I've seen a few more people mention a lower priced SBMM Caprice and Cutlass. I really hope Musicman sees this. If they were to do that It be a "take my money" situation.
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Too bad for the Cutlass.... but it makes me glad I have mine. It's the best sounding / playing P-bass I've ever had 
These may become a classic of sorts if they're discontinued. Tracked for 3 days with it and it killed. It just may be that there aren't enough players willing to jump into the passive world when associated with EBMM?? The market is definitely fickle.
These may become a classic of sorts if they're discontinued. Tracked for 3 days with it and it killed. It just may be that there aren't enough players willing to jump into the passive world when associated with EBMM?? The market is definitely fickle.
I REALLY prefer Rickenbackers.
Still trying to find the right Fender-type bass that does it for me.View attachment 3195305
That 4002 doesnt get you in a Fender Jazz ballpark? just curious
Nice looking collection you have there.I REALLY prefer Rickenbackers.
Still trying to find the right Fender-type bass that does it for me.View attachment 3195305
It does,except it still sounds like a Rick!
The bridge pickup solo'd is like an Uber J,especially with the tone rolled off.
I recently sold a nice Am std Jazz,really loved the Custom shop '60s pickups,just prefer a larger neck,and a smaller body. And my favorite sound from that bass was with all the controls full open equally for both pickups.
Edit-that bass is actually a modded 4004 Laredo,but it does have the pickups moved to the same locations as a 4002.(or a Jazz bass).
The market is based toward younger musicians. Young musicians will gravitate toward the previous players they look to emulate (and their instruments). And as this has been going on for generations, we keep coming back to the same handful of basses. Us old geezers have all the basses we need, if not more than we can justify. I've always been curious about the mentioned models, but never enough to lay down the cash for one. They never seemed quite different enough to pique my curiosity that far.
Grandparents are gone, and Mom and Dad can no longer make every dream come true for their blessed offspring?
devnulljp
Supporting Member
I will keep my HH USA Dlx 2013 Dimension V. Its a great bass and Fender should be applauded for trying something different. I also had an H that didnt work for me sonically and weight wise. I have a P, J and Stingray and their is enough tonal variation and character in the Dimension to warrant keeping it in its own right. Just my opinion of course.
Neck throughs and limited editions maybe, until they are phased out.
The good ol Stingray is now $1999. Which is hard to swallow itself considering they were $1600 a few months ago, with a few being $1400.
Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay Special 4H - Charging Green with Maple Fingerboard
Things that are different or unfamiliar can be scary
Exactly. Plus, many guitarists and bassists love a "classic" (ex. P-Bass, J-Bass, Strat, Tele, Mustang, Jaguar, Les Paul, SG, etc.). Why change? + it's sounded good and has looked cool for decades + my favorite players use them.
Even the scores of hot-rodded Fender-style instruments that are available (ex. Tom Anderson guitars, Sadowsky basses, etc.) offer a "safe, warm and cozy" option for folks looking for that classic sound, feel and/or look with a few more improvements.
I love my stingrays 4h & 5h) and my sterlings (4h fretted and fretless). I played the passive EBMMs and I just didn't care for the sound. There wasn't anything that made me go "wow". I do think a fretless caprice would have done well but they didn't make any, which I think was a strategic error.
Yes. At $1699 sure you have some potential to nab a buyer over a $1499 P. Truss wheel, qc etc.
At $2200 pfft.
At $2200 pfft.
I have both. I use the Fender with LaBella flats for recording all the time. Live sometimes. I use the Cutlass with rounds live on many occasions. It's the most comfortable bass to play on those 3 to 4 hour gigs.
The Cutlass is a phenomenal bass. Fit and finish is perfect. I'm fine with EB stopping production of the Cutlass. Simply means that it will be worth more in the future.
Only P Bass I would like to get in addition would be a G&L LB100. But it would have to be silver metal flake with an ebony neck.
It seems like a few people tried a Dimension expecting it to sound like something else and when it didn't they posted online about how it sounded like crap, then a lot of other people read those comments and decided to stay away. That's the only explanation I can think of because Dimensions really are nice basses. They don't sound like a P, J, or Stingray, but they definitely have some nice tones.
I wonder if a bigger focus on passive pickups would've made Dimensions more popular with existing Fender players. I own both and while the active models are more versatile, I have a passive HH that's an absolute beast. I could see Fender bringing those back but adding more switching options beyond just vol/vol/tone, like a series/parallel selector and coil splits.
I wonder if a bigger focus on passive pickups would've made Dimensions more popular with existing Fender players. I own both and while the active models are more versatile, I have a passive HH that's an absolute beast. I could see Fender bringing those back but adding more switching options beyond just vol/vol/tone, like a series/parallel selector and coil splits.
You said top-of-the-line
I personally would consider the new Rays higher end than the neck throughs...they have roasted necks, new/improved hardware, new electronics...and for those reasons it might not be fair for me to ding them for raising the price. When I said they used to be $1400 those were the old ones.
