EMBB Caprice/Cutlass & Fender Dimension, Why they didn't catch on.

[A-Step-Towards]

I got A caprice off eBay for $900, it was A nice bass. This was before the price increase and that seems to be what really killed it. I won't be shocked if they stop making the sterlings as well, I think they are $2200 new and used it's hard to get $800 when selling one, I see them sit at $700.

 

[JakobT]

Nothing wrong with either the Caprice, Cutlass or Dimension. They just had the misfortune to be competing against three of the most iconic basses of all time, the P, the J and the StingRay.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Good point,i have not had the opportunity to play one,so i presumed it was a SC PJ situation.
What you've pointed out would make me want it even less.....

That's ok too.
Every bass isn't for everyone . You sound like you prefer jazz basses. And that's not a bad thing.
Different strokes for different folks.
I always say play what you like and like what you play .

 

[gjohnson441496]

I had a Dimension AM Dlx 4 HH that I bought from GC for slightly under $1100. It played great and was light weight but I just couldn't get a usable tone out of it. At the time I was in bands and it got lost in the mix. Even solo I found myself twiddling with the tone controls and 5 way switch more than actually playing it. I wanted to love it but it reached a point to where I just stopped playing it.

I also demo'd a Caprice and really liked the sound, feel, and look. The price was a big turn off though. When I saw the price increased to over 2k that was the end of that. I was thinking that I could possibly get a used one for around $1100 max (like I did with the Dimension) before the price increased, but if someone sells a used one to GC for example, they might get $1000 for it which means GC is going to sell it for around $1500. I'm not spending that much money for a used bass when I can buy a new bass for that much. I've seen used MM Stingrays and Sterlings for $800.

 

[Rib 13]

I can always tell who has actually played one and who hasn't.
Once you get one in your hands or read up in the specs you realize that it is NOT a P/J. It is a P/H. That's is not a single coil in the bridge positiion. It is an inline humbucker .
It doesn't sound like a P/J or a Jazz bass nor was it designed to . It can sound like and I a Pbass if you solo that pickup . But once you start blending in that brindle pickup or using it solo, you have an entirely different thing going on. It sounds like a passive P/MM with a little less meat in the bridge. Definitely retaines that signature MusicMan tone. But solo the P pickup and add some vintage fender flavor.

The misconception that it is a P/J is probably one if many reason it didn't last. People often look with their eyes but don't really understand clearly what they are seeing at all. Looks can be very deceiving .

Oh well. I'm glad I bought mine when I did. Best 4 string I've ever owned .

I understand what youre saying, and its true, but Im one of those "Voicing comes from pickup positioning" folks that can tailor my needs via EQ, parametric in particular.....With this in mind, its ballpark P/J enough for me to be more P/J than anything else (and, for folks that don't know, they think its a P/J by aesthetics/cosmetics, and aesthetics/cosmetics always factor into sales of almost everything)

 

[LBS-bass]

There are still a few deals out there but it's hard to say what will happen with resale value on these. Are they now going to be considered rare and appreciate? Or are they going to be considered something that didn't sell well and depreciate? In any case, here's one for under $1300 on Reverb. 2016 Music Man Caprice Bass Heritage Tobacco Burst Sunburst MusicMan + Hardshell Case

 

[Lammchop93]

Price point wasn't there .I would've bought a Cutlass or Caprice if it was $1000-$1200. I think a low cost Sterling brand version of those basses would sell very well

 

[Rib 13]

As far as the thread, a wise someone on the other thread (I think it was @two fingers ) said that - at that pricepoint -- when a person wants a Fender, they will go to Fender (or companies with a strong reputation of making Fender-like instruments, such as Sadowsky), if they want an MM they will go to MM.....The Fender Dimension was a MM or G&L and, regardless if Leo's former companies made all, thats where they will go....this has a possibility of speculative truth

I personally think its more than that in the case of the Cutlass and Caprice: Face it, there isnt a whole lot of technology in a basic passive bass to justify the pricetag for a company with a reputation in building a signature-style instrument with proprietary tech, even if the quality build is there -- It some ways, its like Alembic building a bolt-on passive P-bass (the irony there is: I think those would actually sell )

 

[Madhouse27]

Too bad EB didn't offer like a Mexico made Caprice/Cutlass in the $600-$800 range to get them into some people's hands. Let the mid-price bass wow them, build the name up, get some buzz going and then come with an American made version with a little more polish/upgrades at the pro price.

 

[40Hz]

Really is a pity. I thought the Dimension line was one of the best things Fender came out with in a long time. It wasn't a very original or groundbreaking design. More an extension of what came before along with a few borrowings from Gibson, Godin, and ErnieBall. But who really cares? It was a nicely executed modern bass that hit several sweet spots at a reasonable price point. Too bad it received such halfhearted marketing and some of the most uninspiring official "pro demo" videos imaginable.

I get the feeling it was a controversial product inside Fender. No company willingly cannibalizes its own customer base or divides its demographic with too many competing choices. And I really think the Dimension's only real chance was if it had become an overnight sensation. And when it didn't, that was all the justification (excuse?) some at Fender needed to make it go away and have the company retreat back to their time tested strategy of milking its two cash cows for all they're worth.

IMO The Dimension died mainly through a lack of commitment on the part of Fender and an overall lack of interest on the part of its existing customer base. It was a product created to lure new customers to Fender rather than appeal to its tradition bound current customers. And unfortunately there wasn't enough "special sauce" in it to win new customers who didn't want a PB or JB.

Small wonder Fender let it wither on the vine. It'll be a collectible sleeper some day if you feel like waiting 10-20 years for it to happen.

 

[mattbass6945]

I've not played either of these, but I've noticed a common theme.

When a company does the same thing, they're told they should switch it up.

When a company tries something different, they're told to stay in their lane.

It never helps when there's tons of great cheaper options, flooded used market and a lot of avenues to shop online.

 

[metron]

You just summed up society as a whole

 

[Odinbass]

The sales reasons are well covered here already but just wanted to offer my personal experiences;

I had a Single H Dimension. I was attracted to the idea of a Stingray style bass made by another top manufacturer. It was really well made and looked awesome, but man I could not get that thing to sound good to save my life. The pickup was lifeless and had none of the punch of an MM. Maybe the 2 pickup version is better but I don't know. On the positive side, it was well priced at $850 used.

Earlier this year I was gunning for a Caprice. MM instruments are always top notch and I thought the big pole pieces would give it some extra oomph compared to a Fender. Holy crap though, $2200 new? The used market wasn't any kinder, $1200-$1500 with uncertain resale value. As others have said the price seemed out of whack considering it's just a passive bass and other more feature-laden MM basses were less.

So that's my cool story... bro.

 

[scuzzy]

Nothing wrong with either the Caprice, Cutlass or Dimension. They just had the misfortune to be competing against three of the most iconic basses of all time, the P, the J and the StingRay.

This is my belief. It can't be price, people are still dropping $2k on passive fenders as well.

 

[Chrisk-K]

Because we don't need reinvented wheels.

 

[Fletz]

TLDR, but I always find it interesting that people (me included) clamor for "something new" and as soon as we get it, we go "meh, I don't like it" and it dies. Unless its a p or J body, a Ric or a stingray, we are outta here. It's all of us

 

[Medicine Man]

I thought the dimension I played sounded terrible. I really liked the MM offerings, but only play 5 string.

 

[Rib 13]

Because we don't need reinvented wheels.

i almost posted a similar thought: As far as bass "evolution", MM making a passive P-like or PJ-like bass (even aesthetically) is kinda going backwards.....Even though it looks like a toiletseat, the Bongo was an evolution....ya feel me?....subjective speculation, of course

 

[scuzzy]

Why did they fail?

 

[woodyng2]

That's ok too.
Every bass isn't for everyone . You sound like you prefer jazz basses. And that's not a bad thing.
Different strokes for different folks.
I always say play what you like and like what you play .

I REALLY prefer Rickenbackers.
Still trying to find the right Fender-type bass that does it for me.