deanovw Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 (edited) I have just ordered a 'shiney' new 3TSB Roadworn Jazz and I am really looking forward to getting it. However, the whole road worn/relic phenomenon really annoys me! I want to buy a bass in perfect condition and look after it. If things happen on the way then so be it, thats life for a working instrument. Taking a sander to a brand new bass is sacrilege, imho. Having said all that, the reputation for these MIM roadworn jazzes has grown so much that there must be something in it. These sound like great basses. If only we could buy them before they are ruined and save a few quid....... It should be here by the weekend, pics to follow then. Edited January 14, 2012 by deanovw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jigster Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 wish wish wish I'd never sold mine!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
essexbasscat Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 I'm keeping both of mine ! Let is know how you get on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubinga5 Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 i played one a few weeks ago and it really was that good... ive played lots of jazz basses and this was up there with the best... i hope you really enjoy it dude.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4 Strings Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 I'm busy road wearing mine right now. Well, in between typing I'm practicing today. I must admit I thought this was all dying a death but then saw how many (albeit low) bids this chap gets for his 'enhancements' http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Squire-Jazz-Bass-Vintage-road-worn-Squier-custom-shop-heavy-relic-squire-/270884618149?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3f11fb3fa5#ht_915wt_1070 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swanbrook Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 I have a 29 year old jazz bass, it has a few dings here and there but nothing like a roadworn. I tend to look after my gear But I really fancy a roadworn bass they look cool and sound fantastic, if I did that amount of damage to a bass myself I would be kicking my self. I would much rather somebody did it in a factory and know that it's all intact and in perfect working order Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 I`m not keen on the fake relicing, but I played a Roadworn Precision and it was amazing. Really comfortable to play. Looked fairly rubbish - as in it didn`t look "old" to me, just "fake". But, for a player like that - well I know at some point I`ll get one. Just wish they did a 60s Precision, for the Rosewood fretboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daz Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 I dont get it? How come a Mexican Fender roadworn Jazz is a grand. I though MIM models were cheaper ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanovw Posted January 5, 2012 Author Share Posted January 5, 2012 I wish I knew the answer to that. The buzz about these roadworn basses is far greater than anything I have heard about the MIM 60s Jazzes. I know they charge their customers the privilage for ruining the paint on the basses! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linus27 Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 As you like your basses to look new, would it not had been better to look at the Fender Classic 70's Jazz. They are raved about and as an ex owner, I can confirm they sound, play and look amazing. Still made in Mexico but about £400 cheaper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanovw Posted January 5, 2012 Author Share Posted January 5, 2012 Thanks but it has to be a '60s Jazz. I have owned '70s Jazzes and '60s reissues and I like everything about the '60s Jazz basses. In an ideal world I would be buying the nos 1960 Jazz but at £2500 its beyond my budget! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SebCarr Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 I really like the Roadworn Ps I played. Really nice, edged the US Ps in playability for me. I'd like them to do another one (yes, yet another Fender model...) to sit between the Classic 50s P and the Road Worn P - same played in feel, same nitro finish - but without the relicing. But that'd probably tread on the toes of the NOS Custom Shop stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machines Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 I played a Road Worn P the other day in PMT Birmingham, it was an absolute corker but was also £950. The same model P without the relicing was £550 or so... that's an expensive relic job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanovw Posted January 11, 2012 Author Share Posted January 11, 2012 I picked my new bass up this afternoon. My first thoughts were how light it is compared to my Squier Jazz. Good start. The shop owner said it required a major set up when he took delivery of it yesterday. When I tried it in the shop the E string was miles off the fret board but it played ok. I got it home for a serious going over. Before I plugged it in I noticed the pick ups were all over the shop level wise and no amount of undoing the screws changed this. I removed the scratch plate and finally got the pick ups to sit level with the strings. I wound down the saddles to reduce the action and they are nearly bottoming out now. I think I will try a shim tomorrow once it has been in this environment for 24 hours. I want to take a little tension off the truss rod too. The neck is perfectly straight. Too straight for me. I like a tiny bit of relief. The intonation is set nicely but the G+D saddle springs have no tension and vibrate annoyingly. It feels great though, like a favourite pair of shoes or an old jacket. Its familiar and it really encourages you to play. I like it. Plugged in it sounds perfect. It is loud and clear with all the settings being usable and classic Jazz bass. I am really impressed. I didnt even feel the need to run it through my Sadowsky DI box as I do with most basses I owned. The relicing is too much for my taste. I like the way the lacquer is crazed but i hate the gouges and machine sanded areas. Ah well. It is a bass for playing, not looking at, and I have been playing it for a while today and really enjoyed it. Can't wait to get it into a band situation. Pics to come soon…... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 Yay - glad you're pleased with it and can relate to the favourite pair of shoes comment and also the setting up required when I bought mine new - sounds similar to yours. Mine's a keeper! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick's Fine '52 Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 [quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1325695187' post='1486239'] I must admit I thought this was all dying a death but then saw how many (albeit low) bids this chap gets for his 'enhancements' [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Squire-Jazz-Bass-Vintage-road-worn-Squier-custom-shop-heavy-relic-squire-/270884618149?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3f11fb3fa5#ht_915wt_1070"]http://www.ebay.co.u...5#ht_915wt_1070[/url] [/quote] Ewww...that is probably the worst i've seen!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanovw Posted January 11, 2012 Author Share Posted January 11, 2012 I agree!!! [quote name='Rick's Fine '52' timestamp='1326320764' post='1495576'] Ewww...that is probably the worst i've seen!! [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidder652003 Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 sorry but i dont see the point in the roadworns at all. I got a great '82 JV squier P/J here on basschat thats looks roadworn because it is roadworn (30 years roadworn!) and it sounds and plays amazing, plus it was only £450 quid. Why buy essentially a fake look when there are some amazing genuine "vintage" axes out there for half the money? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick's Fine '52 Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 [quote name='skidder652003' timestamp='1326322710' post='1495609'] sorry but i dont see the point in the roadworns at all. I got a great '82 JV squier P/J here on basschat thats looks roadworn because it is roadworn (30 years roadworn!) and it sounds and plays amazing, plus it was only £450 quid. Why buy essentially a fake look when there are some amazing genuine "vintage" axes out there for half the money? [/quote] The same reason people dont get why someone might pay £450 for a Squier, or why someone would buy a Rickenbacker at all, or spend £20k on a bass, or anything else you can think to mention, each to their own. Everyone likes different stuff......thank god! I dont own a roadworn, although i have played one, and they are great basses in their own right. Having said that, I do think they are massively overpriced though for what they are, compared to a Mex, non-road worn version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LawrenceH Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 I do wonder with these roadworns what else is going on. They always seem to be light weight, and with cracking tone. The 'classic' series which is the nominal equivalent is quite good (I have one and have tried others) but not so uniformly incredible...I wonder if they are using select light bodies, or if they are thinner, or something. I've actually wondered about getting a RW just for the tone/playability, and refinishing it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanovw Posted January 12, 2012 Author Share Posted January 12, 2012 I have considered getting a price to get this one painted black. It would play great AND look great! Unfortunately I probably wont be able to justify spending more money on it. [quote name='LawrenceH' timestamp='1326330489' post='1495706'] I've actually wondered about getting a RW just for the tone/playability, and refinishing it! [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackinabox Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 I'm not a huge fan of 'relic' finishes, but the roadworn finishes I've seen have been as good if not better than some custom shop relics. Really good guitars to boot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanovw Posted January 14, 2012 Author Share Posted January 14, 2012 Pics: [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/deanovw/SAM_7894.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/deanovw/SAM_7899.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/deanovw/SAM_7901.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/deanovw/SAM_7905.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/deanovw/SAM_7904.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/deanovw/SAM_7906.jpg[/IMG] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanovw Posted January 14, 2012 Author Share Posted January 14, 2012 [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/deanovw/SAM_7895.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/deanovw/SAM_7908.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/deanovw/SAM_7902.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/deanovw/SAM_7909.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/deanovw/SAM_7903.jpg[/IMG] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmmettC Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 I think it looks great, I have a 70s P that is a bit more worn than that, but the dings look similar to the real one's on the P. It's not too overdone, ok, it would be better (and cheaper) to offer a non-worn alternative, but it looks good, you like how it plays and sounds, so leave it as it is, and most importantly enjoy it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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