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Thoughts on Roadworn Fenders

#722
DogBone said:
Yeah, on paper it seems logical to just pay a little extra and get a MIA.

But I'm telling you, you have got to play one of those frickin' RWs to really get it. They are simply fantastic playing and sounding instruments.

Yeah, I'm not a fan of the Relic'd thing personally, and really could not care less to get into another discussion about it. That is beside the point.

It's a ridiculously great playing instrument and that's the point that deserves to be kept in perspective and not lost in RW discussions. ;)

To the OP, try a few out, the one I am lusting after in my local shop, if it had a seam it was very unoticable.
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+1000
 
#723
I am highly amused by all those who refuse to even consider an RW bass because of its reliced appearance. If you place a higher value on a new shiny appearance and country of origin than on playability and sound, then you are just as much a poseur as those who buy the RW mostly because of its appearance (of whom there are very few, by the way).

I for one am very glad that all you suckers are passing the RW's over and that the prices are falling. That just ensures an ongoing supply of them for those of us who know the value of these instruments.
 
#725
interp said:
I am highly amused by all those who refuse to even consider an RW bass because of its reliced appearance. If you place a higher value on a new shiny appearance and country of origin than on playability and sound, then you are just as much a poseur as those who buy the RW mostly because of its appearance (of whom there are very few, by the way).

I for one am very glad that all you suckers are passing the RW's over and that the prices are falling. That just ensures an ongoing supply of them for those of us who know the value of these instruments.
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Oooooooooh! Dat burn though!
 
#726
interp said:
I am highly amused by all those who refuse to even consider an RW bass because of its reliced appearance. If you place a higher value on a new shiny appearance and country of origin than on playability and sound, then you are just as much a poseur as those who buy the RW mostly because of its appearance (of whom there are very few, by the way).

I for one am very glad that all you suckers are passing the RW's over and that the prices are falling. That just ensures an ongoing supply of them for those of us who know the value of these instruments.
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Where are the prices falling? Not here in North America.
 
#728
Got a road worn jazzy last week. Amazing bass.
isn it nice?
 

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#730
I just got a cool Fender book today from 2010 - The Fender Bass Handbook by Paul Belmer. Very extensive info on care & feeding of Fender basses. There's a section on a 'Road Worn' '62-type Jazz which he sums up this way;

A classic Jazz - no frills, no fancy woodwork or electronics: affordable and extremely good value. With the neck pickup backed off to the 'sweet spot' this is one of the best Fender basses I have ever heard.

Needless to say - this guy knows what he's talking about.
 
#731
Jim Carr said:
How can that happen if you have no gigs, bands, or ensembles, as stated in your profile? Don't mean to be too snarky, but have you considered that those of us who play Road Worn Fender basses also sweat, bleed, and cry? In other words, our nitro basses show the wear from our playing, gigging, practicing, etc., whether or not the factory has done some faux mojo. Poly, such as most other MIM Fenders? It wears like iron. Good luck with the blood, etc. :rollno:

I have two RW Jazzes, which IMHO sound and feel great—that's why I have them. Period. HOWEVER, I have found that in two years of heavy use, the arm contour wear on my fiesta red instrument totally changed shape and grew by about 60%. No way would that have happened if I were not playing the snot out of it every day! :D
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big +1
 
#732
Right now my Nate Mendel P-bass is being raped at a jam session by a hagrid-like figure. Do I care? No, it's already battered. If it had a fancy fragile finish I'd probably have pooped my pants by now.

I'd also like to attend you on the Road Worn Signature series: The Nate Mendel and the Road Worn Mike Dirnt Signature P-bass.
 
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#733
Was wandering around a local music store yesterday just to see if there was something I couldn't live without. Picked up a RW P and had difficulty putting it down. It felt and sounded great. I compared it to a few other MIA P basses, and IMHO none compared in playability and sound to the RW P. Turns out this one has been hanging on the wall for over 2 years so they sold it to me for $700 out the door. I'm happy.
 
#736
:cool:

For the money these basses are great.
I have a 2008 Fiesta Red Jazz.
They are one of the best secrets in the Fender catalog.
I played mine side by side with a CS Jazz. Before I bought it.
The Roadworn was lighter in weight.
Had a better felling neck, And sounded more like a real vintage
than the CS Jazz.
 
#737
McRider said:
Was wandering around a local music store yesterday just to see if there was something I couldn't live without. Picked up a RW P and had difficulty putting it down. It felt and sounded great. I compared it to a few other MIA P basses, and IMHO none compared in playability and sound to the RW P. Turns out this one has been hanging on the wall for over 2 years so they sold it to me for $700 out the door. I'm happy.
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You scored a fantastic deal, IMO. I have a RW P and it has become my #1. Strung with Sadowsky Black Label flats and I would say it does not get much better than that.
 
#738
Have had my RW Jazz for 2 months and I think I'm still in honeymoon.
It's just a bit noisy when not touching the strings (being an issue just when I play in my room, I won't even bother shielding it for now).
Made another clip today, played with a pick and both pickups on (neck pickup rolled off just an hair, actually) for a more modern sound versus the "neck pickup only - vintagey and almost Pbass like sound" of my past bass cover video (which can still be heard in my YT profile).
I just hope to be useful if anyone is wondering how do these basses sound like
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#739
Biggbass said:
The RW 50s P Basses actually play, sound and feel great. They could be more appropriately priced at a few hundred less than they are. But the players who are buying them don't seem to mind the price.
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me being 1 of them. I know this thread is 2 yrs old,but I had to chime-in....got it for 600.00 bucks and a real nice Fender gig bag. I needed a P bass and I would've settle for a Squier P or MIM, but they didn't have ither so I got this one and it Plays great......btw the MIA,and AV are assemble in the u.s of a. by Mexicans
 

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