What are all the various types of Fender/Squier P bass?

[topo morto]

It's incredibly confusing.... American Special, Highway One, Squier JV, Squier CV, Roadworn, Closet Classic, Aerodyne, Reissues... aaargh!

Is there anywhere I can get a concise rundown of what's what? Not even necessarily the real vintage ones that I'm sure are well-documented - just the dozens of types that seem to have been made in the last 30 years.

[willop]

Why so many? Hard to sell the exact same thing to the same person more than once- unless you wear out your bass or lose it, break it, etc.
So special models means increased 'demand' and more sales.

Also, once you get a brand name it's awfully tempting to expand the line to more and more and more. Chevy and ford has 1 model back before WW2 -there may have been plain, medium and fancy, but a chevy was just that, A chevy. Then in the 50s they added sporty chevies, small medium and large ones. ONe time there was an F100. Then a 150, 250, 350, 450, etc.

Some companies keep it simple. Tide. Powder or liquid. Not tide for your floors, or for dishes or in the bathtub.

Are you looking for something specific, wanting to be a collector, put a value on something?

[Einherjar]

www.fender.com

[topo morto]

Originally Posted by Einherjar

www.fender.com

...if the 'series' page went back in time that would be perfect!

[dje31]

Originally Posted by topo morto

...if the 'series' page went back in time that would be perfect!

...except then you'd see how often they trot out old models / lines / series with fancy new focus-group-tested names and finishes...and call them "new."

Mind you, it's not just Fender that does this...or just music MFRs...it flows throughout the consumer retail world.

From Wikipedia (discussing Strats & Teles):

The Stratocaster ranges from many editions; Standard, Modern Player, Deluxe, American Standard, American Deluxe, American Vintage, Classic, Classic Player, Vintage Hot Rod, Blacktop, American Special, Roadworn, Artist, Fender Select and Pawn Shop.

And the Telecaster; American B-Bender, American Deluxe, American Special, American Standard, American Vintage, Artist, Blacktop, Cabronita, Classic, Classic Player, Deluxe, Factory Special Run, Fender Select, Limited Anniversary Edition, Modern Player, Roadworn, Special Edition, Standard, Tele-bration and Vintage Hot Rod.

[godofthunder59]

Something for everyone, endless variation on two platforms. Us Gibson players can only dream of such variety.

[oldleftybass]

Whether it's paint at Lowes or Fenders I always say "Damn it, just give me three choices!"

[Snakeman1066]

my main bitch is they never put the necks on the bodies i want! and it is far too expensive to buy two and swap them...and then hope somebody will buy the extra...lol