Fender Jazz Bass – Road Worn
Oh dear, I’m having a complete gear victim moment. Normally if a bass is a bit beaten up, you’d pay less for it. That is, unless it is one of those vintage treasures of course. But what about a bass that isn’t vintage, but is still beaten up enough to look road worn? Well, that’s the deal with the new Fender Road Worn series. New basses made to look like old. And with a price tag and quality more towards the vintage than the Squire end of the market.
I have to say, I’m really taken by them, particularly the 1960’s sunburst Jazz here. Just to add a twist to the mix, I’d like a 5 string version though. Yes, I know that makes absolutely no sense – and it isn’t going to happen – they didn’t have a 5 string in the 60s (although there was an early 5 string Jazz bass – much earlier than most people realise). I do like the distressed look. Anyway, check out the details on the Fender site. They are designed with a 1960’s vibe (nitrocellulose-lacquer finish to get ‘that’ look, with pickups to give the right sound and feel).
There is also a dedicated site: road worn basses and it is offering the chance to enter a competition to give you the gear to get on the road yourself. Oh, there’s a 50’s P Bass as well, for those of the P rather than the J bent!
yeah, at first, i wasn’t sure what to make of the road worn gear – but they’ve been getting some decent reviews. have you had a chance to play one? i haven’t yet, but i’m anxious to. thanks for the post!
I think it is mostly down to the cosmetics
But hey, that affects how you play! Not done an extensive road test one them, but they seemed cool enough.
its like buying stone-washed jeans – no thanks, my instrument needs to get worn through playing and actually being on the road. I think that it is a bad idea and a gimmick aimed at the growing fashion for retro-everything (maybe cool for younger musicians).
Hi Kalin. Know where you are coming from. In this video/photography driven age, the ‘look’ is important too – for better or worse. No?
sure Benjamin, you definitely have a point, but personally, i was never a fan of quick-fixes. it takes time to make things dear to one’s being, and guitars surely have that facet. you say that its about video/photography driven age, but i see it more as (and that is just an extension of modernity) the ‘take away’ age. Instead of cooking something up by ourselves, and knowing that it will be tastier, we still opt to eat McDonalds (or whatever other alternative quick-fix there is). I’m perhaps a little too idealistic on this issue… but sure, no time + no patience = popular culture and the need important to make instruments older quicker
fender will def make lots of money.
I think we’re with you on all of those
. Reminds me of a post from the start of the year: Getting Back into the Groove which talked about “meditating on your bass” – just getting to know your bass by holding it.
I think there is some science behind that – training your muscles to one instrument, complete with all its quirks – it takes years, but pays dividends.
You don’t get that with any quick fix or a layer of paint.
Hey Guys,
I just bought a New BMW. It is the coolest thing, I paid a little extra for the road worn look, they scratch it with their keys, ding the doors and the put two little spare tires on the front. Oh, the best is we ran it without oil for a couple of minutes, now it really smokes!
Why not put the money into makeing a better bass, you can always drop in a piece of sand paper and let the buyers express themselves. (BTW, I can’t afford a BMW)
Pure genius – BTW, don’t BMW make the Mini? I’m saying nothing
Gentlemen, I have two 40+ years old Jazz Basses. My rep at Fender, Tony Franklin, e-mailed me that I should try one of the “Road Worn” basses, as he knows I’ve been looking for a ‘travel’ bass. I LOVED IT. It’s the closest thing I’ve found, so far, to duplicating the tones of my old basses.
I’ll probably put a set of EMG’s on it, and a Badass bridge, but it’s a cool instrument. Not a whole lot of laquer to kill the tone of the wood, which is alder and light, like my old Fenders. I’ve played probably a half dozen of them so far, and both the Jazz and the Precisions were/are excellent instruments.
My advice, buy one, and break it in and pour your own sweat into it. They’re well worth it.
I didn’t know what to think about the Road Worn series. I finally was in the market for a P Bass and decided to try one out at the local store. I was very pleased with the feel, looks, weight and sound of the bass. I was able to test 2 and one of them seemed a little lighter and also “sang out” a little more. I bought it and am now loving it…. and am now looking for a Road Worn Jazz. I’ve had tons of boutique basses over the past five years and still have several but there is nothing like a vintage style passive Fender and these basses are really great for the money….I recommend them highly. I should also mention that I’ve played a lot of actual “vintage” Fenders and I’ve never come a cross one that plays/feels/sounds better than this bass. So I don’t really care if it isn’t an actual vintage bass….it’s better.
Thanks Eric and Larry – sounds like a thumbs up from players, regardless of views on fashion
why won’t fender publish what country this guitar was made in?
could it be that this axe is mexican or jap?
Just bought a Road Worn P bass today. While waiting for the sales guy to go find me an American Standard P w/maple neck, I saw one of these hanging on the wall and tried it out. I’d already tried 2 American Std. Ps by this time… Well, it was love at first touch (not sight). He even went back and brought me another Road Worn p to try. I stayed with the first one. Beautiful, broken-in instrument that sings even cooler than it looks.
Cannot recommend this axe too highly. Don’t believe the hype, try one out and see if you like it.
I love mine!
Hi Gene! Thank you for that – helpful comparison very much appreciated!
I tried out a Road Worn J-Bass at my local music store the other day, and it sounded awesome. I’m seriously considering picking one up.
To answer Bugsy, the one that I played was Mexican made. It did have an awesome sound though, and the “Made in Mexico” was found behind the head…perfect for sanding off…
I’ll be touring with Taj Mahal & Bonnie Raitt all summer, picked up my Road Worn Jazz yesterday. DON’T SAND OFF THE “MADE IN MEXICO”, why do that?? Matter of fact, I’m putting a Virgin of Guadalupe decal on the front of it. I now own 5 Fender basses, including a ‘66 Jazz and a 68 Jazz, both made in Fullerton, California,,,,by Mexican workers. The same little Mexican lady has been wiring Fender pickups for over 40 years.
Viva Mexico, just play the bass and enjoy it, it’s a great instrument!!
Road Worn eh?? No thanks. I’ll stick with my real 30+ years of road wear Jazz basses.
You’re a privileged man
– enjoy that bass Stephen!
Can anyone just clear something up about the Roadworn basses that noone seems to have mentioned?
Are they not basically the same guitars as the Fender 60s Jazz and Fender 50s Precision guitars that Fender (Mexico) has been making for years as part of the Classic series? They seem to have exactly the same specs with the road worn cosmetics being the only difference – along with a 30% hike in the price…
bought my roadworn jazzbass on saturday. amazing instrument with a killer sound. i played a j-retro pimped marcus miller signature bass the last years – already very nice instrument but the roadworn is imho far off better. feels just like it should – true vintageness.
i already played/tried true 60s roadworn basses – this series is equivalent … love it!
I played a black road worn strat in a store and it layed like a dream, it even felt broken in. I am currently looking for old beat up guitars at yard sells that look similar that I can get for cheap. Wish me luck!