Saw it hanging there yesterday. It's been there a long time. There is also a fender elite jazz 4 string burst for $1300. Great deal. I almost bought it.
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Wow thanks. Crazy that the employee at that very store didn't look around but instead just typed into store computer and gave me that answer. Interesting. Thanks!
Hope you can pick it up and that it's in good shape for a used/demo.
Keep us posted.
I am sure others made this point, but I will add my 2 cents. Success has as to do as much with timing and promotion as the actual product itself. I don't think Steinberger would have been a hit in 2010, it killed during Eighties.
Fender and Music Man were in sync with the times when their flagship instruments were introduced.
Fender and Music Man were in sync with the times when their flagship instruments were introduced.
At that price, it would probably be in the clearance section. Would ask them to check there if you call again.
I would not bother with another phone call. Just go down to the store ASAP.
I may end up getting a Maple/Ash Caprice sometime this year if taxes don't kill me. Not getting political, but the tax reforms / changes has me on edge until I get my W2's and file. But even at full, +$500 price, I still think these are a great buy.
Hope you know where one is used or old stock. Those were made to order I do believe . And I don't know if you can still order them. I'm curious to know how they compare with the Alder / maple. I've never seen one in the wild and only have seen 1-2 here on forum . It might be the same one changing hands.
There are several new ones on Reverb currently. When I decide to pull the trigger, if those are gone, I'll just watch the used market. Not in a huge rush since I have a sunburst / rosewood one now.
Things that are different or unfamiliar can be scary
Allow me to play Devil's Advo...
Things that are different or unfamiliar can also be "pointless".
Example: If my brand XYZ item works perfectly for my needs and wants, explain to me why I need to look further, spend more money on another product, in the hope that the "new thing" may (or may not be) "better" in some infinitesimal and totally subjective way.
IOW the question poised is "why"? It would seem that the only logical answer is GAS. And we all know what GAS really is...(dare I say it?)
I think the Cutlass and Caprices were catching on just fine until EBMM did that price hike of $500 literally overnight on them. It pissed a lot of people off and turned the tide on the acceptance of both of these models IMO. They are great basses, but when someone saving up for a $1700 bass all of a sudden now has to come up with $2200 outta nowhere, they say screw it and buy something else. EBMM has been in business for a long time now, so if they suddenly figured out their profit margins weren't enough, they need to hire new accountants, and they should've figured that out in the design stage, not after these basses were already out for a year (and make their loyal customers pay for their bad business model). That move gave me an overall bad taste for the whole EBMM company and it might be a long while before I buy anything from them again personally.
I think the Dimension is just one of a long list of experimental Fender basses that weren't a P, Jazz or a Mustang... and Fender has always had a very hard time making any other successful bass models other than those 3. Really even the Mustang isn't all that successful. Really if it isn't a P or a J, then it probably isn't gonna do Fender any good IMO.
I think the Dimension is just one of a long list of experimental Fender basses that weren't a P, Jazz or a Mustang... and Fender has always had a very hard time making any other successful bass models other than those 3. Really even the Mustang isn't all that successful. Really if it isn't a P or a J, then it probably isn't gonna do Fender any good IMO.
Lots of thoughtful comments here. Personally, I really wanted to love the American Deluxe Dimension I owned, but I just didn't find it gave me useable tones for the music I play. It sounded kind of clinical.
I've played several Caprice basses, and while they're extremely well made, they don't bring anything to the table that my Fenders don't handle perfectly well, IMO.
I've played several Caprice basses, and while they're extremely well made, they don't bring anything to the table that my Fenders don't handle perfectly well, IMO.
This all rings true with me, too (although not seeing the Gibson ref?). My experience was with a used American Deluxe Dimension IV, which I snagged off ebay at a good price. The Cadillac of all the various Dimension iterations, I thought it was a spectacular bass in every way. The thought put into the feature-laden neck was remarkable. I doubt there is another production builder to invest that much in neck considerations at that price point.
As a Fender Roscoe Beck owner and enthusiast, I saw the Dimension as a logical, modernized evolution of the RB, all dressed up for the 21st Century, with the same nice build quality. Wow, what a bass. Sadly, my example had a major flaw...a frozen truss rod, had to return it (sigh). It was used, so I can't know for sure if it left the factory that way or if a PO jacked it.
I would add that for all the TB members who tested a Dimension, and found it lacking in some ways, many of them may have sampled either an import version, a Squier, or a single pickup version. In which case(s), they didn't sample the best version...the American Deluxe Dimension. For those that did find the AM DLX unsatisfactory, or that it didn't sound enough like an EBMM, that is simply a matter of subjective tastes, and not an indication of inferiority. Cheers.
I also thought the Dimension series was one of the best designs Fender came out with in a good long while. Versatile selection of usable tones, good build quality, nice feel and playability - and not too hard on the eyes either. And it had its own sound which didn't sound like a PB or JB. Lots to like. At least AFAIC.
The Gibson aside was in reference to the snazzy pickup switching scheme Fender picked (instead of the usual 3-way) to use on the Dimension. Gibson started doing interesting things with pickup selection back in the 70s. Ditto for active electronics which date back as far.
Not that it matters. There's few things in guitar design that are completely original. Brand fans live to split hairs over who was first with something. But it really doesn't matter in the larger scheme of things.
The Dimension was (to me) the logical next step if Fender wanted to add a more modern bass design to their lineup. Apparently Fender did - but their customers weren't interested at best - and openly hostile at worst.
I'm guessing that someday Fender Dimension basses will become sought after collectibles.
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Different strokes for different folks. I got a non-American Deluxe and aside from what I THINK was an error at the factory which wired the pups so that the single coil modes were neck coil to neck coil and vice versa (I physically rotated the bridge pup so that they were inner and outer) I found it to be a great bass! I'm not crazy about the pup aesthetics, and I prefer individual volume controls, or a fader, but it makes great tones, IMO! I'm kinda glad that it flopped, 'cause I wouldn't have been able to buy it as a SDOTD otherwise.
One very important point for some to realize, the mid control is the key to getting through the wide range of tones that the Dimension covers.
Different strokes for different folks Maybe this wasn't the commercial success Fender wanted, but it's a good bass, nonetheless.
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Excellent point.
The mids are where the action is on a bass. It's the voicing and EQing of the mids that gives an instrument the bulk of its sonic character.
I read through the entire thread. Some interesting points were made.
One thing that I noticed was that many of the posters mentioned the superb craftsmanship of the Ernie Ball basses. That comes at a price. Everything and I mean EVERYTHING in the building process has to be critically controlled to achieve this level of quality and that means the price will reflect that additional cost of producing superior basses. I own only one Musicman bass and it is a highly cherished Bongo HH 6 string. It is an amazingly wonderful instrument.
I loved the look of the Fender Dimension basses....even the pickguard looks okay to me and I ordered an American Standard Dimension HH 5 string when they were on closeout. Mine arrived with shipping damage so it was returned and I have always regretted that because I thought it sounded great. I have not played one of the active Dimensions but understand that many players did not care for the tone. Too bad. The passive one was a killer bass.
One thing that I noticed was that many of the posters mentioned the superb craftsmanship of the Ernie Ball basses. That comes at a price. Everything and I mean EVERYTHING in the building process has to be critically controlled to achieve this level of quality and that means the price will reflect that additional cost of producing superior basses. I own only one Musicman bass and it is a highly cherished Bongo HH 6 string. It is an amazingly wonderful instrument.
I loved the look of the Fender Dimension basses....even the pickguard looks okay to me and I ordered an American Standard Dimension HH 5 string when they were on closeout. Mine arrived with shipping damage so it was returned and I have always regretted that because I thought it sounded great. I have not played one of the active Dimensions but understand that many players did not care for the tone. Too bad. The passive one was a killer bass.
I know I am being shallow here but all of them just dont look attractive to me. If I am spending that much $ I want my new bass to look pretty.
The Caprice, my local GC has it on clearance for cheap. I thought it was ok, I just prefer my fender P more. I think I might go try it again though.
The Caprice, my local GC has it on clearance for cheap. I thought it was ok, I just prefer my fender P more. I think I might go try it again though.
TOTALLY agree with this. A little over a year ago, I had 3 EBMM's, and I've owned several more, including 4 different Cutlasses. They make really nice basses, but that overnight price hike really left a bad taste, and (I think) made interested players question just how much the quality of the Caprice/Cutlass surpassed that of Fender the industry standard. At 1650 (or 1000-1250 on ebay/classified/reverb) you're comparing it against that AmStd/AmPro, but at $2200+, you're comparing it against true boutique, handmade instruments or custom models. I think it's fine for EBMM to feel good about the instruments they make, and to pay their workers as well as they can, but with these two models, I think the move was basically putting them out to pasture.
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