lettsguitars

If that neck was in straight the e string woould be hangin off the side of the neck which brings back around to the bridge positioning problems.

[quote name='mart' timestamp='1357992105' post='1931453'] I opted for short nails and, I suppose, a consequently softer classical tone. That worked for me, but then I was never that good at the classical. At the end of the day, you've just got to choose which to compromise on. Or grow an extra right hand! [/quote]False nails?

At the most I've never timed myself and yes probably more like an hour. Taping up and working through all the grits certainly feels like a couple sometimes . If you want to get somewhere fast, go slow! That would include dressing frets too which is easily another 5 minutes

I enjoyed that. LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA! Cool!

[quote name='Delberthot' timestamp='1357993741' post='1931486'] I thought the idea behind the bolt on neck was to be able to change the neck when the frets wore out? I'm not disputing what you are saying, in was likely both plus the fact that Fender have been since day 1 all about building instruments as cheaply as they could - cheapest woods at the time, repainting bodies to match orders etc My MIM Fender is nigh on perfect. Personally, the way I see it is that the main difference between MIM & MIA is that MIA Fenders are made in America by Mexicans using American parts, MIM Fenders are made in Mexico by Mexicans using American parts. [/quote]Definately. Why the letters u,s and a, affect price so drastically is beyond me.

[quote name='peteb' timestamp='1357989066' post='1931361'] Yes, but we've all seen Fenders with that neck pocket issue. I'm just amazed that they're attention to detail is so lax that they choose that particular bass to be the basis of their catalogue picture! I bought a s/h US Fender off someone from here, but even thru the neck pocket was good it was didn't sound right. I took it to Jon Shuker to sort out who eventually found that the factory installed bridge had been put on at an angle! Never heard of that of any other top manufacturer..... [/quote]I'm afraid that this is another very very VERY common issue!

Bollocks! 180 grit for frets is well over the top. 240 at the most for bad frets. If you need any more than that you need new frets. Also crowning files make more mess than anything else. A file with the wrong size slot will f*** you right up. All you need for fret levelling is a 24" straight edge to make sure your neck is flat in the first place, a flat piece of something (this much is correct). I plane a 6-8 inch piece of scrap for this. Tape off the board inbetween frets, Mark the frets with permanent marker, scrub (sideways) with 320 grit on your flat thing until there is a shiny crest on each fret. All that is left is to 'polish' the frets which also recrowns them at the same time. Starting with the 320 polish down one side of each fret and then back up the board on the other side of each fret. Repeat this step through grades of wet and dry 400 up to 1000 or more (or indeed less) depending on fret material as some require a finer polish than others. Finish with fine wire wool and you're done. I used to buff with compound but I do find that it is totally unneccessary. Remove tape and lightly clean up the board with wire wool. Fret levelling is a coupla hours work at the most and really very simple to do well.

Very true. The idea was to make them mix and match-able. Not produce the finest instruments in the world. If you want the iconic image and sound then who cares about a few gaps here and there?

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1357988326' post='1931342'] No double basses yet? I feel that a good double bass has a sort of elegance to its lines and proportions that few (if any) bass guitars have achieved. [/quote]Agreed. This is called prettiest bass after all. Not prettiest bass guitar.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1357988006' post='1931336'] I'm not trying to defend Fender's QC or anything, but I wouldn't buy a bass on the strength of this pic, whether it seems good or bad. It's obviously been so processed, airbrushed and Photoshopped that it could well be made up from various separate graphic elements and not be a picture of an existing bass at all! Look at it! It seems to be hovering in mid-air. In my experience Fenders are a bit heavier than that! [color=#ffffff].[/color] [/quote]

Thats a pretty standard issue.

If you're any kind of classical guitarist (something I would love to be good at) I'd keep the nails and ditch the bass if it was a problem.

You say "this guy" like it's the first time you've heard of Stevie Wonder.

You can see an old fender anywhere. Whatever floats your boat

Man you have gotta check out whether Carl Thompson is playing while you're there. His awesome little jazz band plays regular in a couple of little bar/restaurants (Pane Vino's is one I think). Have a look on his website for his number and call him up while you're there maybe. [url="http://www.ctbasses.com"]http://www.ctbasses.com[/url]

I likey!

As long as your wrist isn't at a silly angle damaging your tendons then wherever feels right for you. Your hand and forearm should be more or less straight.

[quote name='mart' timestamp='1357820960' post='1928873'] Plastic hammer will work on some pickups, and on others it may kill the pickup. There was recently some brief discussion on this (in the context of Strat pickups) on MusicRadar: [url="http://forum.musicradar.com/showthread.php?121285-Strat-warble&p=1398797&viewfull=1#post1398797"]http://forum.musicra...l=1#post1398797[/url] [/quote]You are right of course. If the coil wire has slipped beneath the poles you could well break the wire. Having said that I've pushed a few strat magnets around in my time with no problems. Your call spellonyou. If it sounds ok then why bother. Just dont look at it. After all it is for listening to.

How we ever made any decisions before basschat I'll neverv know

Yea I agree. If you want to do something with some players who are in slightly better nick then just do it. There's no need to burn any bridges.

Plastic hammer will do the trick. Modern strings are designed in such a way that they balance fine with 'flat' poles. It does sound like they are just wrong though. Push em in.

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1357817917' post='1928805'] Watch that somebody doesn't steal them from you in the meantime.. [/quote]Too late

Some leads do not like those jacks. Have you tried another?