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Post subject: Fender P-Bass Online Purchase Question
Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2014 10:11 am
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Howdy. I asked the question in the lounge, but wanted to ask here.

I made my first online purchase of an new American Standard P-Bass from an authorized Fender dealer. the bass is being shipped in the Fender factory-sealed carton directly to me.

Is the bass set up and ready for play out of the box? Or, does it need to be checked and set up by a technician?

Any info or help would be appreciated. thanks in advance

FIM


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Post subject: Re: Fender P-Bass Online Purchase Question
Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2014 12:56 pm
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In my experience I would say it has a middle of the road to no set up other than you can pluck the strings without any fret buzz BUT that may not be true either. If you do not know how to set up the action- neck adjust- intonation-etc. then YES you should take it to a reputable/qualified tech. That's your best bet. :)


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Post subject: Re: Fender P-Bass Online Purchase Question
Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2014 3:53 pm
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Which is the best reason to buy from a brick and mortar shop. The instruments are setup and checked off on certain specs but lots can change in the environment while being shipped which can negatively impact the setup. Even when buying from online dealers that do their own checks and adjustments (such as Sweetwater), by the time the instrument gets to you it has gone through more changes. Best advise is to learn to make your own adjustments. Maybe a $1400 bass isn't the best place to start learning bass setup, so practice on one of your old ones. Here are some links to setup guides. With basic tools about anyone can do it, but not as good as a real tech with a load of experience.

http://www.fender.com/support/articles/bass-guitar-setup-guide

http://www.garywillis.com/pages/bass/bassmanual/setupmanual.html

http://www.tunemybass.com/bass_setup/

I got those links from my Resources page on brotherdave.com! Enjoy that great Fender bass!


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Post subject: Re: Fender P-Bass Online Purchase Question
Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2014 4:16 pm
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BUT, there is an upside. Yes, you will have to set it up, all comments on that are dead on, but if it is truly coming from the factory directly to you, you are going to get a rush that I have only had once.

When you open the case, your nose will experience the excitement of the finish, on a brand new Fender bass, curing.....and I tell you, nothing, not a new car, not anything I have ever experienced, surpasses that smell. True story.

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Post subject: Re: Fender P-Bass Online Purchase Question
Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2014 5:00 pm
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Thanks very much for the replies. Yeah, my gut tells me I need to set up from the factory due to shipping, change in climate, etc. When I inquired via chat on the sellers site, I was told that in-store purchases receive free tech set up, but online purchases do not, due to 'open box' i.e. no longer 'new' instuments, which prompted the question, will you set up for free at your brick and mortar location. No was the answer. the rep said it's an approx. $35 charge. when I pressed for a coupon or promo code to offset, he declined saying it's not their policy. WTF. I am capable of setting up using the Fender recommended procedure, but was put off by the sellers lack of khelp.

By the way, I will not be practicing on my 'other' bass - a 1977 Music Man Sting Ray Bass

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Post subject: Re: Fender P-Bass Online Purchase Question
Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2014 10:21 pm
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Nice bass. is this the Mike I know with one of my paintings?


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Post subject: Re: Fender P-Bass Online Purchase Question
Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 3:42 am
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Why is the strap button missing from the upper horn on the Stingray?

It looks like the Stingray could use a better setup too. The silk on the A string appears to be contacting the nut slot which is never ever a good thing. Could be an optical illusion though. If the silk is actually in the slot then I would avoid using the tech who signed off on that again. What strings are those on the Stingray anyway?


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Post subject: Re: Fender P-Bass Online Purchase Question
Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 6:30 am
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good eye Dave. yes the silk is in the nut. the photo was taken just after restringing and has been adjusted since. The strings are RotoSound round wound.

as for the horn strap button, I relocated it to the back of the horn. suits my playing position better. will it affect future value, probably, but I do not plan to sell any time soon.

here's an old pic from around 1988. notice the strap location. enjoy.


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Post subject: Re: Fender P-Bass Online Purchase Question
Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 11:08 am
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Rotosound. I like it.


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Post subject: Re: Fender P-Bass Online Purchase Question
Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 4:09 pm
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> Rotosound. I like it.

Amen to that, brother.

Flatiron Mike: First step when the bass shows up will be to loosen (completely) all the strings and tighten the neck screws and the bridge screws. Don't sock 'em down, just snug 'em up. You may be surprised how loose the neck screws are on a new bass.

Then the usual action height and intonation settings.

Nothing major in any of this. You've been playing a long time so it'll all be common sense.

If the neck is straight when the strings are in tune, leave it alone. Check it again in a couple of weeks, then a month later, then a month later, and so on, until you're sure it's stable.

Hth.

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Post subject: Re: Fender P-Bass Online Purchase Question
Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 5:32 pm
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thanks, Craig. yep, it's scheduled to arrive tomorrow via FedEx. once unboxed, gonna hang it in the On Stage guitar stand for a few days to acclimate it to the climate and settle in. will check action, intonation, etc. in a few days. will report back.

again, thanks all for the responses and suggestions.

FIM


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Post subject: Re: Fender P-Bass Online Purchase Question
Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 11:44 am
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just arrived. very excited...

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Post subject: Re: Fender P-Bass Online Purchase Question
Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 3:27 pm
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Location: In this country town, where the laughter sounds...
flatironmike wrote:
just arrived. very excited...

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Congrats! Very nice. Image Good choice.

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Post subject: Re: Fender P-Bass Online Purchase Question
Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 9:01 pm
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Snug the nuts down on the tuners- 9 times out of ten those are a bit loose.


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Post subject: Re: Fender P-Bass Online Purchase Question
Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 4:32 pm
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Hey! Somebody stole my bass!

Wait'll you see how that tort looks with the plastic peeled off (if you haven't done it already).

I loosened the pickguard screws a bit to reduce the slight buckling and the dimpling around the holes. I don't know what the hell they use at the factory to torque those little Phillips down, but they ought to try taking it easy fer Pete's sake..... Is yours the same way?

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