I miss Fenders "better" colors...

[goldenglory18]

What ever happened to Fender and their color selections on MIA basses?

I remember being able to get colorways like Translucent Orange, Natural Ash, Aqua Marine Metallic, etc., as well as the standard Olympic White, Black and 'Burst. Now THOSE were some options!!!

What other colors would you guys love to see return to the fabled Fender MIA line?

Here is one of my favorites....Sky Blue....



And another, Chrome Red.... :serious drool action:

[deafman]

The local music store has the chinese or indonesian products with that blue. One was even a gloss natural. Fender seems to be milking their history or reintroducing the past lately. I don't see any of their current amps having much of a following 20-30 years from now.
At least they didn't go through with their initial stock offering. The company would have been under even more pressure to bring out branded products to make money for shareholders. All the straps, cables, hats, etc are imported.

[goldenglory18]

Possibly.

I will say that to my ears and hands, the late 90's to early 2000's MIA basses were just perfect. Maybe it's the nostalgia from the colors offered in those years but even with the eyeballs, these just "look like" better instruments.

Another great example.....Butterscotch. OMFG.....



I think I have a thing for maple necks and black pickguards....

[MindRise]

I noticed the lack of colors I liked last year when I was looking to buy my first bass. I was lucky to find a used MIA Jazz in Aqua Marine Metallic. I'd like to see all the classic colors coming back like Sonic/Daphne Blue, Seafoam/Surf/Sherwood Green, Dakota/Fiesta Red, Shoreline Gold, etc.

If you see the 2012 line they have only the basics: Sunburst, White, Black and shades of Gray (Charcoal Frost & Jade Pearl). The only other color is Candy Cola.

[goldenglory18]

This years offerings are by far the most boring. The only interesting color is Candy Cola and even that one is boring.

I just don't get it....???

[petrus61]

I would kill for sonic blue, seafoam or surf green.

[hdracer]

HA! If you think the selection is bad on the 4 strings look at the 5's.
I wanted a P5 for a long time. All they offer is 3T & R/W, Oly white & R/W, Black & Maple and Candy Cola & Maple.

Wow, thanks guys, I want a rosewood board so that leaves me with burst or white. Nether color I really care for and doesnt excite me enough to lay out $1400.

I really wanted a P5 so I bit the bullet and got a white one.
I took it apart and sent the body to Southbound Customs so they could strip it and refinish it in Fiesta Red Vintage Nitro.
The body will be back this week and I should have it ready to gig next weekend.
Three months and $400 extra dollars and I will have just what I want.

[lowphatbass]

I believe some of the classic colors just don't look all that "classic" in a modern poly finish. Also, from a marketing standpoint, how much more special would a $3500 Custom Shop "Shell Pink" bass seem if that color was available on a standard Jazz or Precision for $988?

[Spectrum]

I have been obsessing over the idea of a seafoam Jaguar bass lately. I love tha fact that the Jaguar is a "fake" vintage 50's/60's bass. It has that "look" like it belongs in a Beach Boys album cover photo...except that Fender doesn't offer any surfer-style colors on any version of this bass, Fender or Squier!

Of all the bass designs the Jaguar needs to have seafoam or surf green. NEEDS. Basically this with a Jaguar body and lots of chrome hardware:



I don't know anything about refinishing guitars but I've been kicking around the idea of buying a used VM Jaguar and refinishing it in seafoam.

[JasonLamb]

i still wish they made the sunset orange with maple neck...i should have bought one when the were available....

[C.Linton]

I would like to see more models, other than the Deluxes, with a natural finish, I would also like to see them bring back metallic purple, and some of the darker metallic greens.

[Jeff K]

Originally Posted by C.Linton

I would like to see more models, other than the Deluxes, with a natural finish, I would also like to see them bring back metallic purple, and some of the darker metallic greens.

Y'know, it's funny. I used to love natural ash. I still have two, but lately I've been finding them boring to look at. I would love to see some current offerings in Surf or Sherwood Green, Shoreline Gold, etc..

[Buster Brown]

Originally Posted by Jeff K

Y'know, it's funny. I used to love natural ash. I still have two, but lately I've been finding them boring to look at. I would love to see some current offerings in Surf or Sherwood Green, Shoreline Gold, etc..

BIG +1

LOVE those natural finishes! My 75RI (to this day) blows me away.....now, if I could only find one of the natural ash Ps.....

[shrimpflea]

I would love to see the original 60's colors available again. I know that color selection is an economic decision but Fender should offer some more options.
Another good thing about nitrocellulose finishes...if your bored with that color just wait a while....it will change.

[Diesel Kilgore]

I also would like to see the Jaguar's come in some of the original colors. I think some of the 2012 Pawn Shop guitars do, they need to do the same for the basses, Fender and Squier.

It's ridiculous the year to year color options, I guess when you see what you like you gotta get it or else they might not offer for who knows how long. It's also ridiculous to me that the MIM's are continually offered in classic colors everyone wants. A Lake Placid Blue MIM P, but not available on a MIA P?

[RickenBoogie]

I have an '02 Am Dlx P in Candy Tangerine. At first, I was afraid of the color, but it's grown on me, and it's also on the discontinued list.

[Bert Slide]

The lack of color options on MIA's is probably a simple matter of smart business. With all the less expensive options now and in a down economy the number of MIA's sold likely doesn't allow them to offer too many color options so they opt to stick with the safer though to many of us boring colors.

[SBsoundguy]

I'd like to see a jag in lake placid blue with black pickguard and a Geddy neck.

[ChuckTrucks]

I was going to make a thread about it but I didnt because I figured I would get flamed.

Fender absolutely needs to add some of their classic colors to their standard guitar lines (MIM and MIA Standard).

I couldnt care less that they have so many vintage flavor of the month models with those finishes. The standard models need them.

I currently own Olympic White and 3 tone sunburst. The only other color I would get is black unless they added some more.

Lake placid, Candy apple, Sherwood. Where are you??

[SBsoundguy]

Bring me a jazz bass in this color, Fender. Do it now!