Hello I am skeptical to take on this setup job. Custom shop 59 p bass nos. Built in 2024 purchased brand new. The bass was presented to me with the bridge ad pickup covers installed from the factory. After verifying the strings are to factory spec, I am wondering why they are so close to the pickup cover. The Bass is unplayable with the cover on. Is the cover out of spec or the neck pocket? I find it insane that FCS passed this and sent it out. Not many but a few folks like to keep the covers on. My suggestion to the customer is send it back. I can’t lower the saddles without Buzzing. What do you all say?
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2024 Custom shop Precision bass setup
- Thread starter PFBASSO
- Start date
Turnaround
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- May 6, 2004
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The relevant questions are how high the strings are off the fretboard and how much relief there is in the neck. With those properly ajiusted there may be clearance for the stings under the pickup cover.
Turnaround
Commercial User
- May 6, 2004
- 10,889
- 22,427
- 6,476
- Disclosures
- Independent Instrument Technician - Retired
It’s going back. Thanks for your input. Just to new and expensive to start monkeying around with.
I had a bass come in once where the owner wanted me to mount a pickup cover, and luckily I dry fit the thing and found the same issue before I started drilling. Apparently cover height and string height at the pickup are not all that well controlled.
I consider 7/64 to be high - regardless of spec. (measuring around the 20th fret.)
I easily achieve 5/64" on all my basses, which I would guess is "average".
Regardless, it really shouldn't be creating the issue you're describing.
For there to be that large of gap between the strings and body (pickguard), the saddle height screws (on a standard Fender bridge) would have to all be recessed into the saddles. (especially the E & G)
If that's not the case, it would point to the cover itself, which I don't think is possible.
I would guess less than 5% use the PU cover.
For an ornament that is considered by most to be a relic, it's probably not something that is monitored closely.
(But that's also why some people pay up for a custom shop...)
I prefer covers on. I actually utilize the pickup covers. I add covers to P basses that don't have them. Even with a shimmed neck I've never had clearance issues that obviated using a cover. I'd love to see pics but I guess the opportunity has passed.
BBB
BBB
Agreed, some pictures would have been nice, I own several CS Fenders and played many more, never seen strings touching the pickup covers (or being too close to them).
The problem might just be the lack of correct arc on the pickup cover. The early slabs & Tele bass covers were flat but the 57 P bass cover had a curve that matched the neck radius. I've seen these flattened to where they would hit the stings.
First, I would make sure the bass has a proper setup.
First, I would make sure the bass has a proper setup.
A machinist’s rule and starrett straight edge were used to verify fender factory specifications. The neck was very straight showing 1mm of relief at the 12th fret. The cover prevented me from setting up the bass to the guys liking. Lowering the strings from 7/64 to 5/64 would still buzz the cover. If it’s the wrong cover it would be very frustrating and unfortunate. Some people sell all their other basses to afford a FCS and now we are mailing it back across the country.
1mm relief is a ton in my book. .25-.3 mm is fairly easy to achieve and what I demand on my basses.
IMO, Fender factory specs are an accounting dept. edict but Fender fret finishing is good enough to easily defeat those specs. Even my Squiers can get .25mm without fretwork.
IMO, Fender factory specs are an accounting dept. edict but Fender fret finishing is good enough to easily defeat those specs. Even my Squiers can get .25mm without fretwork.
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I understand. A $4000 bass in this condition isn’t really acceptable though. Considering people bring me American vintage re issues all the time that don’t have these problems. About 10 years ago I worked on a custom shop Robert cray strat that was brand new. There was a hump in the fingerboard 4th fret low E string. Fender would not build a new neck. They recommend the customer return it to the dealer for a full refund. That guitar went back on the wall unrepaired and sold as new to someone else. I never buy anything sight unseen but nowadays it’s the only way to do business. I feel bad for the amount of time it wastes.
Without pics we can’t really see what’s going on. Sounds like the cover is too flat, you could maybe bend it by hand, but for a GCS you’re right it should be flawless (maybe needing a tiny setup tweak at most). Send it back and get another.
I didn’t bother with pics. Figured even with the world’s worst setup. Shouldn’t be that close to the cover. I’ll update the replacement (if there is one)
Oh darn, bummer. Well if you get a replacement bass I hope you enjoy it. The Fender Custom Shop makes some amazing instruments but it sounds like you got a lemon.
I can’t weigh in on lemon status. Don’t know what’s going on yet. Do you own any p basses? Or is that a jazz in your pic
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I own and have owned quite a few P’s. From squiers to custom shops to real Pre CBS ones. Personally, I don’t play with the covers on, but usually you can just add more bend into the ashtray cover by hand, and then your issue should be solved. But, like I said, without pics I really don’t know 100% of what’s going on with it.
A picture doesn’t do anything. I think some folks understand what I’m talking about based on my description. Not leaning on you for a diag but thanks for chiming in.
I've seen this a small handful of times. For Fenders, it's normally a shim in the neck pocket towards the headstock end. Take it out and you can't get the saddles high enough is the telltale sign. It's more common on vintage Teiscos, Guyatones etc. where the heel pocket/neck heel has swollen towards to the top.
Either way, not good enough for the FCS. And, to the point, sending it back is the right decision.
Can only hope they send something out to you fast. I've heard the FCS wait times are pretty egregious these days.
Either way, not good enough for the FCS. And, to the point, sending it back is the right decision.
Can only hope they send something out to you fast. I've heard the FCS wait times are pretty egregious these days.