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Post subject: road worn p-bass
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:09 pm
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hi..i was wondering if anyone has tried the new road worn series? they have all the qualities of a REAL vintage bass. and the price is just so right..1100$ but are they made in the US or in MEXICO..? any idea? thanx


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Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 10:45 pm
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Looks to me exactly like a MIM $850 50's P-Bass reliced. The paint is different with poly on the 50's and NITRO on the Roadworn. The aging and the nitro is $360 more. Looks like the same body, neck, hardware and electronics. I prefer to age my instruments myself. I'd like to get the Fiesta Red NITRO and age it myself.


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Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 11:17 pm
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There has been quite a stink about these over in *ahem* another forum.
I originally thought they were way over priced, until I found that the '50s Classic P has gone up in price. Not too long ago they were around $600+.
As mentioned above, there is only a $360 difference between the two basses.

I too thought, the RW is just a relic'd '50s P. It is, to an extent.
Pups and all appear to be the same according to the specs.

Reviews are stating that the tone is better, due to the thinner nitro finish.
It's been stated that the neck and body have a different cut to them, not like the '50s P. THis came from a fellow that has a '50s P and had a vintage '59 P.
He even mentioned that the gold guard was more like a vintage P guard, and not like the '50s P guard.

Just throwing this stuff out there.
I have a '50s P and plan on aging it myself too. Although, they say the poly is hard to age.

Some love the relic job and others think it's stupid.


IF.....I had the coin, I might go for the 2-tone RW P.
But I don't right now.

PS. ..... yes, they are MIM.

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Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 12:12 am
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Sorry yes, forgot to add both the 50's series and the Roadworn are MIM. Which actually was the freaking question. I have to quit PWI. (Posting While Impaired.) But here I go again. I just finished a 2 hour home practice and laid into a quart jar of Popcorn Sutton's finest Moon.

Fender, are you listening? We want NITRO and we want to age it ourselves, say over a 20 year period. The last 20 years of our existence on this planet most likely.

I know it is not as labor intensive for your people to do this and you can't justify charging us for all the labor, but it is what this player wants. Fiesta Red 50's bass in Nitro NOS type finish just like they came in 1957. Is that too much to ask? I don't think so. You've proved you can do nitro. Just put it on a hair thicker and don't beat it up. Then sell it to us so it looks good and we can either take care of it and keep it new looking or beat it all to heck ourselves.

Lots has been said about the "THIN" nitro. Can you not lay it on a little heavier, like they did in Fullerton? Really it can't be that hard.

The alternative is buy a 50's RI bass, strip it, send it to Gordo Miller in Canada and have him nitro the thing. I'd come out about even compared to a RW with the thin nitro finish. Well, maybe 200 in the hole but it would be worth it to have a decent instrument for a change. I'm sick after the last FIVE poly basses I've bought from Fender never sounded quite like they used to back when. Additionally the necks are not as stable as they used to be either! That is not a news flash for most people.

Yeah I'm pretty agitated about the nitro issue right now. If you've wondered why you aren't selling so many guitars since you went to poly on the MIA issues, well as the redneck comedian said, "Here's your sign!"

Give us some nice nitro finishes with classic designs, STABLE necks that don't twist in the wind and classic electronics (file the S-1 under "Failed Experiment") and we'll buy more basses.


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Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 5:39 am
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I do like the nitro coats too.


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Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 9:06 am
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brotherdave wrote:
Sorry yes, forgot to add both the 50's series and the Roadworn are MIM. Which actually was the freaking question. I have to quit PWI. (Posting While Impaired.) But here I go again. I just finished a 2 hour home practice and laid into a quart jar of Popcorn Sutton's finest Moon.

Fender, are you listening? We want NITRO and we want to age it ourselves, say over a 20 year period. The last 20 years of our existence on this planet most likely.

I know it is not as labor intensive for your people to do this and you can't justify charging us for all the labor, but it is what this player wants. Fiesta Red 50's bass in Nitro NOS type finish just like they came in 1957. Is that too much to ask? I don't think so. You've proved you can do nitro. Just put it on a hair thicker and don't beat it up. Then sell it to us so it looks good and we can either take care of it and keep it new looking or beat it all to heck ourselves.

Lots has been said about the "THIN" nitro. Can you not lay it on a little heavier, like they did in Fullerton? Really it can't be that hard.

The alternative is buy a 50's RI bass, strip it, send it to Gordo Miller in Canada and have him nitro the thing. I'd come out about even compared to a RW with the thin nitro finish. Well, maybe 200 in the hole but it would be worth it to have a decent instrument for a change. I'm sick after the last FIVE poly basses I've bought from Fender never sounded quite like they used to back when. Additionally the necks are not as stable as they used to be either! That is not a news flash for most people.

Yeah I'm pretty agitated about the nitro issue right now. If you've wondered why you aren't selling so many guitars since you went to poly on the MIA issues, well as the redneck comedian said, "Here's your sign!"

Give us some nice nitro finishes with classic designs, STABLE necks that don't twist in the wind and classic electronics (file the S-1 under "Failed Experiment") and we'll buy more basses.


While visiting with my favorite salesman at Guitar Center, the subject of road worn guitars came up, the had no "road worn" basses of any kind in stock, just some Strats and Teles. After listening to my ranting about them, he shared his thought. His theory is, somebody at the Mexico plant totally screwed up a bunch of guitars and, somebody made the suggestion to sell them as custom "worn" instruments. Granted we have no Popcorn Sutton Moon in this area but, I'm sure he has his medications of choice.

Any other conspiracy theories out there?


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Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 9:11 am
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brotherdave wrote:
Fender, are you listening? We want NITRO and we want to age it ourselves, say over a 20 year period. The last 20 years of our existence on this planet most likely.


Every word well said. (Unfortunately, for the second part. :P)

Talking about finishes... I read that the new AmStandard basses have some new finish which is thinner thus allowing the wood to breathe and thus making the tone better and smoother.
Now, I'm thinking about buying a relatively cheap bass (Squier one, probably) and customizing it - adding new pickups, a new bridge, straplocks, knobs, and yes, having it refinished in another colour. Would it affect its tone very badly or is it ok to do it? :? :roll:

Sorry for posting this here, it just seemed an active and lively topic. :oops:

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Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 1:24 pm
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Yes it is a lively topic. As to buying something and customizing, it's your money, why not? You're the one who plays it, make it personal.

There may have been a time when I called Squiers cheap, not anymore. I bought a 70's Vintage Modified Jazz Bass which I think is awesome. All I did was lower the strings and was good to go. Next step is a set of Rotosounds.

Play all the basses you can before you decide. Never know what you'll find that fits.

Good luck.


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Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 1:31 pm
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Thanks for the hints! My other, a bit more direct question would be:

Does a new finish make the tone worse? Does it alter significantly?

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Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 6:48 pm
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Probably a very good question. i say that because I can't give you an educated answer. I've never re-finished a bass, remember, I started all this, as for me, I would spend hours and hours playing different basses, look for those in your price range, find one you can't live without, get it set up by a pro and then start swapping pups or whatever.

Try a tube emulator or direct box, they give a totally different sound and enjoy whatever you buy and be satisfied.

Now that's going to get some comments. I don't think there's too many on here that don't have a collection.

The hunt is more rewarding than the capture.


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Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 7:51 pm
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rkithun wrote:

Talking about finishes... I read that the new AmStandard basses have some new finish which is thinner thus allowing the wood to breathe and thus making the tone better and smoother.
Now, I'm thinking about buying a relatively cheap bass (Squier one, probably) and customizing it - adding new pickups, a new bridge, straplocks, knobs, and yes, having it refinished in another colour. Would it affect its tone very badly or is it ok to do it?


Wow, a new miracle poly that breathes? Nobel prize for sure in that technology. (It must be a thin nitro if it breathes at all. Poly paint does not breathe.)

Some of the Squiers are veneer or have laminated bodies which means they will not benefit much, if at all, from a nitro paint job. I don't think it would hurt it though. If you STRIP it completely first, Fullerplast (or prime it) it and repaint it with nitro you'd be BETTER off if it happens to be all solid wood. Stripping it is the hard part. I doubt you'll be sending a Squier off to a custom refinish shop, so buy your do-it-yourself stripping products and paint spray cans (nitro and Poly) from Re-Ranch and follow their directions exactly. Link to RE-RANCH is on the RESOURCES INDEX page in my signature below under the "REFINISH, RESTORE & MAJOR REPAIR" category.

TIP: I've heard of putting a garbage bag over the body after applying the stripping gel while it does it's magic to keep it from evaporating.

If it is a veneer or laminated body poly paint would be ok since nitro won't ever be much of a tone advantage. You could strip it and start over or just paint over the existing color on a veneer or laminated body since it won't breathe much anyway.

The beauty of this is you can do ANY Fender color EVER. I'm very seriously considering having my 51 P-bass done in blonde nitro. Or maybe FIESTA RED! Gord Miller would be who I would use.


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Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 7:58 pm
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Not to hi-jack the thread any further, but I have quite a few forum chums, like myself, that LOVE their '50s Classic P.
We're very happy with the tone.
I guess the RW would be slightly, if not more, better tone wise.
I'd love to play a RW, doubt I'll ever get a chance around these here parts.
:cry:

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Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 6:33 am
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I acually like the look and feel of the road worn Basses..... and strats too.......I think its a cool thing Fender did to get that "old look"... I played the bass but not the strat.



American PBass club #1 :arrow:


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Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:14 pm
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I had made up my mind that I didn't like the Road Worn instruments, until I stopped by the local Fender dealer Monday. He had gotten in a shipment of Teles and Strats and I checked several of them out.

Damn good job, I must say. The nitro finish is so much nicer than the poly.

It's not enough for me to pluck down my bucks, but Fender does a credible job.

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Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 4:22 pm
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I tried two Road Worn Strats 3 weeks ago when I was shopping. While they were set up horribly, they sounded OK. The nitro on them actually looked and felt like house paint! Somewhat-long-story-short - I took home a new American Standard for the same price as the Road Worn. Like a lot of people, I prefer to wear in my guitars in my own time. As awesome as I thought the Road Worn line looked, they just came off as "gimicky" when I had them in my hands.

Curt


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