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Thoughts on Roadworn Fenders

#481
I think they're breathtaking, but I would rather thrash my own paint job. It's just the kinda feeling you get when you look at a scuff on the bass and remember how that got there. For example, I have a blood stain on my Stingray HH from my show opening for Drowning Pool. I broke open my cuticle from the 32nd notes in the verses of one of our songs, I didn't even realize I was bleeding until the song was over and the strings had two red stripes in them XD hahahaha. It's just things like that that make a bass more continental if you make it "road worn" by actually playing it like crazy.
 
#482
patlozrox said:
I think they're breathtaking, but I would rather thrash my own paint job...I didn't even realize I was bleeding until the song was over and the strings had two red stripes in them...It's just things like that that make a bass more continental if you make it "road worn" by actually playing it like crazy.
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To me, the sound and feel of my Road Worn Jazz transcends the look. However, nothing prevents one from "thrashing the paint job" on a Road Worn, and in fact the RW nitro is a lot more fragile than the poly on your HH. Blood washes off, BTW. :D

What do you mean by "make a bass more continental?" :confused:
 
#485
I cut my left index on my second lobster during the break at a fundraiser last year. Had failed to pack band aids in my kit box. Bled all over my NXT bass for quite a few songs :/



patlozrox said:
For example, I have a blood stain on my Stingray HH from my show opening for Drowning Pool. I broke open my cuticle from the 32nd notes in the verses of one of our songs, I didn't even realize I was bleeding until the song was over and the strings had two red stripes in them
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#490
jfh2424 said:
I have never seen a finish on a bass cause so much upheaval.

I am so sure that 99% of the people who listen to us play our RW bass don't even notice the finish. It seems the only people who really notice this stuff are on TB.

John
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Indeed. Honestly, from the audience I doubt you could tell the bass is worn at all(unless you're a hawk eyed bass player like one of us). I still find these threads amusing... I recently picked up a Mendel signiture which is basically a Road Worn with a bit more of a Closet Classic wear(no fore arm wear). Killer bass with a killer neck. I did put a gold anodized guard on it. The bass is just outstanding for the money.
 

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#491
Meh, it's all a matter of personal preference. The sound and playability are always more important than the look. I put these RW basses in the same category as "distressed" jeans. Some people prefer to thrash their own basses and rip their own jeans, some want to just buy them that way. Personally, I don't but reliced instruments or distressed clothing, because I'm just not into presenting the currently popular faux-vintage facade, but that's just me...
 
#492
I love mine. I only care about tone.

My main issue is the neck is giving me issues in terms of setting the action where I want it.

It's just not a very straight neck, and I will have to get it worked on.
 
#493
patlozrox said:
I think they're breathtaking, but I would rather thrash my own paint job. It's just the kinda feeling you get when you look at a scuff on the bass and remember how that got there.
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I know how you feel, "every ding tells a story". However most basses these days have polyurethane finishes. I've seen some good-looking poly relics, but that finish usually chips/breaks: arm wear and finish checking are unusual. IME the great majority of good-looking relics, natural or otherwise, have a nitrocellulose finish, same as the Road Worn and genuine pre-CBS instruments.



jfh2424 said:
I have never seen a finish on a bass cause so much upheaval.

I am so sure that 99% of the people who listen to us play our RW bass don't even notice the finish. It seems the only people who really notice this stuff are on TB.

John
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The level of outright hatred for anything relic-related astonishes me. The haters think they have the right to violate TB rules: not only by dissing the finish, but also insulting those who play them. I pity the TB moderators -- the relic haters are more pervasive than stink bugs, and serve less of a purpose: at least stink bugs are part of the food chain.
 
#495
Jim Carr said:
To me, the sound and feel of my Road Worn Jazz transcends the look. However, nothing prevents one from "thrashing the paint job" on a Road Worn, and in fact the RW nitro is a lot more fragile than the poly on your HH. Blood washes off, BTW. :D

What do you mean by "make a bass more continental?" :confused:
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Haha I meant to say sentimental. My phone corrected it to something not even close to what I meant.
And yeah, blood comes off, but it's the memories you get from the stains and scratches in a "self-road-worn" paint job that makes you smile whenever you look at it.
 
#496
Stewthebassman said:
I cut my left index on my second lobster during the break at a fundraiser last year. Had failed to pack band aids in my kit box. Bled all over my NXT bass for quite a few songs :/
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Haha I guess we were too busy jammin to care. But I know that situation. I once had my guitarist drop his Marshall 8x12 full stack ON MY FREAKING FOOT about 20 minutes before the set started. Try playing it cool when your foot is do swollen you can't even tie your shoe. Haha.
 
#497
Ha ha. I had to move some stacked pieces of wooden (particle board) stage off the stage once just before our set. Two bits., about 8'long & 4'high came jamming together & caught the skin of my upper arm between em. Gave me a blood blister a foot long & 1/4" wide up my arm & hurt like the bejeeeezus!:eek:
Had to do the gig with my arm feeling like it was on FIRE!
Wasn't using my RW-P so, not really applicable to this thread. :D
 
#498
While I love my Highway One, I've had to do a lot of work to it to get it this nice, and it still isn't as good as the RoadWorn P I played. I kick myself daily for choosing the American bass over the RoadWorn. These are absolutely phenomenal basses!
 
#499
Here's what I did to mine:

- 70's DiMarzio Model P pickup
- Hipshot Ultralites

The only necessary mod out of these were the Ultralites, because the bass was pretty neck-heavy when I first got it, owing to its SUPER light weight.

The DiMarzio came a few months later and was simply out of a need to cut through the mix better in a VERY loud dance band while still keeping my preferred flatwounds. The old DiMarzio is GREAT in this bass but the stock pickup is quite good as well.

I have been playing my Thunderbird as my #1 more so lately, but the RW P is still my fave bass and comes to every gig as well.
 
#500
AMJBASS said:
Indeed. Honestly, from the audience I doubt you could tell the bass is worn at all(unless you're a hawk eyed bass player like one of us). I still find these threads amusing... I recently picked up a Mendel signiture which is basically a Road Worn with a bit more of a Closet Classic wear(no fore arm wear). Killer bass with a killer neck. I did put a gold anodized guard on it. The bass is just outstanding for the money.
Click to expand...

How is the neck on that monster?
 

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