Fender classic series 50s P - Road worn vs not...

[Pbassmanca]

In 2015 I stumbled across a fiesta red (not a fan) 50s with molded case for $425 CDN. I love that thing. I love that huge neck. I love the ooomph it has. I love the aluminum pg. Wish it was The sunburst, but the red is fine because it’s fantastic in every other way.

Man, this is the kind of sick deal on a Classic 50's P that I am after!

 

[DD Gunz]

I own a first year run RW Precision. I bought it used in 2011 for a good price.

1. It is the lightest P bass I have ever played at well under 8lbs.

2. The neck feels incredible.

3. The bass body resonates more than any other bass I have played and is very lively.

4. The tone is very organic, if that makes any sense. Mine has something my other P basses don’t have. I am not sure what it is.

I have played the 50s model and it was ok. It didn’t leave a lasting impression.

I think it’s the luck of the draw. The RW was my number one for a couple years until I got a 2014 American Standard which I found to be amazing for the tone I was seeking. No doubt, the RW is a very nice bass. Tone is subjective.

 

[hsech]

I have a 2016 RW P and love it. Once you get one it "magically" becomes better. In reality, I don't know if there is any difference in materials or sound, but I do like the vibe of the RW. I'm a 69 year old RW guy so maybe that is why I like it. Besides, I got it used with a molded case for a great deal on the Evil Bay.

 

[slagheap]

c'mon, people, this is fender we're talking about. you may prefer one look or neck feel over the other, sure, but the idea of " special " wood or tone is all in yo' mind. you could never tell 'em apart from behind a curtain.

 

[Fender_Bender]

I have a classic P and a roadworn J. I much prefer the feel and “vintage vibe “ of the RW series. They really do feel like they’ve been played for 50+ years.

 

[XontheP]

All I know is my honey blonde 50s P is so sexy I sometimes worry about calling attention to myself if I take it off between sets.

 

[Gaolee]

I have a 2010 (I think) RW. Bought new, which is the only instrument I currently own that was bought new. It felt so good that I had to have it. The fret edges are so soft you feel like you are playing a fretess. It sounds like a P is supposed to sound. And, once I got used to what I thought was the absurd relic thing, I didn't mind dents and bangs much. If it got knocked over, I didn't mind near as much as I would if it had been pristine. Like the Ric that came and went after the P. The P stuck around. I mostly play Thunderbirds, but the P still sticks around. It's too good to let go of. Mine isn't a lightweight, for what that's worth.

I haven't tried a lacquer verson. I probably would have wanted one of those when I bought mine, if they had been available. I just wasn't impressed by the whole relic thing. Fortunately for me, they weren't around yet, and I got an outstanding Precision.

 

[Ric5]

Looking at the Fender website, it seems that the only difference between the ordinary MIM classic 50s P and the roadworn one is the finish and the "distress". Apart from that, they seem to be pretty well the same bass. So what is the advantage of the more expensive roadworn one?

Fender has about 35 versions of the p-bass that are pretty much the same bass

Buy the one that speaks to you

 

[petrus61]

c'mon, people, this is fender we're talking about. you may prefer one look or neck feel over the other, sure, but the idea of " special " wood or tone is all in yo' mind. you could never tell 'em apart from behind a curtain.

Same could be said for different Musicman models, different G&L models, different Foderas, Lull, Sadowsky and Ken Smiths even. Do you want to know what the worst album of all time is according to me? It’s the SMV album (Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten) where three virtuosos got together, wanking off, playing three very different basses and all managing to somehow sound indistinguishable from one another. Can you imagine the size of the curtain they must have stood behind? It goes both ways.

 

[selowitch]

The Roadworn basses are widely considered to be among the nicest MIM Fenders ever offered. Many people even prefer them to the MIA/MIJ/CIJ basses.
I think they are delightful instruments, very reasonable in cost and they look and sound wonderful. What's not to love? If I ever acquire one I'm stringing it with GHS Precision Flats.

 

[Marikk]

People get their panties a little too twisted over the road worn thing. They feel incredible and Feel and sound are at the top of my list of deciding factors

 

[stringthrough]

I’ve owned a RW J and currently own a RW P. Both great but all had Warmoth all-wenge necks for greater stability.

 

[Kustom_Thunder]

My road worn p is probably the best bass tonealy and felling wise I have ever played I love it to peace’s YMMV

 

[Andy Daventry]

Well, thanks for all the feedback. Sounds to me like the RW is the same bass but with extra finishing work that makes it a better bass. Which is as it should be.

Just one more question to RW owners - is it true that the metal bits are actually pre-rusted? That seems to me like taking the relic idea a bit too far.

 

[moishelichtfuss]

I own a first year run RW Precision. I bought it used in 2011 for a good price.

1. It is the lightest P bass I have ever played at well under 8lbs.

2. The neck feels incredible.

3. The bass body resonates more than any other bass I have played and is very lively.

4. The tone is very organic, if that makes any sense. Mine has something my other P basses don’t have. I am not sure what it is.

I have played the 50s model and it was ok. It didn’t leave a lasting impression.

I think it’s the luck of the draw. The RW was my number one for a couple years until I got a 2014 American Standard which I found to be amazing for the tone I was seeking. No doubt, the RW is a very nice bass. Tone is subjective.

I think I also got one of the early ones, at least its got a MZ8 serial number, and it's also quite light (7,9 lbs). Love the tone. Not sure about the comparison to other one's, but I really like the way the finish feels compared to some heavy poly-finishes I've had in the past. It's the only bass I own currently.

 

[edencab]

not.....do yer own road wearin' ..............imho

 

[bass71]

The RW bodies and headstocks are thinner. I measured them.

 

[petrus61]

Well, thanks for all the feedback. Sounds to me like the RW is the same bass but with extra finishing work that makes it a better bass. Which is as it should be.

Just one more question to RW owners - is it true that the metal bits are actually pre-rusted? That seems to me like taking the relic idea a bit too far.

They are pre rusted.

 

[Swearengen]

I personally don't think the Road Worn adds to the sound. I do like that you don't have to worry about the first traumatic ding, though!

(On a side note, my gorgeous Honey Blonde 50s P Bass is up for grabs in the classifieds.)

 

[Loring]

Same could be said for different Musicman models, different G&L models, different Foderas, Lull, Sadowsky and Ken Smiths even. Do you want to know what the worst album of all time is according to me? It’s the SMV album (Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten) where three virtuosos got together, wanking off, playing three very different basses and all managing to somehow sound indistinguishable from one another. Can you imagine the size of the curtain they must have stood behind? It goes both ways.

I haven't heard the whole album but the few songs I did hear - could totally tell them apart. More so about their style of "wanking off" though than anything else...