paul h Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 What was all that about? Anyone got one or indeed remember them? Just curious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted January 15, 2011 Share Posted January 15, 2011 I remember them and thought they looked cool - wasn't that Fender's first unofficial 6 string bass or did they just do a 5? There was a review in Guitarist that must've been about 1988. i think I still have it. I kept a small selection of the first ones I bought in a Guitarist binder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh Jardon Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 I've got a Heartfield DR5 and if I could lay my hands on another one I'd have it as a back up acn't give a better recommendation than that Great balance, good heft and huge sustain (I have to stop them ringing on) Pick ups are a little quiet and battery life is appalling (1 duracell per gig) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 I can tell you Heartfield started as a Fujigen Gakki R&D project, it wasn't initially anything to do with Fender. However, Fender's attempts to introduce more modern instruments under their own name had failed consistently, so they subsequently adopted the Heartfield brand (designed in partnership with & built by Fujigen) as a vehicle for bringing less traditional designs to market. Dunno owt about Heartfield basses though. Anything interesting? Jon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelk27 Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 A Heartfield Prophecy passed through my hands early 90s. Construction was okay, but sound was terrible. From what I remember, Fender was never involved in the design or production, just bought the rights, imported the range, and sold it as a Fender "brand". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KK Jale Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 [quote name='Delberthot' post='1090609' date='Jan 15 2011, 04:39 PM']There was a review in Guitarist that must've been about 1988. i think I still have it. I kept a small selection of the first ones I bought in a Guitarist binder[/quote] If that was a guitar, I may have reviewed it. Single slanted humbucker, pushbutton distortion. I enjoyed it. It was like a nu-metal LP Jr. The basses didn't leave much of an impression on me... lightweight Ibanez-styled stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gafbass02 Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 How funny. I was going to start the exact same thread yesterday afternoon but got sidetracked?!!? WTF is that all about. ?! Musta been something on tv or something subliminal :0) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul h Posted January 31, 2011 Author Share Posted January 31, 2011 [quote name='gafbass02' post='1109013' date='Jan 31 2011, 07:51 AM']How funny. I was going to start the exact same thread yesterday afternoon but got sidetracked?!!? WTF is that all about. ?! Musta been something on tv or something subliminal :0)[/quote] Great minds and all that. I have no idea why I thought of them either. As you say I must have been watching a program about field based heart surgery or something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 Heartfield site here: [url="http://heartfield-central.com/"]http://heartfield-central.com/[/url] The basses look quite generic early 90s Japanese - very Ibby Soundgear/Tune Bass Maniac-esque. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelk27 Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 [quote name='Bassassin' post='1109250' date='Jan 31 2011, 11:47 AM']The basses look quite generic early 90s Japanese - very Ibby Soundgear/Tune Bass Maniac-esque.[/quote] Not even taken the time to look at the site, but seem to remember the designs were ripoffs of the Yamaha TRB (with a nod to Ken Smith) and RBX (with a nod to Guild's Pilot). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polyrythmmm Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 There was some Fender involvement although I understand they all came out of the heartfeld factory in Japan, there was a 3 or 4 year run in the 90's with Fender Labelling. I have such a one. It's a Fender Prophecy III bubinga wood and Maple skunk stripe through-neck. It feels amazing with a nice slender Jazz neck, it looks very ninties mainly due to the heartfeld shaped 2 and 2 headstock. It sounds exactly like a nineties active Fender PJ Special, because that's what the Electronics are. So that makes it a little drivey and crystaline and glassy sounding for most Fender fans. So overall I think it's NOT a bad bass, but it's definitely not a vintage sounding thing. Maybe better for Pop, Metal, and Contemporary Jazz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polyrythmmm Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 (edited) [URL=http://s34.photobucket.com/user/polyrythmmm/media/Me%20Playing/26092005004-1.jpg.html][IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d119/polyrythmmm/Me%20Playing/26092005004-1.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Edited December 19, 2014 by polyrythmmm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musiqman Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 (edited) Here is mine. The DR-6C (custom version, their deluxe model). The actual last one they made in 1992. They were made with and without the Fender logo (that was located between the tuners) at the same time. The Fender logo ones being quite rare according to Steve Bailey (the fretless DR-6 was his main bass until he signed with Aria). They were released in 1988, just before the TRB line cale out (approx 1 year appart), so I wouldn’t call them a ripoff. They are also a bit lighter, have a shallower fretboard, an easier to reach battery compartiment, and have more playable frets near the body. Speaking of the fretboard, it has a a full layer of carbon underneath it, that covers the top of the headstock too. They also have a Low-Z xlr output for direct recording/live purposes without the need for a D.I. Unfortunately my bass has the xlr disconnected because the first owner changed the pre-amp (and updated the tuners to Hipshot Ultralite models). I’m planning on having it re-connected, and have the switch work as a mute switch. Edited February 13, 2022 by musiqman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.