Fender Modern Player Dimension Bass

[Sibob]

It looks like a Variax

Si

[antnee]

Design doesn't look that special, sounds alright. Would much rather a Jazz Bass Special.

[cocco]

It's not asif three coil humbuckers are a particularly new idea either, the status groove had one nearly 20 years ago.

[Junkyard Rocket]

It would be a lot less fugly with the pots rear-mounted & no pickguard

[iamtheelvy]

Meh. I'm all for moving forward, but Fender should stick to being Fender...

[cocco]

What if Leo had never sold up? Would the G&Ls and music man gear he designed have fender headstocks?

[Green Alsatian]

They'd probably have looked as they do now - an evolution of the older designs. The Dimension would have benefitted aesthetically with a sleeker headstock.

[Telebass]

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1372760884' post='2129505']
I'm seeing a bit of Gibson Victory in the body shape - now THAT'S weird
[/quote]
THAT'S where I'd seen the shape...

[AndyTravis]

Mexican and American Deluxe versions are on the way...

Chicago Music Exchange and Bass Central already have stock/details...

There's a video online too.

[JapanAxe]

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' timestamp='1374675316' post='2151681']
I can't understand why they couldn't fit a tone control, you have 2 knobs one does a 5 position rotary pickup switch and the other volume but no feck'en tone!! Idjits!
[/quote]

+1! Surely the most important control. Won't be queueing for this one.

[Grand Wazoo]

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1379360470' post='2211829']
+1! Surely the most important control. Won't be queueing for this one.
[/quote]

Ah but... those were the Made in China ones, has anyone seen the Fender American DeLuxe Series? Now these are interesting, 4 and 5 strings...

Check them out

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGqbupqCrjg"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGqbupqCrjg[/url]

[Grand Wazoo]

More specs here:

[i][b]"Enter a new dimension of Fender bass. Dimension basses now take their place among Fender’s greatest bass designs as the modern pinnacle of pro-level bass style, power, performance and personality.

The company that invented electric bass now brings you an elegantly original body style with all-new pickups, electronics and other fine features that let you sculpt and personalize your tone as no Fender bass ever has before. It is a level of bass artistry unparalleled in Fender history, and it is the future of your Fender bass experience. In every way, it’s an entirely new Dimension in Fender bass.

The five-string American Deluxe Dimension Bass V HH is a phenomenal instrument, with an ash body in the completely new Dimension shape and featuring a comfortable asymmetrical neck heel. [color=#ff0000]Its maple neck is crafted with a great-feeling asymmetrical “C”-shaped profile, Posiflex™ graphite neck support rods, a convenient heel-mount truss rod adjustment wheel, smooth hand-rubbed oil finish and five-bolt neck plate. The compound-radius (9.5”-14”) maple or rosewood fingerboard has 21 medium jumbo frets and a bone nut, while the headstock has a gloss finish and Stealth “A” string retainer.[/color]

The instrument’s sonic sophistication is simply unmatched. [color=#0000ff]Its dual Dimension Bass humbucking pickups are both powerful and nuanced, and its fiveway switching, 18-volt onboard preamp, three-band active EQ (center-detented treble, mid and bass boost/cut) and master volume deliver remarkable tonal versatility with any degree of muscle and finesse[/color]. Other premium features include a three-ply parchment pickguard, knurled chrome control knobs, five-saddle Fender Hi-Mass bridge, vintage-style tuners with tapered shafts and a four-over/one-under configuration, and locking strap buttons.[/b][/i]
[i][b]Hard-shell case, leather strap and 10’ cable included."[/b][/i]

[lee4]

I'd have the passive one if it had a tone control.Smaller body and single pup floats my boat.

[cytania]

Horrible tones. Triplebucker one is like Fender doing the Ibanez ATK.

[cocco]

Still fugly.

[Gust0o]

[quote name='cytania' timestamp='1379402810' post='2212122']
Horrible tones. Triplebucker one is like Fender doing the Ibanez ATK.
[/quote]

Is that a bad thing, though?

On the one hand, we love the ATK - best bargain Stingray sound, etc, etc, [i]ad infinitum[/i] and a firm forum favourite.

Fender do something comparable, at a similar price point, and now we [i]hate [/i]it?

[discreet]

It would look fine without the pickguard. What you need is a round-ish, teardrop-shape guard that encompasses the pickups... and a crescent-shaped control plate... now where have I seen something like that before..?

Edited September 17, 2013 by discreet

[Dingus]

These basses don't appeal to me particulaly ( yet ) , but, objectively, I think that the Am Deluxe ones are quite attractive , if you can divorce the uncomfortable association of Fender making a bass that is reminiscent of a Music Man Sabre . It would be interesting ( and probably quite entertaining) to hear what Sterling Ball thinks of these designs . I think folks would find these basses rather more appealing if it was someone else rather than Fender making them .

Edited September 17, 2013 by Dingus

[Gust0o]

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1379428320' post='2212572']
I think folks would find these basses rather more appealing if it was someone else rather than Fender making them .
[/quote]

That's my hypothesis.

Still, I could quite imagine getting on with something that had an approximate Stingray sound, yet was passive and with the neck of the much-loved P-bass - which is pretty much what we have here, no?

[Dingus]

[quote name='Gust0o' timestamp='1379428849' post='2212578']
That's my hypothesis.

Still, I could quite imagine getting on with something that had an approximate Stingray sound, yet was passive and with the neck of the much-loved P-bass - which is pretty much what we have here, no?
[/quote]

Yes , that would be a winner in the current musical climate , where retro and lo-fo are the dominant trends and show no signs of abating . You only need look at the demo videos of these basses to realise what market they have been created for . Just as their were legions of interchangable also-ran hair metal bands in the '80's and armies of would -be dissaffected grunge rockers in the 1990's , so nowadays we have a plethora of sensitive men with indie beards , plaid check shirts and way too many effects pedals . The fact that they showcase how the bass sounds with distortion ( ironically, most basses sound approximately the same with a fuzz box on them , truth be told) is an indication of the target audience for these creations . Like I said , I can't see myself with one , but, as ever, I reserve the right to change my mind if Geddy Lee starts using one .

[Paul S]

I quite like it. Light in weight, thin neck. I had a noodle on one briefly in PMT Southend and thought a few of the settings were quite interesting. But rather than make me want to buy one it has made me want to try a MM pickup in a non-MM bass to see what it will do. Just need to decide which bass to try one in. Westone Thunder Jet, maybe?

[neepheid]

I for one applaud Fender for pushing the boat out recently.

[discreet]

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1372715115' post='2129163']
Boring old Fender... never trying anything new...
[/quote]

Quite. Damned if they do, etc...

[AndyTravis]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1379431753' post='2212617']


Quite. Damned if they do, etc...
[/quote]

Started typing something similar.

It's not for me, but if it was a precision with those pickups, people would be moaning.

[Gust0o]

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1379430620' post='2212599']
Yes , that would be a winner in the current musical climate , where retro and lo-fo are the dominant trends and show no signs of abating . You only need look at the demo videos of these basses to realise what market they have been created for . Just as their were legions of interchangable also-ran hair metal bands in the '80's and armies of would -be dissaffected grunge rockers in the 1990's , so nowadays we have a plethora of sensitive men with indie beards , plaid check shirts and way too many effects pedals.
[/quote]

A manufacturer makes for a market. No bad thing, in my book.