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Post subject: Sting Bass owners, is this normal?
Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 7:01 pm
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I just got another Sting bass (replacement), and this one has the same issue as the first, namely seemingly poorly installed tuning machines. They are not flush with the headstock. See images below. Is this an issue, or is it possibly normal? I love the way these basses sound, and otherwise build quality on them seems first rate. I don't want to put more money into a brand new $900 bass, so new tuners and/or luthier work is out of the question. If this will cause problems, I'll send it back (again), but if not, I may just keep it as is. So, will this cause problems, or is it okay? Is it what I should expect on these? If you need other pictures, please tell me what you need, and I'll strive to get you what you need to better diagnose this.

Thanks so much for your help!

Image

Image


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Post subject: Re: Sting Bass owners, is this normal?
Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 10:43 pm
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That is not normal. There is binding going on with the barrels when those vintage tuners are not installed correctly. It seems odd that this would happen. I own a Sting also and the tuners are mounted flush like they are supposed to be. There are supposed to be small cutouts for each of the two tabs on the back of the tuners in the back of the headstock so they fit flush. This is something they (Fender) have done since 1949 but I guess in Japan they have bad quality control. It is very odd because they put out just tons of Sting basses. Looks like they had the problem over a certain day or something if you have had two of them like that. That is not right

The tuner plates look bent. The E tuner barrel actually looks like it's on an angle .The screws may even be on an angle with some of them. If the plates are bent even slightly then IMO they are no good- the barrels are not at 90 degrees. ..... it needs to be made right. If the plates are not bent -- if you have any experience with wood working you could fix the problem OR a repair person could fix it. BUT IF IT IS brand new and you don't mind trying for another replacement bass you should go rheem somebody out over it. I'd tell them the bass is not right. Maybe they will give you some kind of story but you should accept no stories because the bass is not right. If you were going to sell me that bass I would say the tuners aren't mounted right --then I would wonder if it's fake because that kind of thing is something someone who doesn't know what they are doing did. I've installed many sets of vintage tuners on necks. I use a dremell and ever so gently dremell out the indents for the tabs. That's all that needs to be done if the tuners are okay. A drill bit can be used to do the same thing.

Another thing is- Basses do not always sound the same. You could have 5 Sting basses in a row and one of them could be a dud. Looks like you've had two duds (component-wise)

Another thing that may be an optical illusion-- but it looks like the nut is cut low and the string is into the wood behind the nut. Maybe you should take a bunch more pictures that illustrate the bass better so we can see if there are more mistakes.


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Post subject: Re: Sting Bass owners, is this normal?
Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2014 2:18 am
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Thanks. I didn't think it was right, but I started hearing that it might have been done deliberately (for historic accuracy - their argument is that the '51 - '64 tuners were installed this way), so I thought I would check here.
That is an optical illusion, the nut is okay.


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Post subject: Re: Sting Bass owners, is this normal?
Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2014 7:32 am
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tekdiver500ft wrote:
Thanks. I didn't think it was right, but I started hearing that it might have been done deliberately (for historic accuracy - their argument is that the '51 - '64 tuners were installed this way), so I thought I would check here.
That is an optical illusion, the nut is okay.



"historic accuracy" is the "story" thing I was talking about in my post. No stories allowed. :D


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Post subject: Re: Sting Bass owners, is this normal?
Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2014 8:16 am
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Ahh. Okay, thanks. I'll be sure to not accept any stories.


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Post subject: Re: Sting Bass owners, is this normal?
Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2014 8:28 am
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You were right. I just got off the phone with Jordan at FMIC CS. He insisted that vintage tuners fit that way, and it was correct.


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Post subject: Re: Sting Bass owners, is this normal?
Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2014 3:08 pm
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I don't understand. They fit the way you have pictures of or they fit the way I said= flush flat down on the back of the headstock?


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Post subject: Re: Sting Bass owners, is this normal?
Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2014 8:27 pm
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He said they should fit the way my pictures show. He even looked at the pictures to be sure we were on the same page. He said he would consider it a defect if they were flush to the headstock.


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Post subject: Re: Sting Bass owners, is this normal?
Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2014 10:44 pm
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That is total BS dude. Okay whatever.......I guess I should return my Sting bass because the tuners are mounted wrong!! HA!!! :roll:


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Post subject: Re: Sting Bass owners, is this normal?
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 6:53 am
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stroker vance wrote:
That is total BS dude. Okay whatever.......I guess I should return my Sting bass because the tuners are mounted wrong!! HA!!! :roll:



Call them, say that you got a defective one with flush tuners. See what they say to that. I'd be interested to hear their response to that.


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Post subject: Re: Sting Bass owners, is this normal?
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 9:20 am
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That is a good idea and if it's an 800 number I'd be glad to call them. PM me and give me the # and the person you talked to name and I will call.


The Stings I have seen are all like the one I have.
Yours is the first I've seen with the tuner deal.
Things happen in production at companies.
People at companies cover their butt.
I have read about this tuner thing in a book.
Of course when Fender first recieved the tuners back in the day they probably had employees install the tuners and the result was to change the production after some of the bad tuner mounts were made and shipped.
This is perfect for someone to fall back on and say -"yeah that's how they were back inna day".
People at companies cover their butt.


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Post subject: Re: Sting Bass owners, is this normal?
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2014 4:42 pm
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So did you ever call, stroker? What's the story? :?:


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Post subject: Re: Sting Bass owners, is this normal?
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2014 6:22 pm
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My 51 RI's are FLUSH.


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Post subject: Re: Sting Bass owners, is this normal?
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2014 10:57 pm
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I talked to a music store owner and he said they did the Stings like yours. I bought my Sting used (11 years old). Some one must have taken the tuners off and routed out for the tabs. I still think they should mount them flush. It's the best way to do it.


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Post subject: Re: Sting Bass owners, is this normal?
Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 6:48 am
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brotherdave wrote:
My 51 RI's are FLUSH.



I sold my 51 RI a while ago but I remember it's being flush, too. This should be a no brainer, honestly. A correct fit would be flush by design. If there was meant to be a gap it would have been filled with a gasket in the original design. I can't imagine Leo letting basses roll off the line this way back in the first few years of production. Simple common sense and basic mechanics would tell someone that this is incorrect. You don't even really need to know anything about instruments. This is really sad. The Sting and 51 RI were two of the nicer lower priced basses Fender made for a looooooonnngggg time. If the quality is slipping there it's not a good sign. As to what is causing this? My guess would be improper spacing of the holes on a drill press machine when the initial holes are drilled for the tuners to be mounted?

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