New and shiny or aged relic? Classic 50s vs Road Worn P Bass Poll

[SgtHulka]

This level of pretentiousness over whether finish wear is “real” or not among a group of primarily hobbyist musicians is quite funny.

The only thing that really matters about a musical instrument is that you enjoy playing it: the rest is just fluff

Perception is reality my friend. If you feel comfortable wearing a fake Rolex, go ahead. Most people I know worth their salt prefer to earn what they have.

 

[MDBass]

Perception is reality my friend. If you feel comfortable wearing a fake Rolex, go ahead. Most people I know worth their salt prefer to earn what they have.

Throwing some logical fallacies on top of the pretentiousness, like the appeal to authority and anecdotal experience above, actually just makes it funnier

 

[BobDeRosa]

Congrats on the pair.

So which one sounds better?!?

Exactly! If I were in your very fortunate position, I would put on a blindfold, have someone hand each of the basses to me, play each one for up to 5 minutes, and choose. Of course this is coming from someone who cares not one bit about the cosmetics of a musical instrument.

 

[C Stone]

This level of pretentiousness over whether finish wear is “real” or not among a group of primarily hobbyist musicians is quite funny

To flip the script pretentiousness is exactly what what a reliced bass IS "pretend wear" the finish wear is of course real but it is faux and the reality is it is not authentic wear. The OP asked the question, just sayin...

 

[Hans Gruber]

I actually vote to keep the RW. The nitro finish just feels so good, even if the relic looks a little fake.

I just found that my RW resonates so well. I've owned dozens of P-basses but my RW is actually my all time favorite, more than the US standards. Heck, I liked my RW Jazz at least as much as my Moollon, if not more so and it was half the cost.

 

[misterCRUSH]

shiny and new....put your own mojo on it. This is the bass I learned on....it's all me...

 

[Wherestheone]

They're both great looking.....in each their own right. And maybe someone has already suggested....do a blind playing test. Have some one hand you each one....play it blind....keep the one that you feel makes you feel and sound better....

 

[Grizelda100]

I prefer new and shiny, but I'm always terrified that I'm going to scratch up my basses with the super nice finishes.
I'd imagine it's less pressure playing a pre dinged up instrument.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

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I dinged my p bass’ body today while moving my amp. Now I like the RW look, but it honestly broke my heart in that moment seeing my “Pee” with that not-so-glaring fresh wound. It then dawned upon me that it was unrealistic to expect to keep a bass in pristine condition. Especially if you’re thumping on it everyday. At the end of it all, it’s important that we have instruments we enjoy playing with instead of worrying about its appearance. So if I was you I would go with the bass that speaks to you most. *I apologize if it seems like I’m intruding on your thread*

I have a Taylor 510 Dreadnaught that a girl I was giving lesson to hit the spruce to about 3” from the bridge with the tuning guitar on her guitar. It left a small crease 1/4” long but not real deep, but enough to cause the value drop by about a thousand dollars.

 

[lfmn16]

Perception is reality my friend. If you feel comfortable wearing a fake Rolex, go ahead. Most people I know worth their salt prefer to earn what they have.

 

[DJ Bebop]

I myself would pick the one that felt and sounded the best.

 

[odarellmc]

They are both keepers but since I owned a Roadworn I would keep it, the look and feel and solid tone is unbelievable, it is one bass I regret selling. Should you keep the new shiny looking one and like the Roadworn look it will take you decades to achieve that look and you may never get there since it's a poly finish, and if you decide to relic it yourself it would be a disaster and look obvious, either way they are both great basses and whichever you keep is a win win!!!

That's what I'm saying, why either or, and unless you've actually owned one what good is the opinion anyway, on top of the fact, this topic has been done to death... .....!!!!

 

[Lowbrow]

You seem to want to keep the shiny one pretty clearly so I'm wondering why you're asking.

 

[odarellmc]

I actually vote to keep the RW. The nitro finish just feels so good, even if the relic looks a little fake.

I just found that my RW resonates so well. I've owned dozens of P-basses but my RW is actually my all time favorite, more than the US standards. Heck, I liked my RW Jazz at least as much as my Moollon, if not more so and it was half the cost.

Yes!...I think there is a drying process for the bass that really gives it its own sound and feel, its about the whole mfg process. I love mine, and with flats..baby!

 

[4andnomore]

I voted clean and shiny, but see nothing wrong with the RW. They are both great basses.

 

[MDBass]

To flip the script pretentiousness is exactly what what a reliced bass IS "pretend wear" the finish wear is of course real but it is faux and the reality is it is not authentic wear. The OP asked the question, just sayin...

“Pretentious” and “pretend” actually aren’t synonyms.

Regardless: watching a group of hobbyist musicians talk down to another group of musicians, a group which also includes professional musicians, and call them things like “posers” for their choice of instrument finish is just funny for some pretty obvious reasons

 

[nutdog]

Hi all, I love the look and tone of the 50s p bass. I did all my research, read the reviews, read the talkbass forums, and the conclusion was, for my price range, the best bang for the buck was the Road Worn 50s P bass with the Classic 50s P a close second. A few months ago I purchased a used 2016 Road Worn 50s P. It's a great bass, and I love a good looking relic, however part of me kept thinking shiny and new. A 2018 classic 50s P bass came up on Reverb and I jumped on it. Its in like new condition, not a ding or blemish. Both are fantastic basses and to my ears, I can't tell any difference in sound. Other than the coating and pickups, they are identical.

I can't afford to keep both.

The issue I have with the RW is that its not my wear and tear, and all other RW basses have the same wear and tear. Hmm, I thought I would love it but it just seems fake to me. And hasn't really felt like "my bass" if that makes sense. If I want a 50s replica, do I go with shiny and new or faked worn?

So for anyone else who had both, what was your preference?

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I like the way nitro ages better than poly. But you like shiny and it's your bass.

I think the RW will hold or possibly increase in value.

 

[2F/2F]

The Classic looks more classic than the Road Worn, which looks cheesily faked. If I had to pick which one of them looked the most like a "real" gold guard P Bass from the '50s, from 20 feet away, I'd pick the shiny one.

 

[Kubicki Fan]

I never understood the concept of purchasing a brand new instrument for a few thousand dollars that a factory laborer in Mexico has worked hard on to make it look beat up. This is the ultimate musical fakery.

Hang it on a wall, make-believe its an old guitar. Make sure you get the "Fender Musical Instruments" baked metal sign to hang next to it on the wall. Bonus if a relic guitar never plays live, for fear of it getting "dinged up." Lol.

I never understood the concept of criticizing other people's tastes.

OP, keep both!

 

[DJ Bebop]

I agree with the posts that say to find some way to keep both, at least for awhile. Maybe over the long term you'll find yourself drawn to one over the other, and then you can decide if you still need to sell the other.

As far as the relic/fake wear thing goes...I bought my Roadworn Jazz based on the reputation they had for being great basses, and I liked the fact that I could get one in Fiesta Red. The vintage specs and already-broken-in feel were appealing too, and I can live with the relic look. It didn't dissappoint, and is the best Fender Jazz bass I've owned (I sold a Custom Shop '64 because it simply wasnt as good as the Roadworn). I decided to let the relic haters hate, and I would just enjoy my bass

If it was a Classic Lacquer, I would take that. I found some of the RW to have been lighter in weight than the poly ones. Another factor I would consider.