When is a Road Worn not a Road Worn?

[Jim Carr]

A Road Worn is not road worn when it comes from the factory that way.

Yes, true. But, a Road Worn is a Road Worntm​ when IT comes from the factory that way, LOL! And I like them!

I am playing at gig at 7:15 am with mine tomorrow (this) morning. Gotta go to bed!

 

[deeptubes]

Moderator warning:

A reliced finish is no more abusive or fake than a standard painted one. Some people love a worn look to a bass. It is plain stupid to suggest that someone should wait 30 years for their bass to have the appearance they want now. And unless they are purposefully clutzy with their bass, that appearance may never even happen. It takes a huge ego to think someone else should avoid playing what they like because they don't like the same thing.

Everyone needs to keep this in mind as they post- relic/relic-owner bashing is not allowed here, yet it turns up in nearly every relic thread. We don't allow hate thread/posts here.

Yet it's ok to call someone stupid for preferring that their basses to age naturally? Hmmm. Interesting. Seems rather hypocritical.

As far as "hate" posts, I've read hundreds of posts that essentially say "If you don't have what I have, then what you have is crap". And if someone starts a thread on asparagus, is no one allowed to say why they don't like it?

There are just a couple of things I don't care for: Ampeg (ok, but way overrated), compression (improve your chops. Don't rely on a machine. That's lazy), the "Road Worn" line (they're not road worn. Should've called it something else. Maybe even Relic?).

I use parallels and try to express these things fully, in a manner that allows others to understand my point of view. If they don't agree, hey, that's cool. Different strokes for different folks. It's all good. Life's too short to stress about someone else's likes and/or dislikes.

Jam on, brothers!

 

[murphy]

Moderator warning:

A reliced finish is no more abusive or fake than a standard painted one. Some people love a worn look to a bass. It is plain stupid to suggest that someone should wait 30 years for their bass to have the appearance they want now. And unless they are purposefully clutzy with their bass, that appearance may never even happen. It takes a huge ego to think someone else should avoid playing what they like because they don't like the same thing.

Everyone needs to keep this in mind as they post- relic/relic-owner bashing is not allowed here, yet it turns up in nearly every relic thread. We don't allow hate thread/posts here.

Well said!!

 

[alembicguy]

Thanks Bryan wasn't up for another Relic bashing opinion fest!

 

[Rip Topaz]

Let me clarify my comment on the first page, since I apparently pissed some of you off.

The "relic" finish on the RoadWorns (to me) doesn't bother me. I actually LIKE the look.

But for ME, I prefer the look to happen naturally. My main bass right now is a Fender MIA with their "thin skin" lacquer. I've researched aging the finish. NOT relicing it, mind you. Just trying to get the nitro to yellow a bit.

As far as the beating it with chains and sandpaper thing, not for me. I appreciate that these are great basses. I've played a few when I worked at GC and loved them all. However, for ME, I prefer that the chips, dings, and wear happen by MY hands, not some guy at the factory. When the wear is caused by someone else, I feel a little cheated.

When I made the comment about the wear being fake, I wasn't hating on these basses at all. Sorry to offend.

That said, this thread needs more pix!!

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Yet it's ok to call someone stupid for preferring that their basses to age naturally? Hmmm. Interesting. Seems rather hypocritical.

No one called anyone stupid for preferring to have their basses age naturally. I said it's stupid to tell someone else they should have to wait for their basses to age naturally. Which it is. I'm not going to tell someone who wants some orange juice that they should plant some seeds and make it themselves if the tree ever sprouts.

As far as "hate" posts, I've read hundreds of posts that essentially say "If you don't have what I have, then what you have is crap". And if someone starts a thread on asparagus, is no one allowed to say why they don't like it?

If a thread is asking for people's opinions on relics, a response like Rip Topaz's is a fine way to post why relics aren't for you without being dismissive or insulting to relic users:

The "relic" finish on the RoadWorns (to me) doesn't bother me. I actually LIKE the look.

But for ME, I prefer the look to happen naturally. My main bass right now is a Fender MIA with their "thin skin" lacquer. I've researched aging the finish. NOT relicing it, mind you. Just trying to get the nitro to yellow a bit.

As far as the beating it with chains and sandpaper thing, not for me. I appreciate that these are great basses. I've played a few when I worked at GC and loved them all. However, for ME, I prefer that the chips, dings, and wear happen by MY hands, not some guy at the factory. When the wear is caused by someone else, I feel a little cheated.

When I made the comment about the wear being fake, I wasn't hating on these basses at all. Sorry to offend.

Most folks who don't like relics don't watch their wording nearly so well, which is why mods have to come into nearly every relic thread to stop the outright bashing.

Oh, and you're waaaaay off on what compression is for if you think it's meant to cover up bad technique or is unnecessary with good technique. There's a world of info on it in the Effects forum as well as the Recording Gear forum. Bongomania's compression FAQ is a good place to start.

 

[FrednBass]

I love the Road Worn look, whatever it comes from factory or a natural wear. I'd buy one from the factory because the sound is great (i've already tested one), but i do prefer to "damage" the bass myself, over the years.

 

[Rip Topaz]

I like the idea of combining a RoadWorn neck with a Highway One body. Seems an easy fix to the "fake" relicing, if it's that much of a bother to some.

The compression comment is just wrong. If you don't believe it, crank the compression and play badly. It doesn't cover anything.

 

[pacojas]

the RW's are, dare i say, excellent playing basses, IMHO!!! i love the feel and sound that you get from them. they also look cool...

so why am i GAS'D for a CS64 Relic??? (i don't know) was the CS 3x better to justify a price 3x higher?!! i'm just stupid, but my heart is set on the CS. there is something special about the RW, but my GAS is intolerable after playing the 64 Relic.

 

[Thumper]

On a different note, a guitar tech to the stars I know (and I do mean STARS), loves his Roadworn guitar. He has several guitars valued at $20,000 or more, including one the same model as his RW. He prefers the RW (full disclosure, he has made some changes/upgrades to it).

Anyway, he claims the wood for the RWs is mechanically shaken over 15,000 times (he claims it is to re-align the molecules to simulate thousands of hours of playing time).

Has anyone else heard this?

 

[Fenderbent]

Well, there really isn't a bass on here I don't like! Roadworn, natural worn, painted, raw, beat up, or pristine, they are all beautiful! What a boring world it would be if everyone had the same one! Although walnuts just seem to do something to me.....

 

[pacojas]

and now a word about Compression:

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[SurferJoe46]

No - but hum a few bars -----

That has to be another urban legend at best; wishful thinking at the least.

And silly in every notion.

Oven baked I can believe - but shaken, not stirred? Nope - I ain't buying it.

 

[Dark Horse]

This guy seems to like his Road Worn P Bass OK...he plays it a bunch....

 

[timmus]

As the OP, I didn't realize the can of worms that I was opening when I innocently asked if there was a non-roadworn version of the roadworn series of basses. I own an '82 Fullerton P-Bass Vintage Reissue (Fiesta Red) that looks roadworn but I did it myself. I'm not OCD enough to not like basses that show honest wear.

A few weeks ago I happened upon a RW Jazz (hence this thread) that I absolutely fell head over heels in love with except for the roadworn part....it was like "myeh"...in my mind, it just seemed cheesy to me...I just thought if Fender could make these basses without the relicing and at the same price point as the RW's, I have a feeling they'd have a hard time keeping up with demand.

I'm not dissing anyone as to their preference in bass finish styles....it's just not mine. My wife (as well as my current bandmates) think that my Fiesta Red bass is ugly (the color) so I rarely play it in a gig situation. I rather happen to like it but I need to be diplomatic sometimes.

That being said, I can't get this bass out of my mind and may have to buy one, regardless of the finish. It felt that good in my hands.

 

[Rip Topaz]

That's the best reason to buy it. Nothing else matters.

 

[Thumper]

The only thing I wish I had is something in Fiesta Red, I've even thought about refinishing my RW P. I've grown used to the 2TB, so I most likely won't scratch that itch unless I put together a parts bass.

As someone who always owned pristine basses (vintage or boutique), I was able to overcome that fetish once I played a RW.

 

[Jim Carr]

On a different note, a guitar tech to the stars I know (and I do mean STARS), loves his Roadworn guitar. He has several guitars valued at $20,000 or more, including one the same model as his RW. He prefers the RW (full disclosure, he has made some changes/upgrades to it).

Anyway, he claims the wood for the RWs is mechanically shaken over 15,000 times (he claims it is to re-align the molecules to simulate thousands of hours of playing time).

Has anyone else heard this?

I have my doubts. Yes, I know there are those who sell products/services that purport to provide the effect of years of playing.

If you think about it though, a single 1k hz tone applied for (Edit) FIFTEEN SECONDS would do 15,000 mechanical shakes. The idea that this kind of thing would make any difference seems doubtful.

Furthermore, the effect of body wood and finish itself is pretty small. Don't ask me, ask Roger Sadowsky, Nino Valenti, Dan Atkinson, etc.


If we were talking about a new vs a 100 year-old double bass, it might be a different story.

I think the feel of the RW, pickups, fretwork, and the resonant neck and body all go together to make a nice bass. Not magic and not a lot better than the new MIA's even, but very good for the $—I like 'em.

 

[Marihino]

If you think about it though, a single 1k hz tone applied for ONE SECOND would do 15,000 mechanical shakes.

No, it would do exactly 1000.

 

[Pilgrim]

As the OP, I didn't realize the can of worms that I was opening when I innocently asked if there was a non-roadworn version of the roadworn series of basses. I own an '82 Fullerton P-Bass Vintage Reissue (Fiesta Red) that looks roadworn but I did it myself. I'm not OCD enough to not like basses that show honest wear.

A few weeks ago I happened upon a RW Jazz (hence this thread) that I absolutely fell head over heels in love with except for the roadworn part....it was like "myeh"...in my mind, it just seemed cheesy to me...I just thought if Fender could make these basses without the relicing and at the same price point as the RW's, I have a feeling they'd have a hard time keeping up with demand.

I'm not dissing anyone as to their preference in bass finish styles....it's just not mine. My wife (as well as my current bandmates) think that my Fiesta Red bass is ugly (the color) so I rarely play it in a gig situation. I rather happen to like it but I need to be diplomatic sometimes.

That being said, I can't get this bass out of my mind and may have to buy one, regardless of the finish. It felt that good in my hands.

I feel the way you do. I'm glad you started the thread because it brought out a lot of positive comments about the road worn series. I may play one of them someday, and if I like it I may go for it.

If I get one, I'll just refinish it so that it looks immaculate, the way I think a new or well-cared-for bass should look.