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

[blue4]

For one, the odds of actually seeing one in a store were pretty low. So forget the consumer being able to actually play one. So preconceived notions will rule the day. Two, its kind of hard to sell a new design at $1500+ to a person out kicking the tires on a new bass when the $700 Ibanez next to it can play any stage and comes in 10 colors. Have you tried a newer Schecter lately? They're nice basses, and they hang right next to that P or MM copy. You can get away with those prices for a P, J, or MM. People have played your Squier, or your MIM, or your Sterling by MM and they know that upgrading is going to get them a better version of what they already love. But that odd Dimension pickguard, that EBMM that walks like a duck and quacks like a duck but isn't priced like a duck? People keep saying that companies get punished for staying in their lanes and that they don't innovate enough. Well these guys didn't do that. They basically veered into each other's lanes with thinly disguised versions of existing basses. IMO I'd hesitate to call that innovation or improvement. They basically put their name on the other's bass and hoped for enough of their loyalists to have an excuse to buy a new bass.

I'm not saying these aren't good basses. If you own one I'm not criticizing your bass. What I'm saying is that from a marketing/selling perspective these basses were an uphill sell already. And when you slap on a price tag that's about $500 high to an already tough sale.......

 

[Raoul_Duke]

Great basses. I just sold my Caprice, which I bought new in 2017. It was a really great passive four string with second-to-none build quality and a great sound. I didn't think my Caprice sounded like any bass I'd ever played.

They probably had to sell a LOT of these models to justify keeping them around. They run a pretty tight ship over there.

 

[Altitude]

They both seem to be designs that run counter to their companies' brands. People think Fender, they think Precision or Jazz bass. People think Music Man, they think Stingray. Mostly.

Dimension and Caprice basses were attempts by each company to use the force of the name to fuel some product diversification. Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't, even if the products are good, as they generally were here.

 

[rashrader]

Didn't we just have this conversation? This is a good read though. Excellent points all around.

 

[TinIndian]

To me aesthetically none of them were appealing and that is a major deal breaker. They put the worst possible pickguard on the Dimensions and a short upper horn that did not help the look. Nothing wrong with new, love new, just do a better job in the eye candy and they would have sold much better.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

I bought a Squier Dimension sight unseen off a website. I took it out of the box, played it for a few minutes, and sent it back. Why? Because it didn't play like a Fender. Am I an idiot to think a Fender should play/sound like a Fender? Apparently yes, I am.

 

[OllyW]

To me aesthetically none of them were appealing and that is a major deal breaker. They put the worst possible pickguard on the Dimensions and a short upper horn that did not help the look. Nothing wrong with new, love new, just do a better job in the eye candy and they would have sold much better.

I picked up one of the triplebucker models earlier this year that was dirt cheap but needed some TLC and I've got to agree it's a bit odd looking, with the pickguard being the main culprit.

It's a nice enough bass now it's all sorted but I don't think it's going to be a keeper.

 

[40Hz]

You just described Talkbass to a T. Meanwhile, if any of them ran a company like Fender or Ernie Ball, they'd bankrupt them within a year.

Yep! Henry and autotuning aside, the biggest "mistake" Gibson keeps making is trying to be innovative. They're blasted for being locked in their own past with the EB-3 and TBird, and mocked when they come out with things like the Ripper, LP Triumph, Victory and RD. It's a no-win situation Much like TV where people keep moaning they want "quality" programming. But any time an intelligent show with high production values airs, it dies within the first half of its first season. Because despite what people may claim they want, what actually gets watched are reality shows and faux off-camera drama laden "talent" competitions.

 

[shaboda]

Music Man.... Pricepoint on those models were an issue. It's hard to thunk down that kinda coin for basically, a passive P bass style axe, with a screwy looking pickguard. Fender....I dont recall the pricepoint.. but it is basically a music man one pickup inspired bass, with a screwy looking pickguard. That being said, I have played a dimension, even a lower end model, and I actually found it a decent sounding and playing bass. Nothing really bad to say about it. However, I watched videos when they first introduced it, and it did the bass NO justice at all. Whoever did the Promo Video didnt help the sale of that bass.

 

[Corevalay]

My simple opinion...

I owned a Caprice very briefly and I thought it was an excellent bass. It played really nice, sounded great, and was high-quality. HOWEVER, for the price, it wasn't worth it to me. I couldn't justify keeping it when I could get a Fender PJ for almost 1/2 the price that felt and sounded almost identical. So, the value just wasn't there for me in the Caprice. Another big factor was just the looks of the bass, I don't love it. I find the bass to be kind of a weird shape and it just looks odd to me. Of course this is purely my taste, but it does factor into it.

 

[40Hz]

However, I watched videos when they first introduced it, and it did the bass NO justice at all. Whoever did the Promo Video didnt help the sale of that bass.

Those videos were pretty terrible, weren't they? The only demo videos I've ever seen that did more to turn off a potential buyer were the half assessed ones Epiphone did for their Blueshawk guitar. A svelte retro looking and amazingly versatile guitar that the morons in the demos made sound like absolute crap.

 

[Craig22221]

The GC by me has a brand new burst Caprice they can't give away on clearance (currently $1,100). The odd body shape, the unfamiliar MM passive and the outrageous new price doomed this product. At $1,600 you could almost justify it. When the price jumped to $2,200 that was the final straw. You can't jump prices like that on any product (unless it's a spectacular electronic device that the kids are willing to pay for ie. apple products). These products have to be "new" and very innovative to be introduced at a lower price point and then jumped way up. I fail to see what a Caprice offers over a Fender PJ. And I am in the market for a new bass!

 

[woodyng2]

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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.

The burst finish on your Cutlass is beautiful. I'm in the process of trading my 57 avri for a new gl lb100,looking forward to having a P bass with a rosewood fretboard.

 

[woodyng2]

The GC by me has a brand new burst Caprice they can't give away on clearance (currently $1,100). The odd body shape, the unfamiliar MM passive and the outrageous new price doomed this product. At $1,600 you could almost justify it. When the price jumped to $2,200 that was the final straw. You can't jump prices like that on any product (unless it's a spectacular electronic device that the kids are willing to pay for ie. apple products). These products have to be "new" and very innovative to be introduced at a lower price point and then jumped way up. I fail to see what a Caprice offers over a Fender PJ. And I am in the market for a new bass!

Sounds like a great deal actually. Where did you sat this was?

 

[Craig22221]

Sounds like a great deal actually. Where did you sat this was?

GC in Southfield Michigan. Clearance.

 

[JakobT]

We probably need to make a Discontinued EBMM Club here on TB soon...

 

[dxb]

Its funny to hear people say they never even tried a Dimension because they didn't like the pickguard. I thought it was a bit odd at first but over time I warmed up to it. Dimensions also look better in person than in pictures. For whatever reason they don't seem to photograph well. There was also a black-on-black model where you could barely see the pickguard.

 

[blackandwhite]

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.....

I did play the first Caprice I saw (light blue body). It felt AMAZING. the neck was second to no other. And both pickups were awesome individually, and together. And they were silent. That was one of the best basses I ever played.

That said, I'm one of those people that might be swayed by the appearance of the pickups, as I'm not really a P/J player. And I was most definitely swayed by the price, no doubt.

I'll keep my eyes open for when the local chain starts to blow them out, that's for sure.

 

[Guinness20]

I really like the caprice bass but the price is too high.

 

[blackandwhite]

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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.

And a silver metal flake matching headstock, right?