Help! Is this easily fixed?

bassbourne

bassbourne

Nov 20, 2019
304
165
2,841
#1
I bought a brand new bass (Fender American Original 50 Precision) and it arrived with the truss rod nut in this condition (see image). It came with an inspection sheet from the company, so either they caused the damage while setting up the bass, or Fender did (which I find less likely).

I like the bass and have already contacted the company asking for a partial refund, but I'd like to know if this is easily fixed. If not I'll just return it and forget about it. I couldn't find many of this particular model around though, so I'd like to keep it if it's no biggie.

I don't want to return it to them for repair considering they may be the ones who caused the damage in the first place. I'd either return it for a full refund, or hope for a partial refund and get a replacement truss rod nut (assuming this looks fixable).

Either way, I shan't be using this company again.

Thanks!




IMG_5177.JPG
 
#2
Does the nut come off when you fully loosen it? If it is just the stripped screw driver slots and the nut comes off, replace the nut.

I'm certain several will come on and tell you to return it because if this is wrong, what else is wrong? On StewMac, the part is $20. There are two sizes though.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bassbourne
#10
Zooberwerx said:
Okay, I’ll bite: who was the retailer? Include the pic with your claim.

Riis
Click to expand...

They're called Music Store Professional (musicstore.de). They're based in Germany.

Yes, have taken a pic of the damage. Already e-mailed it to them asking for a discount, but I'm going to call tomorrow to arrange a return. As someone above mentioned, who knows what else is wrong with it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bassic_desires and westrock
#12
bassbourne said:
How do you mean? As in, some one returned it before me and they tried to pass it off as new?
Click to expand...

Possibly. It could also be possible that they never noticed after the return. Just didn’t look closely at it and b just restocked it.

Zooberwerx said:
Yes...it’s the stock-in-trade for any number of vendors. Neat, huh?

Riis
Click to expand...
You have lost your faith in humanity it seems. Can’t blame you.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bassbourne and Zooberwerx
#13
"Brand new" normally means "untouched". This one has the TR nut ruined plus some scratches on the pickguard, I assume all done by one person, most likely musicstore.de in-house guitar tech. I don't know if they have display instruments in their store, but this might be the case why this bass needed the TR adjustment. Fender do their setup and stamp the paper during QC stage, but retailer might have their own after-production setup procedure...
It is hard to say "return it" as general instrument availability these days means you won't get replacement soon. If they have service call for PG and nut replacement or compensation €.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bassbourne
#17
It doesn't look like too much force was used, but rather the wrong screwdriver. The damage I see could easily have been made by a smaller phillips head driver, when it should be a fat flat head. Regardless, if the neck still adjusts correctly, a new truss rod nut is very cheap! If you like the bass and love how it plays, just replace the nut. If it can't be adjusted to your liking, return it. I had this happen with a Fender Rarities Jazz Bass I got from Chicago Music Exchange. The truss rod nut was mangled like yours from adjustment. I let them know what had happened, but rather than return the bass, because it was the best playing and looking one they were offering, they gave me a partial refund, and I just got a new truss rod nut for it. I didn't even really have to do that, as the old nut still worked fine. It was just chewed up looking.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bassbourne and MdC64
#18
To me, the damage to the TR nut would have me wondering what unseen damage might have been done.

I'd get the shop to agree to pay to have the bass inspected by a reputable repair person. That kind of TR nut can be removed and replaced easily. If the nut is the only damage, have it replaced on the sellers dime. If there's other damage, return it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bassbourne and RSBBass
#19
My guess is someone tried to adjust the neck without removing it from the bass and jacked up the nut. Or the neck is not a good one and the rod was maxed out but the neck still had too much relief, so they cranked the heck out of the nut and messed it up. Either way, that's NOT a new bass. No way it would leave the factory like that. Fender sometimes makes mistakes just like every company but in my over 50 years of playing, selling, and repairing Fender's, I've never seen that on any new bass.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bassbourne and byacey
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back