piece flush with a pin punch and hammer on my '57 re-issue. Worked fine and is totally reversible.

I think you were lucky you didn't damage the wire windings,I've heard if this happening if you tap the pole in on these PUPs.

The raised A appeared on the first version of the split P PUP, IIRC it had something to do with evening out the tone and being able to sound loud enough with the contemporary Bassman amps without blowing out the speakers when playing the low notes on the E string, which had been a problem with the single coil basses/early Bassman combination. I might be getting things a bit mixed up, though.

 

[Jeff Bonny]

I think you were lucky you didn't damage the wire windings,I've heard if this happening if you tap the pole in on these PUPs.

Hmm...I guess I'd better not go telling people it's a good idea even if it did work out ok for me.

 

[Vibhas Patil]

I have a MIM 50's Precision Bass. Now I need a jazz!! I'm thinking about going for a Roadworn jazz. Thoughts? Is it the best sub $1000 jazz bass available?

Note - I'm not in the US right now. So will probably have it shipped to a friend who will bring it down for me. So I'm probably gonna be buying new.

 

[rodl2005]

Dunno whether it's the "best sub $1000 bass" but I'd certainly go for it if I were in your shoes.
I own a RW P bass & it's seriously good. I've played a Cuppla different RW jazz basses & they were both great feeling and sounding. Good enough that I'm looking out for one myself. :thumbup:

 

[CauliColin]

I tried a RW Jazz in fiesta red. It played like a dream and sounded beautiful, and I liked the pink that the red had 'aged' into. You seriously need to try the basses if you don't think they are good.
One of the best parts? If you get one used, it's hard to tell that it is second hand (unless hardware is changed).

 

[Vibhas Patil]

Cool. DO you think the pickups and pots need replacing? Or do you like the sound of the bass as it is. I'm asking this because I wonder if putting in some new Nordstrand's would take that bass to a new level.

 

[ShotBaker]

The RW series are blems and factory 2nds. You have some scratches(that have been accentuated by the production team), so they give you hardware and parts that are typical on the more expensive Fender's, to make up for it. It's not a bad deal, but they are 2nds.

 

[The Bass Clef]

The RW series are blems and factory 2nds. You have some scratches(that have been accentuated by the production team), so they give you hardware and parts that are typical on the more expensive Fender's, to make up for it. It's not a bad deal, but they are 2nds.

Hmm, where do you get that info? AFAIK, the RW bodies are generally some of the lightest available and the bodies are selected for the RW series before they ever get finished (or blemished to be a factory 2nd). They are also finished in nitro, unlike the Classic Series (until this year) and the Standard Series (which has different body routing than the RW/Classic Series). And the RW necks are consistently very high quality and have a great feel to them with the rolled edges. Far from factory 2nds.

The Classic Series also sports the same hardware and parts at an even cheaper price than the RWs, so I don't think the hardware on the RWs is making up for them being rejects as you claim.

Now that the Classic Series has gone to nitro, I could see Fender using the blems for the RW series, because now the only thing that differentiates the Classics from the RWs is the relicing (and possibly the pups?). But if that is happening, it wouldn't have been until this year.

 

[ShotBaker]

You're right about the necks. They are typically very nice...but I could swear I've seen some RW's with U.S. Vintage hardware...

The less attractive wood goes to the Road Worns. They're doing that for financial gain. Tough times.

 

[ShoeManiac]

The RW series are blems and factory 2nds. You have some scratches(that have been accentuated by the production team), so they give you hardware and parts that are typical on the more expensive Fender's, to make up for it. It's not a bad deal, but they are 2nds.

LOL! I'm more than a little curious to hear where you gleaned this little nugget.

I had the benefit of talking with some Fender rep's at an in-store event around the time that the Roadworn series was introduced. They're somewhat protective of their trade secrets, obviously. But information that's come to light since the introduction of the Roadworn series is that the wood that's being used in the Roadworn instruments is probably a higher grade than what's being used in some of the other MIM instruments. PLUS, it's very likely being kiln dried in order to simulate the drying out process that occurs with a vintage instrument.

On an unrelated note, should anyone come across a parted out Roadworn Jazz, please drop me a line. I'm looking for a Roadworn Jazz neck for a project.

 

[Double E]

The RW series are blems and factory 2nds. You have some scratches(that have been accentuated by the production team), so they give you hardware and parts that are typical on the more expensive Fender's, to make up for it. It's not a bad deal, but they are 2nds.

Nice try...not true.

 

[96tbird]

The RW series are blems and factory 2nds. You have some scratches(that have been accentuated by the production team), so they give you hardware and parts that are typical on the more expensive Fender's, to make up for it. It's not a bad deal, but they are 2nds.

Speculation. Ill conceived. Unfounded.

Now, the relic isn't everyone's cup of tea but everybody raves about these basses and the one I tried last summer was wonderful as well (it's still there). Nicer than the AmStd beside it. Enough that my initial aversion to the fake aging turned into desire. Unfortunately, I thought better of the outlay and the reaction my wife would have had when I arrived home with it since I had just dropped a wad of cash on a 1962 Jazz. Tomorrow is my birthday though and we're going shopping for a tuner pedal that she's buying for me. I'll have to take it off the rack in front of her and play it and use my best Oscar winning puppy dog eyes; there's always a chance.

 

[bh2]

I'd love a 57 P... my birth year, but will never (prob) have the sponds.

Will go for a RW (Burst) and pretend.

Tried the Jazz and was knocked out by it... I already have a 62 Jazz though.

 

[Jim Carr]

People say the RWs are cool and don't have it.. maybe his was a weird one.
But your idea is a good one.

I always wondered why fender did that in the first place .. Why did they raise the "A" pole.. Is this OT?

Commonly, the A string is the highest when a bass is set-up for finger-style. Having the A-string pole raised simply evens the pickup response a bit—at least that was the idea.

 

[Jim Carr]

The RW series are blems and factory 2nds...

...The less attractive wood goes to the Road Worns. They're doing that for financial gain. Tough times.

You have been misinformed. The Road Worns are not "blems and factory 2nds." The wood in the Road Worn basses is generally lighter and more resonant than many other Fender products. These basses are about as close to vintage basses as you can get without paying the price for a vintage bass or a hand-made reproduction.

I've owned Fender basses from the '50s, '60s, and '70s. I have been playing since 1963. IMHO, you will find few new basses that nail the sound and feel of a vintage Fender bass as well as a new Road Worn does—and none compete at that price!

It has nothing to do with the look.

 

[rodl2005]

Totally agree. I've not owned any pre 70's Fender basses, but have played a few darn good ones. The RW Fenders are great & my RW P is at least as good as any I've tried.
They also seem very different to any other modern Fender made.