If you're talking about the recently released Classic 70's P-bass (with the BnB maple neck), This is news to me. Where did you hear this ?(link please.) AFAIK, they are still MIJ.
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To Me, Fender Is.......
- Thread starter faulknersj
- Start date
If you're talking about the recently released Classic 70's P-bass (with the BnB maple neck), This is news to me. Where did you hear this ?(link please.) AFAIK, they are still MIJ.
Fender is overpriced when you own a ibanez roadstar.
I'll take a roadstar over a fender P anyday.
I'll take a roadstar over a fender P anyday.
C.Linton said:
That's the one. Sweetwater has the Olympic White one listed with a photo showing MIM serial number and stamp. I just found out about it too, but it's been all over the thread dedicated to the 70's P. Maybe the 3TSB will still be CIJ, but I dunno. Still bums me out, as I was only interested in the white one.
I think a lot of guys start out with a Fender bass and a Peavey amp, I know I did, its those early days of playing that leads some people to love that stuff, and some people to hate them.
Everyone that dosen't like Fender basses just needs to learn how to solder and set up a neck properly, that will solve all the problems that they percieve a Fender of having.
For the record I still have a Fender and a Peavey. Sure I also have other things that might be "better" but sometimes you want to play the classics.
Everyone that dosen't like Fender basses just needs to learn how to solder and set up a neck properly, that will solve all the problems that they percieve a Fender of having.
For the record I still have a Fender and a Peavey. Sure I also have other things that might be "better" but sometimes you want to play the classics.
Means2nEnd
Supporting Member
To me Fender is the company we all owe everything to who plays electric bass. The original, genius in its simplicity and design. Was really a master of design for the player and the company. It was mentioned it was designed to be mass produced and replicated over and over again with ease even with not the most highly skilled craftsman yes I believe this to be true but again the genius of Leo was although that was part of the original designs it was also engineered to have great playability for the most part and tone that was great and useable in almost any musical situation. He nailed it on both ends with the P and the J. It has stood the test of time and within reach price wise for novice and beginners and yet is still used by many or even most professional players. The proof of its amazing history is on almost every stage and studio from the beginning to today. To have something bad to say about Fender is to have something bad to say about electric bass as a whole. It is also the basis of design for most high end extremely respected builders and luthiers of today. This all can’t be a coincidence it’s the truth.
All that said with all my respect for Leo and Fender basses I do not own any. My musical situation is 2 projects and both original and I have no need to “fit in” actually I’m called on to stand out and sound different. I’m also lefty and although there are Fenders at all price points in lefty the only 5 string is a Japan model and not easily obtainable and for me I’m not taking a $2,000 chance sight unseen.
To all who think $1,200 for a new USA Fender is a lot of money I don’t understand that at all. I do understand not having a lot of money and it may be out of reach for you and your wallet I get that but pound for pound bang for your buck a USA Fender gets the trophy from me as the best value there is in a bass period. I’m sure I will own one again at some point. To think all this from a Warwick, Spector guy.
All that said with all my respect for Leo and Fender basses I do not own any. My musical situation is 2 projects and both original and I have no need to “fit in” actually I’m called on to stand out and sound different. I’m also lefty and although there are Fenders at all price points in lefty the only 5 string is a Japan model and not easily obtainable and for me I’m not taking a $2,000 chance sight unseen.
To all who think $1,200 for a new USA Fender is a lot of money I don’t understand that at all. I do understand not having a lot of money and it may be out of reach for you and your wallet I get that but pound for pound bang for your buck a USA Fender gets the trophy from me as the best value there is in a bass period. I’m sure I will own one again at some point. To think all this from a Warwick, Spector guy.
Hmmmm... Fenders work for for your 3 listed influences - Sting, Duff & Mark Hoppus.
Maybe they're on to something there...
I would say that 99.9% of bass guitar designers, builders, luthiers etcetera at least can navigate the instrument somewhat. Leo couldnt play a note or carry a tune in a bucket-this speaks volumes to me.
Just checked the Fender forums, a post dated in january/Febraury of this year e-mailed Fender customer realtions asking about this and he got this reply:
This product is made in our Japanese facility. I have included the
spec sheet for this bass for your records.
Model Name: '70s Precision Bass(r)
Model Number: 026-6202-(Color #)
Series: Classic Series
Colors: (300) 3-Color Sunburst,
(305) Olympic White,
(Gloss Urethane Finish)
Body: Alder
Neck: Maple, '70s "C" Shape,
(Gloss Urethane Finish)
Fingerboard: Maple, 9.5" Radius (241 mm)
No. of Frets: 20 Vintage Style Frets
Scale Length: 34" (863.6 mm)
Width @ Nut: 1.625" (41.3 mm)
Hardware: Nickel/Chrome
Machine Heads: Vintage '70s "Fender" Stamped Open-Gear Tuning Machines
Bridge: American Vintage '70s Precision(r)/Jazz(r) Bass with Single
Groove Saddles
Pickguard: 3-Ply Black/White/Black
Pickups: 1 Vintage Style Precision Bass(r) Split Single-Coil Pickup with
AlNiCo Magnets
Pickup Switching: None
Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone
Strings: Fender USA, Super Bass 7250M, NPS, Gauges: (.045, .065, .085,
.105)
Unique Features: Black Fingerboard Binding,
Black Block Inlay,
Upper Thumb Rest,
Synthetic Bone Nut,
'70s Vintage Styling,
'70s Fender Logo Decal,
4-Bolt "F" Neck Plate
Source: Japan
Accessories: Deluxe Gig Bag
U.S. MSRP: $1,099.99
INTRODUCED: 8/2011
I would gather from this official response, BOTH models (white and SB) are MIJ. Sweetwater may have gotten a pic of an early prototype that was MIM.
Instruments I have to continually fix or upgrade for customers. I have no nostalgia for fenders and only loath the name when I hear it.
Here is the good part. They keep my business thriving and I'm only thankful Gibson didn't make any basses worth buying either. Saying that name leaves an awful taste in my mouth, lol
Here is the good part. They keep my business thriving and I'm only thankful Gibson didn't make any basses worth buying either. Saying that name leaves an awful taste in my mouth, lol
...the typical example of American industry.
Ship everything overseas or Mexico. Overseas makes it better. They still charge outrageous amounts of money for an American made inferior product. Hassle you when you try fix the inferior American made product. Yet somehow retains the American pride image with the world.
Ime...ymmv.
Ship everything overseas or Mexico. Overseas makes it better. They still charge outrageous amounts of money for an American made inferior product. Hassle you when you try fix the inferior American made product. Yet somehow retains the American pride image with the world.
Ime...ymmv.
I think you're saying that. No need to play apologist. Some people like, some people don't. It's ok.
No , but I think because they made a billion of them they're the most common I see in the repair shop. I know what I repair and what I build and I also know what has made me the most money repairing and upgrading instruments in the last 35 years. Fender is at the very top of the list by a long shot. It is what it is! 
No , but I think because they made a billion of them they're the most common I see in the repair shop. I know what I repair and what I build and I also know what has made me the most money repairing and upgrading instruments in the last 35 years. Fender is at the very top of the list by a long shot. It is what it is!
What are the issues you see with Fenders most frequently?
So did musicman stingrays (duff & hoppus), so did gibson les paul bass/t birds (duff), so did dusenbergs (duff) , so did Ibanez musicians (sting), and many many more.
I love my ric, doesnt mean I listen to motorhead and I couldnt even name a Yes song and i hate metallica, it matters very little what your idols use as I am achieving my own style and tone.
Poor neck construction, terrible fit at the neck pocket allowing movement. Finishes, especially on the mim are usually pretty bad. Nuts, even on the USA stratocasters are poorly cut. Everybody wants to replace those cheap bridges. Why they didn't do away with them in the 70's was a bad choice. Bad fretting. And just overall disappointment in a new instrument. One of my students just went through 3 mim deluxe players strats before we got one that the neck finish didn't show cross sanding marks in the wood. 1 of my other students got a lower $ u s a strat, what a joke. another with a jazz bass that needed almost everything fixed on it. and the list goes on and on. I really don't even have time for this discussion, I'm working on instruments that aren't made by the dozens on a cnc machine. Leo may have had the original idea and inspired generations, but almost everything out there is better than a Fender. thanks and have a great night!
