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Post subject: Todays Body Wood
Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 12:44 pm
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Can anyone be sure as to what the body wood on the '11 Standard basses is? I've looked at the Spec tab and Overview tab on the Fender web site and I cannot find an answer. The Standard series basses that are made in Mexico are not specific in the body wood. I am trying to compare the American Special to the Standard jazz bass. So far the the gig bag of the American Special has me thinking that the Special might be a better bass for me although I like the no frills bass that the Standard series is giving you. Like a bass built in the '70 or '60s.

By the way. I'm new here and I'd like to say hello to all. This looks like the best place to get and share Fender information with other bass players who like Fender instruments.

Steve


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Post subject: Re: Todays Body Wood
Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 1:40 pm
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Mr. FJbass. Thanks. I noticed that the electronics are different. Starting with the pick ups. I do not know how they are different though. I know that the Greasebucket Tone control is part of the Special package but the pups themselves are different in their description on the fender web site. I also believe that the length of the 2 pick ups on the MIM are the same but the length on the others are different. The bridge pup is longer then the neck pup on the Special.


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Post subject: Re: Todays Body Wood
Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 1:55 pm
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Body composition for most MIM instruments is alder. An exception are some deluxe models and selected re-issues with natural (clear urethane) finishes. These are made of ash.

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Post subject: Re: Todays Body Wood
Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 4:08 pm
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When Fender used to not mention the wood of Mexican guitars and basses-- I think that meant= Basswood.


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Post subject: Re: Todays Body Wood
Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 4:23 pm
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stroker vance wrote:
When Fender used to not mention the wood of Mexican guitars and basses-- I think that meant= Basswood.


Actually, it was poplar -- during the era of an *alleged* shortage of suitable alder back in the '90s.

AFAIK, only some MIJ/CIJ models and much of the chicom-made stuff is basswood.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Todays Body Wood
Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 11:24 pm
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Fender stopped sending sub-par Corona alder body and maple neck blanks to Ensenada a while back. Guess where I think they are now going? American Specials.

Now Fender Ensenada gets their own wood. They are not specifying what it is. Could be anything. I had rather have a really good piece of basswood than a less than good piece of alder. While the type of wood matters some, the quality of the wood matters too.

Yes see through finishes usually get ash and some MIM's are still specifying alder such as the Deluxe Series.

No matter what the wood, the quality of the blank matters a lot too. At least you have a shot at getting a good blank on a MIM instrument now, no matter what type of wood it is.


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Post subject: Re: Todays Body Wood
Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 11:41 am
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Wood quality is'nt always measured in its type(alder,agathis,basswood,ash,koa etc..)many people bawk at basswood but dried/cured correctly it can be a very good wood for making guitar/bass bodies.
Case in point,look at the growing fan base of the 80's Japanese made Fender basses in which most of the contempary series(jazz-specials,active power p/j bass..)all these basses were basswood bodies and pretty much all of the 80-90's Japanese Standard series were basswood unless a see-thru finish then alder got the nod.
If there is a debate to be had then I would be worried more about the wood being used on the necks than what the body is made of,I believe the main cause of neck failure is because of the lack of time used to season/dry/cure ETC..however you slice it older wood is superior to new wood,ever get a new bass and after 6-12 months the frets are a little sharp on its edges ? many think its the frets not well seated but its actaully the wood drying that causes the neck to shrink making the frets poke out a little.
I try to buy my basses when they are 5 yrs old,the wood is more stable and is less likely to develope neck problems later in its life opposed to when brand new,Leo would use wood that was 50 y.o.before he dried it which is why most of those era basses have the necks every bassist kills to find and its no coincidence why they play like they do and are copy'ed still to this day. :idea:

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Post subject: Re: Todays Body Wood
Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 7:05 pm
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lawsuitbass wrote:
many people bawk at basswood but dried/cured correctly it can be a very good wood for making guitar/bass bodies.


Basswood is good only insofar as it's easier on tooling dies and cutting blades during the fabrication phase. It's never been considered a "tone wood" by any instrument craftsmen, either in the past or in the modern era. Leo knew this -- which is why he never even gave basswood a second thought when he started out. And I reckon he knew A DAMN SIGHT MORE ABOUT GUITARS AND BASSES then any of the cheeze-dicks currently in charge of most guitar companies.

'Nuff said!

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Todays Body Wood
Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 8:20 pm
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check one two test


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Post subject: Re: Todays Body Wood
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 10:37 am
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My cousin Uncle Zarn gave it to me. He has a wierd name.


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Post subject: Re: Todays Body Wood
Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2011 8:43 pm
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Basswood? Maybe for an Ernie Ball guitar. I never met a Fender guitar made of basswood that I liked, they smelled.

I was looking at my tree book and noticed that Agathis is a conefer- like PINE.


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Post subject: Re: Todays Body Wood
Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2011 9:59 pm
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Does it make any difference what wood is used in the body of an electric bass/guitar?

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Post subject: Re: Todays Body Wood
Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 11:47 am
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Yes very much so. It is the basic idea behind the design and build of a guitar. You wouldn't want a guitar made from Iron Wood ( a type of Oak) or oak etc. Woods are chosen for resonance and ease of build and etc.


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Post subject: Re: Todays Body Wood
Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 12:12 pm
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Wood is only one part of the equation determining sound due to the various interactions of technology present in modern instruments. Basswood takes a bum rap often for being cheap but bear in mind that the MM Bongo basses are made of basswood, a decision made on sound quality and not price as the Bongoes are not cheap.

Having said that I must admit that I dislike basswood because it's soft. I got an old bass caught in a car door one time and it left a crease in the body. The door didn't hit the bass hard at all and it was in a Fender soft case. If it had been my Fender I don't think the door would have left a mark.


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