Why the Road Worn hate?

[Jim Carr]

....When you are on stage looks matter, whether we like it or not...
You won't see a country bassist playing a sparkly Adam Clayton Fender signature, and you definitely won't see him playing a Buzzard Bass...he just won't be taken well by the crowd, and that matters.

Who sounds better to the average bar patron? The old guys who show up in stained t-shirts, ripped shorts and flip flops or the kids who put on the "uniform", say black shirts, black jeans, white ties and put on a show? I know several people here will disagree...

Never had anyone from the audience comment on my instrument, unless they were a bassist.
In which case, the conversation goes like this:

Patron: Is that an XYZ? It sounds great.
Me: Yes, it was built in ABCD.
Patron: Cool, I have a LMNOP, which rules for playing ZED.
Me: Great.
Patron: My rig's a big ol' QRST, it kills.
Me: Nice.

Much more likely is this:

Female Patron: How did you get such great hair?
Me: I picked the right Scottish grandmothers.
Female Patron: Oh. Ha Ha...
Me: Thanks for the compliment. Is the band too loud?
Female Patron: No, I love it. Do you play "Size Matters," by little ol' Joe Nichols?
Me: No, sorry, we are doing pretty much all originals. Did you get our CD?

BTW, while I find age to be a separate issue, most bands have a mix of ages,
especially country bands. Absolutely no one but other bass players care about what my bass looks like.

However, you are certainly hinting at a truth:
There is no doubt that an attractive front person is an asset, regardless of age, gender, or lavishness of costume.

 

[ledyard]

In the pix on your website there are only you playing that double humbucker J bass thingy, and it looks kinda new.

I'm sure when you answered you said it was new. And note, they commented on the way it looked, not the way it sounded or something like asked you about the feel.

Older instruments for some reason always look cool to the fans. Especially my old Tiescos...

Well, thanks for looking and all.......but that pic is 2 yrs old and irrelevant. That bass looks great in the right light. It is infact beat to bell and back and quite a few years old. There are lots of pics in a thread where I considered selling it. If it please the court....I've only had a RW for a short time so far. Which is the bass I was asked about and I did indeed tell them "it was only a couple years old" which is two...which is how old it is. to which they looked puzzled and said oh cool. If they don't get it then I'm not going to spoil it for them.

 

[peledog]

So...


Two new jazz basses - exact same specs, color, strings, same price etc. You've tried them blindfolded and can't tell the difference between the two. Both are exceptional.

Your blindfold is removed. One is 'Road Worn', one is not.

Now, which one would you choose?

 

[Arthur Strand]

I just cannot grasp the concept of people wanting to buy something artificially aged. As a bassist & guitarist spanning more decades than a good number of you guys have years, it is me that looks old and antiquated. My instruments are showing some signs of cosmetic wear & tear, except the newer ones but I would not ever have bought,say a PB that was artificially antiqued. (this is a special process in furniture wood work finishing). I would have considered a well-worn one in the late 60s though, although it would not have been particularly old!!!

 

[bigbottomend]

I just cannot grasp the concept of people wanting to buy something artificially aged.

Because that is exactly how "I" want it.

The core problem here isn't the instrument, it's the people passing critical judgement on someones, personal preference.
If I wanted a spanking new and unscratched bass I'd have bought one. My choice, no one elses.

I'd love to live in a world where people would recognise and respect, have the ability to be fair and understanding to people whose ways, opinions etc are different from one's own.

Rant over....

 

[Actium]

Actually a better analogy might be "it's like buying those jeans that already looked (worn or washed or sanded or faded or....)...
I bet NO ONE here buys ONLY jeans that are totally raw denim (unless we have some Cowboys with their dark new Wranglers or some Japanese Raw Denim fans)...

I hinted at this earlier but kind of realized that I was wrong making that analogy.

The raw denim trend has only really surfaced in the last 5-ish years. Obviously it's been around forever but it has only been trending the last few years. It's not like you walk into a clothing store and all the jeans are raw. Nah, most of them are faded already. Even if you go into a boutique jean place like Blue in Green. Walk into an instrument shop and the majority of the instruments will be brand new looking(raw).

 

[SJLee]

I hinted at this earlier but kind of realized that I was wrong making that analogy.

The raw denim trend has only really surfaced in the last 5-ish years. Obviously it's been around forever but it has only been trending the last few years. It's not like you walk into a clothing store and all the jeans are raw. Nah, most of them are faded already. Even if you go into a boutique jean place like Blue in Green. Walk into an instrument shop and the majority of the instruments will be brand new looking(raw).

Actually it trended back in the mid 80's as well.

 

[Jasisco]

Ok I've had enough... I have to say it... To all you "I WON'T PLAY ANYTHING ARTIFICIALLY AGED..... I HAVE TO EARN MY "WORN" ETC ETC ETC".... Seriously, good for you, but you have some nerve calling roadworn owners 'POSERS' when clearly 90% of the owners here have bought them for the FEEL and SOUND and PRICE. All you critics are the biggest hypocrites i've come across because you will refuse to own an instrument based on looks and or morals. Seriously? Yet you are so quick to judge roadworn owners. Just shows your own ignorance. BTW, I make my full time living playing bass in Australia with no other job or welfare and I use a roadworn for 80% of my work and have had countless "monsters" of bass here compliment me and my bass on both sound and feel.. Let us all feel lucky fender brought out such a great line at such great value. The true true pro bass players i've met all agree it's the best value fender on the market... Nitro, feel, vintage specs and SOUND... Custom shop quality timber at half the price.. If you really care so much about your "look" onstage or your instruments "legitimacy" then you're probably one of many bass players I see that bores me to death after listening to 5secs of their band... Peace

 

[Actium]

Actually it trended back in the mid 80's as well.

I'm only 27 so I was a kid then. But yea, clothing comes and goes in trends so it's tough to make that analogy.

 

[SJLee]

Yep. Those same folks that wore the raw jeans would also wear K-swiss shoes, and carry canes.

 

[TRichardsbass]

Ok I've had enough... I have to say it... To all you "I WON'T PLAY ANYTHING ARTIFICIALLY AGED..... I HAVE TO EARN MY "WORN" ETC ETC ETC".... Seriously, good for you, but you have some nerve calling roadworn owners 'POSERS' when clearly 90% of the owners here have bought them for the FEEL and SOUND and PRICE. All you critics are the biggest hypocrites i've come across because you will refuse to own an instrument based on looks and or morals. Seriously? Yet you are so quick to judge roadworn owners. Just shows your own ignorance. BTW, I make my full time living playing bass in Australia with no other job or welfare and I use a roadworn for 80% of my work and have had countless "monsters" of bass here compliment me and my bass on both sound and feel.. Let us all feel lucky fender brought out such a great line at such great value. The true true pro bass players i've met all agree it's the best value fender on the market... Nitro, feel, vintage specs and SOUND... Custom shop quality timber at half the price.. If you really care so much about your "look" onstage or your instruments "legitimacy" then you're probably one of many bass players I see that bores me to death after listening to 5secs of their band... Peace

Now that is a response. You can't argue with that.

Its absolutely a great value. That wasn't the point here. It was all about "why the RW hate." We all have our opinions. Yours come across loud and clear.

Enjoy, hope everything is good for you down under. I might be heading there for the Australian Open, maybe then we can meet and kill a few beers....

 

[SJLee]

The whole concept of a new pre-worn instrument is just plain stupid IMO. It's like you're trying to fool someone that you are an experienced musician with years on the road. Personally I like my basses to look as pristine as possible.

See, this is the thing that gets me. This opinion is so self centered in that this attitude assumes that the RW owner (or any relic owner) is concerned about what someone else thinks. I'm concerned about what I want, not what you want. See the difference? At the end of the day, I'm playing something I want to play, and I'm not going to avoid purchasing ANY reliced bass because I'm worried someone else won't like.

Get it?

 

[Jasisco]

Now that is a response. You can't argue with that.

Its absolutely a great value. That wasn't the point here. It was all about "why the RW hate." We all have our opinions. Yours come across loud and clear.

Enjoy, hope everything is good for you down under. I might be heading there for the Australian Open, maybe then we can meet and kill a few beers....

Sounds like a plan.. I've actually played the last 3 years at the heineken tent at the Australian Open.. I think i'll be back in January so may bring the Roadworn to insult those with such high moral standards... But in all honesty, didn't want to come across as harsh.. just don't understand putting looks before feel and sound when talking about a bass. Furthermore to criticize those who do seems to me to be the height of hypocrisy.. Anyway.. I don't care for the "relic" on my roadworn, but the feel and sound I would not trade!.. I think Fender got caught by surprise in that there is a market for vintage specs with Nitro finish.. If I were Fender i'd keep the "aged" neck and leave the rest without the "relic".. Keep the "real posers" happy and guilt free...

 

[grendle]

Any love for a road worn spector rebop?

 

[Bassmunnky]

Oteil Burbridge is an idiot poser I guess.

I'll listen to him and stop reading this thread..woo!

 

[mongo2]

Absolutely no one but other bass players care about what my bass looks like.

I've had quite a few "civilians" of all ages comment on mine.

 

[mongo2]

Ok I've had enough... I have to say it... To all you "I WON'T PLAY ANYTHING ARTIFICIALLY AGED..... I HAVE TO EARN MY "WORN" ETC ETC ETC".... Seriously, good for you, but you have some nerve calling roadworn owners 'POSERS' when clearly 90% of the owners here have bought them for the FEEL and SOUND and PRICE. All you critics are the biggest hypocrites i've come across because you will refuse to own an instrument based on looks and or morals. Seriously? Yet you are so quick to judge roadworn owners. Just shows your own ignorance. BTW, I make my full time living playing bass in Australia with no other job or welfare and I use a roadworn for 80% of my work and have had countless "monsters" of bass here compliment me and my bass on both sound and feel.. Let us all feel lucky fender brought out such a great line at such great value. The true true pro bass players i've met all agree it's the best value fender on the market... Nitro, feel, vintage specs and SOUND... Custom shop quality timber at half the price.. If you really care so much about your "look" onstage or your instruments "legitimacy" then you're probably one of many bass players I see that bores me to death after listening to 5secs of their band... Peace

I'd much rather they take the same basses and save the production cost of the faux relic process and pass that savings on to the consumer. That way I can get a good bass cheaper and relic it naturally, over time myself if I so desire.

 

[sailri]

The whole concept of a new pre-worn instrument is just plain stupid IMO. It's like you're trying to fool someone that you are an experienced musician with years on the road. Personally I like my basses to look as pristine as possible.

So if we started making statements that it "looks like you haven't "earned your stripes because your bass looks unplayed" or "you're not a bass player - you're just a bass collector - look at all those unplayed basses you have" or anything that because you like pristine basses you're trying to fool everyone....... maybe you can understand that these opinions are not only not accurate, but they sort of go farther than just not liking your basses because they're pristine - they say those pristine basses are indicative of YOU, and you're making a statement by their pristine condition. (This might make more sense if you had a 1960 closet queen Precision that you never touch or allow anyone else to touch)

Some people like and appreciate a beat worn finish on a real vintage instrument. Some don't.

Of those that do, some also appreciate a "relic-ed" modern instrument that is intended to look like a vintage instrument. Some don't. And some don't care either way.

Finally there are some people who don't like it AND who think the owners/buyers/makers are showoffs or trying to "fool someone" and that there is NO other reason they'd be buying that fake bass.

The Road Worn haters seem to be ONLY the last group. I think that's the reason the original poster asked the question.

 

[peledog]

See, this is the thing that gets me. This opinion is so self centered in that this attitude assumes that the RW owner (or any relic owner) is concerned about what someone else thinks. I'm concerned about what I want, not what you want. See the difference? At the end of the day, I'm playing something I want to play, and I'm not going to avoid purchasing ANY reliced bass because I'm worried someone else won't like.

Get it?

The entire concept of Fender creating the Road Worn series is based on having something that looks 'aged'. Again, because of the legendary status and collectible nature of real classics - Fender was happy to oblige a cost-conscious alternative. People can claim the sound, the feel of the neck, the fingerboard etc, are the reasons they purchased any Road Worn series bass, and that's fine. To each his/her own.

The creation of the Road Worn line automatically assigns any would-be buyer or current owner, a label. Deflect all you want and blame the others who think or assume one thing or another - but if you seriously do not care what others think, there's no point posting in this thread. Because....you don't care what others think. Back to the 'label'. Fender already built it into the Road Worn series. It's a series of basses that says, 'hey look at me, I'm road worn, aged and cool, just like my vintage brothers and sisters'. Regardless of playability, any would-be buyer or current owner have bought into this idea. It is PRECISELY because it is Fender, and because of the history of these instruments, and the culture of the used/vintage market that permeates almost every musician/bass player I know that, to deflect it onto the people who say it's fake, is, at best, a weak excuse - because, it IS fake.

That being said, you can buy any bass you like, because YOU play it and you play what YOU like. This has pretty much been the motto of Talk Bass since I've joined. And it is the ultimate/golden rule. And there is respect that comes with that.

Something like the Road Worn series will and has corrupted the above rule somewhat. But really, the only people who really give a damn about the authenticity of an 'aged' bass, will be other bass players or musicians. I seriously doubt the general public can tell or care that your bass is Road Worn or authentic vintage.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

This thread is giving folks the idea that it's okay to bash reliced basses which is clearly disallowed in our rules, so I'm closing it.

No finish needs to be "earned," and a painted finish is no more real than a reliced finish. Waiting 20 years for something that may never happen as opposed to getting exactly what you want now is foolish, and those suggesting this to other people need to get a clue.

Oh, and:

I think there great! You can pick out a poser right off the bat.

Oteil Burbridge is one of the best bassists in the world and plays his in front of many thousands of people a night. Who are you again?