KiOgon Posted November 13, 2011 Posted November 13, 2011 (edited) Never seen this before - all those years (60) of development, cutting edge technology, the best brains in the world have come up with this: [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/kjon51/Fenders/FenderPrecisionDeluxehead.jpg[/IMG] Can you tell what it is yet? [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/kjon51/Fenders/FenderPrecisionDeluxeheadrear.jpg[/IMG] Is it only available on 'top of the range' 2011 models? Edited November 13, 2011 by KiOgon Quote
KiOgon Posted November 13, 2011 Author Posted November 13, 2011 [quote name='BigAlonBass' timestamp='1321180697' post='1436060'] What-an invisibility gizmo? [/quote] Patience is a virtue Quote
BigRedX Posted November 13, 2011 Posted November 13, 2011 Why don't Fender just make an angled headstock? Even the crappiest of Chinese factories can now make one that is suitably robust. That way all the strings break the nut at the same angle which is better for compliance, you don't have to wind unnecessary lengths of string around the machine head post which leads to tuning instability and you don't have to rely on string retainers which also hinder tuning. Simple really. Instead of all this hardware to fix a problem that shouldn't be there anymore. Quote
wateroftyne Posted November 13, 2011 Posted November 13, 2011 (edited) I have no idea what this is about. What is this fatal flaw that I haven't noticed in 25 years of totin' a P at gigs? Edited November 13, 2011 by wateroftyne Quote
chris_b Posted November 13, 2011 Posted November 13, 2011 (edited) [size=4][color=#222222][font=Arial]It's a string retainer. [/font][/color][/size] [size=4][color=#222222][font=Arial]They've reduced a 2 piece assembly to 1 piece and removed the task of mounting it. [color=#222222][font=Arial]Leo would be proud of the simplicity and economy of the design. [/font][/color]It is held on by the tuner nut so Fender saves by not adding a second string retainer and its screw and they don't have to pay someone to put it in. I think the string retainer used by Lakland and others is a much better design, but what do I know![/font][/color][/size] [size=4][color=#222222][font=Arial]Maybe they have seen a problem with the A string jumping out of the nut? [/font][/color][/size] [size=4][color=#222222][font=Arial]An angled head stock is very expensive to make compared to the usual Fender design.[/font][/color][/size] Edited November 13, 2011 by chris_b Quote
RhysP Posted November 13, 2011 Posted November 13, 2011 [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1321182377' post='1436092'] [size=4][color=#222222][font=Arial]An angled head stock is very expensive to make compared to the usual Fender design.[/font][/color][/size] [/quote] Plenty of manufacturers use angled headstock designs & still manage to charge less for their basses than fender. I think it looks pretty cheap & tacky, like a last minute afterthought rather than a carefully thought through design improvement. Quote
wateroftyne Posted November 13, 2011 Posted November 13, 2011 Can someone tell me what it is and what it fixes, please? Quote
chris_b Posted November 13, 2011 Posted November 13, 2011 [quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1321183198' post='1436100'] ....Plenty of manufacturers use angled headstock designs & still manage to charge less for their basses than fender.... [/quote] [size=4]There's a big difference in costing less and charging less.[/size] [size=4]Of course it could be a cigarette holder[/size]. Quote
RhysP Posted November 13, 2011 Posted November 13, 2011 [quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1321183301' post='1436103'] Can someone tell me what it is and what it fixes, please? [/quote] Apparently it's a retainer for the A string. Do try & keep up. Quote
wateroftyne Posted November 13, 2011 Posted November 13, 2011 [quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1321183785' post='1436109'] Apparently it's a retainer for the A string. Do try & keep up. [/quote] I get that.. but what problem does it fix? Quote
RhysP Posted November 13, 2011 Posted November 13, 2011 [quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1321183878' post='1436113'] I get that.. but what problem does it fix? [/quote] The problem of what to do with all those little bent bits of scrap metal they have lying around on the factory floor at Fender I guess. Quote
wateroftyne Posted November 13, 2011 Posted November 13, 2011 [quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1321184317' post='1436119'] The problem of what to do with all those little bent bits of scrap metal they have lying around on the factory floor at Fender I guess. [/quote] Bridges, you mean? Quote
KiOgon Posted November 13, 2011 Author Posted November 13, 2011 [quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1321183878' post='1436113'] I get that.. but what problem does it fix? [/quote] Exactly! I've never had a problem - with the A string - that is Quote
chris_b Posted November 13, 2011 Posted November 13, 2011 Here it is.... [url="http://www.fender.com/en-GB/products/search.php?partno=0196002768"]http://www.fender.com/en-GB/products/search.php?partno=0196002768[/url] Quote
icastle Posted November 13, 2011 Posted November 13, 2011 [quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1321183878' post='1436113'] I get that.. but what problem does it fix? [/quote] Not sure it does fix a problem. I think it's more to do with adding a light coating of snake oil to the overall finish... Quote
Telebass Posted November 13, 2011 Posted November 13, 2011 It would seem to be a simple ploy to equalise the break angles, rather than fix any inherent problem with said break angle... Quote
wateroftyne Posted November 13, 2011 Posted November 13, 2011 [quote name='Telebass' timestamp='1321196335' post='1436282'] It would seem to be a simple ploy to equalise the break angles, rather than fix any inherent problem with said break angle... [/quote] Is there an inherent problem with the break angle? I'm genuinely confused... Quote
Monckyman Posted November 13, 2011 Posted November 13, 2011 (edited) [quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1321196548' post='1436286'] Is there an inherent problem with the break angle? I'm genuinely confused... [/quote] The general vibe seems to be that the E sting has a nice short run from the nut to the tuner, at a nice break angle downwards. The D and G strings go through the string retainer to produce the same angle downwards. the poor old A string is orphaned,with a longer run to the tuner than the E and with no retainer to maintain the angle of the dangle,leading to tuning and nut jump problems.(allegedly). Edited November 13, 2011 by Monckyman Quote
EssentialTension Posted November 13, 2011 Posted November 13, 2011 [quote name='Monckyman' timestamp='1321196933' post='1436291'] The general vibe seems to be that the E sting has a nice short run from the nut to the tuner, at a nice break angle downwards. The D and G strings go through the string retainer to produce the same angle downwards. the poor old A string is orphaned,with a longer run to the tuner than the E and with no retainer to maintain the angle of the dangle,leading to tuning and nut jump problems.(allegedly). [/quote] The A string has always sounded fine to me. Quote
wateroftyne Posted November 13, 2011 Posted November 13, 2011 [quote name='Monckyman' timestamp='1321196933' post='1436291'] The general vibe seems to be that the E sting has a nice short run from the nut to the tuner, at a nice break angle downwards. The D and G strings go through the string retainer to produce the same angle downwards. the poor old A string is orphaned,with a longer run to the tuner than the E and with no retainer to maintain the angle of the dangle,leading to tuning and nut jump problems.(allegedly). [/quote] Ah, fairy nuff. I never cut the strings, so they are shoved right to the bottom of the trees. As a result, my A's have a nice healthy break angle. Angled headstock? Schmangled Schmeadstock. Quote
BassBus Posted November 13, 2011 Posted November 13, 2011 ...but Ned Steinberger sorted all this with the modernday headless design. No need to worry about break angles bent back heads. Quote
Monckyman Posted November 13, 2011 Posted November 13, 2011 (edited) Yep me too, but looking across my headstock I notice my A string angle is noticeably different to the others. I`m prob cutting too short and not winding to the bottom of the tuner enough. Still no problem though p.s if I wanted to wave something about shaped like a steinberger, i`d be in a Cricket team. Edited November 13, 2011 by Monckyman Quote
Linus27 Posted November 13, 2011 Posted November 13, 2011 Blimey, how did they ever cope back in the 50's, 60's and 70's before this was invented Quote
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