Current Opinions on the Fender Blender MIK?

warwick.hoy · #1 04-04-2011, 06:53 PM

I went to a local store that stocks a lot of NOS stuff at blowout prices (I got some birfday money to blow). I messed around with a Korean made Fender Blender. Price was right but I didn't want to buy it without consulting TBFX first.

I tried it on a Passive MIK Squier Jazz,...and an Active Dingwall Combustion 5 string (which did not impress me as much as I thought it would. Sounded good but I didn't find the B to be any better than any other quality 5 string bass I've played; which seems to be kinda the point with fanned fret systems, IMO at least).

I thought with the right settings it sounded great on the Jazz,...but it took some time to find those settings.

Not so much on the Dingwall. It was muddier seeming especially on chords. Harder to find the sweet spot.

I'm not quite sure I know what makes a fuzz pedal sound bad with actives,...I mean I somewhat understand the theory,...but I'm not sure what the actual outcome (IE bad sound) is.

I play an active Warwick Thumb BO 5er through a massive stage rig. I'll be making the switch to a hot passive bass in the coming months and retiring the Warwick from service (I'm getting older and gigging with a 11lb instrument is taking it's toll.)

A quick search netted some 5 year old threads in which most people (save 1 or 2 users) seemed less than impressed,...so I thought I just make a new thread.

Anyone around here using and liking the Fender Blender these days? Gripes? Opinions? Good pedal for the DIY inclined?

RCCollins · #2 04-04-2011, 06:58 PM

i had no idea fanned frets could affect B-string feel

warwick.hoy · #3 04-04-2011, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCCollins

i had no idea fanned frets could affect B-string feel

I figured the extra scale length (37" according to my boss) was to facilitate a tighter B string,...which didn't really seem like the case on the Dingus. YMMV

RCCollins · #4 04-04-2011, 07:18 PM

i figured you meant scale length - but that is independent of the fanned frets

Smurf-o-Deth · #5 04-04-2011, 07:34 PM

Well, the fanned frets are related to the scale length, since the whole point is to allow the scale on the low B to be several inches greater than the scale on the G, to provide more even volume and tonality across strings (supposedly, but I make no claims in either direction).

warwick.hoy · #6 04-04-2011, 07:43 PM

I'll pass on the Fender Blender me thinks.

You're ole pal AEN says no good.

I think I trust his opinion.