Fender American Deluxe Dimension Bass

I did see the Standard version and read a very nice review on it. These new design pickups are supposed to pretty very high output. I've got an ADD on order with the single pickup as I wanted one with the pickup in the sweet spot. The features look great and I really the one that I had tried out which had a super punchy sound. Will be checking it out in detail when mine arrives, can't wait!

 

I've liked these since they appeared. Many said the Dimension was just a Stingray clone, but I think it's more than that. Apparently, the big F's R&D people worked for over two years on the Dimension and they actually considered what today's players actually wanted from a gigging instrument. A sound move, I'd say. Yes, obviously the core J & P models are forever, but they've gone about launching a new workhorse in a mindful way.

I've listened quite a bit to Yolanda Charles' sound on various videos with her Am.Dlx Dimension V and it sounds great. To my ears, it's a very grown up, dry & focused bass sound. You're not going to get buried in the mix, because it's an easy bass sound to pinpoint, if you like. Yes, many players want to blend in, but I want equal footing and as a professional bass player, I really need to hear the whole bass and all it's frequencies, not just being able to feel myself somewhere down there. As I've said before on other threads, our natural harmonics and overtones are what other musicians pitch from, be they wind/brass players or singers. That's where the Dimension scores big. It has a focused sound like a modern ceramic humbucker bass. It's great.

I also loved Ed Friedland's video of the Dimension American Standard V. Again, even without the preamp, it's a seriously tightly focused sound, proving that the new 18v preamp is very well voiced - In a lot of basses, you hear far too much preamp and not enough of the core sound of the instrument - but it still sounds excellent. Maybe even better than the active one? That's down to personal taste.

But the OP is quite correct - Dimensions don't seem to be getting a lot of love. I don't see them in the dealers much, either. Maybe it'll take some time and the right endorsements? I do know that, as a long standing professional bass player, it's a great sounding bass. That's something no one can deny.

/END_LECTURE

 

I just played an American Dlx Dimension IV for an hour at Sam Ash. This is a killer bass. Great feel in the neck, well put together. It sounds fantastic, very high output. You can really hear the bass and not just the preamp. You can get a P or a Jazz sound, and I'm not sure what all teh switch positions do (I assume it works like a Stingray HH), but flat with the middle posituion it really sounds unique. I wish my Warwick MEC preamps sounded this good.

 

I have an American Deluxe Dimension HH V, I really like it a lot. It is my first five string, I'd like maybe add a four string version to the family someday.

 

Great basses! I wore out a few at Atlanta Bass Gallery last month. I definitely preferred the passive HH model but the three they had were all nice.

 

On the contrary, I think the American Standard may be the pick of the Dimension range. Particularly with the Jazz bass, I think the American Standard is the nicest appointed version these days.

 

Quite true. Some of the current Mexican stuff is great quality. I recently got a Classic Player Rascal and it's quality is peerless. Also, the last couple of American Standard Jazzes (with the newer CS 60's pickups)I've played have sounded dead and inert.

 

For those that have played the American Dlx Dimension V how is the B string? Can you really dig in or does it require a light touch? If anyone has sound samples would love to hear some.

 

I just got mine last night, changed strings and set it up. The B string action is low yet it's not clanky.
The B string is GREAT on this bass.
So far I'm impressed with the fret work. The overall action is fairly low except that the G string is way too high and the saddle is bottomed out. Fender whats up?
Mr Hipshot A-Style bridge solved that problem and now it's totally dialed in.

 

This is my favorite Fender Dimension video.

 

Still loving mine. The tone cuts cuts through like a knife. I can go to a "P" vibe to Jaco land in a flip of a switch.

 

Reviving an ancient thread to say I just picked up a minty 2014 violin burst American Deluxe 4HH Dimension Bass in trade. Don't see much about these basses here (or anywhere). I'm pretty impressed so far. What do you guys and gals think of them?

 

sold mine. decided I preferred the feel of my other basses but that is still a really cool bass!

 

I know this is an old thread, but this is how I feel too. Well said.