Fender Dimension is Discontinued

[mikewalker]

i always thought they looked like the gibson victory bass revamped.

I think the Victory is prettier! ( and a vastly under-rated bass guitar in its own right...)

 

[Ellery]

Years from now everyone will be whining and pining "why did Fender discontinue the Dimension"

 

[pudgychef]

All that Fender has had recently is the Ps and Js. I miss the JP90, Prodigy, P Lyte, Cowpoke... The Dimension was a nice change up from them.
An Aerodyne Jazz in more colors would be nice, as well as an Aerodyne P-Bass for the American consumer.

Recently have had the new mustang, rascal, jaguar, various dimensions, at least 2 different Zones, starcaster, Coronado, blacktops, modern player tele bass, big block P,...I think they have tried hard to expand offerings.

 

[stringthrough]

Owned one. It was very good. Got compliments on its sound and it played well. Not a bad looker either. Can't blame Fender. This bass was suppose to compete with the Stingray and Sabre, but people continued to buy Stingrays and Sabres, sooooo . . .

 

[pcake]

considering how many people had never heard of the dimension, not surprising if few bought one. i've never seen any but the chinese version at a guitar center, either, and only saw a couple, one at the hollywood sam ash and one at the torrance store.

** Referring to the American Deluxe Dimension, not the watered-down import facsimiles.

i love my watered-down import fascimile, my chinese modern player dimension

 

[pudgychef]

I really wanted to try one of the passive HH USA Standard Dimensions, never saw one.

I got to try one Deluxe, it was excellent.

 

[Blaze Barlow]

i always thought they looked like the gibson victory bass revamped.

I have a 1981 Gibson Victory Artist bass (dual pickups)..and the Fender dimension is nothing like it..most Fender players want the jazz or precision..and will buy american if they have the cash..the dimension is a knock off of something..just not sure what..I also have a 1999 American Fender Jazz which I have modified with Seymour Duncan quarter pounders and a Babicz bridge..the Gibson Victory Artist bass is far superior to the Fender..most people have never played one so they dont know about the ultra high quality of the instrument or how good it sounds and plays..but I certainly like the Fender..it just has that classic feel that not many instruments have..the Gibson Victory Artist is a one of a kind and I will never let it go..I play it at home only..it doesnt go out on the road..too valuable..mine is mint..and could never be replaced if stolen or damaged..it does get daily attention..and stays locked in a vault while its resting..

 

[Zbysek]

I own American Deluxe 5 and I really like it.

 

[Blaze Barlow]

I think the Victory is prettier! ( and a vastly under-rated bass guitar in its own right...)

I own one and what you say it true..

 

[krimo]

I love my Dimension it has the nicest neck of any bass I’ve played! The smallish body is very comforting and the setup on mine is simply excellent! It’s not a P or a J, or a PJ. it’s a Dimension!

 

[Joybass]

I still love my Indonesian made Squier Dimensions. Nowadays they are my go to basses because of their specific punchy sound and the way they can 'tow' the bandmix. I must add I replaced the so-so preamp with a passive series/parallel/coil split option. Still, great basses. Big shame the entire line is history.

 

[pudgychef]

I have a 1981 Gibson Victory Artist bass (dual pickups)..and the Fender dimension is nothing like it..most Fender players want the jazz or precision..and will buy american if they have the cash..the dimension is a knock off of something..just not sure what..I also have a 1999 American Fender Jazz which I have modified with Seymour Duncan quarter pounders and a Babicz bridge..the Gibson Victory Artist bass is far superior to the Fender..most people have never played one so they dont know about the ultra high quality of the instrument or how good it sounds and plays..but I certainly like the Fender..it just has that classic feel that not many instruments have..the Gibson Victory Artist is a one of a kind and I will never let it go..I play it at home only..it doesnt go out on the road..too valuable..mine is mint..and could never be replaced if stolen or damaged..it does get daily attention..and stays locked in a vault while its resting..

you have a vault? wow

 

[drummer5359]

In 2014 I decided to pick up a five string bass. I tried all of the "usual suspects", but the bass that jumped out at me was an American Deluxe Dimension HH V. I bought one on the spot. I always wanted to pick up the four string version, as of yet I have not. Eventually I hope to snag one on the used market.

 

[hrodbert696]

Another question: Were the Dimensions designed to compete with Laklands?

Their body style and price kind of suggest it.

I remember watching a video on them, and the 5 way switching was nice, giving a lot of tonal options.

Mike

I don't think they were aimed at Laklands specifically. My impression is that Fender has a damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don't problem; half the market kvetches at them to say they should just stick to basics and make Ps and Js, the other half kvetches to say they never try any innovation and just keep mindlessly cranking out Ps and Js. The Dimension seemed like an effort to say, "See, we can try something different."

I got to try an American one out in a store. It was a good bass, but didn't click with me personally.

I seem to recall Dimension coming out about the same time as EBMM Cutlass/Caprice were announced.
It seemed F was going after EBMM and vice versa. I'm not claiming victory, by any stretch of the imagination, but I'd be very interested to see the sales tally for those two new products over the last 3 years.

IIRC the Cutlass/Caprice models came out a year or two later. I agree, it seems like EBMM was saying, "If Fender can make something like our basses, we can make something like theirs."

Fender needs to launch a different (third) brand name. Purists won't allow Fender to do anything different. So they may as well call them something else. They could launch a whole new line of modern basses.... even in the coffee table colors..... and do just fine with them.

Much like the Fender cult members freak out at a J bridge pickup that was added to a 68 P bass back im '75, they want nothing to do with anything but a P bass from Fender, with about a 25% J faithful getting a reluctant pass.

But if they came out with a new line and a different name, it's got a shot.

Besides Squier, FMIC already owns the Charvel, Gretsch, Jackson, and EVH brands.

 

[two fingers]

I don't think they were aimed at Laklands specifically. My impression is that Fender has a damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don't problem; half the market kvetches at them to say they should just stick to basics and make Ps and Js, the other half kvetches to say they never try any innovation and just keep mindlessly cranking out Ps and Js. The Dimension seemed like an effort to say, "See, we can try something different."

I got to try an American one out in a store. It was a good bass, but didn't click with me personally.



IIRC the Cutlass/Caprice models came out a year or two later. I agree, it seems like EBMM was saying, "If Fender can make something like our basses, we can make something like theirs."



Besides Squier, FMIC already owns the Charvel, Gretsch, Jackson, and EVH brands.

But those brands are also painted into their own corners as well. Nothing new there.

 

[MtManiac]

I tried one of the MIM Modern Player models in a local Buy & Sell, they were listing it at $350CAD. I offered them $320 incl taxes and they turned me down, found out they sold it days later for $300 incl taxes. Guess that guy was better lookin’! Anyway, I loved the feel of the neck, it was one of the most comfortable Fender necks I’ve ever held, and I also really loved the coil splitting capabilities it had - lots of useful and versatile tones out of one pickup. Plus, passive FTW. I really regret not snagging it. Someone got a great deal, and I hope they’re playing the H*** out of it.

 

[RickyWoo]

Fender always puts out Fender instruments and people always say "That doesn't look like a Fender". This is one of the many trials in the brand's history.

 

[MtManiac]

Fender always puts out Fender instruments and people always say "That doesn't look like a Fender". This is one of the many trials in the brand's history.

This. Drives me nuts. People complain because of lack of new colour choices, Fender comes out with new colour choices, people complain about those colour choices. People complain about the lack of vintage colour choices, Fender responds, people complain. People complain about how Fender always makes the same thing and does nothing new, Fender brings out the Dimension and the Rascal, nobody buys them.

However, if I were Fender I’d likely have focused on the budget end with these for a few years, get the beginners playing them, and then bring out the expensive options.

 

[RickyWoo]

This. Drives me nuts. People complain because of lack of new colour choices, Fender comes out with new colour choices, people complain about those colour choices. People complain about the lack of vintage colour choices, Fender responds, people complain. People complain about how Fender always makes the same thing and does nothing new, Fender brings out the Dimension and the Rascal, nobody buys them.

However, if I were Fender I’d likely have focused on the budget end with these for a few years, get the beginners playing them, and then bring out the expensive options.

Agree 100%. They dove right into the "Deluxe" market and it was sinking before it even took sail imo. I actually like the Dimension, as said before, but it's a reality/curse of Fender's. They're one of (if not) the biggest icons out there, but they literally need to start with baby steps on this stuff, and not rely solely on the "F" logo, if they're going to compete/keep a new line afloat. The company needs a new "nostalgia" for the newer generation, I think. Start an economy line and let it grow, in lieu of just going "Hey check out this new $2000 bass we just invested millions in that a few people might like".

 

[Saint]

Agree 100%. They dove right into the "Deluxe" market and it was sinking before it even took sail imo. I actually like the Dimension, as said before, but it's a reality/curse of Fender's. They're one of (if not) the biggest icons out there, but they literally need to start with baby steps on this stuff, and not rely solely on the "F" logo, if they're going to compete/keep a new line afloat. The company needs a new "nostalgia" for the newer generation, I think. Start an economy line and let it grow, in lieu of just going "Hey check out this new $2000 bass we just invested millions in that a few people might like".

Pretty much sums up my feelings. I'm not a big Fender guy, but that may explain why I liked the two pickup Dimension when I tried it (my other favs were the Performer and, to the extent it qualifies, the Kubicki). The prober was that it was so expensive when you jumped to the second pickup.