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Thoughts on Roadworn Fenders

#602
Well, I bought a used Road worn Jazz, and my first impressions are, it's lighter than any Jazz I've ever played. I weighed it on my digital, luggage scale, and it came out at 8.4 lbs. My MIA '98 weighs in at about 9.5. It plays alot like my '98, which I bought new, and is nicely broken in by now, so, that's a good thing. I love the feel and playability of my '98, so the RW seems like a lighter version. I did'nt know how I would react about seeing the relic'd finish in person, but after looking at it hanging on my wall for a bit, I think it kinda looks cool, not bothered by it at all. Gonna have to do some tweaking on it, as I don't care for the action the previous owner had, and maybe some different strings, but, it really does feel like a Jazz that has been already broken in for you and is ready to go to the gig.
 
#603
I love My RW P-Bass. I was not a believer until I saw it up close and then played it. I honestly didn't get the whole Relic thing but now I do. What I also love is the Nitro Fiesta Red finish. Here's a link that really shows how much work is involved with producing a RW.http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/nbd-reassembled-fiesta-red-road-worn-p-many-many-pictures-1036075/ Heck: These aren't for everyone but they are Cool IMO. And I'm extremely Cool so now you can all get one and not feel Dorky about it. JK:D
 
#605
The more I play my Fiesta Red RW Jazz, the more I like it. One thing I have noticed is that both the nitro finish and the undercoat (if there is one) is very thin and wears through to the wood quite quickly. So I am finding out with mine as I use it that it is taking on it's own character pretty quickly.
And the neck is really good. The rosewood is a slab, like the early 60's necks, and the truss rod bore is placed exactly like they were back in the day. Very nice touch. The fret dressing is excellent - feels like it has been played a long time. And as others have said, it is my lightest jazz.
I have heard and seen on other postings that these are not the same bass as the 60's series, but I have not personally compared them. In my opinion, for around $750 used you cannot buy a better bass than the RW.
 
#606
I bought a RW P earlier this year and loved it. I sold it knowing that I could get another one and ended up getting one (sunburst) with the rw jazz neck and a Dimarzio J pup (modded by a fellow TB'r). Tightens the tone up nicely when needed . If someone ordered a Fiesta Red loaded body with a jazz neck it would be a badass poor mans pino.
 
#607
So here's an interesting data point. I was visiting an old bass playing buddy of mine over the holidays; we're both RW Jazz owners and I brought mine over for the hang. For the past couple of years, my friend has been picking up cheap used Jazzes at local shops, MIMs and Squires, stripping them and refinishing them as art projects. He's a painter as well, and this was something he was doing for fun. These were very colorful and creative, and looked great.

Here's the thing. After fiddling with our RWs for awhile and then playing around with these project basses, I was struck by how much "RW vibe" they had. He agreed. We could compare em side-by-side, and they played *a lot* like RWs. The finishes were very thin, like on the RWs. I came away from that evening thinking that, more than anything, it's the thin finish that is the "magic" on these.

/rick
 
#609
I've been fooling around a bit at home with my RW Jazz, Sunburst. First thing I did when I plugged in, was to turn the neck pickup off, to see if the famous " buzz " was there. Quiet as a mouse, even when facing the amp/cab. Very cool. The overall tone of the pickups as compared to my '98, MIA Jazz, is a little darker, even with SS strings, as compared to the Nickles I have on the '98. I am impressed with how even the tone is up and down the neck, and the bridge tone is a wonderful, chunky Jazz flavor, that is a tad more " boxy " sounding than my '98 bridge pickup, solo'd. Overall, I'm very impressed with this Jazz, and at a pound lighter than what I am used to, definitely gonna be in the rotation ! :bassist:
 
#615
I never got the impression that the 60's Roadworn Jazz was supposed to be an accurate reissue of any particular year. There are features that appear on Jazz basses from different years. The V/V/T control is a post 1962 feature. And as headband mentioned, the slab fingerboard was a feature found prior to 1964. So, would this make the 60's RW Jazz akin to a 1963? Probably not, given the CNC hole that's under the most of the pickguards. My take? Enjoy it for what it is: a great playing, relic'd 60's style Jazz bass.
 
#617
svtb15 said:
Although i have a real Slab Board Fender P date stamped NOV 65.. Must have been a left over neck from 62 or 63 area
Click to expand...

That's Fender for ya. Utilizing all parts available.

BTW, have not picked up either of my Road Worn Js lately due to the Road Worn Precision I recently picked up. Put flatwounds on her and it has been pure bliss ever since.

Love these Road Worns! Light and tone for days. Next I am planning on getting a Road Worn P body and pairing it with a Road Worn Jazz neck.
 
#619
Last night I saw a Led Zep tribute band in a local blues club with very good sound. The band was truly incredible, just nailed the LZ sound. The bass player wanted the JPJ look and was playing a Road Worn Jazz in Tort, the tone through his amp and the house system was truly stupendous. I talked to him about it, he just loves it. I loved the sound.
 
#620
AFAIK, Fender transitioned to the curved laminated boards in 1962 (as well as transitioning to the VVT controls). By 1963 curved boards had completely taken over. There are probably a few exceptions like svtb15's, because Fender did use older stock parts when they had them, but it's also possible that the neck stamp itself got rolled to the wrong year on that particular neck. 1965 is about 3 years late for a slab board P neck!

I had a bound and dotted original 1966 Jazz neck with a 7 Jun 63 date stamp, which was way too early for that style. So that's pretty strong evidence (at least to me) that the stamps did get moved to the wrong year occasionally and went unnoticed (or they just didn't care). And does seem likely to happen from time to time.

1962 was a big transitional year for the Jazz.. you could have gotten a slab or curved board, VVT or stack knobs, mutes or no mutes.. So I would say the Road Worn Jazz is closest to a 1962 model.
 

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