What to do about Niggles?

[KiOgon]

I had a look this morning & sent an email to the shop:

"I took all the screws out & raised the pickguard enough to see the black wire joining the pot bodies was trapped. I haven't removed the guard completely as the fit around the pick up & the neck is quite tight, I don't want to scratch anything. The wire appears to be OK, I've moved it carefully to a better position. Definitely should have been noticed by Fender quality control!
[attachment=61259:13102010204.jpg]
Could you also please ask Fender why they don't offer/supply Flatwound strings on their re-issue models? Perhaps they would like to send a set over with the pickguard with compliments as I'm doing their QC for them!"

We'll see.

I'm happy to keep it now, I've got a lot of love for this 'old P', every time I play it (& I'm playing it a lot) it feels so sweet - easy to play, the neck is perfect for me, the whole thing is a thing of beauty (in my eyes) exactly what I wanted.

The pick guard is sorted, the neck pocket fit is OK, the truss rod infill - well it's a little quirky, possibly unique & the decal is right so all in all I reckon it's a keeper.

Cheerz, John

Edited October 13, 2010 by KiOgon

[dave_bass5]

This was the neck pocket on a MIM 50s' Classic i had. Bloody awful.

Edited October 13, 2010 by dave_bass5

[bh2]

Glad you're happy with it John... they do have their quirks but if it plays, feels and sounds nice then hang on to it.

Dave... I've seen worse... looks very tasty.

[Lozz196]

Also glad you`ve made the decision. If a bass sounds, plays & feels great, then it has to worth keeping hold of.

[KiOgon]

[quote name='Musicman20' post='986162' date='Oct 12 2010, 08:11 PM']BTW - I reckon if you barter you can easily get one for £1400 or less....offer the cash and they will accept! Bass specialists especially.[/quote]

I don't think so I've been looking since end of July & quotes I've had were around £1699 - £1728, the new one on ebay they would drop to £1649, even a 'previously owned' on thebay now is £1495 & the seller can't be arsed to answer email
The shops advertising online below £1600 don't have any stock & can't give a definite date or guarantee that price when they come in, new VAT rate in January, one shop reckoned could get by end of October another said not until January. Even Thomman say 'special order'.

One so called bass specialist even had a '57 advertised but when I looked at the info - it was clearly not! They didn't answer my email either

So you can't say I haven't tried! I'm pleased with the price I got this for, it's what I expected to pay.

Cheerz, John

[bh2]

Piccys of the whole please.

[KiOgon]

[quote name='bh2' post='987071' date='Oct 13 2010, 03:52 PM']Piccys of the whole please.[/quote]
What whole? Has anybody seen the whole?

[bh2]

Very lovely!

[KiOgon]

[quote name='bh2' post='987207' date='Oct 13 2010, 05:58 PM']Very lovely! [/quote]
Cheerz - yes she is

More good news - Fender have said they'll send me a set of strings Free Gratis, along with a replacement pickguard, (in case it's buckled).

I have to say the shop have been pretty good in helping sort this out, communicating with Fender, very quick replies etc.

[Shaggy]

I honestly read this thread title as "What to do about Nipples?", and now feel mildly let down

[TheGreek]

[quote name='Truckstop' post='985713' date='Oct 12 2010, 01:46 PM']Send it back. You've just paid a lot of money for some people to not do their jobs properly. I know it's hassle, but it's not good enough.

Truckstop[/quote]
I agree absolutely...you've bought what some people (not me though) would see as a top quality item but that's not what you got..this has always been my gripe with Fenders..the instruments rarely live up to the reputation!! If you bought a Ferrari and the build quality was not up to scratch wouldn't you take it back to have the faults put right?

Send it back and have it set up the way a top instrument should be..

[Vibrating G String]

If I'm looking at those neck pocket pics correctly you're all missing the biggest flaw on this bass. The flat top un crowned frets.

And I always thought re issues were poly, have they started doing them in nitro?

[Alfie]

[quote name='Shaggy' post='987293' date='Oct 13 2010, 07:09 PM']I honestly read this thread title as "What to do about Nipples?", and now feel mildly let down [/quote]

I originally read it is something incredibly racist.

[KiOgon]

[quote name='Vibrating G String' post='987835' date='Oct 14 2010, 11:07 AM']If I'm looking at those neck pocket pics correctly you're all missing the biggest flaw on this bass. The flat top un crowned frets.

And I always thought re issues were poly, have they started doing them in nitro?[/quote]
Au contraire mon amie. Those frets are some of the finest things Fender do IMHO! The 'Vintage Frets' are about .085" wide & only .025" - .030" above the fingerboard. One of my reasons for wanting this model, along with the one piece Maple, both massive factors in how fabulous the neck feels & plays. They are similar to but even better than my '51 P RI - my previous 'best to play' Both my other P's are MIM with Medium Jumbo frets on Rosewood which seem to be the standard, I certainly don't need such big frets for my playing style I suppose even if I have got BSF (Big Sausage Fingers)

The Nitro Cellulose finish on body & neck, as the original '57s were finished, all part of the American Vintage Series.
Fender say: "Our American Vintage ’57 Precision Bass pays tribute to this landmark instrument with accurate detailing, including electronics and hardware—from the split single-coil pickups to the vintage tuning machines and nitrocellulose lacquer finish. A true Fender classic."

Cheerz, John

[Vibrating G String]

Hi, I wasn't referring to the fret size but the fret work. Crowning a fret is the same process no matter the fret size. Ironically one of the biggest selling points for narrow fret wire is it's intonation, if you don't crown the frets and only file them flat you lose that and they all play sharp.

[gjones]

If you're after perfection get a refund and buy a Japanese one.

[LukeFRC]

[quote name='gjones' post='991797' date='Oct 17 2010, 11:25 PM']If you're after perfection get a refund and buy a Japanese one.[/quote]


+1
non nitro though.

[Donnyboy]

Maybe not that comparable , but after reading this i've checked some joins & some are tighter than others- the biggest gap is on my Squier '57 P/bass(made in '83) -I've never noticed it before and it's never been a problem & suspect it never will be.
However if I'd shelled out a lot of dosh on a top of the range bass -I wouldn't expect to have any niggles & if I did I'd be a little, ahem, disappointed.

[dave_bass5]

[quote name='Donnyboy' post='992034' date='Oct 18 2010, 10:52 AM']However if I'd shelled out a lot of dosh on a top of the range bass -I wouldn't expect to have any niggles & if I did I'd be a little, ahem, disappointed.[/quote]

This is exactly how i felt with the MIA's recently. None of them were unplayable and i could easily have kept any of them but for almost £1000 i felt i shouldn't have to put up with a second rate job.

My HW-one has a high 19th fret but as it cost a lot less im a bit more forgiving (plus i have no need to play that high so its not a problem)

[Musicman20]

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='992063' date='Oct 18 2010, 11:26 AM']This is exactly how i felt with the MIA's recently. None of them were unplayable and i could easily have kept any of them but for almost £1000 i felt i shouldn't have to put up with a second rate job.

My HW-one has a high 19th fret but as it cost a lot less im a bit more forgiving (plus i have no need to play that high so its not a problem)[/quote]

I thought there was an issue with a high fret on one of mine a while back...I changed the strings and adjusted the string height a little (they were WAY too low) and it disapeared, as did any fret buzz. I was pleased!

Not saying that higher frets dont occur, as we all know they do. Luckily this time it wasnt that.

I agree, for the new retail prices, despite my love for the new MIAs, I think they are slowly started to creep back to QC issues. A massive shame.

Either that or im pickier as I get older, (definitely needs to be factored in!)

[dave_bass5]

[quote name='Musicman20' post='992092' date='Oct 18 2010, 11:57 AM']I thought there was an issue with a high fret on one of mine a while back...I changed the strings and adjusted the string height a little (they were WAY too low) and it disapeared, as did any fret buzz. I was pleased!

Not saying that higher frets dont occur, as we all know they do. Luckily this time it wasnt that.

I agree, for the new retail prices, despite my love for the new MIAs, I think they are slowly started to creep back to QC issues. A massive shame.

Either that or im pickier as I get older, (definitely needs to be factored in!)[/quote]

Well the MIM 70's classic i had for less than 24 hours (before the MIA's) definitely had a 11th fret that stopped me getting a low enough action that felt comfortable. I like a 2mm action at the 12th fret and dont think its unreasonable to expect to get it on any bass.

The HW-one also has this but as its so far up its not really an issue for me.

The MIA's were all 2008's, even though i brought them new, so maybe QC is actually better on the 2009-2010 basses.

Ive got a bit pickier as ive got older although i try and keep it in perspective. Thats why im now keeping my sights on the lower end of the market.

[Musicman20]

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='992104' date='Oct 18 2010, 12:08 PM']Well the MIM 70's classic i had for less than 24 hours (before the MIA's) definitely had a 11th fret that stopped me getting a low enough action that felt comfortable. I like a 2mm action at the 12th fret and dont think its unreasonable to expect to get it on any bass.

The HW-one also has this but as its so far up its not really an issue for me.

The MIA's were all 2008's, even though i brought them new, so maybe QC is actually better on the 2009-2010 basses.

Ive got a bit pickier as ive got older although i try and keep it in perspective. Thats why im now keeping my sights on the lower end of the market.[/quote]

Wow, they still have 2008s? I was told by a Fender chap that in the USA they had a massive lack of stock for a few months and were waiting to catch up, therefore any sunburst MIA Jazzes were going to be 6 weeks at the least....not sure if thats changed recently.

You would imagine that they would have definitely had new stock since 08! Bloomin heck.

[dave_bass5]

[quote name='Musicman20' post='992118' date='Oct 18 2010, 12:23 PM']Wow, they still have 2008s? I was told by a Fender chap that in the USA they had a massive lack of stock for a few months and were waiting to catch up, therefore any sunburst MIA Jazzes were going to be 6 weeks at the least....not sure if thats changed recently.

You would imagine that they would have definitely had new stock since 08! Bloomin heck.[/quote]

I did think it strange at the time. I checked each serial number and they were all 2008. I thought 2008 was the year QC went up.

[Musicman20]

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='992129' date='Oct 18 2010, 12:31 PM']I did think it strange at the time. I checked each serial number and they were all 2008. I thought 2008 was the year QC went up.[/quote]

I think the new versions and improvements, high mass bridge etc, went into production late 2007, so some 2007 basses have the improvements.

So, in essence, all basses from then on should be better? Are they? Well, the bridge, case etc are, but the basses themselves fit/finish etc, are a lottery. Hence why after seeing all the problems you had with a Jazz, Ive decided not to bother. A shame, as Id like one.

[KiOgon]

I haven't found a site that deals with serial numbers beginning with V, as in Vintage series I suppose. I asked the shop to ask Fender for date of manufacture + any other info. but haven't heard yet.

BTW - If I have the neck off, would you expect a date stamp & anything else maybe on the heel?

I'm playing this every day & definitely have no worries at all about it now, even putting up with roundwounds until my GHS get here

Cheerz, John