I bought a used 5 string model. I was surprised because there wasn't a scratch on it anywhere. It still had the plastic on the pickguard. Took it home and did a setup only to find the same issue with the G String. The D string was able to be adjusted, but the saddle was nearly on the deck to get it close enough. I contacted Fender and was assured that they had not had issues with the bridges on these guitars. Turned out it has enough neck twist to cause the problem. It went back to the store. I found another used one at a different store. It set up perfectly and is a real joy to play.
It's such a cool looking bass! A store near me has one on sale for way less than $750. I think I'm gonna buy it and if I've got a problem with the saddle I'll just file it down.
I have seen a number of reviews and not one mentioned this issue. Since you didn’t mention it I assume you didn’t even bother to look at the neck relief? Necks move. That’s why they have truss rods. Too much relief and the strings will be a mile high from the fretboard and guys lower the saddles and can’t figure out why the strings are still high. It is possible you received a dud, but there is nothing inherently wrong with the design. It’s literally just their Concert model with mostly cosmetic hardware. If anything you got a defective example, it happens, but to say they need to fix the design is probably not true.
First step of a setup is to adjust the neck relief, or at least when I do a setup so you can rule that out. Also it was around .02 of inch away, that would be a huge truss rod adjustment. The other saddles had between .03 and .04 clearance left when lowered to a decent height, so I really doubt my customer "got a bad one". There were quite a few open box and blemished ones for sale immediately after release so I'm lead to believe it's not a just a couple QC missed. Maybe it's a bad batch of bridges but regardless it's not what you expect for $750.
@@pawnshopguitarguy Fair enough. I maybe missed when you mentioned checking the relief. And of course your bass should be playable at $750 or any price, but to declare that it’s a design problem just seems like jumping the gun.
@@swizzarmygrizzpersonally, as soon he put up the photo with the ruler, I assumed that he went through all the typical steps. I have yet to see someone who invests in rulers and gauges neglect the truss rod when talking about setups. 👌
I have a 5 string myself, and don’t have a single issue in that field. I’ve also never had that be an issue on the 4 string models of this I tried. Sounds like a fluke to me.
Or they corrected it after several had made it out into the wild and you got one with a new thinner saddle. It happens in production environments - something isn't to tolerance but it slips past QC. After several are returned they correct it in later models and/or offer a retrofit part for past production.
I have the 5 string to and I don't have that problem either. It's the fire burst amazing bass like the pickup is in the way but I practice so much on it it's not a problem now. Keep practicing on it and you'll be fine. Keep the low end Grooving.
I have one of these and it does not have this problem at all. There is room to drop any of the strings all the way down to the frets. To me, the design flaw is the placement of the P pickups is too close to the neck, making it difficult to do pops on the D string. You can do it with practice, but at first my index finger would often get rejected by the side of the pickup.
That's interesting about the pickup placement, I can see where that would be an issue. I'm pretty sure they fixed the saddle issue after the initial run of these from the reports I've gotten.
@@pawnshopguitarguy I tackled the pickup placement issue by just dropping the P pickups down flush with the pickguard. To do so required some shorter screws and removal of some of the foam under the pickups. They are not as hot now, of course, but I think it is going to work out.
Great video and thanks for the heads up. I have this bass in the orange color and it does not have that issue at all. It plays and sounds great. It looks, well, different. But it plays great!
I think they fixed the issue with the saddles not long after I made the video, it was probably a panic situation trying to get enough production complete for the model release and the saddle issue slipped by. Most manufacturers will address these kinds of problems when they are caught, especially if they get a lot of returned merchandise. Glad to hear that you are enjoying yours.
I've got the precision looking version of this bass and my friend has the Rick looking one. Neither of them has the issue you talk of. Both are finished exceptionally and sound great, but very different due to pickup spacing.
I assumed they caught the problem after the initial run and corrected it, and it's good to get some confirmation of that. I thought it's build quality was very nice and I really liked its active EQ.
Actually it was brought to me to be setup, I recommended the owner return it or get it repaired at the point of sale because she shouldn't pay me to fix a brand new instrument. They also have likely caught the problem and replaced the saddle by now on newly manufactured examples. Enjoy your bass, I would honestly love one...
@@caiusmadison2996 No, it was already set to the correct string depth. The best option would be to file the bottom of the saddle and possibly cut the slot in it a little deeper.
New ones have a shorter saddle - and if you're good with a rat tail or nut slotting file you could make the slot in the saddle deeper to get the action down if you find one of the first ones cheap...
As an owner of this bass, I can say that I think you've just got a bad model. I bought mine specifically because of how comfortable it was and how low the action was while still staying clean. I have however played one at guitar center that had stupid high action that no truss rod adjustment would fix. I think it depends on the model, and wouldn't recommend buying one without playing it first just to verify, knowing that there are bad ones out there. All that said, I LOVE mine and am currently in the process of picking up a 3rd one to sand down and refinish as I think this would look insane with a natural wood finish.
It was brought to me be setup by a customer and I advised returning it, I do think they have since corrected the issue by including a thinner saddle on the G string. Enjoy it, I totally dig it's capabilities!
Thanks for sharing! Today's Stupid Deal of the Day from Musician's Friend for $399.99 (Rocket Red color only). Based on your comments, it looks like a hard pass on this one!
It wasn't mine - a friend purchased it and I recommended she take it back. It's my understanding that they have since corrected the problem on the current production. Enjoy it!@@DathSwian
I think they probably caught the error at some point and corrected the later production, but if you watch the video you can see the saddle screwed all the way down and the string height measurement
I feel like saying it's a design flaw is an overstatement. It doesn't work for YOU. Fender style instruments usually don't work for me as I can't get the strings high enough for how I play, I don't turn around and call that a design flaw given it does work for others. For it to be a design flaw it would pretty much universally not be able to function
Actually I think they just installed two of the saddles designed for the D sting when the G string should have had a thinner saddle. Probably a manufacturing error - and if a Fender bass needs higher action it's pretty simple to install a high mass bridge which is physically thicker than the stock bent metal bridge. I've had to shim several after someone installed the high mass bridge and then couldn't get the low action they had before.
It's a one piece (neck through) instrument and that would put the other 3 strings out of adjustment if it was a bolt on neck. The saddle needed to be filed down, I just didn't want to charge someone to "repair" A brand new instrument so I suggested they return it to the store they purchased it from.
Stupid idea. What Jackson needs to do is bring back the early 90s Jackson kb1 Kelly bass. Not the Kelly bird,..the real Kelly bass and trash this stupid thing. That bridge would be the first thing to go. And the p pickup is too close to the neck.
I bought a used 5 string model. I was surprised because there wasn't a scratch on it anywhere. It still had the plastic on the pickguard. Took it home and did a setup only to find the same issue with the G String. The D string was able to be adjusted, but the saddle was nearly on the deck to get it close enough. I contacted Fender and was assured that they had not had issues with the bridges on these guitars. Turned out it has enough neck twist to cause the problem. It went back to the store. I found another used one at a different store. It set up perfectly and is a real joy to play.
It's such a cool looking bass!
A store near me has one on sale for way less than $750. I think I'm gonna buy it and if I've got a problem with the saddle I'll just file it down.
If you like it go for it, I would think by now they have caught the problem and corrected it.
Hopefully Jackson will address this problem soon. Still a very cool looking and sounding bass.👍🎸
I have seen a number of reviews and not one mentioned this issue. Since you didn’t mention it I assume you didn’t even bother to look at the neck relief? Necks move. That’s why they have truss rods. Too much relief and the strings will be a mile high from the fretboard and guys lower the saddles and can’t figure out why the strings are still high. It is possible you received a dud, but there is nothing inherently wrong with the design. It’s literally just their Concert model with mostly cosmetic hardware. If anything you got a defective example, it happens, but to say they need to fix the design is probably not true.
First step of a setup is to adjust the neck relief, or at least when I do a setup so you can rule that out. Also it was around .02 of inch away, that would be a huge truss rod adjustment. The other saddles had between .03 and .04 clearance left when lowered to a decent height, so I really doubt my customer "got a bad one". There were quite a few open box and blemished ones for sale immediately after release so I'm lead to believe it's not a just a couple QC missed. Maybe it's a bad batch of bridges but regardless it's not what you expect for $750.
@@pawnshopguitarguy Fair enough. I maybe missed when you mentioned checking the relief. And of course your bass should be playable at $750 or any price, but to declare that it’s a design problem just seems like jumping the gun.
@@swizzarmygrizzpersonally, as soon he put up the photo with the ruler, I assumed that he went through all the typical steps. I have yet to see someone who invests in rulers and gauges neglect the truss rod when talking about setups. 👌
@@pawnshopguitarguyI got a dud from the same batch. Traded it in for a different one. Smooth as butter.
i'm having more trouble with the b and e strings on my 5 string, it's getting repaired rn but no matter what i did it had fret buzz on the 6th fret
I have a 5 string myself, and don’t have a single issue in that field. I’ve also never had that be an issue on the 4 string models of this I tried. Sounds like a fluke to me.
Or they corrected it after several had made it out into the wild and you got one with a new thinner saddle. It happens in production environments - something isn't to tolerance but it slips past QC. After several are returned they correct it in later models and/or offer a retrofit part for past production.
I have the 5 string to and I don't have that problem either. It's the fire burst amazing bass like the pickup is in the way but I practice so much on it it's not a problem now. Keep practicing on it and you'll be fine. Keep the low end Grooving.
I have one of these and it does not have this problem at all. There is room to drop any of the strings all the way down to the frets. To me, the design flaw is the placement of the P pickups is too close to the neck, making it difficult to do pops on the D string. You can do it with practice, but at first my index finger would often get rejected by the side of the pickup.
That's interesting about the pickup placement, I can see where that would be an issue. I'm pretty sure they fixed the saddle issue after the initial run of these from the reports I've gotten.
@@pawnshopguitarguy I tackled the pickup placement issue by just dropping the P pickups down flush with the pickguard. To do so required some shorter screws and removal of some of the foam under the pickups. They are not as hot now, of course, but I think it is going to work out.
Looks like QC issue, will definitely evaluate if I decide to get one, thanks for the heads up!
Great video and thanks for the heads up. I have this bass in the orange color and it does not have that issue at all. It plays and sounds great. It looks, well, different. But it plays great!
I think they fixed the issue with the saddles not long after I made the video, it was probably a panic situation trying to get enough production complete for the model release and the saddle issue slipped by. Most manufacturers will address these kinds of problems when they are caught, especially if they get a lot of returned merchandise. Glad to hear that you are enjoying yours.
I've got the precision looking version of this bass and my friend has the Rick looking one. Neither of them has the issue you talk of. Both are finished exceptionally and sound great, but very different due to pickup spacing.
I assumed they caught the problem after the initial run and corrected it, and it's good to get some confirmation of that. I thought it's build quality was very nice and I really liked its active EQ.
I think you just got a lemon....I have one and no issues.
Actually it was brought to me to be setup, I recommended the owner return it or get it repaired at the point of sale because she shouldn't pay me to fix a brand new instrument. They also have likely caught the problem and replaced the saddle by now on newly manufactured examples. Enjoy your bass, I would honestly love one...
@@pawnshopguitarguy can the nut be taken down a bit to compensate?
@@caiusmadison2996 No, it was already set to the correct string depth. The best option would be to file the bottom of the saddle and possibly cut the slot in it a little deeper.
Same here. Mine has no problem whatsoever.
Rockin’ Black Sabbath shirt! 🤘
Pff. I have one of these and it's got the lowest action on any bass I own. Super fast neck.
It sucks because they look so cool
New ones have a shorter saddle - and if you're good with a rat tail or nut slotting file you could make the slot in the saddle deeper to get the action down if you find one of the first ones cheap...
I have no problem with mine
Just picked one up on clearance at my Local GC for $350 out the door and the action is as low as my sadowsky and Lakland basses.
As an owner of this bass, I can say that I think you've just got a bad model. I bought mine specifically because of how comfortable it was and how low the action was while still staying clean. I have however played one at guitar center that had stupid high action that no truss rod adjustment would fix. I think it depends on the model, and wouldn't recommend buying one without playing it first just to verify, knowing that there are bad ones out there. All that said, I LOVE mine and am currently in the process of picking up a 3rd one to sand down and refinish as I think this would look insane with a natural wood finish.
It was brought to me be setup by a customer and I advised returning it, I do think they have since corrected the issue by including a thinner saddle on the G string. Enjoy it, I totally dig it's capabilities!
People make things too easy nowadays. Personally I like my strings to be an inch up from the frets at LEAST!
Higher action = more tone
People just don’t understand this anymore
You gotta build that finger strength if you ever wanna play like Les Claypool, just sayin...
I don’t think you know how much an inch is
Can this bass played passively?
I don't own it so I'm not sure but I think it has to have a battery in it to get output, so I don't think it works passively.
I have seen a number of reviews and not
Thanks for sharing! Today's Stupid Deal of the Day from Musician's Friend for $399.99 (Rocket Red color only). Based on your comments, it looks like a hard pass on this one!
Glad to help!
Your loss, I got one and it's amazing
It wasn't mine - a friend purchased it and I recommended she take it back. It's my understanding that they have since corrected the problem on the current production. Enjoy it!@@DathSwian
I have one and never had any issue with that. Sounds a made up issue to me.
I think they probably caught the error at some point and corrected the later production, but if you watch the video you can see the saddle screwed all the way down and the string height measurement
I feel like saying it's a design flaw is an overstatement. It doesn't work for YOU. Fender style instruments usually don't work for me as I can't get the strings high enough for how I play, I don't turn around and call that a design flaw given it does work for others. For it to be a design flaw it would pretty much universally not be able to function
Actually I think they just installed two of the saddles designed for the D sting when the G string should have had a thinner saddle. Probably a manufacturing error - and if a Fender bass needs higher action it's pretty simple to install a high mass bridge which is physically thicker than the stock bent metal bridge. I've had to shim several after someone installed the high mass bridge and then couldn't get the low action they had before.
Prob cut the neck pocket too deep - shim the neck.
Guitars 101.
It's a one piece (neck through) instrument and that would put the other 3 strings out of adjustment if it was a bolt on neck. The saddle needed to be filed down, I just didn't want to charge someone to "repair" A brand new instrument so I suggested they return it to the store they purchased it from.
Stupid idea. What Jackson needs to do is bring back the early 90s Jackson kb1 Kelly bass. Not the Kelly bird,..the real Kelly bass and trash this stupid thing. That bridge would be the first thing to go. And the p pickup is too close to the neck.
To each their own. I love mine. The only thing I intend to do is take off the pickup guard.
those basses are hideous
yeah its ugly as hell@christopherstone777
Don't let the looks fool you: it's actually a very good sounding and playing bass. I own the black 4 string flavor and never had an issue with it.