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Why Doesn't Fender Offer These As Standard Equipment?

#61
i can just imagine all the, "why are fender necks angled like gibson" threads complaining how easily they snap when you look at them funny...lol

After 35 years of gigging, i've used my original p bass to defend myself i think, 3 times. Either throwing at someone charging me, or swinging it. Ain't doing than with an angled gibby neck, :woot:
 
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#63
Interesting that there are lower cost, better solutions. I'm glad those work for some of you, however i prefer the fender stealth string retainer from a visual point of view.

So my question is where did you find it for $15?
 
#65
cxcxcx said:
Fender can’t install stealth string retainers on all their basses because of a very important point everyone has missed so far - they only work with tuning machines that clamp onto to headstock with threaded hex bushings. They won’t work with basses that have the original, vintage style press-fit headstock bushings at all. There’s nothing to hold the stealth retainer ring down. This means a significant portion of the Fender bass line, from Squiers to player series to the Pino CS model won’t accept the stealth string retainer unless the right tuning machine is used. The hex-bushing is not offered on all Fender basses because of cost concerns or a desire to stay true to vintage spec.
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Best answer I've seen posted here so far. However, all of their current American Professional instruments utilize tuners that can accept these stealth retainers. You would think they would make it standard equipment for ALL of their higher end models.
 
#66
J Wilson said:
I always marvel at how Fender always dances around the edge of common sense, string retainers being one of them. They've come up with all kinds of widgets, no doubt in some part to help people who won't help themselves: Just trim enough string, properly make your winds around the post and make it come out where the last wind is at the bottom, so you can develop a bit steeper angle and downforce over the nut. That thing doesn't change physics, it WILL NOT provide greater string tension. I'm sorry, it just really won't.

This is inexpensive, works on any bass from cheap to big money with any style tuning keys, and is easily installed, and puts all 4 or 5 strings at the same angle over the nut. Why it's not universally installed on parallel to the fingerboard pegheads is beyond me. Ladies and Gents, the Trapeze Retainer !

View attachment 4162045
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That retainer requires drilling into the headstock therefore modifying the instrument in a way making it impossible to get it back to stock specs which may affect the resale value down the road. I was considering installing Hipshot Ultralite tuners on this bass but I'm foregoing that because I would have to modify the instrument. This isn't a Mexican made Fender or Squire bass.
 
#67
kodiakblair said:
It's a slightly modified ring terminal. You can buy 10 x M10 for $1.50.

Custom size, bulk order, plated would struggle to reach $1.50 each.

There lies your reason why they don't come as standard.
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So it's super cheap to make and doesn't add much to the fixed expense of the instrument. Why not make it standard on every model it can accommodate and then market it for more sales?
 
#68
9Thumbs said:
Been playing Fender basses for 46 years, never had any problem with strings rattling above the nut. Maybe instead of complaining about their part choices, you should learn how to string your bass. "Help, I'm doing this wrong. Make me a product so I don't have to learn anything"
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I learned how to properly string an instrument 25 years ago. In fact this bass arrived with proper string winding on the tuning posts and it still rattled behind the nut on the A string. This isn't the first Fender I've had this issue with either.
 
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#69
String retainers (both the regular and stealth variety) add friction. Although it’s usually not a big issue, that friction does cause minor tuning stability issues. If you string up your bass right, not having the stealth retainer works better.

An angled headstock (with a scarf joint so it’s surdy) and a good low riction nut (the graphtek ones ar good) is a better solution than a straight headstock and its associated bandaid fixes.
 
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#70
PolkaHero said:
I learned how to properly string an instrument 25 years ago. In fact this bass arrived with proper string winding on the tuning posts and it still rattled behind the nut on the A string. This isn't the first Fender I've had this issue with either.
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Legit point - new school Fenders have tuners that do not allow for a good solid set of winds down to the face of the headstock to eliminate A string buzz. You don’t get deep enough of a break angle.

I love my old Fenders and use them all the time but design flaws like this have always part of the Fender experience, unfortunately. This is why people buy Sadowskys and Lulls and other boutique copies.
 
#71
cxcxcx said:
Fender can’t install stealth string retainers on all their basses because of a very important point everyone has missed so far - they only work with tuning machines that clamp onto to headstock with threaded hex bushings. They won’t work with basses that have the original, vintage style press-fit headstock bushings at all
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And they are more likely to be necessary on the newer tuners, as the hex head is far thicker than the bushing on the old ones, so the string can't be made to sit lower by ensuring enough windings, meaning you'll always have a shallower break angle.
 
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#72
Speaking from experience....you’d be astounded how little corporate marketing departments actually have end user needs/wants/experiences in their product marketing plans.

Furthermore, how much practical knowledge or experience marketing managers really have with the products they’re managing.
 
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#73
pineweasel said:
And they are more likely to be necessary on the newer tuners, as the hex head is far thicker than the bushing on the old ones, so the string can't be made to sit lower by ensuring enough windings, meaning you'll always have a shallower break angle.
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I mentioned this in the post above. I literally can’t understand what Fender was thinking with this. Design flaws like this in any other industry would get people fired, but it’s perfectly fine in guitars, I guess.

That said, no matter how loudly and how passionately we complain about it, it will never change. Bank on that.
 
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#75
If my bass has the appropriate tuners (whether Fender or Hipshot Ultralites), I like to throw a stealth retainer on. In cases recently where I haven't been able to install one with the tuners (in this case Hipshot HB10s), I've had to use other retainer options. I quite like this Hipshot retainer, to my eyes it works quite well with the Fender hi mass bridge.

20210108_202826.jpg


Is it a necessity? Probably not. But I have had problems with A string rattle in the past, and it's nice piece of mind in case I (or my tech) accidentally cut the string too short to get it wrapped all the way down - especially when you consider that this permanent solution is cheaper than buying a replacement pack of strings.
 
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#76
pglaser01 said:
Speaking from experience....you’d be astounded how little corporate marketing departments actually have end user needs/wants/experiences in their product marketing plans.

Furthermore, how much practical knowledge or experience marketing managers really have with the products they’re managing.
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Agreed! The only real surprise is how that corporate marketing (greed) has allowed fender to remain so popular. There are so many better options, yet people buy into what they are selling.

look at Ernie Ball. They actually listen to what their customers want and need and redesign and delivering that need.
 
#77
cxcxcx said:
Legit point - new school Fenders have tuners that do not allow for a good solid set of winds down to the face of the headstock to eliminate A string buzz. You don’t get deep enough of a break angle.

I love my old Fenders and use them all the time but design flaws like this have always part of the Fender experience, unfortunately. This is why people buy Sadowskys and Lulls and other boutique copies.
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Sadowsky uses three and four string retainers on all of their high end basses.
 
#78
pglaser01 said:
Speaking from experience....you’d be astounded how little corporate marketing departments actually have end user needs/wants/experiences in their product marketing plans.

Furthermore, how much practical knowledge or experience marketing managers really have with the products they’re managing.
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As long as you have that lofty MBA degree I guess it doesn't matter what you actually know about a specific product, right?
 
#79
cxcxcx said:
I mentioned this in the post above. I literally can’t understand what Fender was thinking with this. Design flaws like this in any other industry would get people fired, but it’s perfectly fine in guitars, I guess.

That said, no matter how loudly and how passionately we complain about it, it will never change. Bank on that.
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Niche market and I guess nobody is going to die because a company didn't properly address the correct string angle behind a fingerboard nut.
 

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